Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
It was bad enough that he’d spanked her over her pantalettes with full abandon, until she’d broken down crying and he’d been obliged to take her into his arms. She’d pressed her head against the side of his neck and said, “Now you won’t have to listen to me play the piano so poorly.”
And he’d teased, “Oh, I imagine you’ll improve now that our lessons are done.”
And she’d laughed and cried at once, marking the end of the delirious chapter between them. Good, for he did not wish to risk their long friendship nor tarnish her trust in him, which seemed to have increased, strangely enough, since he’d begun spanking her.
Laughter rang out at the far end of Lisburne’s dining hall, a reaction to some joke or comment he’d missed in his daydreaming. Now that he was here, he must refocus his energies on playing the attentive wedding guest, and participate fully in the festivities. As he thought it, Elizabeth appeared at his shoulder, eyes bright with welcome.
“You’ve come to celebrate with us,” she exclaimed over the din in the dining room. “I’m so very glad you’re here.”
“I’m glad, too. I wouldn’t miss your wedding.”
Speaking with her publicly, before his whole family and hers, he felt strangely shy. This was the Lisbet he’d known since she was in short dresses, but now she looked womanly, full-grown. Her gown was cut lower than the ones she’d worn to his lessons. It was an evening gown, of course, and she was soon to be a bride…
“You’ve arrived just in time,” she said, embracing him. She squeezed him and let go, and took his face between her hands. “I hope it was a pleasant journey.”
“It was.”
“I’m to be married next week, you know.”
“That’s what I was told. What the invitation said.”
She laughed and he felt he was standing in sunshine, despite being in the dark, stony great hall.
“Do you know why I say you’ve arrived just in time?” she prompted.
“Because you’re to be married next week?”
“Yes, but also because we’re to have an assembly after dinner in the grand parlor. There shall be music and singing, and a great deal of merriment. Lord Fortenbury’s brother is to play the bagpipes and Ophelia has promised to sing an aria from her latest opera in London. Your father said he’ll play the piano for us, but please say you’ll play too, dear August.”
“Goodness, I must defer to my father. He’s a much better pianist than me.”
“If the bride-to-be asks you to play, you must play,” his mother admonished him, taking Elizabeth’s hand. Her hair was as blond as Elizabeth’s was dark, but they might have been twins in their impish delight. “Why, the two of you ought to play together, as teacher and student,” his mother continued. “Don’t you think so, darling?” She turned to August’s father, Lord Barrymore, who looked very much like August except for his salt-and-pepper hair.
“I wasn’t following the conversation,” he replied, “but yes.”
Of course, his mother and father weren’t aware of the turn their lessons had taken. He saw a faint pink blush spread across Elizabeth’s cheeks. Her gaze met his and skittered away.
“Tomorrow, if the weather’s nice, Grandpapa shall take all the guests for a walk in the woods to gather winter greenery to decorate the chapel,” she said. “I’m glad you’ll be able to join us for that. And Mama has planned a luncheon after, and then…” Her gaze strayed across the ballroom, to the table with Lord Fortenbury and his family. “Oh, and we’re to have a grand reception after the wedding as well. There will be fine refreshments and dancing, and music by Welsh artists from the village.”
“That all sounds very fun,” he said. “I look forward to all of it.”
“And I shall introduce you to some of my cousins here. Lord Fortenbury has brought some lovely cousins too, from Hampshire. You’ll have lots of ladies to dance with.”
“I’m happy to hear that.” He forced a smile, although the idea of dancing with Fortenbury’s cousins sounded awful.
Her gaze softened, her eyes holding his. “Thank you for coming all this way, dear friend. It wouldn’t have been as fun without you here.”
*
After dinner, August was swept along with the other guests into the adjoining parlor for music and refreshments. Sherry and port flowed, as old friends and interconnected families caught up on births, engagements, ailments, and adventures that had taken place since they’d left London.
August found a flowered velvet divan in a far corner and sipped port while he watched everyone mingle. The craggy stronghold seemed to burst at the seams with bantering guests, which was well enough if it made Elizabeth happy. Despite dinner recently ending, food and drink was carried about on trays, offered with grinning Welsh hospitality. Townsend and Marlow came by to chat with him a while, and Wescott a bit later, with Ophelia on his arm.