Cavendon Hall (31 page)

“She did, and the sapphires, as well. She’s going to wear those tonight, she told me.” He grinned at his sister. “I can’t wait to see Diedre’s face when Daphne comes down to dinner. She’s always been jealous of her.”

“I know. And Papa never helped, always claiming Daphne would marry the son of a duke. That really made Diedre crazy.”

“I asked Papa why Hugo and Daphne are getting married so quickly. The engagement was just announced in
The Times.
In August, and today is only the eighteenth of September. She’ll be a married woman on September twentieth. Gosh, just imagine that. Daphne a married woman.” Miles walked over to the window and opened it. “It’s stuffy in here,” he said.

“What did Papa say?” DeLacy asked, curious herself.

“He said Daphne was worried that Aunt Anne might die suddenly, which she will, most probably. Daphne didn’t want the marriage postponed for a year because we were all in mourning.”

“Oh gosh, yes, that’s true.” DeLacy went and sat down on a chair. “Who’s arrived so far, Miles? Do you know?”

“Uncle Jack and Aunt Lavinia. I ran into them, and bagged him for an usher immediately. He was his usual genial self, but I thought Aunt Lavinia looked put out. Sort of sulky.”

DeLacy said in a low voice, “She’s got another man.”

“Who told you that bit of nasty gossip?” Miles asked sharply.

“Diedre. She said Papa was furious because Lavinia might bring a big scandal down on the family. This new boyfriend is a married man. He’s a member of Parliament. Papa’s quite upset about it all.”

“Good heavens! That’s some nasty charge against Lavinia. And how does Diedre know?”

“I think she overheard Papa telling Mama.”

“Eavesdropping again, I bet you anything,” Miles shot back, making a face.

Cecily, going about her work of hanging up the bridesmaid dresses, and checking the shoes and gloves, was laughing inside. Miles always complained to her that DeLacy loved to gossip about the family, but he did too. She was well aware he thought Diedre was mean about everyone, and certainly it was common knowledge that she was jealous of Daphne, especially of her great beauty.

Daphne was the sweetest of the four Dees, and Cecily was relieved and glad she was marrying Hugo. She had made the right decision, according to her mother and Great-Aunt Charlotte. Cecily knew everything about the situation, but was under oath not to reveal anything.
Loyalty binds me,
she said to herself. That was the oath. She would never break it.

Cecily hadn’t been listening to DeLacy and Miles chattering about the family for the last few minutes, preoccupied as she was with the clothes for the wedding. But when DeLacy began to laugh uproariously, she glanced across at her and then looked at Miles, who was still standing at the window. Cecily raised a brow, and asked, “What did I miss?”

Miles grinned, answered, “DeLacy mentioned the famous sapphires from Hugo, and I said that no doubt Great-Aunt Gwendolyn would not like them because they match Daphne’s eyes. Like all the frocks you make for her.”

Cecily grinned.

And so did DeLacy, who then said, “I bet you a sixpence Great-Aunt Gwendolyn asks if they’re real. She can be very odd.”

They all laughed.

A few minutes later Daphne arrived in the sewing room, looking elegant, dressed entirely in cream with touches of black. Cecily nodded approvingly.

DeLacy said, “Oh, how chic you are, Daphers. Just elegance personified.”

“Thank you, Lacy. It’s a new outfit Mrs. Alice made for me. It was designed by Cecily, of course. I love all the black touches, the black patent belt, the shiny black buttons, the black piping.”

Looking across at Miles, she changed the subject, went on, “I hear you now have six ushers, with yourself. I’m happy, Miles. You were so worried.”

Miles strolled across the room and squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll never let you down, old thing. I suppose I had better scoot … you’re going to try on your gown. Nobody’s supposed to see it, right?”

Daphne nodded, and took hold of his arm, led him to the door. “Thanks for everything, Miles, you’re really a very nice brother.”

Miles stood in the doorway, smiling, his eyes resting on Cecily, as he said, “Farewell, my beauties, see you anon.”

Once they were alone, Cecily took the sheet off the wedding dress, and said, “I’ll help you to try this on now, Lady Daphne. I don’t think there’s anything for me to do, but I had better check.”

They walked over to the screened-off corner, with Cecily carrying the wedding gown on its hanger.

