Epilogue
Will’s joy in his friends warmed Catherine’s heart. Married these eight months she still couldn’t take her eyes off him. Her good fortune left her overwhelmed with gratitude and astonishment that this great and good man was hers.
Huddled by the windows in the family parlor at Chadbourn Park, Will and his boyhood friends had been regaling the boys with outrageous tales of their school days for an hour, reducing them to laughter and encouraging them in their immanent departure for Harrow.
Even Glenaire had joined in, though he now sat listening, with a sardonic lift of his eyebrow while Jamie Heyworth, the wild former cavalry officer, expounded on a rather mischievous episode.
Perhaps that particular story wasn’t one the boys should hear. Her eyes met Will’s, and she raised a brow. In the months since their marriage, they had perfected the art of silent communication. He leaned in and diverted the story.
“Nicely done.”
Catherine turned to the woman who spoke, shyness tying her tongue.
Georgiana Mallet, more properly Lady Georgiana was a duke’s daughter, Glenaire’s sister.
She possessed the same fine white-blond hair and piercing blue eyes.
Where he was icy reserve, however, his sister’s gentle warmth showed promise of friendship.
The two women sat across the room, with a splendid tea service laid out in front of them.
“Marriage is a miracle,” Georgiana went on. “One raised brow, and he does your bidding.” Her smile was wistful, no doubt influenced by her own recent marriage, or perhaps her blossoming pregnancy. “Andrew is the same.”
Catherine followed Georgiana’s gaze where it fell on her husband.
Andrew Mallet was the one member of the friendship circle who had not attended Catherine’s wedding.
She had met him only the day before. Dark haired, his brown eyes bright with intelligence and curiosity behind gold-rimmed spectacles, a visage marred by an ugly scar that slashed across his face.
Mallet also walked with a pronounced limp, a reminder of Waterloo.
Catherine found it hard to reconcile tales of his military exploits with the quiet intellectual who had come to visit.
His affection for his wife was palpable.
“Why wasn’t Andrew at my wedding?” Catherine blushed at the intrusive question. She hadn’t meant to blurt it out, but the thought had plagued her since she first watched the four men together.
“Richard attempted to separate us. He engineered it so that Andrew was excluded.”
Catherine had a hard time thinking of Glenaire as Richard, but she could well believe him capable of manipulation. “I think he told Will that Andrew’s injuries prevented him from travel. No invitation was sent.”
“More likely waylaid by my brother. He overstepped, of course. It was one of Richard’s ham-handed attempts to protect me. He headed off a confrontation with my parents who had been invited, while attempting to convince me they would never tolerate the relationship, something I knew well already.”
Catherine smiled. “It obviously didn’t work. Having met your mother—”
“Met or collided with?” Georgiana asked, with a sigh.
“She terrified me at the wedding. I’ve come to wonder at your brother’s attachment to Will and the others.” Catherine blushed. “I’m sorry. Perhaps I…”
“Don’t apologize. Our parents believe us to be superior to everyone in England except the royal princes, and even those they find questionable.
My brother, to his credit refuses to let them choose his friends.
Richard respects Will above all men he knows.
Jamie and Andrew by extension. Thank goodness; they keep him human. ”
Catherine studied the men, bending now toward whatever anecdote Andrew was relating.
“Has Will told you how they met?” Georgiana asked.
Catherine shook her head, reminded once more that the older woman herself had known them all as boys. “Not in detail. Something about school.”
“It was Will who brought them together. Richard and Andrew were a few years ahead at school and had a polite relationship, but my brother tended to keep to himself. One afternoon he heard a ruckus in the yard, and came out to find Will standing alone facing several of the school’s nastier bullies—be warned, Catherine, every school has them.
Will was smaller and Richard assumed he was the target of the bullying.
He quickly realized, however that, far from being a victim, Will had taken on the group alone.
He had pushed behind him another little boy, a scholarship student, always despised by the sons of privilege, and was ordering them to disperse.
Richard said it was the bravest act he ever witnessed. ”
Catherine swelled with pride, but no surprise at her husband’s courage. “What did Glenaire do?”
Georgiana took a sip of her tea. “He came and stood behind Will. In those days he would have towered over him, and he turned the Hayden glare on the pack. It ought to have been enough, but to his stunned surprise Andrew appeared at his side, the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder behind Will. Andrew was himself a scholarship student, and he had made his way and earned respect by the force of his intellect. He had the headmaster’s ear. The bullies began to back away.”
