EPILOGUE

November 1781, Reculver Court, Prior’s Norton, Gloucestershire

The first guests to arrive in the days just prior to Daniel’s thirtieth birthday were the Earl and Countess of Hazelmere, with their four-month-old son, Viscount Farndon. Within twenty-four hours, they were followed by Lord Benedict Hawkridge, Baron Wendover and Mr Sandhurst. Consequently, Anna rose to summon the ladies from table after dinner that evening, saying, ‘This being the first occasion that all five of you have been together for some considerable time, gentlemen, you doubtless have a great deal to talk about. So we ladies have agreed –’

‘Three of you have,’ muttered Rebecca. ‘ I didn’t.’

‘— that you need be in no hurry to join us in the drawing-room – or indeed, at all. Take your port here or repair to the library – the choice is yours,’ Anna went on smoothly. And, with a smile, ‘Difficult though it will be, we’ll try not to miss you.’

Christian and Benedict laughed. Daniel said lazily, ‘All that means is that you’ll talk about us instead.’

‘Don’t flatter yourselves,’ replied Sophia over her shoulder, following Anna out.

As the door closed behind them, Daniel said, ‘The library, do you think?’ And when his friends nodded, ‘Then go and make yourselves comfortable. I’ll tell Flynn to bring brandy and port.’

When they were all seated, glass in hand, around the fire, Christian said, ‘I suppose we might begin by catching up with each others’ news. Mine, you already know. Michael’s christening has been delayed due to the death of the vicar at our family church and the time it’s taken to install a replacement. But it will finally take place the second week in January. Sophie and I hope you will all be there – weather permitting.’

‘We’ll be there, regardless of the weather,’ promised Anthony. Then, ‘My news is soon told. Lizzie is betrothed to Viscount Cardew’s eldest. And that, thank God, will be all my sisters off my hands.’

‘Enjoy it while you can,’ grinned Daniel. ‘I’ll lay money that, as soon as the Season starts, your mother will turn all her match-making skills to finding a bride for you . Rumour has it that mothers do that as soon as their sons turn thirty.’

‘Which I won’t do for another eight months,’ retorted Anthony. ‘You are the first of us to reach that advanced milestone.’

‘Thank you for reminding me.’

‘My pleasure. But enough of that. Your turn, Gerald.’

A slow smile lit Mr Sandhurst’s face.

‘Julia and I are now formally betrothed.’

‘You are?’ Rising to grasp his hand, Daniel said, ‘That’s wonderful news! My sincerest congratulations. Did her mother not object as much as you expected?’

‘She did. But Kit and Sophie persuaded her.’

‘That’s one way of putting it,’ remarked Christian dryly. ‘Sophie merely told her that, if Julia wasn’t allowed to follow her heart, Lady Kelsall could continue husband-hunting for Gwendoline without any help from her. There having been three near misses so far, that did the trick fast enough.’

‘Near misses?’ asked Anthony, amused.

‘So I believe. Lord Chillenden, before Sophie and I were married. Sir Jeremy Worth and Mr Foster-Smythe since. Sophie’s theory is that, sooner or later, Gwendoline always manages to give them a glimpse of her true self – upon which, they take to the hills.’

‘She stalked Oscar and me for a time,’ remarked Benedict. ‘It was … unnerving.’ After a scattering of laughter, he added, ‘So before anyone asks, I’m not likely to be married or even betrothed any time soon and have no other news of any great interest or importance to impart. Like everyone else, I’m waiting to hear about you, Daniel. How is married life suiting you?’

‘Since you ask, extremely well,’ grinned Daniel. He paused briefly. ‘If you want the truth, I’m happier than I ever thought I would – or even could – be.’

For a moment, all four gentlemen contemplated him in silence. Then Christian said slowly, ‘You can tell me to mind my own business if you wish. But while you were staying with us, Sophie insisted that Anna was in love with you and that you, although you didn’t yet know it, were close to feeling the same about her. Was she right?’

Daniel’s colour rose a little but he replied without hesitation. ‘On all counts.’

‘Then I think I can safely speak for all of us when I say we’re happy for you. And relieved because the omens weren’t favourable.’

‘The omens were wrong, as was I. Anna is … remarkable; which, considering what we’ve been up against since we married, is just as well.’

‘Yes,’ said Christian. ‘I’ve wondered about that. Have the Grimshaw and Harvill sagas been resolved?’

‘They have. So while I tell the others what you already know perhaps you’d play host and re-fill everyone’s glass?’ And to the others, ‘There are two, separate stories here. One of Harold Grimshaw; the man largely responsible for my father dying neck-deep in debt. And the other of Simeon Harvill; a fellow with an obsession bordering on insanity.’

