Epilogue
Valentina slipped on her diamond eardrops—a wedding present from her husband—and called to him over her shoulder.
“Denys, have you found my necklace? The concert starts at eight and it will be a crush, I’m sure.”
He walked around her, and once again, she admired his athletic good looks.
They were enhanced by a well-fitted sage jacket and a subtle marigold-patterned waistcoat.
His cravat was in the latest fashion, something he called the “Mathematical,” which no doubt Richard had shared.
He carried a sapphire-and-diamond necklet, her recent birthday gift.
She lifted the fall of blonde curls across her shoulder so he could fasten it about her neck.
“I am so glad they planned the performance this early in the Season. Fiona is already starting to show, and I can’t imagine playing a concert grand is very comfortable when you are out to here,” she gestured to her own flat stomach.
He nuzzled her neck. “Shall we tell them why we are late?”
She giggled. “Of course not, silly. How shocking. Though I don’t understand why you chose tonight of all nights to give my maid the evening off.”
His lips traveled down across her collarbone.
“Don’t you think I am a good substitute, Mrs. Spencer?
After all, who knows your tastes better than I?
” he whispered, nuzzling her ear. A tingle traveled from her breast to the apex of her thighs, even though the afternoon had revolved around the most delightful lovemaking imaginable.
“Do I need to fetch your gloves?”
“No, darling, I have them in my reticule. But my shawl is on the chair. Oh, don’t forget the invitation. I think I’ll have one framed for Fiona and Richard. Such a momentous occasion, isn’t it? Denys, my love, will you desist? We must leave!”
He took his hands from her waist with obvious reluctance. “Of course, Richard would have the first child, damn him. It isn’t as though we have wasted any time…”
“It isn’t a race, and they did start the process well before we did, darling. Denys—you didn’t—did you and Richard make a wager?”
He had the grace to look embarrassed. “Only a small one. We were at White’s one night, and slightly in our cups, I’m afraid—”
“Well, I’m surprised you didn’t bet on who might have the first boy—Denys! How could you? You are both incorrigible.”
“Did you say you needed your shawl, my love? Here you go…the time grows late…” Valentina let him usher her out the door, then ran back in and snatched up the sheet of paper on her dressing table.
7th February 1819
9:00 p.m.
Hanover Square Rooms
In
The Queen’s Concert Hall
The West London Orchestra
Presents
Fiona Merrick, pianist
Schubert—Impromptu in B-flat, Beethoven—Piano Sonata #13, Mozart—Piano Concerto #17, Bach—Minuet in G
And a new work by the artist “A Symphony for the Earl”
The End