Bonus Epilogue
“Mrs. Carlton.”
Caroline couldn’t help a light laugh. His exaggerated way of saying her relatively new name, combined with the flourish with which he offered his hand to assist her from the carriage, made hiding her amusement utterly impossible.
She set her hand in his. Despite having been married for two months now, the simple touch of his hand still set her heart flipping about. How she had ever thought her feelings for him couldn’t possibly grow beyond friendship she would never know.
He tucked her arm through his as they walked toward the entrance to the Garrisons’ home where the elite of Society would be gathering that night for a much-anticipated soirée. “Are you excited for your very first Society event?”
“I’m more nervous than anything,” she admitted. “But not so nervous that I’m at any risk of fleeing in fear.”
He smiled at her. “I predict you will not merely enjoy the soirée but that you will emerge decidedly excited for the rest of the Season.”
“We are about to discover whether you are a dunderhead or not.” She tossed him a teasing smile. “Thomas taught me that bit of cant. Do you suppose my mother would be horrified?”
He chuckled. “Not nearly as much as my mother would be.”
They were not more than two steps inside the impressive London home when George was eagerly greeted by a flock of very fine and fashionable people. He introduced Caroline to all of them, and she was welcomed without the slightest hint of hesitation.
As they made their way slowly around the fine drawing room, George motioned a bit to one side. “Edward is here tonight.”
Her oldest brother stood among a group of people clearly of an age with him, all dressed fashionably.
He smiled easily and naturally. They looked equally at ease with him.
These were, she felt certain, his friends.
It did her heart good to know he had friends.
His declaration months earlier that their family’s financial situation would render him and Thomas alone as the years moved forward still haunted her.
Caroline was about to suggest they go talk with him when the possibility was firmly snatched away with the unexpected arrival of George’s mother. She was not merely in the room; she was at their side.
“Good evening to you both.” His mother offered a cursory dip of her head, her eyes already darting about, likely in search of people she considered more worth her time.
Caroline had been in company enough with her mother-in-law in the preceding months to know precisely how dismissive she was of her own son.
She’d also seen that George’s preferred method of enduring the treatment was to grow quiet and wait for his mother to walk away. Caroline hadn’t that much patience.
A lady dressed in the first stare of fashion happened upon them in that moment. “Mr. Carlton,” she greeted George. “What a pleasure to see you here this evening.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Garrison, for the invitation.” He turned to Caroline. “My dear, this is Mrs. Garrison, our hostess this evening. Mrs. Garrison, this is my wife.”
They exchanged curtsies and smiles. George’s mother watched the exchange with curiosity. Caroline felt it the optimal opportunity for delivering a subtle but clear message.
“Mrs. Garrison,” she said, “George has sung your praises from the moment your invitation arrived. I can only say how very honored I am to be included on the guest list for such a universally heralded hostess.”
“I cannot speak for the universal nature of the compliment,” Mrs. Garrison said with a pleased smile, “but your husband’s kind words are appreciated.”
“And accurate, I can clearly see.” Caroline glanced around the room.
“What a wonderful evening this will be.” She let her gaze stop on George’s mother.
“I have not heard your thoughts on the evening, which is odd. You are not usually reticent on such matters. I cannot imagine, however, that you disagree with your son.”
What could the lady do other than voice her agreement and praise his judgment? That was the point.
“George is, of course, correct,” his mother said.
“Mr. Carlton is rightly well thought of by everyone,” Mrs. Garrison said.
George laughed good-naturedly. “The three of you will overinflate my opinion of myself.”
“Do enjoy your evening.” Mrs. Garrison’s parting words were very clearly directed to Caroline and George, though whether his mother was included could not be as easily determined.
As George led Caroline among the gathering once more, he leaned close and lowered his voice. “Do not think I am unaware of what you were doing back there.”
She smiled unabashedly. “Your mother will be quite careful to show you some deference tonight. I would pity her if she didn’t deserve every bit of discomfort that might cause.”
“You are a wonder, Caroline. I hope you know that.”
She leaned a bit against him as they walked on. “I will believe it if I can manage the next bit of mischief I have in mind, though it will likely require more time and effort than can be tucked into this one evening.”
“And what is it you are plotting now?”
She motioned subtly toward Edward, still in the midst of an enjoyable conversation with his friends. “We are going to find Edward a wife.”
George sputtered, clearly both amused and surprised. “Matchmaking?”
“I am determined that he will be as happy as we are.”
His tender gaze settled on her once more. “You are happy, then?”
“Utterly and completely happy.”
He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. “So am I, my darling Caroline. So am I.”