Privately, Belle knew she would keep no such promise and fully intended to spy on her husband at every opportunity. No need to tell him that, though.
She watched him, now, as another lad stepped up to take his turn in the ring. The noise and enthusiasm of the boys was growing, all of them yelling and bantering, though it seemed good-natured enough. Edward, though, was tense, she could feel the stillness in him and see that he was retreating, that frozen, distant expression she now recognised beginning to take hold.
Belle squeezed his hands. The young man stepping in the ring was perhaps seventeen and not yet grown into his shoulders, which were broad and strong.
“That’s the butcher’s son, I think,” she said, keeping her tone light and conversational and giving a little tug on Edward’s hand, drawing him closer to the ring. The boys noted their arrival, now, and the noise subsided a little as they touched their forelocks respectfully, and a sense of reserve fell over the gathering. Belle was relieved it was quieter, but saddened that Edward’s forbidding presence as the marquess was enough to make them all lose their enthusiasm.
Charlie was indefatigable, though, still balling instructions, though he gave Belle a sly wink.
Edward was watching Charlie and the young man with an intense expression, and Belle could tell he was getting increasingly edgy. Certain that he would storm out of the place at any moment and disappear into the woods, she nearly jumped out of her skin when he exploded beside her.
“For the love of God, Charlie, sort his stance out. He’ll go down like a bloody ninepin with little more than a tap.”
Belle caught her breath and restrained the urge to jump up and down and cheer like the hoyden Edward had once accused her of being. The boys around the ring scattered in awe as her imposing husband ducked under the roped-off area and began to demonstrate to the butcher’s lad exactly where he was going wrong.
She watched with growing pride as Edward stripped off his jacket and shirt and began to show the group as a whole exactly what it was they were aiming to emulate. Belle listened in amusement as whispers circulated the barn, all uttered in reverent tones as it emerged that Edward had trained with Mr John Jackson himself in Bond Street.
Meeting Charlie’s eye as Edward picked the next eager-eyed lad to come and have a go, Belle couldn’t help but beam at the man. Charlie grinned, clearly as thrilled as she was at their success.
She shouldn’t read too much into it, she knew that. There would be other days when he wasn’t so ready to be involved, perhaps, but it was a greater success than she could have hoped, and Edward was clearly in his element. It was more than enough.
Chapter 28
“Wherein hope burns as bright as a flaming plum pudding.”
Belle thought she might actually burst from pride as she watched her husband at the far end of the groaning dinner table. He was quiet, but she had noticed him stir himself to offer a word or two to whatever conversation was taking place at his end of the table. It wasn’t much, perhaps, and anyone who didn’t know him would likely think him proud and disagreeable, but Belle knew the effort he was making by simply being in company after everything that had happened today, and that he did it for her.
Edward looked up then, catching her eyes, and she could do nothing less but give him a ridiculously happy smile that must surely tell him how very proud she was. He looked back at her, clearly a little bemused, but then a returning smile dawned on his face.
He looked happy.
The expression was so rare and hard won that Belle knew this would be something she remembered all her days.
Puddy had outdone herself, so overcome with pleasure at having Lord Winterbourne returned to the fold and a family gathering to cook for at Christmas, that Belle wondered how they could possibly scratch the surface. They would have to make a heroic effort, however, lest they upset their devoted cook and have to live on bread and jam until she recovered.
Belle looked around the gathering with deep satisfaction. Last Christmas had been such a depressing time for her and Crecy that this seemed the most wonderful gift, though she found her sister did not look as happy as she might have hoped. Oh, she was laughing and talking with everyone, but Belle noticed the moments when she withdrew a little, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. Probably worrying about her rescued magpie, Belle thought with chagrin, but a niggle of concern remained, insisting that it was something more than that.
The arrival of the plum pudding was greeted with cheers as Garrett held the flaming pudding with its sprig of holly aloft with obvious pleasure. Rich and delicious, everyone moaned, and slightly ribald jokes were made by the men about the loosening of corsets.
Everyone exclaimed as they found who had received which charm. Aubrey received the tiny horseshoe for luck, though from everything Belle had heard of his growing venture, he hardly needed it. Violette compounded their good fortune by getting the coin for wealth. Aubrey’s maiden aunt, Lady Sinclair, received a ring, which suggested she’d be the next married. This set her into a fit of the giggles so severe that she had to be patted on the back with some force before she choked. To Edward’s quiet delight, he received an anchor, for safe harbour, and sent Belle such an eloquent look that she had to swallow hard and look away before she was accused of being the most dreadful watering pot.
“What did you get, Crecy?” Belle asked, as her sister looked rather intrigued by hers.
“I got two,” she exclaimed. “A shoe for travel, and a thimble, for another year single.”
To Belle’s dismay, she didn’t look the least bit perturbed by either of these fortunes. Belle reminded herself severely that it was just superstitious nonsense, after all, and squashed the concern that there was anything for her to worry about. Crecy was safe at Longwold with them and not going anywhere. When the time was right, she would have a dazzling come-out in London. Lady Russell had already suggested that she have a hand in this, along with Violette, as they all knew Edward would not fare well in the city. This had been a great weight from Belle’s shoulders, knowing that Lady Russell would open doors everywhere for her sister, as well as keep a sharp eye on her. So, everything would work out perfectly, and, in Belle’s opinion, it was all to the good that her eccentric sister had at least another year to wait before marrying, in any case. It gave her time to make the match Belle had always dreamed of for her, and find a good and loving man who would appreciate her quirks and fancies. Belle sighed with pleasure at the idea. Yes, all would be well.
***