Chapter 42
Cynthia
I stare at my friends, my heart so full it nearly bursts. They all sit with their husbands with soft, contented looks on their faces. Same as mine, as I sigh and lean into Charles.
With the food nearly gone, the chatter starts back up, mostly with the men making jabs at my husband. Whiteport, his brother, brings a large vase out and sets it on the table. Though pretty, I do not yet have a place to put it.
“Every pound is there, brother. Seems as if you won the pot.”
The women roll their eyes as I simply look up at Charles, confused. “I do not understand.”
“‘Twas a bet!” Augusta cries out, her face full of mischief and glee.
“And the nature of this bet?” I ask, my heart pounding in my chest. I fear I may not like the answer.
“Who would be the last down the aisle?”
The men all turn away, looking at every spot in the room except at their wives. Turning to Charles, I cock my head to the side, happy to give him a little bit of the torment he gave me. “Is that why you refused to marry me until now? A few pounds?”
“Oh,” Augusta laughs. “It’s not just a few pounds. A thousand pounds each.”
“Please,” Charles scowls. “Don’t help me.”
“A thousand,” Emma cries out, turning to her husband, the Duke of Blackport. “A thousand pounds? Is that what I’m worth to you?”
He winces, but I pretend not to notice as I look to my own husband. “I agree. Is that what I’m worth? Seven thousand pounds?” The way he clears his throat and adjusts his cravat sends a thread of glee into my soul.
So glad you’re enjoying this, wife, he growls through the bond.
Just a lark, my dear husband. But you must admit you brought this on yourself.
Aye. That I did.
Shaking his head, he motions to the other women. “I believe this means the wives should enjoy a bit of shopping at some point. A thousand pounds apiece? Does that seem fair?”
We all rise in a chorus of laughs and cheers as we begin planning what we will do with all this money. The men merely shake their heads as they give us indulgent smiles.
“While the ladies decide on their bits and baubles,” Charles says. “Will you gentlemen join me in the study?”
There’s an odd note in his voice, something that makes me sit up and take notice. Through the bond, he sends a soothing wave of warmth and love until I relax once more.
“It’s a lovely thing, isn’t it?” Catherine sighs as she watches me. “Knowing our husbands can tame any worry before it catches hold with just a bit of love through the bond.” The others murmur in agreement.
Augusta fidgets a bit before she moves in a flurry of excitement. “What shall we all buy? I would like to find another set of cards that I might hide and my husband never find.”
The rest of us groan.
“So you plan to take even more of our coin then, is it?” Teresa says, laughter in her voice. “Should we just give all the money to you now?”
She taps her chin as she begins to think about it. “That does seem rather prudent, now that you mention it.”
“Not a chance,” Alessandra cries. “I have my heart set on some new music and bow for my violin. I will happily spend my thousand. Thank you kindly.”
I laugh and shake my head. “And you, Emma?” I ask, making sure to include her as well since she’s so fond of drifting into the shadows.
She gives us a small smile as red stains her cheeks. “I would rather like a new shift as well as some stockings.”
Catherine furrows her brows as she looks over at her. “Is my brother-in-law not keeping you in finery as a duchess should? William will have words if that is the case.”
“No,” she murmurs as she ducks her head. “I’ve seen a new bit of fabric that is… well…”
“Out with it,” Augusta insists. “It’s not as if you’re speaking to untried maids here. What is so alluring about this fabric? Perhaps we’d all like some of it.”
“I- Well-” she stammers. “A new modiste has come into town with some very daring fashions.”
“By daring,” Augusta playfully taunts, “do you mean it shows a bit of your ample chest? Or, heaven forbid, your claiming mark?”
At her words, a soft smile slips across my face as I graze my fingers across mine. Though still healing, I find it rather beautiful.
“No,” Emma sighs, her tone a bit brittle. “And there’s nothing wrong with being modest. This fabric is not to be worn where others can see.”
“Truly?” Catherine asks, leaning forward with interest. “Do tell.”
“It’s very transparent.”
We all gasp as we stare at Emma. For her to be so bold as to even think to purchase something like this as a surprise for her husband shows just how much she’s changed.
“I must procure a shift in this material as well,” Augusta says. “It will drive Benedict mad.”
“Same with Edward,” Alessandra agrees.
With animated hands and talks of how else to wear the inappropriate fabric, they go back to their discussion of ribbons and dresses.
