Calypso Magic (Magic Trilogy 2)

"Aye," said Belvis. "Now, ye go along, miss, else his young lordship might just clip my ears for speaking so bluntly to ye."

"All right. We are returning to London, you know, early tomorrow morning. I shall miss you, Belvis, and Desborough Hall."

"Ye mind yerself, miss, and his lordship."

"And you take care of Flying Davie."

"He'll take all comers at Newmarket this summer. Oh, indeed he will."

Diana didn't doubt that for a moment.

Leavetaking was difficult for Diana. So many new friends she'd made. And, she discovered, somewhat to her surprise, she'd fallen in love with the Yorkshire countryside. It was wild and desolate on the heather-covered moors, and free. It made her feel most odd, as if she had come home, which was, of course, quite ridiculous.

"Cannot we not visit your e

state, Aunt?" she asked Lucia as their carriage bowled down the long drive.

"Not this time, my dear. We've too many engagements in town. Did you know that Lyonel also owns an estate here in Yorkshire? Quite near to mine, just five miles from Escrick."

"No, he didn't tell me." Damn the man! She had told him she much admired the countryside when they rode together, she recalled. He had merely grunted in that indifferent way, making her want to box his ears.

Their journey back to London was at a much slower pace and Diana saw much more of England. Lyonel spent not a minute inside the carriage, but Diana stoutly told herself that she was quite happy with his defection. She was a bit taken aback when they neared Grantham when Lucia said calmly. "I want you to know as much as possible about birthing a child, Diana. Even with a doctor --- the bloody old fool --- and midwife --- cowering creature --- present, Frances could have died, the child with her. I would imagine that women dying in childbirth is not at all uncommon in the West Indies. Now, you will listen to me carefully."

Diana listened.

What she did not realize was that Lucia had trapped Lyonel that same evening after Diana had taken to her bed, and told Lyonel the same things. "When you take a wife, my boy --- and don't frown at me that way! --- you will doubtless get her with child. You must know how to take charge if it is needed."

"Lucia, really!"

"Shut up, Lyonel, and listen. It is not uncommon for a babe to be turned wrong in the womb, or even have the cord about its neck. You can feel the position of the babe and turn it if necessary."

"I shall never marry, Lucia, never."

"Don't be more of a fool than your father was. Now, your hands are quite large, so you must be as gentle as possible"

Lyonel groaned, but he did listen. He had no choice. Not with Lucia. "However," Lucia concluded, her voice as bland as the roast beef they'd for dinner, "Diana is no small, delicate female. Frances isn't either, but she had the misfortune of having the child in a breech position. Hawk now knows what care she will need with any future children. Now, in the normal course of things, Diana should not have much difficulty, but one never knows, and it is wise to be prepared."

"That is quite enough," Lyonel said, very softly. Lucia, who was familiar with that particular tone, retreated.

Lucia rose and kissed his cheek. "Good night, my boy. Do not drink yourself into a stupor. You will be most unhappy with your aching head in the morning if you do."

Lyonel silently agreed with that and took to his own bed not ten minutes later. Unfortunately, his dreams were fraught with images of Diana, her belly swelled with child, his child. He ground his teeth in his sleep.

He cursed fluently when he awoke the following morning.

He said to Lucia over the breakfast table, "I have decided not to visit Tortola as yet. I will go next spring, perhaps."

Diana dropped her fork at that announcement, the eggs falling onto the tablecloth. You cannot wait! I will tell you, Lyonel, that it is most unwise to leave a plantation in the hands of an attorney. They are all opportunists. As for Mr. Bemis, I don't know him personally, but I doubt he is any different from the others. You cannot leave him to make decisions. I cannot imagine why Oliver Mendenhall left him in charge. Why, my father says ---"

"I am going to check the horses," said Lyonel. He dropped his napkin, thrust back his chair, and strode from the small private dining room at the Wild Goose Inn.

"Why are you smiling, Aunt? He is the most arrogant, the most offensive, the ---"

"Yes, all of those things. But he is fighting battles, Diana, and the poor boy just hasn't yet realized that ---" Lucia broke off, eyeing Diana. She saw that the girl was bewildered, and held her peace.

She would simply work on Lyonel, dear boy, and he would be on that ship, indeed he would.

The wind was blowing in an ill direction when they attended a ball at Renfrew House in Grosvenor Square the second evening of their return to London. Charlotte had been quite busy, Lucia quickly realized, her lips tightening. Lord, were all her friends and acquaintances absolute fools? They'd been gone less than two weeks and here things had deteriorated alarmingly.