Page 78 of To Break the Rules

“Can you see anything?” Harried asked, craning her neck.

“Not a thing,” Bonnie complained.

“Here you all are.” Everyone looked around as the Duke of Bedwin moved into the hall, in search of his wife. Prue hurried up to him and took his arm.

“Isn’t it exciting,” she said, bouncing on her toes. “I’ve had to promise Alice to write down every detail about tonight. She’s so disappointed not to be here.”

“Yes, it’s a shame,” Matilda replied, smiling a little. “But she’s still feeling under the weather.”

Prue met her eyes and the two women grinned. They both suspected it wouldn’t be too long before there was an announcement in that quarter. Matilda felt a burst of happiness for Nate. It was everything her brother had always wanted, marriage and family. A house bursting with noise and bustle and the madness that a large family inevitably brought with it.

“I’m so looking forward to St Clair’s house party. You are still going, aren’t you, Matilda?” Kitty asked, taking hold of Matilda’s arm. “I have to complete my dare, remember.”

“Of course! How could I forget?” she said, smiling at Kitty. “I am all agog to see this impressive bear dressed as a gentleman, not to mention St Clair’s face when he discovers it. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Wouldn’t miss what?” Ruth asked, appearing arm in arm with Minerva who was looking very glamorous tonight in a gown of bright yellow satin.

“St Clair’s house party,” Harriet murmured, looking like she wanted to roll her eyes.

“I can’t believe I’m going to dress his bear up,” Kitty added, snorting with laughter and shaking her head.

“You won’t spoil it by being a stick in the mud, will you, Harriet?” Bonnie demanded, scowling at her. “I don’t know why you dislike St Clair so, but the rest of us don’t and we are going to enjoy ourselves.”

Harriet blushed. “Of course not,” she exclaimed, looking affronted by the idea. “My family goes every year. Not that I have any choice, but I can be polite if it’s necessary,” she assured them. “Even if it kills me,” she muttered under her breath.

Bonnie sighed, glimpsing the man himself as he passed the open doorway. “Well, I’d marry him,” she said dreamily before her expression darkened. “Though I’d marry that footman over there if I thought he’d save me from Gordon Anderson,” she added with a glower.

Matilda raised her eyebrows at the rather short, dumpy and balding footman who was hurrying past with a tray of drinks. “Oh, come now, Bonnie. I can’t believe he’s that awful. When was the last time you saw him?”

Bonnie shrugged. “Two years ago.”

“Well, there you are, then. That’s a long time for a young man. He may have changed,” Matilda said, trying to soothe her. “It may be he’s not as bad as you remember.”

“I thought that the last time I was due to see him,” Bonnie admitted, pursing her lips. “I thought he couldn’t possibly be as bad as I remembered as it had been over a year that time.”

“And?” Matilda said, smiling hopefully.

“He was worse.”

Matilda gave up and turned her attention back to the stairs where she’d caught a flash of red from the corner of her eye. “She’s coming!” she exclaimed.

Everyone turned, gazing up to the top of the stairs. A collective intake of breath preceded a hush of absolute quiet as Aashini appeared on her husband’s arm.

Lord Cavendish looked as if he was about to burst with pride, which Matilda thought quite appropriate as she took in the vision descending the staircase.

“I think I might cry,” Prue said, reaching to take Matilda’s hand and squeezing tight.

“I beat you to it,” Matilda said, laughing and wiping her eyes, though she couldn’t look away from her friend as she walked towards them.

She was a vision in red silk, every inch of her bedecked in gold and jewels that sparkled and glinted as she moved.

“She looks like a princess from a fairy story,” Minerva said, wide-eyed with astonishment.

“Well, then,” Ruth said, sounding wistful, “this must be her happy ever after.”

“Hello, ladies,” Aashini said, on reaching the hallway.

She was beaming, her eyes so alight with happiness that Matilda couldn’t help but return the expression. “Oh, Aashini, I’m sure your husband must have told you already, but… how lovely you are.”