Chapter Twenty
The buzzing sound was back.
Florence opened her eyes with a jolt, dismayed to realise she didn’t recognise the view before her.
It wasn’t her bedroom in Grosvenor Square or the blue and silver one she’d grown accustomed to at Rainton, or even her red room at Cassie’s.
It was a different room again entirely, decorated in shades of teal-blue and green.
Her mind started to spin with panic. Had she lost her memory again?
Was this her life now? To lose her memory over and over until she had no idea who or where she was… ?
‘Florence?’ a familiar voice murmured in her ear, at the same time as warm fingers slid their way tenderly around her waist. ‘Bad dream?’
The buzzing receded as the world suddenly made sense again.
She did know this view, after all. She was still at Rainton Court, only she was lying in the massive oak bed in Leo’s chamber, and the voice and hand were both his.
Because she’d slept here last night. Slept and…
done other things, in several new and surprisingly inventive ways.
It was no wonder she hadn’t recognised the room at first. She’d been far too distracted to notice the furnishings.
‘No.’ She wriggled back under the covers as her heartbeat slowed down again. ‘I just forgot where I was for a moment.’
‘Ah.’ His hand tightened around her waist, a reassuring pressure against her skin. ‘So this must be a surprise.’
‘It is.’ She smiled at his cautious tone. ‘But it’s a pleasant one.’
‘Thank goodness. How did you sleep?’
‘Very well.’
‘Me too. Better than I have for months.’
‘Perhaps we should hold fairs more often?’
He chuckled. ‘As successful as that was, I’m pretty sure the fair had nothing to do with it.’
‘I’ve no idea what you mean.’ She laughed, snuggling closer.
‘What are you thinking?’ His lips nuzzled her ear after a few moments.
‘Honestly? I’m thinking that even if my memory never comes back, at least we’ve found a way to move on and be happy.’
‘I couldn’t agree more.’
‘And maybe…’ She stopped with a sudden jolt, her eyes catching a flutter of movement at the window. ‘No!’ She pulled herself up to a sitting position. ‘That is so typical!’
‘What is?’
‘Sunshine again!’ She waved her hands. ‘Glorious sunshine after all the rain we had yesterday. Look! There’s a sparrow on the window ledge taunting us.’
‘He looks quite friendly to me.’ Leo leaned back against the pillows, folding one arm behind his head. ‘It seems that we forgot to close the curtains last night.’
‘Doesn’t your valet usually do that?’
‘Yes.’ He waggled his eyebrows. ‘Obviously he thought we shouldn’t be disturbed.’
‘You mean…’ She groaned. ‘I knew Rimmer could tell when we went downstairs yesterday. All the staff probably know, don’t they?’
‘Not all, I’m sure.’ He laughed at her mortified expression. ‘But they’re also discreet. You were absolutely right about them deserving an increase in their wages.’
‘And additional days off.’ She lay down again, nestling her head against his shoulder. ‘Speaking of which, we’ll need to fend for ourselves today.’
‘What about food?’
‘Oh, I told Mrs Hotham we still had plenty left in our hamper, so there was no need to worry about it.’
‘What did she say to that?’
‘She said she couldn’t possibly not worry, so I insisted.
’ She lifted her head slightly, propping her chin on his chest. ‘I doubt we’ll need any fires in this weather either, although if we do, I’m perfectly capable of building one myself.
A marchioness might not be supposed to get her hands dirty, but I’m still a work in progress. ’
‘You’re more than that…’ He lifted a hand, stroking it gently over her hair. ‘However, if the staff are all allowed a day’s holiday, I think we’re allowed one too. Starting with spending the rest of the morning in bed.’
‘That sounds good to me. Although bowls in the long gallery also looked quite fun. We could have a game of our own later?’
‘I’d like that.’ His gaze wavered, drifting towards the bedside cabinet. ‘In the meantime, I have a question.’
‘Mmm?’
‘It’s about your locket.’ He tilted his head to where she’d placed it last night. ‘Whose picture is inside?’
‘Why?’ She looked at him suspiciously. ‘You’re not jealous, are you?’
‘That might depend.’
