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)
“A day to show off all the money he’s spent,” said Elizabeth’s papa under his breath. “Congratulations, little one. And you, too.” He shook August’s hand. “I recognize a promise kept.”
“What promise?” Elizabeth looked between them.
“A promise to make you happy,” said her papa. “Though I never had doubts.” He looked over their shoulders. “The king lumbers in this direction, if you should wish to greet friends elsewhere. I believe Rosalind and Marlow are in the next room.”
They thanked her father and set off on a circuitous route to avoid their royal host, winding along the outer edges of the room until they found an adjoining stateroom containing a bit less of a crush.
“Here they are,” said Townsend, waving them down. “You missed the king.” He smirked at Elizabeth. “Your friend, I mean. He was just here.”
“That’s why we’re here now,” she said. “I’m determined to let his other subjects dominate his attention this day.”
“Very kind of you,” said his wife, Jane.
Wescott grinned. “He may still find you, sis. I’d be on guard.”
“I’m definitely on guard,” she said.
“From what?” Marlow came to join his friends’ conversation. “From your husband’s overbearing affections? I understand.”
Rosalind gave him a playful swat. “Of course you understand. You’re the worst of all.”
“What do you expect of a newlywed?” he said, giving her a furtive kiss.
“We’ve been married three years!”
“One might argue three years is somewhat ‘newly’ wed, when one has been married nearly four years,” said Townsend.
“Or five,” said Wescott.
“They will always stand up for one another, won’t they?” said Ophelia, laughing.
“We have a long history together,” said August. “We’ve always had one another’s backs.”
“When you were not jumping on one another’s backs, and thrashing each other, as you did the entire time you were boys,” said Rosalind.
“We haven’t fought in ages,” said Townsend.
Marlow laughed. “Not since Wescott learned to duel with swords.”
“All men used to duel with swords.” Wescott struck a dramatic duelist’s pose. “Far more artful than waving a pistol around.”
“Shall we return to the days of swords and chivalry?” asked Townsend.
August stood straighter, dusting his lapels. “Some men never left those days.” He winked at Elizabeth. “I’ve been known to rescue a damsel in distress.”
“Oho, the hero,” said Wescott.
“My dread lord,” intoned Marlow, bowing to his friend.
“Now, that rescued damsel is in love,” Elizabeth said, beaming at her husband. “And no sword play required.”
The gentlemen burst into guffaws, though Elizabeth didn’t understand why.
“We shall let the boys be boys,” said Rosalind, rolling her eyes. “Come, ladies, let us visit the refreshments.”
The four of them left their husbands to circulate about the room, greeting familiar faces they’d seen at other society events. Soon afterward, Rosalind pulled her aside, over behind a banquet table laden with bright orange punch and more of the offending Camembert canapes.
“Lisbet! Why didn’t you tell me? I’m your best friend. You ought to have told me first.”
“Told you what?”
Rosalind lowered her voice to a whisper. “That you’re going to have a baby.”
Elizabeth gasped. “We were not going to tell anyone, and now both you and Mama have guessed.”
Rosalind stifled an excited squeal. “I knew it.”
“You saw me three days ago, at the Watlings’ ball, and you didn’t know it then.”
“You didn’t know it then, did you? But now you have this glow, this sort of energy, as if you have a secret. That happens when you’re in a ‘delicate condition.’”
“Goodness.” Elizabeth finally managed a smile. “We are not sure yet, Ros.” She glanced at the cheese tarts. “Though I have gained a sensitivity to certain smells.”
“Shall we move a bit away?”
“Yes.” Elizabeth nodded hard. “Please.”
They left the refreshment area and made another circuit around the room, their heads inclined together.
“I’m so happy for you,” Rosalind whispered. “And I wasn’t going to say anything either, but…under the circumstances…” Her whisper pitched up in quiet excitement. “I believe I may be expecting again, too. Wouldn’t it be fun to have children the same age? And they would be true cousins, since our husbands are cousins.”
“Oh, Rosalind, are you sure?”
“Pretty sure, though I haven’t told Marlow yet.”
“Why not?”
Rosalind giggled. “You’ll understand why very soon. Husbands treat you far too gently when you’re expecting. Especially in matters of…you know…”
“Ohhh.” Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. “Really?”
“Really. And I would like a few more weeks of fun before he starts to handle me with kid gloves. They believe we are far more delicate than we are.”
Elizabeth gave a soft laugh. “August doesn’t treat me with much delicacy during our private times.”
“Nor Marlow. But in our condition…” She sighed. “They wish to protect us. Fortunately, their urges come roaring back after the baby’s born, with even more intensity.”
Elizabeth tried to imagine August more intense than he had been of late, and decided it was impossible, in a very nice way. As they strolled about, she had to remember not to lay her hand atop her waistline, not to give her small secret away.