“But what of Jamie? How did he enter into this group?” Catherine asked, curious now. Jamie Heyworth, a baron’s fun-loving son, seemed an odd addition.
Georgiana grinned. “That’s the most interesting detail.
Jamie had been one of younger members of the bullying bunch.
When the others began to back away, he stood his ground.
After a moment he stepped forward and shook Will’s hand, saying bravery impressed him.
I don’t know what else was said, but the four have been fast friends ever since. ”
Catherine shook her head.
Georgiana went on. “Jamie used to say it taught him to choose his friends more wisely. Your boys are already fast friends—or cousins I gather. It will serve them well. The little duke admires your brothers.”
“Charles has come far since he fell under Will’s guidance. Will has been a blessing on them all. He is a superb uncle,” Catherine said.
“He’ll be a wonderful father,” Georgiana murmured.
Catherine blushed and gazed at her hands.
“I apologize for assuming. Have you told him yet?” Georgiana asked.
“No. I’m only becoming certain myself.”
Georgiana reached over and took Catherine’s hand. “Let’s be in this together. Stay in touch so we can share.”
Moved beyond words, Catherine felt tears well in her eyes.
“We’re off for cricket in the park.” Will had approached without notice. His voice fell on the last word and alarm came next. “Is something wrong, Catherine?”
She wiped her eyes and cheeks. “Merely sentiment. Nothing to worry you. I seem to be a watering pot lately.”
“Cricket, Cath. We’re going to take on Charles, his lordship and Jamie,” Freddie exclaimed striding up. “Do you want to play.”
Will grinned. “Georgie used to be a fair player, but of course,” he waved a vague hand in Georgiana’s general direction. The women grinned back.
Freddy gazed from one to the other impatiently before glancing at his brother and the others hurrying off. “Will you play, Cath?”
“I think I’ll just visit with Lady Georgiana. We’ll come and watch.” She raised a questioning brow.
Georgiana nodded. “I’ll fetch a straw bonnet. They’ll need fair judges. You can count on it.”
Will helped Georgiana to her feet, extended a hand to Catherine, and kissed her cheek when she rose. “See you outside.” He winked and hurried after Fred.
* * *
Two nights later Will lay awake, sated and happy, watching his beloved sleep.
He spooned against her back, gently, reluctant to wake her.
He brushed her glorious hair back from her neck and set his nose against it, breathing in the earthy scent of herbs and Catherine, his joy, and let his mind wander over the past few days.
Catherine had wept when the boys and their baggage were bundled into carriages off on their great adventure with Glenaire and Jamie as chaperones.
She had wept when she hugged Georgiana and said farewell to the Mallets, promising to attend the little one’s christening.
Lord Arthur, standing with them on the steps shot Will a pointed look, shook his head, and went back inside.
There was more. For the first time since their marriage, she had no interest in his attentions when they woke.
She hurried to her dressing room instead, her sickness obvious.
His darling must think him dense. She must be unaware he knew her body so well that the subtle signs of change were apparent to him, too.
Will’s lips, against the back of her neck, stretched into a smile of pure bliss, and he settled down to sleep.
Catherine sighed and rolled over to nestle her head against his shoulder, let him pull her close, and raise her mouth to his for a kiss.
Moved even as he was aroused, Will ran a hand down her naked body to settle on her belly. He kissed her again. “When do you plan to tell me? I need a warning so I can act surprised.”
Catherine jerked upward onto one elbow. She didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “How can you? I only knew for certain the past few days!” She couldn’t hold on to her indignation. “Oh Will! We’re going to be parents. Isn’t it the most wonderful thing?”
He pulled her back into his arms, thinking the baby inside her was the second most wonderful thing after Catherine herself. He kissed her in earnest and ran his hand down her middle again. The act of loving this woman, already profound and pleasurable, had deepened beyond his most precious hope.
* * *
A few months later Catherine, glowing in her own impending motherhood stood next to Will as godparents for Richard Aeneas Mallet in Cambridge.
A few months after that, the friends gathered once again to welcome Arthur William Landrum, Viscount Rochlin.
The next generation was well on its way.
Catherine could not imagine the adventures they would see, but she rejoiced that they and the older boys would always have Will, fond father and wisest of uncles.
With his guidance and that of his friends, every child raised by them and their wives would be well prepared to uphold the family honor.