Page 11 of The Best Husband Money Can Buy

She took a sip of wine as every gaze turned to her. Setting down the crystal goblet, she said, “Verlaine will be coming with his new wife.”

Her statement produced absolute silence. The duke and his wife exchanged a swift, startled glance. Brand’s face became as expressionless as marble while Cecilia ’s gaze dropped to the meringue swan on her plate. Only Lady Sarah, too young to remember what had happened, said brightly, “Cousin Anthony? Marvelous! He hasn’t come for Christmas in donkeys’ years. Whom did he marry?”

“A Vaughn connection, actually,” the dowager replied. “Emma Stone. The daughter of your second cousin, James. She used to come with her parents, Jane Vaughn and Sir George Stone. They both died of a fever ten years back. Luckily the girl was at school, or she might have died, too. She has not been here since then.”

Amelia pursed her lips. “Jane Stone’s daughter. I remember her. A nice child. Quiet, but with very speaking eyes and excellent manners.”

James said with a barely discernible hint of irony, “How pleasant it will be to see them both again.” He studied his son, who had said nothing. “I didn’t realize that you still sent invitations to such distant relatives,Maman.”

“That is why family gatherings should be left in the hands of the old,” she said serenely. “We have the time and memory to maintain the family connections. It wasn’t easy keeping track of Emma, but I made sure that she received an invitation every year. She would always return a pretty note, regretting that she could not attend.”

“I shall be glad to see Emma,” Cecilia said with a touch of defiance. “I’ve wondered what had become of her. She was nice, and so clever. How lovely that she and Anthony have discovered each other after so many years.” She cast a wistful glance at her husband, but he would not look at her. A muscle jerked in his jaw as he stared at the tapestry on the opposite wall.

Slowly the dowager drank the last of her wine. Though fireworks were not traditional at Christmas, they would certainly take place at Harley this year. God willing, they’d shed some light on corners too long filled with shadow.

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