Anne slides over, separating herself from the group, to sit by me, a somber look on her face.
“There is a matter I would love to discuss with you. If you are amenable?”
“Of course,” I say with a smile as I make room for her to sit by me. “Anything. Though I do not know you as well as the others, you are family. My heart is yours.”
“I appreciate you saying that, but not everyone agrees with that sentiment.”
Concerned, I lean in. “Please speak plainly.”
“You see, Lewis, my husband, is having the most horrible quarrel with Norhaven. Not to put you at odds with him, it seems to be his concern for the family and duty that kept your husband from proposing sooner.”
Hurt and anger swell as I think back on all the times I was with the others, Lewis included. I was family. Or so I thought. “I see.”
“Please,” she begs. “Please don’t be wroth. My husband is a stubborn man. Family means more to him than anything.”
“Even though I was family?”
She winces. “Yes, but… Oh, I am making a muddle of things.”
“No,” I sigh. “It stings, but all has been made right in the end. What was it he found fault with?”
Again, her expression becomes pained. “Do not think of it like that. He truly did not know Norhaven had set his sights on you. The words he gave him were from a place of brotherly need to see Norhaven well and not succumb to any omega who might turn his head. Especially those with no rank who only wished to climb higher in the eyes of the Ton.”
“So it was my father’s low title that earned this disdain?” Though it pricks, it does make sense that Lewis would care for his family in this way.
“Please,” she begs. “I promise you. To hear him say it, it was not personal. He didn’t mean you. Norhaven, however, did not know that. I just…” She trails off, clearly distressed by the matter.
Reaching out, I pat her hand and give her a warm smile. “I understand. I hold no ill will. Please. Continue.” By now, the others gather, listening to her tale.
“This is all so muddled,” she cries out. “I wish for them to end this fight, to be brothers again, but I can’t seem to make him put down his pride. I was hoping you might have some insight?”
With a snort, I shake my head. “If I did, it wouldn’t do you any good. Charles is just as stubborn, if not more so than him.”
Augusta yawns. “They’re men. I say they duke it out, and the first one to fall should apologize.”
I blink at her as my mind turns. “What did you say?”
She perks up a bit. “Duke it out. You know. Fisticuffs. Go to blows.”
“Augusta,” I cry out, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “You’re brilliant!”
She smiles and waggles her brows before giving me a lascivious smirk. “That’s what Benedict says while he’s spanking me.”
As they all dissolve into giggles, I look over at Teresa. “Are you still good at your forgery?”
“No,” she declares, shaking her head so emphatically a few strands of hair drift to her face. “Oh no. I barely sat for a week after that one.”
“It turned out all right in the end,” Alessandra pipes up.
“Yes. No thanks to the stubbornness of your husband,” she quips back.
“Please, Teresa,” I cajole. “It’s different this time. No one is running away. No one will get hurt. Just two brothers forced to come face to face with each other.”
With a heavy sigh, she waves her hand. “I cannot believe I allow you to talk me into such nonsense. Do you have any samples of their writing?”
“It’s because you love us,” Augusta says as she claps her hands. “That, or because you also like not sitting for a week.”
“If only,” she murmurs, her eyes going a touch dim.
“Are you well, Teresa?” I ask.
She straightens her shoulders and gives me a large smile. “I am well. Just a little at odds with being a mother and a lover. Now then… the samples?”
“I have some upstairs I can grab!” I say, doing my best to bring back the excitement that was there just moments ago.
Anne reaches into her pocket, face red as she hands over a letter. “I would rather you not reveal the contents if it’s all the same to you.”
Before it can reach Teresa, Augusta snatches it out and starts reading out loud for us all to hear. “My dearest obsession.”
“No!” Anne cries out, reaching over to pull it back, even as Augusta dances out of reach. “It’s personal!”
“And my husband likes to take me in the rear and tell me what a good little vexation I am. We all have our crosses to bear.”
She takes her voice down a little deeper to mimic Lewis’s and continues.
“How I cannot wait to sacrifice your body at the altar of our mutual lusts.” With wide eyes, she looks over to the poor, miserable Anne as she sits there, head in her hands.
“My, my, aren’t we a different type of deviant? I am intrigued.”
“Come now, Augusta,” I laugh. “You torment the poor girl. Let Teresa do her best so that we may bury this quarrel between our families once and for all.”