“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Where are you going?” he countered—then realized she’d actually spoken to him. Would wonders never cease? Just when he was ready to give in, she’d saved him from proving himself a coward.
“Now that the shop is closed for the evening, I was going to try to see you,” she said. “As I’ve done the past four nights.”
“I was away,” he said unnecessarily. “Here.” He held out the bag. “A down payment on your dowry. I never meant to keep it from you. My goldsmith is holding the rest for you in London.”
“I know. I’ve been trying for four days to thank you.” Instead of taking the money, she threw her arms around him, the hard bag of gold between them. “Thank you so very, very much.” She kissed both his cheeks. “I love you. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you, that I tried to punish you by remaining silent.”
Though clearly rehearsed, her words sounded sincere. But Kit was stunned. He pulled away. “How did you know I was about to give it to you?” Until a few minutes ago, he hadn’t been sure himself.
Ellen exchanged a confused glance with Thomas, then looked back to Kit. “What do you mean, how did I know?”
“There was no need to bring more gold,” Thomas added. “The first bag was sufficient proof of your intentions.”
Kit shifted the heavy weight in his arms. “The first bag?”
“The one you sent with Rose.” Ellen enunciated slowly, as though he were a half-wit who required the simplest explanation.
Which wasn’t too far off from the way he was feeling at the moment. “Rose? What does Rose have to do with this?”
Thomas looked even more confused than Kit felt. “She brought us your money. Or a thousand pounds of it, and a promissory note from your goldsmith for the rest. Abrahamson & Company.”
“My money is with Lazarus & Sons.” Kit’s thoughts seemed to be moving through a fog, until suddenly everything cleared. “Oh, hang it all. It must have been her money. Her inheritance.”
Thomas blinked. “Is she mad?”
“Clearly,” Kit said. “Insane, infuriating—”
“Madly in love,” Ellen interrupted with a soft smile.
Reeling, Kit leaned against the doorpost. Not light to begin with, the bag seemed to be growing heavier by the moment. “Do you think I could come in and sit down?”
SEVENTY-TWO
NO NOTE HAD come from Kit.
Wearing a sapphire silk dressing gown, Rose paced her crimson bedchamber while her sisters and Judith watched. They were here to help her dress for her wedding.
But she couldn’t help wondering if she was going to have one.
She lifted the bouquet she’d made for herself and stroked the soft red and white petals. If she hadn’t given all that money to Kit’s sister, she wouldn’t think twice about the fact that he hadn’t arrived yet; in truth, she had no reason to expect him this early. And he wasn’t supposed to see her before the wedding, anyway.
But she’d thought she’d hear from him Thursday night. And now it was Saturday…
“You look worried,” Judith said.
Rose inhaled deeply of the sweet floral scent before she set the flowers down and forced a smile. “Wedding nerves. You suffered them, too, if you’ll remember.”
“Did I?” Judith laughed, looking happier than Rose had ever seen her. “But there was no cause for nerves, as I discovered. If it’s the wedding night you’re dreading…don’t. It was ever so wonderful—” She must have suddenly realized what she was saying, because she broke off, her cheeks flushing pink.
Rose struggled to keep a straight face. “Thank you,” she told Judith primly. “I feel much better.”
“Oh, good.” Judith smiled.
Rose’s hair was already dressed with pearls and red ribbons, her lashes darkened, and her eyes lightly outlined with kohl. For want of something to do, she sat at her dressing table and fluffed more powder on her face.
“You’re going to look like a ghost,” Violet said.
“Gemini, you’re right.” Staring at her pale self in the mirror, she pulled a little sheet of red Spanish paper from a tiny booklet. “Where’s Kit?” she asked, rubbing it on her cheeks.
“Now you look like a harlot.” Lily grabbed a handkerchief to rub some off. “Let me help you.”
Rose sat rigid under her ministrations. “Is it time for me to get dressed?”
“Might as well.” Violet swept the red gown off the bed. “Shall I call Harriet?”
“No. You three can help me. I cannot stand any more of her chatter. All she ever talks of is Walter and getting married. I almost wish they’d chosen to live at Hampton Court instead of with me.”
“That isn’t true,” Lily said.
Of course it wasn’t. Harriet’s chatter hadn’t bothered her before she gave the money to Ellen. She just couldn’t take so much unadulterated happiness right now. It set her teeth on edge.
She slid out of her wrapper and stood in place while Judith slipped the diaphanous chemise over her head, being careful not to ruin her hair or her carefully applied face. Then her sisters brought the gown over and helped her wiggle into it. Violet smoothed the satin skirts over her hips while Lily stepped close to lace her tightly into the bodice.
“I think I may be with child,” she murmured to Rose’s chest.
Rose blinked and glanced down to Lily’s still-flat stomach. In her dusky pink gown, her sister’s body looked as lithe as ever. “Are you sure?”
Lily looked up with a dreamy smile. “I’m two weeks late.”
“Oh, Lily!” Violet threw her arms around her.
“Me, too,” Judith said shyly.
Lily froze. “You’re not jesting?”
“No,” Judith said, and they both let out excited little screams.
Beaming, Lily turned from Violet’s arms into her friend’s. “Remember when you said we should be newly wedded together? Now we’re going to become mothers together, too!”
Rose watched them embrace, slowly tying her abandoned laces in a bow while her
