Page 30 of A Foolish Flirtation

“Her husband, the banker probably.”

“No, the other woman!” Emmeline said wildly. “She looks somehow familiar, but I cannot quite place her…”

Jeremy glanced out of the window. “Ah, you mean Mrs. Laverdale, your neglectful London sponsor.” Emmeline made a choking sound in her throat. “You haven’t swallowed any rice, have you?” he asked in sudden concern.

She ignored this, dragging her veil out of her face. “What on earth is she doing here in Bath?”

“Naturally, I invited her to witness the fruition of our little romance. After all, the majority of it was conducted under her nose, was it not?”

Emmeline sank back into her seat, an expression of horror on her pretty face. “My lord, you didn’t!” she uttered faintly. “How could you do such a thing?”

“You must call me Jeremy now,” he said firmly. “And naturally I wanted all interested parties invited. Is that so strange?”

“But she always—” She bit off her words, turning red.

“She always discouraged you from allowing my attentions?” he suggested lazily.

Emmie huffed but would not answer. At least her color had returned. “What about Hannah? We have left her behind and she knows no one.”

“I hired a second carriage. Atherton will escort her and Teddy to the wedding breakfast.”

She looked for a moment rather mutinous, opening her mouth and then shutting it again.

“Is it the mention of Atherton or the wedding reception that offends you so?” he asked lightly.

“I am not offended,” she said, though if Jeremy was any judge of character, she was far from pleased. Two spots of color were burning in her cheeks and her eyes were bright. “Though if Lord Atherton is rude or sarcastic to my dearest friend, I will never forgive him!”

Jeremy paused. Had Atherton acted thus to her all those years ago? The inference was clear. “There is a vast difference between nineteen and twenty-nine, Emmeline. Gervais was—we were both callow youths at your coming out. Neither one of us conducts ourselves now as we did then.”

She gave a brief nod and turned her head to gaze steadfastly out of the window. Once again, Jeremy found himself wondering uneasily if a quiet ceremony in Penarth would have been the better choice. They duly arrived at the Guild Hall, and he led Emmeline inside. Attendants escorted them to the grander of the function rooms which he had hired for the purpose.

Glancing around, he gave his nod of approval seeing all had been arranged as he had ordered. The elaborate three-tiered cake had arrived and was sat pride of place at the high table, the silverware and best china shone under the glittering chandeliers, and large arrangements of flowers matching the bridal bouquet had been placed strategically about the room.

“What do you think?” he asked Emmeline.

“It all looks vastly elegant, my lord,” she answered, peering up at the Queen’s state portrait in her coronation robes.

“Shall we welcome our guests here?” he asked, glancing around at the backdrop the heavy velvet curtains made. Emmeline hurriedly agreed as they both turned, hearing approaching footsteps. It proved to be Atherton, escorting Miss Pinson and Teddy. Fortunately for his marital accord, they all seemed to be getting along famously.

“Oh, how beautiful this all is!” Miss Pinson exclaimed, looking around the room, pink-cheeked with excitement.

Jeremy was gratified. “Have you seen the cake, Miss Pinson?” he asked. “The icing is inscribed with our entwined initials.”

“Oh, it’s wonderful,” Miss Pinson breathed. “Why, it’s the tallest one I’ve seen, and what are those figures sculpted along the edges?”

“Cherubim and seraphim,” Jeremy explained.

“Signifying our union is blessed by heaven above?” Emmeline hazarded, a faint note of sarcasm in her voice.

“Exactly.”

“You must stand here next to me, Miss Pinson,” Atherton informed her when she looked as though she would wander off for a closer look at the cake. “As part of the bridal party we must welcome the guests together.”

“Oh, of course, Lord Atherton,” she said, hurrying back to stand in their line.

“I will hold your umbrella, Miss Pinson,” Teddy volunteered.

“Oh, would you?” She handed it over at once, not suspecting that it would be instantly transformed into a lance or a rapier blade. “So kind.”