Free Death at the Wedding Feast by Deryn Lake Page A

people.’
    â€˜And mine too,’ said the Apothecary.
    â€˜Well, I shall be sending out the invitations shortly. And you are all three added to my list.’
    â€˜Excellent,’ said John, and paid serious attention to his breakfast.
    Dr Hunter proclaiming himself well pleased with the healing process of Elizabeth’s scar, she and John left the glorious house on the cliff-tops exactly five days later. There was much to-do about their leaving. First Elizabeth was handed into her coach, then one baby followed, howling his head off and not enjoying this change in his routine. He was put into the arms of a nurserymaid who immediately calmed him by rocking him, somewhat wildly, from side to side. Another coach was pulled up behind the first and John got into this, was briefly handed the baby, before a second nurserymaid followed. This second child – was it Jasper or James, John wondered? – slept peacefully through the whole ordeal and did not wake until they reached Elizabeth’s home, when he opened his eyes and gave a great yawn.
    â€˜Which child is this?’ John asked Elizabeth anxiously.
    She peered into his face. ‘Why, this is James. He has less hair than Jasper. Besides Jasper is the noisier of the two. If anyone is going to cry it will be Jasper.’
    â€˜May I hold them a minute?’
    â€˜Of course you can.’
    With a bundle in each arm, John sat down in the Blue Salon and stared at both his sons’ faces intently. He could never have imagined in a thousand years that Elizabeth would give birth to twins. And then he remembered Rose, his first-born child, recently giggling and saying words to the effect of wait and see. She had known, the pretty minx, with her wonderful ability to envisage future events, exactly what was going to happen.
    His thoughts switched from his two sons, who were awake but thankfully quiet, to his daughter. Would she love them, he wondered, or might she be jealous of these two rivals for her father’s affection? But then he knew that with her generous, warm heart she would love them as much as he was starting to, would play with them and teach them all the wonderments of the world so that they would grow up as fine a person as she was going to be. He suddenly glowed with happiness, looking down at the little scraps who were looking back at him, and feeling a tremendous sense of well-being and affection. A true family man.
    He heard a noise behind him and looked over his shoulder. The two maids, presumably hastily appointed by Elizabeth after she had given birth, were bearing down on him.
    â€˜I’ll take Master Justin, if you please, Sir.’
    â€˜And I’ll take Master James.’
    Somewhat reluctantly he handed the twins over and watched them being swept up the grand staircase to their apartments on the first floor. Before following them he sat a moment and imagined Sir Gabriel’s and Rose’s faces when his letter arrived. He had written it the day after he had shown up at Lady Sidmouth’s and knew that it must have been delivered to Kensington by now. No doubt Sir Gabriel would send for champagne and allow Rose a thimbleful. Then they would clink their drinking vessels and toast the newborn. How sad that neither of them would be able to see the boys for some while.
    He went up the stairs rather slowly, thinking of this, and made his way to Elizabeth’s room where he knocked on the door.
    â€˜Come in,’ she called.
    She had changed from her travelling dress and was sitting déshabillé at her dressing table, brushing her long black hair.
    â€˜Ah,’ she said, ‘how timely. You may do this for me.’
    â€˜A pleasure, Milady.’
    He looked at her reflection and saw that though the birth had weakened her she was now recovering and some of the old fire was returning to her. He thought of Dr Hunter’s description of her – red wine and spice – and realized yet again what a