Rupert pushed her aside.

‘Hey, you little madcap!’ he said, and kissed her soundly. ‘What a sister you have given me, Justin! I knew you’d find her! But married already, egad! It beats all, so it does!’

Merivale thrust him away.

‘My dear little Léonie!’ he said. ‘Justin, I felicitate you!’

Then Marling and Davenant in their turn pushed forward. Armand grasped Avon’s hand.

‘And my permission?’ he asked with mock dignity.

Avon snapped his fingers.

‘So much for your permission, my dear Armand,’ he said, and looked across at Léonie, surrounded by the vociferous family.

‘Where was she?’ Armand tugged at his sleeve.

His Grace was still watching Léonie.

‘Where was she? Where I had expected her to be. In Anjou, with the Curé I spoke of,’ he said. ‘Well, Fanny? Have I your approval?’

She embraced him.

‘My dear, ’tis what I planned for you months ago. But to be married thus secretly when I had dreamed of a truly magnificent wedding! It’s too bad, I declare! Dear, dear child! I could weep for joy!’

A hush fell. In the doorway, shrinking, Madame de Saint-Vire stood, her eyes fixed on Léonie. There was a moment’s uncomfortable silence. Then Léonie went forward, and put out her hand with pretty hesitancy.

‘Ma – mère ?’ she said.

Madame gave a shattering sob, and clung to her. Léonie put an arm about her waist, and led her quietly out.

Fanny’s handkerchief appeared.

‘The dear, sweet child!’ she said huskily.

Davenant took Avon’s hand, and wrung it.

‘Justin, I cannot find words to tell you how glad I am!’

‘My dear Hugh, this is most unexpected,’ drawled his Grace. ‘I made sure of a despondent head-shake.’

Hugh laughed.

‘No, no, my friend, not this time! You have learned to love another better than yourself at last, and I believe that you will make your Duchess a good husband.’

‘It is mine intention,’ said his Grace, and struggled out of his coat. There was a tinge of colour in his cheeks, but he put up his glass in the old manner, and surveyed the room. ‘My house seems to be remarkably full of people,’ he observed. ‘Is it possible we were expected?’

‘Expected?’ echoed Rupert. ‘Stap me, but that’s rich! We’ve done naught but expect you for the past ten days, I’ll have you know! It’s very well for you to go careering off to Anjou, but it’s mighty poor sport for us. What with Armand hopping in and out like a jack-in-the-box, and Madame upstairs with the vapours, and half Paris forcing its way in to nose out the mystery, the house is a veritable ants’ nest. I believe Merivale still sleeps with de Châtelet, for I don’t see him here at breakfast, thank the Lord!’

‘What I want to know,’ said Merivale, ignoring his lordship, ‘is this: did you journey all the way to Anjou in that preposterous gold dress?’

‘Faith, he must have startled the countryside!’ chuckled Rupert.

‘No, my friend, no,’ sighed his Grace. ‘I changed it for more sober garments at the first halt. Armand, is all well?’

‘Completely, Justin! My sister wrote her confession as soon as she was able, and mine erstwhile nephew is to have a farm, and retire from Society. I owe you a debt of gratitude which I can never hope to repay.’

His Grace poured himself out a glass of burgundy.

Tags: Georgette Heyer Alastair-Audley Tetralogy Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net