Chapter 21
“Nora!”
Nora lifted her eyes from her needlework to see her mother bursting into the room, wringing her hands as if she was in some very great distress. “Mama?”
“Oh, Nora, thank goodness you are here,” Lady Somerset said, grasping her hands.
“You must promise me you will not be in any way upset, my dear. You must assure me that you will understand and will not think poorly of her – or of him – in any way.”
“Poorly?” Nora blinked, thoroughly confused by her mother’s remarks. “I do not know what it is you are speaking of, Mama. Is it Lord Hampshire?”
Lady Somerset waved one hand wildly, whilst still squeezing Nora’s hand with the other. “It is all so very astonishing, but I pray you will not take badly to their news, especially so soon after your own engagement.”
“Mama!” Nora exclaimed, a thin ribbon of unease unfurling in her chest. “Pray, tell me what it is you are speaking of, for I do not understand you.”
Before Lady Somerset could respond, however, the door opened once more and, as Lady Somerset released Nora’s hand, Louisa came to join them, her hand on Lord Hawkley’s arm.
Her eyes were bright with joy, her face flushed with pink, and in one single breath, Nora understood exactly what her mother had been speaking of.
“Nora.” Louisa released Lord Hawkley’s arm and came towards her at once, glistening tears in her eyes.
“I do pray that you will not be at all displeased, for it was not at all my expectation that such a wonderful thing might happen - but yet it has and – ”
“Displeased?” Nora blinked quickly, trying to formulate the words, but Lord Hawkley was next to speak, bowing low in front of her, his worry apparent in the hurried way he spoke.
“I beg your forgiveness in this, Lady Nora,” he began.
“After seeing your joy last evening and understanding the happiness that now awaited you, I determined that I could not wait for another moment. I was afraid that you would think poorly of me for doing so, but I knew – I knew I could not wait.” Taking in a deep breath, he set back his shoulders.
“Having already spoken to your father, I should now very much like your blessing and your understanding.”
Nora’s joy was so great, it felt as if the sun had just only broken across the horizon, filling the room with golden beams of light. “My dear Lord Hawkley, there is not a single word of apology required in this moment, I can assure you.”
“No?” His eyebrows lifted, but Nora, turning to Louisa, let out a squeal of excitement and flung her arms around Louisa’s neck.
“Y – you are not agitated, then?” Louisa asked, breathlessly, as Nora laughed and shook her head, pulling back to look into her sister’s face. “Not even a little?”
With a beaming smile, Nora shook her head.
“No, of course I am not. How could I be so? I am nothing but glad for you both.” Taking her sister’s hands in hers, she let out a contented breath.
“Just think of it, Louisa! We shall be married within the same month, shall we not? Two sisters and two brides – what wonderous joy that is.”
“I could not agree more.” Lady Somerset sank into a chair as Nora embraced Louisa again, seeing the relief that sparked tears in her sister’s eyes. Lord Hawkley’s shoulders rounded in relief as Nora smiled at him, taking his offered hand.
“You have made my heart flood with relief,” he said, bowing over her hand. “I am exceedingly happy.”
“Just as you should be!” Nora exclaimed as Louisa leaned into Lord Hawkley, clearly just as relieved as he that Nora had not been in any way upset. “Goodness, there will be so much for us to discuss, Louisa. We will have nothing but wedding conversation these next few weeks, will we not?”
Louisa giggled, her cheeks returning to that rosy pink Nora had seen when she had first entered the room. “Yes, I think we shall. Although,” she continued, her smile fading somewhat, “we will not marry until you have wed first, Nora. That is the way it must be done.”
A warm, deep contentment settled over Nora’s heart as she held her sister’s gaze.
“That is most considerate, I thank you. Lord Hampshire is, at this very moment, doing all that must be done to have the first banns called this Sunday. When he returns, we will make our arrangements for the day of our wedding.” Her eyebrow lifted.
“You could wed the day after ours, could you not? That way, I can be present for it, for I do not want to be whisked away on honeymoon and miss your joyous day.”
Louisa tilted her head and looked up at her betrothed, who offered her a small nod, making her smile. “I think that would suit us very well,” she answered, as Nora beamed her delight.
“Goodness, what a happy few days that will be!”
“Indeed.” From behind Nora, Lady Somerset pressed one hand to her forehead, letting out a tremendous breath, forcing Nora to hide her smile.
“I am quite overcome, I must say. Two engagements in two days, which is now to be two weddings in two days! I did not think there would ever be as much joy as this. Where is your father? He should be present for all of this.”
Nora put one hand to her heart, her eyes taking in each face in turn.
Her sister had eyes only for Lord Hawkley, and he for her, just as she herself felt for Lord Hampshire.
Their mother, now with her eyes closed, had sunk into a blissful exhaustion, and their father, no doubt, was already beginning to make preparations of some kind for the marriages of his two daughters.
“I think I require tea,” she heard her mother say, making her smile. “It will fortify me, before I am completely and utterly undone.”
Nora laughed softly and did as her mother required, ringing the bell so that refreshments would be brought.
“Come, Louisa, might I steal you from Lord Hawkley for a moment?” she asked, as her sister nodded and stepped away.
“I should very much like to hear all about this,” Nora continued, as the door opened to reveal Lord Somerset, who quickly went to talk with Lord Hawkley.
“Tell me about each moment, every word shared between you that led to this engagement. I should very much like to hear all of it.”
Without hesitation, Louisa began to speak of her ‘dear Lord Hawkley’ and Nora listened with interest. Her own joy began to rise, effervescent and overflowing, finally free from all pain, confusion, and doubt.
She did not doubt it now. There was to be nothing but happiness for both herself and Louisa, happiness borne from love, devotion, and care.