am reminded of the Walsingham ballad by Sir Walter Raleigh. This small part that I have written out expresses my true heart, and is meant to assure you of my constancy in loving you.
But true love is a durable fire,
In the mind ever burning,
Never sick, never old, never dead,
From itself never turning.
Return to me Godspeed,
I.B.C.
Graham read her letter over many times and wondered at the miracle of her. She had used some coloured salve and made the mark of her lips upon the letter.
She is an angel, a princess, a goddess. And she is mine.
He touched the print of her lips with the tip of his finger…her beautiful lips.
SEVEN
At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow on May’s new-fangled mirth;
But like of each thing that in season grows.
William Shakespeare ~Love’s Labour’s Lost, 1595
IMOGENE lifted the door knocker and waited. Ellenora Everley was first on her list of calls before she left Shelburne. Now the wedding was over, there was nothing to hold the extended guests at Kenilbrooke. A servant showed her to the parlor and Ellenora’s rapid footsteps preceded her arrival into the room just a few moments later. When she saw Imogene she embraced her immediately. “I am so happy for you and Graham. We are to be cousins,” she said excitedly.
“Oh, Ellenora, I am happy. So happy. It hardly feels real as of yet.”
“Elle. Please, you must call me Elle. All my family does, and you, Cousin, are as good as family now.”
“I had to come and see you before you departed. Are you away soon?”
“Yes, today, but tell me, when is your wedding to be and where?”
“Soon, a few weeks. There is no point to a long engagement and as you know, I must get north soon, for my sister. The final arrangements will be decided by Christmas, and I think we will probably marry in Town in the later part of January.”
Elle looked wistful. “He loves you. God, he loves you, Imogene. When he came to me for assistance as a chaperone, my heart melted because I so wanted this outcome for him.” She squeezed Imogene’s hands. “To have helped, even a little, to bring the two of you together is a great honor.”
“I suspected as much and wanted to, ah…thank you for your efforts.” She felt herself flush. “I think perhaps your brother Jules was part of it as well?”
“We saw how smitten he was and wanted to help Graham in any way we could. Jules cares deeply for Graham. That first night at the ball, he worked so hard in his plotting to bring the two of you together and keep all others away. Well, we all care about him—Graham, Jules, Colin and Henry, they are all so good. They are the very best of men. Graham will want nothing but to make you happy, Imogene, and I believe you will do the same for him. He deserves someone like you.” Elle sighed dreamily.
“Will you come to visit us at Gavandon when all is settled?” Imogene asked.
“Of course I will. You could not keep me away.”
“Elle, where do you go now? With your brother and Mina on their honeymoon, where will you stay?”
“Today, I depart for Worcester to stay with my aunt and uncle, Sir Thomas and Lady Hargreave—my mother’s sister. Sadly, I will probably not be able to come to your wedding. The roads in winter do not support the best of conditions for travel.” She frowned. “I will miss it.”
Both looked up at the arrival of Colin who swept into the room bearing a great, delighted grin. “I thought I heard the two of you talking in here. Ah, and here is the beauty that has captured my brother’s heart. Congratulations!” He gallantly bowed and kissed her hand. “I look forward to having a sister. You shall make the most magnificent Lady Rothvale, rivalling my dear mother, of course.” His green eyes flickered as he smiled at her, the same colour and hue as Graham’s. “My brother could not have
But true love is a durable fire,
In the mind ever burning,
Never sick, never old, never dead,
From itself never turning.
Return to me Godspeed,
I.B.C.
Graham read her letter over many times and wondered at the miracle of her. She had used some coloured salve and made the mark of her lips upon the letter.
She is an angel, a princess, a goddess. And she is mine.
He touched the print of her lips with the tip of his finger…her beautiful lips.
SEVEN
At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow on May’s new-fangled mirth;
But like of each thing that in season grows.
William Shakespeare ~Love’s Labour’s Lost, 1595
IMOGENE lifted the door knocker and waited. Ellenora Everley was first on her list of calls before she left Shelburne. Now the wedding was over, there was nothing to hold the extended guests at Kenilbrooke. A servant showed her to the parlor and Ellenora’s rapid footsteps preceded her arrival into the room just a few moments later. When she saw Imogene she embraced her immediately. “I am so happy for you and Graham. We are to be cousins,” she said excitedly.
“Oh, Ellenora, I am happy. So happy. It hardly feels real as of yet.”
“Elle. Please, you must call me Elle. All my family does, and you, Cousin, are as good as family now.”
“I had to come and see you before you departed. Are you away soon?”
“Yes, today, but tell me, when is your wedding to be and where?”
“Soon, a few weeks. There is no point to a long engagement and as you know, I must get north soon, for my sister. The final arrangements will be decided by Christmas, and I think we will probably marry in Town in the later part of January.”
Elle looked wistful. “He loves you. God, he loves you, Imogene. When he came to me for assistance as a chaperone, my heart melted because I so wanted this outcome for him.” She squeezed Imogene’s hands. “To have helped, even a little, to bring the two of you together is a great honor.”
“I suspected as much and wanted to, ah…thank you for your efforts.” She felt herself flush. “I think perhaps your brother Jules was part of it as well?”
“We saw how smitten he was and wanted to help Graham in any way we could. Jules cares deeply for Graham. That first night at the ball, he worked so hard in his plotting to bring the two of you together and keep all others away. Well, we all care about him—Graham, Jules, Colin and Henry, they are all so good. They are the very best of men. Graham will want nothing but to make you happy, Imogene, and I believe you will do the same for him. He deserves someone like you.” Elle sighed dreamily.
“Will you come to visit us at Gavandon when all is settled?” Imogene asked.
“Of course I will. You could not keep me away.”
“Elle, where do you go now? With your brother and Mina on their honeymoon, where will you stay?”
“Today, I depart for Worcester to stay with my aunt and uncle, Sir Thomas and Lady Hargreave—my mother’s sister. Sadly, I will probably not be able to come to your wedding. The roads in winter do not support the best of conditions for travel.” She frowned. “I will miss it.”
Both looked up at the arrival of Colin who swept into the room bearing a great, delighted grin. “I thought I heard the two of you talking in here. Ah, and here is the beauty that has captured my brother’s heart. Congratulations!” He gallantly bowed and kissed her hand. “I look forward to having a sister. You shall make the most magnificent Lady Rothvale, rivalling my dear mother, of course.” His green eyes flickered as he smiled at her, the same colour and hue as Graham’s. “My brother could not have
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