The Hyde Park Headsman - Anne Griffin Perry [160]
“I thought it was …” Charlotte protested.
“What?”
“I don’t know … courage?”
Emily smiled and nodded at an acquaintance who had campaigned for Jack, then continued urgently. “I don’t doubt she has courage too, but that doesn’t give anyone that inner satisfaction, it doesn’t make you smile for no reason, and glance at yourself in mirrors, and always look your very best, just in case you run into him.”
Charlotte stared at her. “How did you observe her so much? I only saw her at the Requiem.”
“You don’t need to see anyone very much to notice that. What were you thinking of that you didn’t see?”
Charlotte blushed, remembering what her feelings had been. “I wonder if it matters,” she said, changing the subject.
“Of course it doesn’t matter,” Emily replied, then stopped. “What are you talking about? Does what matter?”
“Who it is, of course!” She drew in her breath sharply. “Emily, do you think—I mean …”
“Yes,” Emily said instantly, not even noticing an elderly man who was trying to attract her attention. He gave up and moved away. “We must find out,” she continued. “I don’t know how, but we must discover who it is.”
“Do you suppose it could be Bart Mitchell? Maybe that is the connection Thomas is looking for.”
“Tomorrow morning we shall begin,” Emily promised. “I shall think about what to do, and so can you.”
They were interrupted, before the quite unnecessary ending could be added, by Caroline and Joshua arriving, both dressed very formally and looking excited and happy.
“Oh thank goodness,” Emily said with immense relief. “I really thought she was not going to come.” She moved forward to welcome her mother, and Charlotte came immediately behind her.
“Congratulations, my dear,” Caroline said ebulliently, kissing Emily on the cheek. “I am delighted for you. I am sure Jack will be magnificent, and there is certainly much to be done. Where is he?”
“Over there, talking to Sir Arnold Maybury,” Emily replied. She looked at Joshua’s charming, mobile face with its very slightly crooked nose and wry smile. “I’m glad you came too. Jack will be very pleased.”
“Of course he came too,” Caroline said with an odd little smile. Then she turned and looked up at Joshua, her face flushed and suddenly self-conscious.
This time it was Charlotte who noticed, and Emily who was unaware.
“Mama?” Charlotte said slowly. “What do you mean?”
Emily looked at her, frowning. It sounded such a foolish question. She was about to make some impatient remark, then she realized she had missed a nuance, something far more important than the words. She waited, turning to Joshua, then Caroline.
Caroline took a deep breath and looked at neither of her daughters.
“Joshua and I have just been married,” she replied very quietly, in little more than a whisper.
Emily was thunderstruck.
Charlotte opened her mouth to say something generous and congratulatory, and found her throat aching and her eyes ridiculously filling with tears.
Joshua put his arm around Caroline. He was still smiling, but there was a strength in his eyes, and a warning.
Jack returned with Grandmama still on his arm, a glass of champagne in her hand. He saw that he had entered a scene of high emotional tension. He turned to Joshua.
“Congratulations,” Joshua said quietly, holding out his hand and taking Jack’s. “It is a fine victory, and will bode well for all of us. I wish you a long and successful career.” He smiled. “For our sakes as well as yours.”
“Thank you.” Jack let go his hand and reached for a glass from a passing footman. He held it up. “To the future.”
Grandmama lifted her glass to her lips also.
“Everybody’s future,” Emily added, looking