orchestra? "
"We only get married once. Well, I suppose that's not entirely true in our cases," Eliot said with a grin. "Fine, we're each getting married for the second time, but it's the first and only time we're marrying each other. I figured the occasion called for a little decadence."
She could only smile and shake her head.
"Come on," Lord Eliot said, urging Lodestar forward into a trot. "I have an idea."
Chapter Nine
They gave Hedgeton a wide birth, diving into the trees on its western side. Soon Cara understood what Eliot meant to do. The sound of the music was louder back here, and she could tell by the pure, unfettered tones that the musicians were likely seated outside, in the back courtyard area, which was exactly where they seemed to be heading. She also guessed that wherever the music was, that's where the celebration would be centered. When they emerged at a gallop into the cleared green just behind the courtyard, her suspicion was confirmed. As soon as they were spotted, she saw guest after guest arise. Ladies lifted their fans to their foreheads, shading their eyes to get a better view of their host and hostess' approach. Several people called out. "Look! Look there!" The general commotion was astounding – and quite gratifying. The music petered out as one by one the musicians stopped playing and took to gawking as well.
Lord Eliot led the charge all the way up to the low stone wall separating the courtyard from the green. He reigned up hard, and Lodestar reared impressively, snorting and whinnying in a grand display. One of the ladies nearest the low rock wall fainted dead away at the sight. Her fat husband had a time trying to bear her weight as she fell directly onto him. Cara had to bite back the urge to giggle at the sight. In this particular moment, she could plainly see what Eliot had meant about people doing the damnedest things when they were surprised.
Eliot was dismounting now, his cheeks ruddy and a merry twinkle in his eye. He handed the reins to a stable boy and his gloves to the valet Pierson, both of whom seemed to have appeared from nowhere. Cara dismounted, as well, helped by serving man in a white wig and formal suit, who had also appeared out of thin air. "Welcome home, Madame," he said formally, as he took her cloak from her shoulders and folded it over his arm.
She had begun to suspect that her husband had planned their surprise entrance in just this way. Eliot stood regally now, running a hand through his honey locks as Pierson brushed him off and took his long riding coat. Watching him, Cara sensed a change in his attitude. He seemed suddenly distracted, distant. But when she caught his eye, he winked at her and extended his hand. She took it, feeling a completely illogical stab of anxiety. But she didn't have time to dwell on it, for the next second Eliot was sweeping her in a wide arc before the guests, allowing them all a good look at her beautiful blue dress. She could feel a blush creeping into her cheeks. She was not used to such displays – especially of her own person – but she wasn't about to deny her husband anything in this moment. He was obviously the master of ceremonies. And after last night, she trusted him implicitly.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, my wife and I welcome you to Hedgeton!"
General hubbub and whispering ensued. He let it play out. Now, standing at his side, she looked up at him, but he didn't shoot her a glance. He was too busy observing the effect his words had had upon the gathering.
"Your wife!? What do you mean, sir?"
The cry rang out above all else, and she recognized the voice. She turned towards it. Sure enough, there was her father, his brows drawn together and a shocked, questioning look on his face. Predictably, Colonel Simms was at his side. Now that she was off her father's hands for good, Cara supposed Lord Calloway was free to occupy his time however he wished, which, evidently, was proving to be mostly in the company of the silly
"We only get married once. Well, I suppose that's not entirely true in our cases," Eliot said with a grin. "Fine, we're each getting married for the second time, but it's the first and only time we're marrying each other. I figured the occasion called for a little decadence."
She could only smile and shake her head.
"Come on," Lord Eliot said, urging Lodestar forward into a trot. "I have an idea."
Chapter Nine
They gave Hedgeton a wide birth, diving into the trees on its western side. Soon Cara understood what Eliot meant to do. The sound of the music was louder back here, and she could tell by the pure, unfettered tones that the musicians were likely seated outside, in the back courtyard area, which was exactly where they seemed to be heading. She also guessed that wherever the music was, that's where the celebration would be centered. When they emerged at a gallop into the cleared green just behind the courtyard, her suspicion was confirmed. As soon as they were spotted, she saw guest after guest arise. Ladies lifted their fans to their foreheads, shading their eyes to get a better view of their host and hostess' approach. Several people called out. "Look! Look there!" The general commotion was astounding – and quite gratifying. The music petered out as one by one the musicians stopped playing and took to gawking as well.
Lord Eliot led the charge all the way up to the low stone wall separating the courtyard from the green. He reigned up hard, and Lodestar reared impressively, snorting and whinnying in a grand display. One of the ladies nearest the low rock wall fainted dead away at the sight. Her fat husband had a time trying to bear her weight as she fell directly onto him. Cara had to bite back the urge to giggle at the sight. In this particular moment, she could plainly see what Eliot had meant about people doing the damnedest things when they were surprised.
Eliot was dismounting now, his cheeks ruddy and a merry twinkle in his eye. He handed the reins to a stable boy and his gloves to the valet Pierson, both of whom seemed to have appeared from nowhere. Cara dismounted, as well, helped by serving man in a white wig and formal suit, who had also appeared out of thin air. "Welcome home, Madame," he said formally, as he took her cloak from her shoulders and folded it over his arm.
She had begun to suspect that her husband had planned their surprise entrance in just this way. Eliot stood regally now, running a hand through his honey locks as Pierson brushed him off and took his long riding coat. Watching him, Cara sensed a change in his attitude. He seemed suddenly distracted, distant. But when she caught his eye, he winked at her and extended his hand. She took it, feeling a completely illogical stab of anxiety. But she didn't have time to dwell on it, for the next second Eliot was sweeping her in a wide arc before the guests, allowing them all a good look at her beautiful blue dress. She could feel a blush creeping into her cheeks. She was not used to such displays – especially of her own person – but she wasn't about to deny her husband anything in this moment. He was obviously the master of ceremonies. And after last night, she trusted him implicitly.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, my wife and I welcome you to Hedgeton!"
General hubbub and whispering ensued. He let it play out. Now, standing at his side, she looked up at him, but he didn't shoot her a glance. He was too busy observing the effect his words had had upon the gathering.
"Your wife!? What do you mean, sir?"
The cry rang out above all else, and she recognized the voice. She turned towards it. Sure enough, there was her father, his brows drawn together and a shocked, questioning look on his face. Predictably, Colonel Simms was at his side. Now that she was off her father's hands for good, Cara supposed Lord Calloway was free to occupy his time however he wished, which, evidently, was proving to be mostly in the company of the silly
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