Page 57 of When She Loved Me
“I have a few minutes, grandmother,” Nicole said. “Come, I’ll see you up.”
Trevor called after them, “I’ll send the lads out to fetch your trunks,” he advised, having spied an alarming number of chests atop the woman’s stately carriage.
He could not immediately decide if this occurrence bode well or ill for him but could only hope that over the last four weeks, he’d sufficiently proven to his wife how very much he did love her.
He dashed off to the kitchen, supposing that Franklin was there, giving out last minute instructions. He was, with a line of footmen standing straight and still before him. Trevor waited until Franklin had finished and dismissed them before catching Charlie’s arm and requesting he and Henry see to the dowager’s trunks.
“Is aught amiss, my lord?” Franklin wondered, looking charming and proper in his finest livery.
Trevor grinned at the old man, so very glad that Nicole had insisted, when they’d returned from his mother’s home to the abbey weeks ago, that he must be the one to go to Franklin, to insist he return to them. “Possibly. The Lady Audley has just arrived unexpectedly.”
“A calamity indeed,” intoned Franklin.
“Nicki saw her upstairs, but she might need a light repast as dinner won’t come to the ball until later.”
“I’ll see to it, my lord,” he said with a nod and swiveled to pick out one of the twenty or so bustling kitchen staff to see the job done.
Trevor turned and began to walk away but turned back and pointed at Franklin. “I expect to see you dancing out there tonight, Franklin.”
“If you do, my lord, please send for both the doctor and some of that fine medicinal brandy you’ve been hiding in your study.”
Trevor chuckled and went to the front hall again. He found Ian and Timsby now in the foyer, Timsby peeking out the long sidelight window flanking the front door.
Trevor clapped Ian on the back, and took in his neat suit of dark brown, perfectly tailored and pressed by Timsby.
“Not sure why I’m nervous,” Ian said, with a sheepish grin.
“Unless I miss my guess,” Trevor replied, “your nerves are about to go haywire when you see your Lorelei tonight.” He’d only noticed it since he and Nicole had returned, but it wasn’t often that Ian’s gaze rested anywhere else but on the comely young maid.
“Jesus,” Ian groaned. “Am I that obvious?”
Timsby did not turn away from watching out the window, but called, “Yes.”
Chuckling again, at Timsby’s detachment and Ian’s now flushed face, he directed his friend’s eye to the stairs, where once again came Nicki and Lorelei, this time hand in hand, nearly bouncing down the stairs. Obviously having settled the dowager, at least for now, they seemed anxious to resume their positions in the hall.
“Close your mouth,” Trevor laughingly instructed Ian.
Trevor stepped forward again and collected his wife from the bottom stair, which properly showed Ian how to proceed. Nicki grinned at him as she caught sight of Ian doing the same for Lorelei.
“Well played, my lord,” she teased.
“A little nudge never hurt anyone.”
“Oh boy, here they come,” announced Timsby. He jumped back from the window just as Franklin appeared, as if dictated by some inner clock.
Franklin took the handle of the door, while Timsby brushed unseen specks from Trevor’s coat before jumping into place. Trevor held Nicole’s hand, giving it a happy squeeze. He sent one glance down the excited receiving line and smiled proudly. He was a very lucky man, indeed, to have this wife, and this life, and these friends.
With that, he gave a nod to Franklin, who pulled open the door.
“WELL, I’M STILL PAINFULLYin love with him, if that is what you are wanting to know,” Nicole said to her grandmother, hours later. The dowager had joined the ball only minutes ago. And though Nicole had been having the time of her life, dancing and talking and meeting so many people, she had happily found a quiet spot on the sidelines where she and her grandmother could visit.
“I am aware of that, my dear. Take your eyes off him for even a few seconds if you don’t wish anyone else to know, your husband included.”
Nicole grinned. “I have no plans to keep it secret.”
“And?” her grandmother persisted.
“And what?”
