His at Night (47 page)

When they returned home they found not only Mrs. Douglas back from London—she proudly presented her sister’s jewels to Elissande as her dowry—but also Freddie and Angelica, who had come in person to announce their engagement.

Angelica, who looked radiant, punched Vere symbolically on the chest as his penance for lying to her all these years.

“Punch me more,” he said. He had told Freddie that he could share everything with Angelica, understanding that Freddie needed that.

“I should,” said Angelica, “but I have decided to forgive you.”

He was moved to embrace her. “Thank you.”

It never failed to astonish him, the generosity of those who loved him—and whom he loved—best.

Together they chatted for a while with Mrs. Douglas. After Mrs. Douglas left to take her nap, the four of them congregated in the study and made good-natured fun of Vere as they plotted his return to form.

“We can say you came upon a bear in the woods,” said Angelica, “and the bear smacked you on the head the way I should have!”

“Wild bears have been extinct in Britain since the
tenth century,” Vere pointed out. “We will have trouble with that story.”

“How about an accident during a cricket game?” said Freddie. “I can hit you very gently.”

“After having been thoroughly pummeled by you, Freddie, I think you underestimate your own strength. One gentle hit from you might shear off my head.”

“I can smack you with a frying pan,” suggested his wife, joining the fun. “Domestic strife is always believable.”

“Excellent idea!” exclaimed Angelica.

“But you are a marchioness, not a farmer’s wife.” Vere shook his head. “What lady of your station would run five minutes from her drawing room to her kitchen for a skillet? She’s much more believable using a Ming vase.”

“Or his walking stick,” said Freddie, with a wink to Elissande.

They all cackled at that.

Freddie and Angelica stayed for dinner, during which they drank many toasts: to the newly engaged couple’s future happiness, to Mrs. Douglas’s health, to Vere’s upcoming “miraculous” recovery, and to his wife’s saintly patience with the unbearably pedantic man Vere was certain to become, now that he was free to exploit his intellect again.

Vere offered his brother and sister-in-law-to-be lodging for the night, but they declined. He did not press too hard, knowing that the new lovers were eager for their privacy. The four of them made plans
to meet again soon, then Vere and Elissande were standing before the house, waving good-bye to Freddie and Angelica as the latter left for the rail station.

When the carriage had disappeared from sight, Vere placed his arm around his wife’s shoulder. She leaned into him.

“I love you,” he said, kissing her on her hair.

“I love you too.” She lifted his hand from around her shoulder and kissed his palm. “And I want to take long walks with you, many, many of them.”

He smiled. “Your wish is my command, my lady.”

“Good,” she said. “Now let’s retire upstairs and talk at
great
length—if you know what I mean—about Latin verse.”

They were still laughing as they closed the bedroom door.

The electric hand torch was invented toward the end of the nineteenth century. Patents for various designs, aimed at commercial application, date from 1896 to 1898. While they were probably not quite as portable and inconspicuous as the one Vere used in this book, I feel quite confident that given the available technology, a talented and dedicated engineer working for the Crown could easily have made just such a James Bond–ish gadget.

The passages on Capri are quoted from
A Handbook for Travellers in Southern Italy and Sicily
, and
By-ways of Europe
. Both books are now in the public domain.

Caitlin Alexander, for her tireless dedication and absolute brilliance, and for always knowing what needs to be done.

Kristin Nelson and Sara Megibow, for their support and wisdom.

Janine, for staying up with me all night, and for sound advice when I most needed it.

Tracy Wolff, for food and gossip and laughter.

Courtney Milan, for preventing me from going down a completely inaccurate path.

Jo, for helping with English criminal law.

My readers, for their emails and letters.

My family, my bulwark in life.

And as always, if you are reading this, thank you from the bottom of my heart.