In the Brief Eternal Silence (86 page)

For some reason, which he could not explain,
Andrew found this very funny. It felt good to laugh and at the end
of his laughter, he wiped his eyes on his sleeve and said, “Then of
course I shall stay, and you shall get married for I can not see
that poor minister having to cool his heels awaiting your whim any
longer.”

St. James sat for a long time after his
brother left the room. And if he felt a good deal of quiet
amazement as though he were a child again and was discovering many
things that adults took for granted, he still had knowledge that
there were one or two things that must be seen to. There was Steven
and his family. He had kept tabs through a messenger sent to
Morningside and knew that they were still residing there in Tyler's
cottage. He had not had much time to consider further from there,
and he knew himself well enough to know that he would not be
spending the remainder of the day, his wedding day, or tonight
considering it either. So he settled with reminding himself that he
would need to think about that at first light tomorrow, and indeed,
he doubted that Miss Murdock would throw a fit if they forwent
their honeymoon and traveled straight to Morningside at any
rate.

But the other detail, although he could not
take care of it entirely, could at least be partially seen to even
then, and so thinking that, he got up from the chair, moved with
his cane to a desk in the corner of the Squire's room and found the
necessary items to write a letter. This he composed with no joy but
with enough detail to allow Queen Victoria to understand that
although her fears had not been unfounded and there had been a leak
in her security, that it had been in fact his own father, who was
obviously no longer discussing the crown's policies with
anyone.

It was not a pleasant letter to write but he
was at least able to inform her that he would be forwarding some
materials to her that she may find interesting and that may lead to
the breaking up of a significant opium ring. He closed it by
reiterating that he would still gladly be at her service if she
still deemed it desirable that he should be and that he was now
available to take up these said duties at her convenience.

He had no more than finished this missive and
sealed it when Effington came in and informed him that the minister
would be there in an hour and that perhaps milord would care to
begin dressing?

“And what abominable outfit do you have in
mind for me tonight?” St. James asked.

“Well, milord,” Effington began and he rubbed
his hands together as he spoke, “as I have had some knowledge, of
course, of your coming nuptials, being as it was I that made all
the arrangements, I have of course had time to collect and put
together a rather stunning attire for you tonight.”

“Your glee is not reassuring me in the least,
Effington.”

“Of course you have my deepest sympathies for
making you apprehensive, milord,” Effington told him. “But be that
as it may,” and he walked to the wardrobe and opened it in his
precise way and with a flourish removed the costume that he had
spent a deal of time considering before settling upon as the proper
attire for milord Duke of St. James' wedding ceremony.

And St. James blinked once in an unusual
display of dumbfoundedness. “That?” he asked. “Effington, you
selected that?”

“Why, yes, milord. Do you not care for
it?”

But St. James only laughed for in Effington's
hands was a new shirt, plainly white with the only adornment being
lace at cuffs and cravat and a pair of tanned breeches.

“Of course, milord,” Effington explained as
though he could not believe the perfect sense of it had escaped his
employer, “for one can not know when one may be faced with a
predicament which will necessitate the removal of your clothing,
and it would be so much waste if perhaps in haste a very fine
outfit should become torn. Of course, I am hoping that you shall
not somehow become injured and bleed upon them as well as ripping
them—”

But St. James waved his hand as he tried to
control his laughter, and he choked out, “Very well, Effington. I
quite see your point. And as usual, your choice of clothing is
beyond reproach. I only ask that if Miss Murdock should question
your choice that you do not place before her the reasons you are
currently placing in front of me!”

“Indeed, I would not, milord,” Effington
replied, affronted. “For I am much too discreet.”

“Indeed, Effington, that you have proven to
be. You may go now, and see that my betrothed has all that she
needs.”

“Milord. You do not wish me to help with your
attire?”

“I believe I can manage adequately,
Effington, as I have all these years before.”

Effington restrained his urge to argue, only
nodded. But before he turned to leave, he added, “Congratulations,
milord.”

St. James turned to him at his words. “Thank
you, Effington. You shall be there as a witness, of course.”

“Thank you, milord. I would be honored.”

With that he left the room, and St. James
stood for a brief moment in the silence. Then he busied himself
with readying, for Lizzie was waiting.

* finite *