Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
CASSANDRA
“Why, Charles Montclair, how you have grown.” Aunt Isobel let out a laugh as Charles kissed her hand. “As tall as one of our oak trees and so very handsome besides.”
“Aunt, it must be over twenty years since you last saw Charles?” Rowen said.
“Hush, nephew.” Aunt Isobel’s beaming gaze remained on Charles. “Mmm…I believe the last time I saw you, you were no taller than one of my brother’s hounds.”
“Indeed, I remember them well. Frightful beasts.” Charles joined in her laughter. “Lady Isobel, it is indeed a delight to see you again here at Tidesfar.”
“I remember your father and my brother as young men up to no good. Thick as thieves, those two.”
“And they remained so until the end,” Charles replied, glancing up at Rowen. “May I introduce my wife, Lady Georgina.”
“What a beauty. A pleasure, my dear.”
“Lady Isobel, I am so pleased to meet you.”
“I believe I knew your mother when we were younger. She is well, I hope?”
“She is. She lives with my sister and her family in Devonshire, enjoying her time as a grandmother.” Georgina’s hand slid to her round middle.
“My dear, Cassandra told me of your joyful news. How wonderful for you. Here is my husband, Lord Winslow—”
The tea was poured, the table laden with seed cakes, tarts, sweet macarons, and jumbles, fresh apricots, and cherries, and a variety of delicate buttered sandwiches.
Sunlight flooded the Great South Drawing Room, glinting over the gilded mirrors, the pale blue walls, and the modern furnishings Cassandra had chosen after they first married.
Charles, Rowen, and Uncle Winslow stood together at the tall sash windows opening onto the park and spoke. Cassandra and the ladies lingered next to the table where they admired the elegant flower arrangements and the variety of sweet and savoury delights.
Cassandra glanced at her husband, the dramatic prospect of Tidesfar’s park rolled beyond him in the distance, lush and glorious. Her pulse beat harder. In a moment’s time, everything would be forever different. The very air would be changed.
Rowen held out his hand to her. “Zandra.”
She crossed to him and took his hand firmly. Her heartbeat settled. They stood united in their decision. They would do this together.
“My friends,” Rowen began, and everyone turned toward him and Cassandra. “We thank you for coming today. There is something very important we wish to share with you. You are the first to know our great news.” He squeezed his wife’s hand.
“We have a baby,” said Cassandra.
“A baby!” exclaimed Georgina.
“You see, the last time I saw you at the royal wedding, I was in dire straits, dear Georgina. I was with child then, but I had decided not to share the news, as in the past we had lost our first at birth…” She took in a breath.
“And so I preferred not to say a word until after it was born and born safely.”
“Oh, of course.” Georgina bit her lip.
“When you and Charles shared your wonderful news with us, I was already quite overwhelmed by my fear for myself and then my happiness for you. Exhaustion from the season bore down on me, and I hastily left London. And I’m glad I did as the child was born early, but fortunately, I was at our house in Northumberland to be attended by our physician, who is Rowen’s cousin.
” She gestured at Aunt and Uncle. “Edmund had been a tremendous support when I’d suffered the loss of our first child. Indeed, he saved my life.”
“And now you are home,” said Rowen, a smile curving his lips, giving her encouragement.
“Now we are home,” she repeated, glancing at him, squeezing his hand. “And our child is doing very well, as am I.”
Georgina rose from her chair and took Cassandra in her embrace. “I am thrilled for you, dearest Cassandra. What a wonderful time for us all.”
“Truly,” Rowen agreed. “And therefore we would like to ask you both to be our son’s godparents. Our houses have been close for generations. More recently, we have become better friends as well as business partners. And so it would please us greatly to have you as our child’s godparents.”
“I say, Oakley,” said Charles, glancing at his wife. “It would be a tremendous honour.”
“Yes! Oh yes!” Georgina clapped her hands. “And our children shall grow up together and be the closest of friends.”
“That is my dearest wish, Georgie. Indeed, it is.” Cassandra hugged Georgina.
“The christening shall be a small, private affair at the Oakley chapel here at Tidesfar, in two days’ time,” Rowen said.
“Wonderful,” said Georgina. “And do we get to meet our future godson, the heir to all that is Oakley?”
“Of course, you shall,” said Cassandra. “If he is awake, I shall bring him down.”
She left the room and found Edmund coming down the staircase holding the baby.
“All is well, I hope, Edmund?”
“All is well. Our young gentleman woke up from his nap as I passed by, and I thought to bring him down.” Edmund placed the baby in Cassandra’s arms as Rowen introduced his cousin to their guests.
“He is beautiful. And so lively,” said Georgina softly. “Hello, my love.” She stroked the baby’s arm, and his eyes widened as he studied her. “Cassandra, he has your eyes—that interesting shade of brown-green you have.”
Cassandra swept the hair from his face. “Yes. Yes, he does.” The likeness was fortunate. Smiling, she held her son closer and prayed that similarity would always suffice.