Page 97 of The Ice Queen
Epilogue
James held the bottle to his lips and took a long appreciative drink. His uncle Charles certainly knew his champagne. After he had finished, he offered the bottle to Julian who politely declined.
“Caroline and I are going to head over to the hotel and get settled in.”
He looked at his new wife and smiled. James averted his gaze for a moment. It was wonderful that the newly weds had succeeded in their plans, but he felt his dark mood descending once more.
“The best of luck to the two of you. Will we see you later for supper?” he asked.
Caroline stepped forward and after placing a soft kiss on her cousin’s cheek, she whispered in his ear. “Yes, but not before then, and it will be a very late supper.”
As Julian and Caroline made their way from the beach toward the hotel, James lifted the champagne bottle and saluted them.
“Congratulations Lord and Lady Newhall, may you have many long and happy years together.”
He turned and went back to staring out to sea. The empty beach was the perfect place for him. Away from people he could find solace in the waves as they washed back and forth to the shore. The odd small boat bobbed up and down just off shore.
His father and Francis had decided a second visit to the port authority office was in order after the assistance they had received earlier that morning in dealing with the Count and Countess of Lienz. James did not accompany them, being more than content to remain on the beach and drink champagne.
He pulled a cheroot out of his coat pocket and lit it. With a smoke in one hand and a bottle of the finest French champagne in the other, any man would feel on top of the world. But not James Radley.
While he was happy for Caroline in having secured the future of her choice, he admitted to himself that he was more than a little envious of his cousin.
“At least someone has found happiness,” he muttered.
At the sight of his father and Francis returning to the beach, he quickly stubbed out the cheroot and stuck the remains of it in his pocket. His father did not hold with such vices.
“Hey ho! Did the love birds abandon you on the beach?” said Francis.
James mustered a smile and offered Francis the bottle of champagne. “They left only a few minutes ago. Promised they would see us at a late supper. How did things go with the port master?” he asked.
Francis took a swig of the champagne. “Very good. He was most understanding. Especially when he discovered who the gentleman was that had accompanied me.”
Hugh Radley chortled. “People are suddenly on their best behavior when they are introduced to me. All the nannies in the land must tell their small charges stories of the frightful Bishop of London, and the terrible things I will do to them if they misbehave. It’s either that, or no one has ever thought to tell me that I look like a ferocious highland boar.”
James smiled at his father. Behind his professional façade there was a warm and loving man.
“So, what are our plans? Caroline and Julian look likely to stay on in Brighton for a few days, but I doubt if they would want our company,” said James.
“Back to London first thing tomorrow,” replied Hugh and Francis in unison.
James nodded, it was to be expected. And much as he wished it, he couldn’t hide out in Brighton forever. Four days from now he was to host a bachelor dinner for Guy Dannon on the eve of his wedding. Five days from now he would be standing in the church to support his best friend as he prepared to marry Leah Shepherd.
Leah Shepherd the odd girl who James had struggled to accept was the right woman for Guy. From the first time he had met her, she had done everything to gain his friendship. Yet no matter what she did, it tore him to see her and Guy together.
Something inexplicable had always made James wish she was someone else. That Leah Shepherd had not been the woman Guy had chosen for his bride. When the truth of his discomfort finally surfaced, he was faced with an impossible situation.
A bright light had sparked within him and now lived deep within his soul, warming him to his core. He knew it intimately. He even knew its name. That one heartbreaking little word.
Love.
While Francis emptied the last of the champagne, James made a silent vow to drink himself to the bottom of many bottles over the next few days. Anything that would dull the pain of having to stand up in church and watch his best friend marry the woman he loved.