A few moments later, when Daphne came from behind the screen and stood in the middle of the floor, DeLacy began to clap. “Oh, Daphne, you are just gorgeous! The dress is … unbelievably beautiful. Congratulations, Cecily.”

The wedding gown was made entirely of pure-white Chantilly lace, laid over a white taffeta bodice and skirt. The latter was narrow, very slender, and the lace fell into a long train at the back; the waist was cut very high, in the French
Empire
style, so favored by Napoleon’s Empress, Josephine. The sleeves were long, made only of the white lace, while the neckline was scooped out, just covered the shoulders.

Daphne looked down at the bodice. “Mama’s diamond brooch will be pinned here, just below the scoop and in the middle. Am I right, Cecily?”

“You are, m’lady.” Cecily brought her a headdress composed of white silk-and-lace flowers made into a coronet, and put it on top of Daphne’s head, pressed it down.

She said, “This will hold your veil in place, Lady Daphne. Don’t worry, it won’t fall off. I’ll make sure of that.”

Cecily stood away, looked at her, and smiled, thrilled at the effect. “The veil will complete the picture, but I don’t want to try it on you again. It’s so delicate.”

Daphne smiled at her. “I know it works, Ceci, certainly it did the other day. And I’ve no doubt it will on Saturday. Thank you. Thank you so much for all your hard work.”

*   *   *

Daphne had just returned to her bedroom when there was a light knock on the door. She went to open it, and saw Charlotte Swann standing there.

“I have something for you, Lady Daphne. May I come in for a moment?”

“Yes, please do, Miss Charlotte.” As she spoke, Daphne opened the door wider, and stepped to one side.

As was her way, Charlotte Swann went straight to the heart of the matter. “I want to give you this, Lady Daphne. It’s very old, and you must have something old as well as new, blue, and borrowed.” She handed Daphne the gift. It was wrapped in silver paper and tied with gray silk ribbon.

“Thank you, Miss Charlotte,” Daphne said, staring down at the package. “I have something borrowed from Mama, her bow brooch. Cecily gave me something blue, a garter.” She laughed as she said this, shaking her head. “And DeLacy gave me a lace wedding handkerchief that is brand new. Yours is the last gift to fulfill the ancient saying. Can I open it now?”

Charlotte smiled. “Why not?”

Once the paper was removed, Daphne found she was holding a blue velvet box. When she lifted the lid she was surprised, and gasped. She was staring at a narrow strand of diamonds. “Why, it’s beautiful!” she exclaimed. She held the diamond bracelet in her hands, marveling at it. “But this is too valuable. You can’t possibly give me this, Miss Charlotte. And I certainly can’t accept it.”

“Yes, you can. And you must.” Charlotte waved her hand in front of Daphne, as the young woman attempted to give the bracelet back to her. She said, “Listen to me, Lady Daphne, this is meant for you. It is an Ingham family heirloom, and therefore rightfully yours. I want you to wear it, knowing that your grandfather, David, the fifth earl, gave it to me for my twenty-first birthday. I’ve treasured it all these years, and now it’s yours to enjoy.”

Daphne stood holding the bracelet, knowing that to insist Charlotte take it back would be to insult her. That was the last thing she wanted to do to this woman who had been such a comfort, and a wise counselor.

Taking a deep breath, Daphne murmured, “If it is an Ingham family heirloom, then who did it belong to originally? Do you know, Miss Charlotte?”

“Yes, it belonged to the fifth earl’s mother, the fourth countess … your great-grandmother.” Charlotte reached out for the bracelet. Daphne gave it to her, and Charlotte fastened it on Daphne’s wrist. “
There
. You see, it looks beautiful, and it’s very simple, not at all ostentatious.”

“Thank you, Miss Charlotte. I shall treasure it always.”

*   *   *

Charles was ensconced in the library with his sister Lavinia, and he was having a hard time controlling himself. To say he was angry was an understatement.

The Earl of Mowbray was fuming inside, yet he did not dare let go of his self-control. There were already guests at Cavendon who had arrived for Daphne’s wedding. Hugo’s cousin, Mark Stanton, was here, having come up from London earlier, and so was his other sister, Vanessa, who had her own suite of rooms in the house.

Lavinia suddenly said, “I know you’re furious, Charles, but I’m not entirely to blame. Jack and I have problems.”

“Yes, you have been saying that for a while now. But that doesn’t mean you can go off and find another man, get hopelessly involved with him, as you obviously are.”

