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Seth dropped his head in his hands, wishing they would leave him alone. But none of them seemed interested in giving him a reprieve.

“I haveonecomplaint, seeing as we are not allowed to compliment her,” Isaac piped up. “She does smile overmuch. It is becoming a little unnerving. I do not think she has stopped grinning once during breakfast. Most unnatural. Despite your absence, she seems very happy. Perhaps you are not needed, after all.”

Seth arranged some parchment on his desk into a pile, lining up his quills so they were all in a row before he looked at his friends. Nobody said anything more, and he was dismayed to find it was rather wonderful to see them.

He had missed them, despite everything. It was good to be amongst people who truly knew him, the good and the bad. Despite their warnings and exasperation at his behavior, their eyes were soft and filled with understanding as he glanced at each of them.

“Is there more whiskey?” Lucas asked.

“I did not permit you to finish my glass,” Seth grumbled.

Michael nodded decisively, crossing over to the desk and looming over him. “Come now, Radcliffe, this is a happy day. I shall see you cheer up.”

Without warning, he gripped Seth’s hand, pulled him out of his chair, and shoved him toward the door, making him stumble.

“Is this really necessary, Grant? I was coming out anyway.”

“Definitely,” Michael insisted. “I will not have a beautiful bride sitting by herself for a moment longer. If you do not go out there, I shall join her myself.”

Seth glowered at him all over again, but his friend was not put off in the slightest.

Lucas appeared at his elbow, and Seth knew he would have no choice but to stop hiding and go and be with his bride.

He tugged at his coat, fixing the sleeve at his right wrist as Lucas opened the door and swept an arm down to the floor in a low bow.

“After you, My Liege,” he stated solemnly.

“You are an idiot,” Seth muttered, hiding his smile as he went to rejoin his wife.

CHAPTER 7

Imust get out of this heat. I must!

Alicia kept her smile in place, not wishing any of the guests to suspect the nature of her thoughts.

The parlor was a large room, but it seemed cramped with the table in the center.

Several of the guests were still seated, chattering merrily, but Alicia felt as if ants were crawling all over her skin.

Catching Katie’s eye, she rose slowly from the table, making her way to the garden door on the opposite side of the room.

It was slightly ajar to let in the spring breeze, and the scent of the flowers in the gardens was a temptation she could not fight.

My guests cannot begrudge me a few moments alone with my friends, surely!

She glanced behind her, noting that most of the guests were gathered in groups or still eating and drinking at the table, and slipped outside.

The sun came out from behind a cloud, and in a few seconds, a slim arm was looped through hers. She gave Katie a grateful look.

“I cannot stand another minute in that room,” she said bitterly. “I had to escape, even if it is just for a little while.”

“If they ask, I shall tell them I felt faint and you were helping me,” Katie reassured her, looking up at the sun and closing her eyes.

“I shall do the same,” came a voice behind them.

Alicia turned around, a genuine smile spreading across her face for the first time that day.

Bridget Huxley’s petite frame was crossing the lawn toward them, her hair in disarray as usual, the long strands looking like fire as they fell about her shoulders.