She laughed. ‘Well, then, you’ll be relieved to hear that it’s nobody.’
‘It’s empty?’
‘Not exactly.’ She reached across, scooping the necklace up by its chain. ‘It’s hard to choose one picture when you have such a large family, so I decided it should contain something else instead. Look.’
He peered inside as she opened the oval-shaped locket. ‘Is that your house?’
‘Yes. This way, I’m including everyone who lives inside.’ She arched an eyebrow. ‘Happy now?’
‘Yes.’ He rested back against the pillows again. ‘You know, maybe we should pay them a visit?’
She caught her breath. ‘Do you mean it?’
‘Of course. You left your family, expecting to see them again in two and a half months, and it’s been almost four.
I know you said you didn’t want to see the inside of another carriage for a long time, but if we wait until the autumn, the roads might be in too poor a condition for travel.
If you’d like to go, we should go soon.’
‘I’d like it very much.’ She beamed at him. ‘I’d like for my parents to meet you too. The letter I received from them when we got back from London was…odd.’
‘How so?’
‘It’s hard to explain. Just…distant somehow, and formal, as though they thought they shouldn’t be writing to me now I’m a marchioness. I know our marriage must have come as a shock, but I’d like to go and reassure them that I’m still their daughter.’
‘Then that’s what we’ll do.’ He lifted the necklace and clasped it around her neck. ‘It’s about time I explained myself to your father as well.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I married his daughter without seeking permission. I wrote him a brief letter soon after our marriage, but it was remiss of me not to visit him in person.’
‘I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.’ She leaned over to kiss him. ‘So will I. And don’t worry, I’ll make sure my brothers don’t hurt you.’
‘Is that likely?’
‘Well…’ She scrunched her mouth up to stop herself from smiling. ‘Like you said, you did marry me without my father’s permission. And they are all quite large, not to mention protective.’
He looked mildly alarmed. ‘Just how large and how protective exactly?’
‘Nothing you can’t handle, I’m sure. And I’m certain everything will be all right once you tell them what a wonderful marchioness I am.’
‘Why am I suddenly having second thoughts about this trip?’
‘Too late.’ She grinned. ‘You’ve suggested it now. We’re going to Cumberland, even though it means spending a whole week in a carriage together.’
‘A whole week?’ He found her lips again before rolling her over onto the bed. ‘Whatever will we do to pass the time?’
‘Was that a knock?’
‘Mmm?’ Leo prised his eyelids open, vaguely aware of Florence shaking him awake. They’d made love twice that morning, before eating a hamper picnic in bed and then dozing off in each other’s arms.
‘I think somebody just knocked on the door.’
‘Ignore it. Hopefully they’ll go away.’
‘There it is again.’ She lifted her head. ‘It must be important.’
‘It had better be.’ He groaned and swung his legs over the side of the bed, pointing a stern finger at her as he pulled on his dressing gown. ‘Don’t go anywhere.’
‘I didn’t intend to.’ She gave him a coy look before snuggling back under the eiderdown.
‘Rimmer?’ Leo found his butler standing outside the door. ‘What can I do for you? And why aren’t you taking the day off?’
‘I thought it best for one person to stay on duty, my lord.’ Rimmer cleared his throat, looking more than a little awkward. ‘Some guests have arrived.’
‘Guests? Please don’t tell me they got the wrong date for the fair.’
‘No, my lord, it’s nothing like that. However, they say their business is quite urgent.’
‘Of course it is.’ He ran a hand over his face, stifling a yawn. ‘I suppose that means I should get dressed. Did they give their names?’
‘Yes, my lord. Major and Mrs Vaughan.’
‘Vaughan…’ He drew his brows together. The name sounded familiar, but he was still too sleepy to place it.
‘Apparently they’ve just arrived from Ireland.’
‘Ireland?’ That also sounded as though it should mean something to him, but… He shook his head. ‘I’ve no idea who they are.’
‘I do.’ He looked over his shoulder to find Florence standing behind him, wrapped in a sheet, her face as white as…well, that same sheet. ‘It’s Amabel.’
‘Amabel?’ He stared at her for a long moment before turning back to Rimmer. ‘Put them in the drawing room and tell them we’ll be down shortly.’
