One More Kiss (46 page)

“When will she tell everyone she is increasing?” the duke asked, wishing his wife would whisper something shocking to him.

“She does not want to take away from Jess and Beatrice’s day but I do believe most have guessed. Fashion is not so forgiving these days. The more natural waist makes any weight gain obvious.”

Indeed, the duke noticed a delicate little bump at Mia’s waist when she turned to respond to something the Marquis Destry said.

“You know, Lynford, you and I could—” The duchess
stopped and whispered her suggestion, which convinced the duke that the gods did sometimes listen.

“Did you mean now or later, Elena?”

B
EATRICE WATCHED THE
duchess laugh at something her husband said and smiled along with them. Her father and the countess were standing next to her, talking with the Earl of Belmont and Nora Kendrick, leaving her free to observe the others.

Jess had left to collect a glass of sherry for her, but William had stopped him and the two of them were now in an animated conversation with David Pennistan and his wife, Mia. Jess found her with his eyes and held up the glass, so she began to move across the room toward him.

Cecilia caught her before she had taken three steps. She hugged her sister for the fifth time that evening.

Beatrice beamed at her. “I am so excited, Ceci. Twelve hours from now I will be married to the most wonderful man in the world.”

Cecilia scanned the crowd. “I do believe there are women here who would disagree with you and maintain that they are married to the most wonderful man in the world.”

Beatrice laughed. “Then I will amend my declaration to the most perfect man in the world
for me
.”

“Much more diplomatic.” Cecilia took her sister’s hand and pulled her toward a quiet part of the room. “Wasn’t it thoughtful of the duke to bring the Rembrandt painting to this room so you could enjoy it?”

When they were out of hearing, Cecilia changed the subject immediately. “I wanted to let you know that
William and I are going to be married by special license next week.”

“Ceci! You and Destry are marrying? That is the most wonderful news in the world. Really it is.” Beatrice looked over at Jess and raised a hand. “Just a minute more!” she mouthed and he nodded with a knowing grin. Had William already told him?

“It is wonderful, but Bitsy, do not tell anyone yet. I do not want to take anything from your day but I had to let you know.”

“Why special license? You could have a ceremony just like this, small and only family.”

“I’m pregnant and we don’t want to wait.”

“Pregnant!” Beatrice hoped she had not shouted the word. She put her hand to her mouth and stayed quiet while the shock dissipated. Finally she was able to whisper, “For the love of God, Cecilia, what has happened to you?” Beatrice bit her lip and tried again. “I am delighted for you, dearest, but do not tell Papa.”

“Of course not. He will find out in due course, as will William’s family. You and Jess will be our witnesses, won’t you?”

“Of course we will. Where are you going to have the ceremony?”

“At the house in the Lake District that Destry’s family owns. Really it is their favorite and now that I have seen them all I have to agree. The pile in Northumberland may be the duke’s official residence but there is nothing appealing about it. And I thought that Lake District house would work since you and Jess are headed to Sandleton, which is only a day’s travel away.”

She must have still looked dazed by the news because Cecilia gave her another hug.

“You did tell me to have some fun. And oh, Beatrice, we are!” Cecilia kissed her sister and walked over toward Destry just as Jess came to join her.

“Cecilia told you?” he asked as he handed her the glass of sherry.

“Yes.” Beatrice widened her eyes deliberately. “She told me they are marrying and why it will be by special license.”

Jess raised her hand and kissed it. “They will be fine, little Venus.”

“Please tell me that she has calmed William’s impulsiveness, because it sounds to me as though she has caught it from him.”

“Beatrice, I have never seen him so happy or so content. Let that be enough.”

“Oh, it is,” Beatrice said. She watched her sister as Cecilia stood with Destry. They were talking to Michael Garrett and he was nodding as though interested and not at all surprised. Beatrice was fairly certain that everyone important to them would know their “secret” well before their wedding.

“Just think, twelve hours from now we will be husband and wife and everyone will expect us to sleep together.”

“Odd, is it not, that a few words make it acceptable?”

“But just as much fun, don’t you think?” Beatrice asked with the littlest bit of concern.

“More fun, I am sure, Beatrice. You will no longer need to worry that someone will come upon us, which
will be a relief to me, too.” He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss on her lips.

“But you know the best part?” All smiles, Beatrice Brent waited for Jess Pennistan to shake his head. “After tomorrow, and for as long as we live, there will always be time for one more kiss.”

In
One More Kiss
, William Bendasbrook—Viscount Bendasbrook and Marquis Destry—finally gets all the attention he and readers have demanded. More than one person wanted to know what happened to William after his engagement to Mia ended off-page between
Stranger’s Kiss
and
Courtesan’s Kiss
. I hope his happily ever after meets all your expectations.

Once again I acknowledge Lois McMaster Bujold’s character Miles Vorkosigan as the inspiration for William. Miles is from the far future and William the recent past, but certain personality traits transcend time and place.

One historical detail that may be of interest is the Regency concept of coroner. The coroner was appointed by the court and one of his responsibilities was to represent the Crown in matters having to do with unexplained deaths. His appointment was for life. As such the coroner was expected to be a man not influenced by title and wealth, one who commanded the respect of the entire community.

It was up to the coroner with his jury, rather like a grand jury, to examine the evidence and determine if a murder had been committed. I have no idea what would actually happen if the coroner was unavailable
as is the case in
One More Kiss
, but since Crenshaw’s death was not murder, and was eventually explained by Katherine Wilson, I made up what I thought would probably happen in that situation. Let’s call it artistic license, well researched.

My thanks to Meg Grasselli, assistant curator of prints and drawings at the National Gallery of Art, for her explanation of the genius of Rembrandt’s drawings. It is a conversation we had years ago and I have never forgotten it and was delighted to share the insight in this book.

The discussion of the fake Rembrandts that Beatrice has with Lord Belmont reflects a true historical fact and is not to be confused with twentieth-century discussions of Rembrandt forgeries. Her “clever construct” for stealing a Rembrandt drawing was my own creation.

B
Y
M
ARY
B
LAYNEY

Traitor’s Kiss/Lover’s Kiss
Stranger’s Kiss
Courtesan’s Kiss
One More Kiss