CHAPTER TWELVE
It was the eve of Emma’s wedding and the five ladies who’d shared Jasmine Cottage were once again living together, but only for one night. Lily’s brother Toby had been invited, but he’d elected to spend the evening with the ladies’ husbands at the abbey, which was where Arabella’s two stepchildren would be, as well.
Arabella was now well into her confinement and the other four ladies had enjoyed fussing over her. As Emma listened to her friend makes jests about her condition, Emma pictured herself in a similar situation a few months down the line. A glance at Grace made her think her sister had similar thoughts.
“What’s to become of Jasmine Cottage?” asked Daphne, who’d gone to school with the sisters and had come to live at the cottage from almost the very beginning.
“I do not know,” said Emma, as she looked around her beloved home. “Who knows? There may be nights when Audsley and I disagree about some sort of thing and I come here to cool off.”
“Or you could send Audsley here,” said Grace with a laugh.
Lily smiled. “All I know is this was where you saved Toby and me. We didn’t live here long, but Jasmine Cottage will always have a very special place in my heart. You all will.”
That remark was followed by a great many hugs, with the ladies going to Arabella, instead of allowing her to get up to hug them.
“I always suspected Audsley loved you, Emma,” said Arabella.
“I know he will love the babe,” said Emma. She’d told her friends of the circumstances of her sudden wedding. Each had been supportive and surprisingly optimistic about the marriage itself. She, alone, seemed to harbor a few worries.
“What about Audsley’s mother?” asked Daphne. “I’ve not met her, but I’m afraid I’ve heard some unsettling stories about her. Grace and I are very fortunate since we have a wonderful mother-in-law. I fear things may be more difficult for you, though I’m confident you will emerge victorious.”
“Audsley sent a letter to her home in London and expects someone will get word to her, wherever she is. We didn’t think it would be right for her to be the last to hear of our marriage, though I’m just as glad we have limited the guest list to our friends.”
“Much to the consternation of Mrs. Canterbury, I am sure,” said Grace with a laugh.
“I’ll have to stop at her shop on the way out of town to talk about how much I enjoyed the wedding,” said Lily with a wicked grin.
“What will I do without all of you?” asked Emma, as she looked at her dearest friends.
“You’ll never have to find out,” said Daphne. “None of us is so very far away. Right now, I pledge to all of you that I will always come if you need me.”
“Hear, hear!” said Lily. “I take that pledge, as well.”
One by one the five women all pledged to help each other whenever needed, sharing the burdens and enjoying the good times, as well. Even Patsy and Victoria barked their agreement.
“Well, it’s settled, then,” said Emma, relieved that with all the uncertainty in her life, she would never doubt her friends.
“We are leaving Jasmine Cottage,” said Grace, “but we’re taking the most important part of it with us – the friendships which will last forever. Perhaps, we can use this as a playhouse as we all bring our children back here.”
“To our children!” said Daphne, raising her cup of tea high.
“And our husbands,” said Grace. “May they be as understanding as our friends.”
Emma could only hope that would be true.
* * *
“Why do I have to sleep in a bloody guest room at the abbey without my beloved wife when my own house is but half a mile away?” asked Carter, as he puffed on a cigar on the terrace outside Audsley’s library, along with his brother Jeremy, Jonathan Graves and Oliver Wadsworth.
“I hope you’re not implying my hospitality is not what it should be,” said Audsley, who blew a smoke ring. “I’m told the guest rooms are all well-appointed.”
“My guest room lacks my wife,” grumbled Carter. “I don’t know why the ladies insisted on spending the night at Jasmine Cottage.”
“But it gives us the chance to drink Audsley’s fine port and smoke his cigars,” said Jeremy.
“Don’t tell me you don’t miss Daphne,” said Carter.
“Of course, I do. But those friendships mean a great deal to her. I figured the least I could do was allow her one night away.”
“You’re being awfully magnanimous about this,” said Oliver.
Jeremy took a sip of his port. “I’m also making a list of all the things Daphne and I won’t be doing tonight, so we can do them tomorrow night.”
“That is an excellent idea,” said Jonathan.
“I do get them from time to time,” said Jeremy. “You’re awfully quiet tonight, Audsley.”
“I’m just thinking about how much my life will change.” About how much better it will get.
Carter nodded. “Marrying, becoming a father. Send me home with a case or two of port. I’m sure I will need it. Jonathan, you’re about to have a third child. How do you do it?”
“I worry a great deal. The twins are excited to have a new sibling – though they disagree on the gender of the babe, so one of them is bound to be disappointed. Arabella is excited, but to be honest,” he said quietly. “I am terrified of losing another wife.”
The men were silent for a moment, unsure of what to say. Audsley had been worrying incessantly about that very thing.
Jeremy cleared his throat. “As someone who thought he might die at any time during my years as a spy, I found it best to acknowledge the possibility, then quickly and firmly put it from my head. None of us knows what the future holds. The best we can do is pray and keep our loved ones close. I will never let an opportunity pass to tell Daphne how much I love her. I suggest the rest of you do the same.”
Audsley thought about his friend’s wise words. He loved Emma. But could he tell her that? He did not want to enter a marriage knowing that she didn’t return his love, but he didn’t want to let her go. It was selfish of him, really, to force her into this marriage. He wouldn’t, if it weren’t for the babe. And he would do whatever he could to earn her love.
“To our wives and children,” said Oliver, raising his glass. “And to Jonathan, who will have little peace with a baby, two young children – one of whom will be upset about having a younger sibling of the wrong gender – and a beautiful wife, who will deserve a lie-in where she can catch up on her sleep while he tends to his family. May we all be as brave as he!”
The men laughed and raised their glasses.
“And to Audsley and Emma,” said Carter. “I know your marriage will be a long and happy one.”