must be some distress under his good-natured congratulations, but he let no shadow of private grief mar the other couple’s happiness.
Judith gave Antonia a hug, then offered her own hand to Lord Launceston. For just a moment her gaze met his deep-blue eyes and she mourned for all the romantic dreams that would never come true for her. Romance was for the bright and beautiful, the blessed of the gods. For women like Lady Antonia Thornton. “Congratulations, my lord. I know you both will be very happy.”
“Thank you.” He sent a besotted glance toward Antonia. “I can’t believe what a lucky fellow I am.”
“I think the luck is mutual,” Judith said softly.
Simon returned his gaze to her. They both realized at the same moment that he still held her hand, and he let go hastily.
“Have you made wedding plans yet?” Judith asked to fill the silence.
“Soon,” Antonia answered for her betrothed. “Three weeks to cry the banns.”
Lord Launceston appeared gratified but dubious. “Don’t you want to go to London for bride clothes? And a settlement must be worked out.”
Antonia gazed at him lovingly. “I have more than enough clothing to be married in, and who cares about tedious things like settlements?”
Adam’s deep voice cut in. “Since marriage is an arrangement of property as well as affection, such things really cannot be ignored. Tony. However, it should be easy enough to reach an agreement. The wedding needn’t be delayed.”
“I’d like to talk with you on the subject, Adam.” Lord Launceston gave a slow smile. “You know more about my finances than I do myself.”
“Of course.” Adam waved his hand dismissively. “Whenever it is convenient.”
Simon sighed. “It will never be convenient, but I suppose it should be dealt with as soon as possible. Why not right now?”
Adam chuckled, his gray-green eyes twinkling.“It never ceases to amaze me that a man who can do the most abstruse astronomical calculations has trouble understanding simple interest. Tony, it might be best if you join us. If we work out the general outlines of the settlement now, it will save the lawyers time.”
“Very well. I’ll meet you in the library when I have changed.” Antonia noticed Simon’s surprise when Adam invited her to join the men. Though it was unusual for a prospective bride to participate in such a discussion, Antonia had been active in the management of her own estate and investments since she was eighteen. She had no intention of stopping now.
She slipped her arm into her companion’s. “Judith, will you come and listen to me chatter?”
As promised, Antonia chattered like a magpie as she changed her dress and her maid restyled her windblown hair. Her principal topic was the utter splendor of her betrothed and what a lucky woman she was, opinions that Judith could endorse with all sincerity.
After dismissing her abigail, Antonia turned to Judith, “You will stand up with me, won’t you? I can’t imagine anyone else I would rather have at my side.”
“Of course.” Judith smiled at her affectionately. “The last and best office a companion can offer.”
It took a moment for the meaning of the words to penetrate Antonia’s excitement. Then she exclaimed, “The last? Surely you’re not going to leave me?”
“As a married woman, you don’t need a companion,” Judith pointed out. “And I can’t imagine that a newly married couple needs a third person constantly underfoot.”
Antonia made a quick, impatient movement of her hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. You did not join the household for reasons of propriety, but friendship. Acquiring a husband does not mean that one needs no other friends.”
Judith wavered for a moment. It was true that if she stayed with Antonia there would still be friendship, and she would make herself useful in return for a lifetime of comfort and security.
Then Judith thought of Simon bending adoringly over Antonia, and her resolve to leave
Judith gave Antonia a hug, then offered her own hand to Lord Launceston. For just a moment her gaze met his deep-blue eyes and she mourned for all the romantic dreams that would never come true for her. Romance was for the bright and beautiful, the blessed of the gods. For women like Lady Antonia Thornton. “Congratulations, my lord. I know you both will be very happy.”
“Thank you.” He sent a besotted glance toward Antonia. “I can’t believe what a lucky fellow I am.”
“I think the luck is mutual,” Judith said softly.
Simon returned his gaze to her. They both realized at the same moment that he still held her hand, and he let go hastily.
“Have you made wedding plans yet?” Judith asked to fill the silence.
“Soon,” Antonia answered for her betrothed. “Three weeks to cry the banns.”
Lord Launceston appeared gratified but dubious. “Don’t you want to go to London for bride clothes? And a settlement must be worked out.”
Antonia gazed at him lovingly. “I have more than enough clothing to be married in, and who cares about tedious things like settlements?”
Adam’s deep voice cut in. “Since marriage is an arrangement of property as well as affection, such things really cannot be ignored. Tony. However, it should be easy enough to reach an agreement. The wedding needn’t be delayed.”
“I’d like to talk with you on the subject, Adam.” Lord Launceston gave a slow smile. “You know more about my finances than I do myself.”
“Of course.” Adam waved his hand dismissively. “Whenever it is convenient.”
Simon sighed. “It will never be convenient, but I suppose it should be dealt with as soon as possible. Why not right now?”
Adam chuckled, his gray-green eyes twinkling.“It never ceases to amaze me that a man who can do the most abstruse astronomical calculations has trouble understanding simple interest. Tony, it might be best if you join us. If we work out the general outlines of the settlement now, it will save the lawyers time.”
“Very well. I’ll meet you in the library when I have changed.” Antonia noticed Simon’s surprise when Adam invited her to join the men. Though it was unusual for a prospective bride to participate in such a discussion, Antonia had been active in the management of her own estate and investments since she was eighteen. She had no intention of stopping now.
She slipped her arm into her companion’s. “Judith, will you come and listen to me chatter?”
As promised, Antonia chattered like a magpie as she changed her dress and her maid restyled her windblown hair. Her principal topic was the utter splendor of her betrothed and what a lucky woman she was, opinions that Judith could endorse with all sincerity.
After dismissing her abigail, Antonia turned to Judith, “You will stand up with me, won’t you? I can’t imagine anyone else I would rather have at my side.”
“Of course.” Judith smiled at her affectionately. “The last and best office a companion can offer.”
It took a moment for the meaning of the words to penetrate Antonia’s excitement. Then she exclaimed, “The last? Surely you’re not going to leave me?”
“As a married woman, you don’t need a companion,” Judith pointed out. “And I can’t imagine that a newly married couple needs a third person constantly underfoot.”
Antonia made a quick, impatient movement of her hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. You did not join the household for reasons of propriety, but friendship. Acquiring a husband does not mean that one needs no other friends.”
Judith wavered for a moment. It was true that if she stayed with Antonia there would still be friendship, and she would make herself useful in return for a lifetime of comfort and security.
Then Judith thought of Simon bending adoringly over Antonia, and her resolve to leave