‘Very good, my lord.’
‘And offer them some refreshments, if you can find anyone in the kitchens.’
‘I’ll make tea myself if necessary, my lord.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Amabel…’ Florence repeated as he shut the door, her cheeks completely bloodless now. ‘What do you think she’s doing here?’
‘I don’t know.’ He wrapped his arms around her. ‘But if you don’t want to see her—’
‘I do. Of course I do. It’s just a shock, that’s all. I thought she didn’t want anything to do with me.’
‘Maybe she’s changed her mind. Come on.’ He gave her a quick squeeze before stepping back. ‘The sooner we get dressed and down there, the sooner we’ll find out.’
‘Major Vaughan, Mrs Vaughan, this is a surprise.’ Leo stood by Florence’s side as they entered the drawing room only ten minutes later.
She was putting on a brave face, but her skin was still much too pale, her hands were trembling and her eyes had a stunned look.
Suddenly he wished he’d taken the opportunity to stop outside the door and give her one last supportive embrace.
‘My lord, my lady.’ Miss Wadlow, or Mrs Vaughan as he supposed he ought to think of her now, stepped forward from where she was standing by the window and curtseyed, looking as beautiful and elegant as ever, her sable hair artfully styled into a braided bun and her glowing complexion perfectly complemented by an apricot-coloured day gown.
‘Please forgive the intrusion. We would have sent word ahead, but we came in such a rush and…well…’ She twisted her hands together as her gaze moved between them.
‘We thought, given the circumstances, you might not mind too greatly.’
‘You’re here…’ Florence sounded as if she couldn’t quite believe the evidence of her own eyes.
‘Yes.’ Amabel half turned towards the auburn-haired man standing soberly beside her. ‘This is my husband, Major Vaughan. James. You met him a few times in London, if you recall?’
‘I remember.’
‘An honour to meet you, Major.’ Leo gestured towards a collection of leather armchairs. ‘Shall we all sit down?’
‘Thank you, my lord.’ Major Vaughan made a formal bow before taking the chair beside Amabel’s. ‘I’m afraid the matter we’ve come to discuss is somewhat delicate.’
‘Yes, delicate!’ Amabel seized on the word. ‘And…difficult.’
‘I don’t care. I’m just so glad you’re here.’ Florence sank down onto the chair opposite. ‘I wanted to write, but I didn’t know what to say, where to begin—’
‘Then let me. Please. If I don’t do this quickly then I might lose my nerve.’ Amabel reached for her husband’s hand. ‘The fact is, I recently received a letter from Mama. She told me about your visit to her in London and that you’d lost your memory in an accident. Is that true?’
‘Yes.’ Florence nodded slowly. ‘I lost a whole month, from the night before your parents’ ball.’
‘That’s what she wrote.’ Amabel swallowed. ‘It’s why I had to come back. I had to see you.’
‘Truly?’ Florence’s chest heaved with emotion. ‘So you don’t hate me?’
‘I could never hate you.’ Amabel’s eyes began to glisten. ‘You’re my dearest friend. You always have been.’
‘But I betrayed you. I stole your future.’
‘No.’ Tears were already sliding down Amabel’s cheeks.
‘That’s what I came back to tell you. When I learned about your accident, and that you’d gone to London looking for answers, I realised how it all must have seemed, what everyone would say and what you would think…
I’ve felt perfectly wretched ever since. ’
‘I don’t understand.’ Florence shook her head, uncomprehending. ‘Why would you feel wretched?’
‘Because none of it was your fault. It was all mine.’
‘Mrs Vaughan.’ Leo sat forward, feeling a prickling sensation on the back of his neck. ‘On the night of the ball, you were as shocked as anyone to find Florence and myself together. You said—’
‘I lied,’ Amabel interrupted.
There was a heavy moment of silence.
‘You…lied?’ He repeated the words heavily.
‘Yes. She wasn’t the one who trapped you into marriage. I was.’
‘But…’ Florence put a hand on his arm ‘…I’m the one he married.’
‘I know.’ Amabel lowered her head, pressing her lips together tightly before answering. ‘Because I trapped him into marriage with you.’