‘Good evening, ladies. I trust I find you well.’
They bobbed brief curtsies that suggested he was hardly worth the courtesy. Then Miranda spoke.
‘Good evening, Mr Rawlings. I have remembered the name correctly, have I not? La, what a flutter with the house full of babies. How do you like your little bast- I mean your sons?’
‘I like them very well,’ John answered evenly.
Miranda continued, ‘We were saying how well Lady Elizabeth looks despite her ordeal. We think it is nothing short of a miracle at her age.’
She had made this kind of remark once before, at Lady Sidmouth’s summer ball to be precise, and John felt his fury grow. ‘Elizabeth is a remarkable woman,’ he said, ‘and has been through many ordeals to become the person she is today.’
There was another muffled giggle and he realized that his answer could have been taken two ways.
‘But one thing,’ he continued firmly, ‘that one could never say about the Marchesa is that she is shallow. She is like steel compared with many of the drooping lilies that one sees around one. Would you not agree?’
There was silence, then Felicity said, ‘Shall we go down to dinner?’
‘After you, ladies,’ said John, and felt that he had just won that round.
During the night he was awoken by the sound of crying, and for a moment thought he had gone back in time and that it was Rose who wanted him. Then he came to his senses and was just about to get out of bed when he heard footsteps in the corridor and realized that maids had already picked the infants up and were at this very moment carrying them in to their mother. He thought of Elizabeth being woken up by two hungry boys and decided that as soon as she was on her own he would creep into her room and tell her how much he loved her.
He lay awake listening for the sound of the maids returning the boys to the nursery. Eventually he heard them, then the house grew silent and still once more. Softly John got out of bed and walked across the corridor to where Elizabeth lay sleeping. Her black hair was spread across the pillow like a fantastic web, shot with silver where the moon peeped in through the vents in the curtains. Walking quietly, John went to the window and drew them apart a little. Far below him the sea churned and leapt, and the Apothecary spared a thought for the many poor devils spending the night on the treacherous waves. Then he pulled the curtains closed and turned back to the bed.
A great surge of emotion filled him as he looked down at the woman who had so courageously undergone the mighty experience of giving birth. Then he bent and gently kissed her on the cheek before snuggling in beside her and — oh so gently — taking her in his arms and falling asleep.
Seven
As dawn came creeping over the River Exe John kissed Elizabeth, who still slept deeply, and then went back to his own room where he enjoyed a couple of hours of perfect, dreamless sleep before the smell of distant cooking woke him up. Ringing for hot water, he washed, shaved and dressed in his terrible lime green suit then went down to the breakfast room. It was empty except for Lady Sidmouth who, as usual, was doing her busy bee act.
‘Ah John,’ she said, raising her quizzer to her heavily-lidded dark brown eye the better to observe him. ‘You look well and rested — but the colour of that suit is enough to put one off one’s food. Would you kindly remove the jacket?’
John did so and, helping himself to a substantial amount from the servers placed on the sideboard, sat down in his violet waistcoat and prepared to tuck in. But the fork was only halfway to his mouth when the door opened and Miranda Tremayne, eyes downcast and looking excessively prim, entered and sat down.
Lady Sidmouth said, ‘There have been some interesting changes since you were last here, John.’
‘Oh really? And what might they be?’
Miranda spoke up, eyes still not raised. ‘I have become betrothed, Mr Rawlings, and indeed am due to be married in June.’
‘How very delightful. And who is the lucky bridegroom?’
Lady Sidmouth interrupted. ‘Miranda has done very well for herself. She is to marry the Earl of St Austell and will go to live in his grand house in Cornwall.’
‘What a good match,’ John murmured politely.
Miranda looked up and straight at the Apothecary and he noticed that her eyes were shuttered, all her secret thoughts hidden from the world. ‘The Earl is a very gracious man and I care for him greatly,’ she said, just a fraction defiantly.
‘What Miranda is trying to say,’ Lady Sidmouth put in, ‘is that she doesn’t give a toss for the fact that he is fifty-two years her senior; in fact she snaps her fingers at it. She says she loves the man and there’s an end to it.’
‘I am so pleased to hear it,’ John answered politely. ‘Tell me, where did you meet him?’
‘He is one of society’s doyens in Cornwall. It was at a hunting assembly at Lord Austell’s home that I was presented by my cousin Robin. They ride to stag on Exmoor, you know.’
‘Yes, I did know,’ John muttered.
‘Well, he was so handsome and debonair — as only an older man can be — that I fell in love with him at first sight.’
‘How nice!’
‘And of course his wife had died just a few months previously after many years of being an invalid. Poor darling, I don’t know how he coped with all those weeks when he tended her lovingly.’
‘He had a nurse to help him,’ put in Lady Sidmouth with a touch of acerbity.
Miranda’s eyes dropped once more. ‘Yes, of course.’
John thought most unkindly about the enormous wealth to be gained and the huge estate and all that went with it — fawning servants, splendid food, great occasions at which the beautiful Miranda would be belle-of-the-ball — and wondered that anyone could be taken in by her duplicity. He caught the canny eye of Lady Sidmouth and just for a moment read the same sentiments there.
The door opened and Milady’s youngest daughter, Felicity, walked in. Though not exactly good looking she had improved during the few months that John had not seen her and was nowadays carrying herself with more dignity and poise. Having obtained her breakfast and seated herself at the large table, she turned to John.
‘The twins are really sweet. I popped in and looked at them before I came down. How much longer are they staying?’ She turned to her mother.
‘That rather depends on Dr Hunter. He will call and examine the Lady Elizabeth today. It will be on his pronouncement that we will await.’
‘I am sure that the Marchesa will be anxious to return home and get into a routine with Jasper and James as soon as possible. Notwithstanding the generosity of your hospitality, Lady Sidmouth.’
‘Nonsense, I’d have done the same for any of my friends. Not that my other friends are as likely to get into the identical sort of mischief as Lady Elizabeth, I might add.’
John laughed while the two girls tittered into their teacups.
‘Well, we owe you a million thanks, none the less. But you will soon need to clear the place of guests if you are preparing a big wedding. I take it it’s going to be celebrated here?’
‘Indeed it is,’ Lady Sidmouth answered cheerfully. ‘The ceremony will be conducted in St Swithin’s Church nearby and the breakfast will be held at the bride’s home, which is this house.’