"Noelle!" Chloe came up behind her, hissing in her ear, and making her start. "You haven't told me anything since you crawled through my window at dawn. I'm not trying to pry, but surely you can share something with me, especially since I nearly died of worry. You got home less than twenty minutes before the servants arose. I had visions of Papa riding across our front lawn on a mighty steed and driving Ashford through."
With a burst of laughter, Noelle swung around and ruffled her sister's hair. "Your imagination gets more colorful every day. I'm sorry to disappoint you; there will be no steeds, no swords, not even a tiresome old duel." She made a face. "But I did time it a bit close, didn't I?"
"You certainly did."
Noelle felt a surge of warmth as she gazed into Chloe's eager face. "The night was wonderful. Perfect. Thanks to you. Have I told you how grateful I am for your help? Without it, none of this would have been possible. Either that, or both Ashford and I would probably have been driven through by Papa's wrath alone, much less his sword."
Chloe made an impatient sound. "Then you rescued Ashford from whatever situation he got himself into?"
"Yes. And, believe me, the situation was nearly as dire as the scene you just described. I was positively heroic," Noelle teased her. Seeing the expectant flicker in Chloe's eyes, she leaned forward, until her face was practically touching her sister's. "I will tell you one thing—and you're absolutely the first to know. Ashford is due here any minute. He's going to ask Papa for my hand in marriage."
Jubilation erupted on Chloe's face. "Oh, Noelle, I'm so happy for you!" She hugged her sister. "I can't believe it. My sister's going to be a wife."
"Sh-h-h." Noelle tempered Chloe's enthusiasm by pressing a forefinger to her lips. "Papa can't know Ashford's already asked me, or he'll demand to know when it happened. And in this case, honesty would not be a wise choice. It would only result in causing Papa pain. I'm not sure that reasoning makes sense—either to you or to me. I only know that Papa is always trying to protect me, and that this is one time I must protect him."
Sagely, Chloe nodded. "I agree."
"Here you are." Brigitte strolled into the sitting room, smiling at her daughters. "I should have guessed you'd be sharing the sunlight with Tempest." Her gaze settled on Noelle. "Have you been here since breakfast?"
"Yes, Mama." Noelle inclined her head. "Why? Were you looking for me?"
"As a matter of fact, yes." Brigitte walked over, gave Chloe a tender hug. "Darling, I need to speak with your sister alone for a minute—just to go over a few final details pertaining to the Season. Would you excuse us?"
"Of course." Chloe shot Noelle a look. Their mother's request to speak to Noelle in private was unusual. Still, she looked to be in good spirits, certainly not accusing or angry. Hence, her request was probably nothing more than what it appeared to be: routine and unrelated to last night's adventure.
"I'll finish the novel I was reading," Chloe offered, heading for the door.
Brigitte waited until Chloe had gone. Then she shut the door, crossing back over to where Noelle sat.
"You look tired," Brigitte said gently, touching the circles beneath Noelle's eyes. "I assume you didn't get much sleep."
"Actually, no." Noelle shifted, studying her mother's face, instinct sending off warning bells in her head.
"Nor did I," Brigitte confessed. "In fact. I was unusually restless. At first I couldn't figure out why. I was certainly tired enough; the trip from Dorsetshire, the days of unpacking. Still, I couldn't seem to stay asleep for more than a few fitful hours. I arose before dawn and went to the kitchen to make myself a pot of tea. I drank a cup right there, gazing outside and watching the sunrise over the rear portion of the grounds."
Noelle lowered her head, knowing full well what her mother was telling her. "You saw me," she stated quietly, wondering what she could possibly say to ease the hurt. She couldn't say she regretted what bad happened, not when it had been the most wonderful night of her life. Nor would she lie about what had occurred—not given the special and honest rapport she and her mother had always shared. So what was left?
"Noelle." Brigitte raised her daughter's chin, met her gaze. "Are you all right?"
"Oh, Mama." Noelle swallowed past the lump in her throat. "I'm so much more than all right."
There were tears gathered in Brigitte's eyes, but no censure. "The night was all you hoped it would be?"
"More than I ever dreamed," Noelle whispered.
"And the secrets standing between you…?"
"Are completely gone."
Brigitte nodded. "I knew they would be."
"Mama…" Noelle bit her lip, struggling to find words that would set things right. "I love you and Papa so much. I'd never, ever hurt you. But…"
"But you love Ashford, too," Brigitte finished for her, joy and understanding shining through her tears. "Which is how it should be." She took her daughter's hands in hers. "Love is nothing to apologize for, Noelle," she added quietly. "It's what Papa and I have always hoped and prayed you would find. And expressing it can be the most miraculous experience on earth—one that occurs with a wonder and a will all its own."
Seeing the stunned look on Noelle's face, Brigitte found herself smiling. "I might be your mother, darling, but I'm also a woman. And that incredibly handsome man who guards you like a ferocious bear safeguarding his cub is, amazingly, not only your father, but a man. We've known the wonder of falling in love."