As economically as possible, Daniel spoke of Grimshaw’s blackmail and of William, the excuse for it; then about Harvill’s inexplicable determination to acquire Hawthorne’s.

‘That’s how matters stood when Anna and I visited you, Kit. But a lot has happened since then. Amongst it, that my mother has known about William since he was a year old.’

‘ Seriously? ’ asked Christian, stunned.

‘Seriously,’ agreed Daniel. ‘But I’ll come to that presently.’

When he arrived at the point of Grimshaw’s recent flight, Benedict said, ‘And you’re satisfied with that?’

‘Yes. I can’t prosecute for blackmail without the whole story coming out in court, so him disappearing is the best solution. He’s gone. And that’s all Anna and I care about.’

‘That makes sense,’ offered Anthony. ‘So … what happened with Harvill?’

Daniel made a sound that wasn’t quite laughter.

‘He thinks his larcenous ancestors buried their Civil War loot in the land the manufactory now stands on. So, since Anna wouldn’t sell it to him, he set fire to it.’

‘ What? ’ gasped all four gentlemen, more or less in unison.

‘Yes. While I was away buying horses, Anna went to Hawthorne’s. I got home, found her gone and followed her. When I got there, smoke was pouring out from both the ground and first floor windows … and they told me that Anna was inside. I’ll swear my heart stopped for a moment.’ Once again, he tried to laugh but didn’t quite manage it. ‘When I said she’s remarkable, I meant it literally. I don’t know how she stays so clear-headed – yet she does. Knowing she needed help quickly, she rang the bell that signals the end of the working day because it was Sunday so people living nearby would know something was wrong. I wouldn’t have thought of that – but she did. Then she went inside a burning building looking for Harvill. When I got to her, he was on his knees and she was standing over him with a shovel , for God’s sake!’

His friends glanced at each other, unsure what to say. Finally Christian said, ‘I take it that – unlike Grimshaw – Mr Harvill will face prosecution?’

‘Anna might have died,’ said Daniel grimly. ‘If I could kill him with my bare hands, I would. So yes. He’ll be tried for arson.’

‘It’s a hanging offence,’ remarked Gerald quietly.

‘I know. And so does he.’ Daniel drew a steadying breath. ‘Can we talk about something else?’ And randomly to Benedict, ‘How is Belhaven?’

‘No less peculiar than he ever was – though he’s been taking his seat in the Upper House more often than he used to. Another departure is that he’s started asking Oscar when he intends to find a suitable bride and provide the dukedom with an heir.’

Christian’s brows rose. ‘He doesn’t intend to do that himself?’

‘It’s beginning to look that way,’ shrugged Benedict. ‘Needless to say, Oscar is less than happy. He has no objection to marriage but would prefer to do it without Vere’s interference – and I can’t blame him for that.’

‘Belhaven is – what?’ asked Anthony. ‘Nearly forty?’

‘Thirty-seven.’

‘And he’s never shown a preference for any particular lady?’

Benedict laughed. ‘Not that I know of. But you have to attend society events in order to meet ladies – and we all know how rarely he does that. Although …’ He stopped and added slowly, ‘Oscar says that just after he left Oxford and the five of us were still in our second year, there were vague rumours that Vere had suffered a Disappointment. But Oscar dismissed them as nonsense – and I agree with him. Aside from Vere not exactly being a gargoyle, what sort of female turns down a duke?’

‘True,’ agreed Daniel. And with an innocent smile, ‘But if Oscar doesn’t produce the next duke, it will fall to you, won’t it? And marriage isn’t so bad, you know.’

Benedict hurled a cushion at him. ‘There speaks a man besotted with his wife.’

‘I don’t deny it.’

‘Upon which note,’ said Christian coming to his feet, ‘with the exception of Daniel, will you all please be upstanding for the toast we’ve yet to make.’ And when they had done so, ‘Long life and happiness to Daniel and Anna … and may their future be free of Grimshaws, Harvills and other similar complications.’

‘To Daniel and Anna,’ chorused his friends. After which Christian added, ‘So … Dan and I are the first to fall, with Gerald soon to follow. Does anyone want to wager on who will be next? Benedict or Anthony?’

‘Benedict,’ said Anthony, promptly and echoed by Christian.

‘Anthony,’ said Gerald and Daniel.

‘Neither,’ said Benedict, raising his glass. ‘Oscar. And good luck to him.’

~**~** ~