Page 110 of A Murder at Kew Gardens

“Thank you, Rosie. I'd like that.”

“So would I.” I pointed toward her plate which sat untouched. “Now eat, and let us talk of other things.”

The corner of her lips turned up in a smile. “Like your wedding?”

“Yes. That.”

When she left in a much better frame of mind, I went in search of Cosmos.

He had escaped to his greenhouse, where I found him inspecting a tray of seedlings with the contentment of a man who was free, married to the woman he loved, and returned to the only creatures in his life that never demanded explanations.

He readily agreed that Chrissie should join Laurel and Petunia at Thornburn Abbey. Then we discussed Fox, Holly, Ivy, and William. Our brother had come home with troubles of his own, though neither of us yet knew what they were.

“He'll tell us when he's ready,” Cosmos said.

“He had better.”

Cosmos smiled. “Rosie.”

“What?”

“You don't have to fix everything anymore. Claire and I will handle it.”

“I know you will.” I had no doubt of that.

After my discussion with Cosmos, I returned to the morning room to pen a note to Grandmother telling her the news. But before I rang for Honeycutt to have it delivered, she arrived. Breathing dragon fire.

“And when were you planning to tell me Steele proposed?”

I kissed her cheek. “I was just sealing the note to have it sent to you. How did you find out?”

“My own maid told me. Do you know how lowering it is to have my ladies maid know before me?”

The Mayfair maid gossip express was second to none. “It happened barely two hours ago, Grandmother.”

She stamped her cane on the rug. “That’s no excuse. You should have sent word immediately.”

“I apologize for the delay. I was dealing with several siblings.”

“Humph.”

That was as close to forgiveness as I could hope for.

“I’d appreciate tea, Rosalynd. We have much to discuss.”

After I rang for it, she asked, “So it’s definite? My maid did not get the story wrong?”

“Yes. Warwick proposed, and I accepted.”

“And the wedding?”

“Some time this week. He’s gone to obtain a special license.”

“Where are you planning to hold the ceremony?”

“We haven’t talked about it. A small church somewhere in London, I imagine.”

“No, that won’t do. There would be a crowd of onlookers. And the press would be impossible. It’s not every day the Duke of Steele gets married.”