Page 21

Cavendish, May 1818

“Y ou’ve been digging in this attic all morning,” Birdy said as she picked her way through the ancient trunks and broken-down furniture. “Callum and Mary-Alice will be here soon with little Hammond. Leander is ready to crawl the walls with excitement over seeing his cousin. Please come downstairs.”

“I found it,” Crispin called out just as a great cloud of dust erupted in his face. He coughed and waved his hands in front of his face before muttering a quiet curse. Then he pushed a few more things aside before he heaved out a large placard or painting of some sort. “I was afraid my father had sold it or something.”

“What is it? Don’t make me navigate my way over there in my condition.” Birdy patted her expanding waistline with pride. Their baby would be a girl; she was certain of it.

“Hang on, then, I’ll bring it to you.” Brushing off a little more dust with the sleeve of his coat, Crispin stepped deftly over a broken spindle and showed her his prize. “It’s the family coat of arms. Well, the coat of arms of an ancient member of the family but, still, he was a Morgan.”

“I don’t understand.”

“It’s our dodem, Birdy. It always felt wrong that your mother’s people refused to honor you with a dodem. A woman takes the dodem of her husband, right? This is my dodem, and now it is yours and Leander’s too.”

“What does it mean?” She looked down at the painting, a coat of arms. There was a lion on its hindlegs, with its mouth wide, its teeth bared and its front paws raking the air with splayed claws in front of a shield of some sort. The animal was vaguely terrifying, yet even more, familiar. She shivered with pleasure, and maybe, recognition. “Tell me about it.”

“The lion represents courage. The green background symbolizes hope and joy in marriage. Five feathers make up the family crest at the top. It reminds me of your hair on our wedding day and your grandfather Staring Eagle’s headdress. Your dodem is lion, Birdy, and you are all these things.” He paused. “I give this to you. It’s a gift.”

“This is the best gift I have ever received.” Birdy brushed away a tear. Crispin put the painting down by their feet, balanced on its frame against their legs, and then he pulled her into his arms. “What made you think of it now?” she said into his chest, loving the way he managed to hug her in spite of her baby-full belly between them.

“Luke’s last letter.”

“Your last speech in support of the tribes of Upper Canada was inspiring. I feel you swayed many minds to consider their sovereignty. You should write to Luke and tell him what you hear from the others.”

“I wish I could convince him to visit us here. He could travel with your father this summer.”

“I’m certain my father has already asked him.” She leaned back to smile up at him and noticed how his face was smudged with dust and how a cobweb had settled among the strands of his shoulder-length hair. She brushed at his shirtfront and giggled. “Now, look how dusty you’ve gotten yourself. Go change before your sister gets here. But bring the lion downstairs. I want to hang it where I can see it.”

“I knew you’d like it. Come, dance with me.”

As they laughed, she allowed him to lead her into a wild dance that sent dust clouds swirling around them.

“How are you feeling?” Mary-Alice settled herself into the chair with some difficulty.

“Large,” Birdy replied. “I don’t mind. This one is a girl. I can feel it.”

“Hammond is praying for a brother every night. Callum says he doesn’t care if it’s a puppy.” She patted her own expanding girth. “I’m so glad you are not that far from London.”

“It’s perfect. Crispin can pop into Town for parliament and be back before the next morning.”

“Promise me you’ll stay with us on Wimpole Street next season. I can’t get enough of the entertainments that were once forbidden to me. Callum spoils me rotten.”

“Do you remember when we first met, Mary-Alice?” Birdy, suddenly nostalgic, looked back on the day fondly despite the wild chapter it added to her life.

“You looked so out of place in that kitchen. I felt sorry for you and then realized it was the first time I wasn’t feeling sorry for myself. You were so interesting and exotic. I was beyond happy that you sat to talk to me.”

“I thought I wasn’t supposed to be in that kitchen. But, of course, it was exactly where Mrs. Dove-Lyon wanted me to be. We should have lunch again soon, the three of us.”

“Callum still gambles there on occasion. Does my brother?”

“No. He says he’ll never again get as lucky there as he was the day he agreed to marry me. At least that’s what he tells me.”

“You were the first person to tell me everything would turn out the way it ought. You assured me that my brother would make everything right. I wanted so badly to believe you and you were correct.”

“Our condition is making us maudlin.” Birdy stood and motioned for her sister-in-law to follow. “Let’s walk to the pond and see if the picnic has been set up.”

“You were the best thing to happen to my brother, you know.”

“Oh, I think you’re wrong. I think he was the best thing to happen to me .”

Mary-Alice smiled, gentle as a lamb, and as they walked, Birdy was grateful that Crispin had gambled on her to save his sister’s life, and that she had agreed to gamble on marrying him to save her father’s reputation. She had thought they were equally useful fools then, but no. They were winners forever in the game of love.