“I didn’t go off and look for another man. It just happened. That’s the way of the world, Charles. Things just happen in life.”

“If you have to take a lover, why in God’s name did you choose a famous politician, who’s very much in the public eye? And married to boot.” Charles glared at her.

Lavinia let out a long sigh, and fell back against the cushions on the sofa. “I didn’t; what I mean is, it was Alex who pursued me, not the other way around.”

Charles compressed his lips. “I’d heard he was a bit of a bounder, and now you’ve just confirmed it.”

“Charles, please get down off your high horse, and tell me what you want me to do.”

“You must break off this relationship at once, Lavinia. Before you involve this family, your family as well as mine, in a scandal of no mean proportions. There’s gossip about you floating around already. The next thing you know, it’ll be in the bloody newspapers.”

Lavinia sat up straighter, pushed back her blond hair, her bright blue eyes flashing angrily. Watching her closely, Charles couldn’t help thinking that when Daphne was forty she would have a look of his sister at this moment. They had always had a strong resemblance to each other, physically at any rate. As for their characters, they were very different. Lavinia was imprudent and impulsive, whilst Daphne was cautious and thought things through.

Lavinia said, “I don’t know how there could be gossip. I haven’t told anyone about Alex.”

Charles threw her a pointed look. “Yet several people have told me. Friends I trust, and who seem to know all about your affair. Perhaps your lover has spoken out of turn. It wouldn’t surprise me. He doesn’t have an ounce of class.”

Lavinia looked stricken, and she exclaimed, “I can’t believe he would talk about me, reveal we’re involved. That’s so dishonorable, and very dismaying.” There was a pause and she said, “Are you sure?”

“I am. Absolutely. How would anyone know otherwise? You haven’t told anyone, then he obviously did. You’re quite a catch, you know. An earl’s daughter with a title in your own right, married to a notable business tycoon, sister of one of the premier earls of England. Good God, Lavinia, don’t you understand? He’s boasted about you being his mistress.”

“Were you serious, when you said it might get into the newspapers?” She leaned forward. Her face was very pale.

“I was indeed. I don’t want a scandal surrounding us, Lavinia. Especially not at this moment, when Daphne is marrying.”

“Neither do I. What shall I do?”

“I’d break it off immediately, and don’t put a bloody thing in writing. Just be unavailable, and if you have to speak to him, do it on the telephone. I wouldn’t see him ever again if I were you.”

“I won’t, I promise, and I’ll do as you say.”

“Look, I’m not making a moral judgment about you, Lavinia. I’m just being protective. Many women take lovers because of problems in their marriage. But usually both parties are discreet, and so protect each other from gossip. And trouble. You just picked the wrong chap, that’s all.”

“He picked me.”

“And there you have your answer, don’t you think?”

“I do.” She sighed. “By the way, I meant to ask you before, why is there this rush to wed on Daphne’s part?”

“Several reasons,” he answered in a confident voice. “Firstly, Daphne is worried that she and Hugo might have to postpone their marriage, if Anne suddenly dies, which is very probable. That’s why it’s
this
Saturday, and not planned for a Saturday six months from now. And Felicity and I agreed with her about this matter. Then secondly, Hugo has a great deal of traveling to do. He has to be in Zurich and then New York. They didn’t want to be separated for long stretches of time.”

“I understand. They fell in love very quickly. Was it a
coupe de foudre,
as the French say?”

“It was indeed. They took one look at each other, and that was it.”

“How lovely,” Lavinia murmured. “She’s a lucky girl. Hugo is a real charmer.”

“And very solid; he’ll make a good husband. Now, I think we’d better go to the yellow sitting room for tea. I’m sure everyone is waiting for us.”

Forty

A
s she walked toward Cavendon, Charlotte couldn’t help wondering why Olive Wilson wanted to speak with her, and why she had suggested the late afternoon today. The kitchen was a busy place at that particular time. Cook and the maids were bustling around with plates of sandwiches, scones, cakes, and pots of tea, and Hanson was commanding the footmen, hustling them upstairs.

Then it struck her. Olive would not be busy at that hour. The countess would be presiding over afternoon tea with her guests and the staff serving them in the yellow sitting room. Olive had something serious on her mind. Obviously she wanted to speak in private, probably in the servants’ hall, which would be empty, and only Cook would be in the kitchen.