Daphne walked over to him. He hugged her, kissed her cheek. "I'm glad, Daphne, truly happy you made this decision. And on your own," the earl murmured in a loving voice.

With the help of two Swanns, Hugo thought, but remained silent. Whatever they had said to her, he would be eternally grateful to those two extraordinary women.

Daphne said, "Let us sit down, shall we? You see, I have a few ... conditions. I'd like to discuss them with you, Hugo. And you, too, Papa."

"Conditions," Charles repeated slowly, a frown crossing his face.

"I'll agree to anything," Hugo cried, laughter shining in his eyes. Earlier, he had thought he would explode with desire for her. Now he believed he might just explode with sheer joy. He didn't care what her conditions were, he'd agree to anything. More or less.

"Papa, the first condition is that you and Mama make the announcement of our engagement immediately. I would like to read it in The Times by the middle of next week. No later." She looked at Hugo. "Do you agree?"

"Absolutely."

"I would prefer to get married quickly. As soon as possible, actually. And for a number of reasons, the main one being that Aunt Anne could die at any moment. I don't want my wedding postponed because of a bereavement in the family."

"But how soon is soon? What do you have in mind, darling?" her father asked. "Look here, Daphne, I don't want your marriage to Hugo to appear to be a shotgun affair."

"September. At the latest early October," Daphne answered. "Naturally, I would like to marry Hugo next week, or certainly later in August. However, I know the Glorious Twelfth is on the horizon, will be here imminently. And that Mama and you would not agree to August because of the grouse shooting. So September it is. Is that all right with you, Hugo? Does it suit?"

"Anything you say, anything you want, I'm totally on your side," was his immediate response. He still couldn't quite believe all this was happening, and at two-thirty in the morning, no less.

"I would be happy with a small wedding, Papa. Just our immediate family, and that includes Aunt Lavinia and Aunt Vanessa. Will they come? They're not here much these days, are they?"

"No, because they have busy lives in London," Charles replied. "I'm quite certain they will want to be here. I know your uncle Jack wouldn't miss it for the world."

"If Aunt Lavinia allows him to come ... you know they're a bit off track with each other these days."

"Daphne, really! That's silly gossip Diedre has planted in your head."

Daphne shrugged, and sat back. She went on, "I hope you don't mind, but I don't really think I want to have any bridesmaids, Papa. Just a flower girl. In other words, Dulcie."

Charles was startled by this statement, and he said in a perplexed tone, "But DeLacy and Diedre will be hurt, Daphne. You really must have them as bridesmaids, they're your sisters."

"DeLacy will be happy to walk behind me with Dulcie, but I don't think Diedre will take to that role quite as easily. After all, she's older than I am, and she'll be angry with me because she isn't getting married first."

"Oh, I don't know about that, my dear, Diedre loves you. Perhaps you have to speak with your mother about this matter. However, I genuinely believe Diedre will be cut to the quick if she isn't a bridesmaid with DeLacy."

"I really only want a flower girl ... Dulcie," Daphne said again.

"She's a bit of a handful. We need a bridesmaid to take control of her, you know," Charles pointed out.

Daphne looked across at Hugo. "What are your feelings about bridesmaids?"

"I understand you wish to keep the wedding small, Daphne, darling. Still, I think your father is correct, Dulcie might well need someone to mind her during the service. He certainly has a good point there. One you must consider."

"All right. Two bridesmaids and a flower girl. Now, Hugo, Papa will be giving me away. And you need a best man. I was wondering how you felt about Guy taking on that role."

"I'd be honored," Hugo answered swiftly, wondering when she had thought all this out.

"Regarding the church, Papa, I was thinking we ought to use the church here on the estate. I know it's not huge, but it will hold the entire Ingham family and all of the Swanns. They must be at the ceremony, don't you agree?"

"I most certainly do. They've been at Ingham marriages for years. They were at mine, and they should be at yours. Just a thought about the church here on the estate, Daphne. It's not big enough to hold the villagers. So perhaps we should have your marriage ceremony in the village church, then everyone can come. How does that strike you?"

Before she could answer, Hugo said, "I agree with you, Charles, and there's something else. If I'm not mistaken, the villagers usually have a tea party in the village hall afterwards, don't they? To celebrate the wedding of an Ingham."

"You're absolutely right, Hugo. It had slipped my mind. I must arrange for that to be given, and at my expense."

"Holding the ceremony in the village church is a lovely idea," Daphne interjected. "As for our wedding reception-" She broke off, looked at Hugo, and continued, "Shall we have it in the South Wing? What do you think, Hugo? Papa?"

"There's no place better, in my opinion. What about you, Charles?"

"Of course, it's the ideal spot," the earl agreed.

Daphne smiled at them both, and said to Hugo, "Now you must decide about the honeymoon ... where we should go. I'll go anywhere with you."

"I'm so happy to hear that," Hugo answered. "How about Paris? One of my favorite cities, and then we could travel to Zurich. My villa is on the lake, and it is very beautiful."

"I would like that, Hugo."

Charles said, "The baby must be born at Cavendon. It is an Ingham, after all."

"We'll come back for Christmas, Papa. The baby is due in January."

Thirty-nine.

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue," Cecily said to DeLacy, and then took a small package out of her satchel and placed it on the long table.

The two girls were in the sewing room at Cavendon, Alice Swann's domain on the floor above the family bedroom corridor. It was two days before Daphne's marriage to Hugo, and Cecily was waiting for Daphne to arrive, to have the final fitting of her wedding gown.

"So what is it you got for her, Ceci?" DeLacy asked, eyeing the package. "Come on, show me, before Daphne gets here."

"No, I can't, Lacy, I don't want to open it. Mam wrapped it up so nicely with ribbon. But I can describe it."

"Oh, all right, that will have to do for now."

"It's a blue silk garter for her leg. My mother told me a blue garter is popular with brides ... it provides the blue without being seen."

DeLacy laughed. "How clever. I bought her a lace wedding handkerchief, which is new. Mama is lending Daphne her diamond bow brooch, and that means new, blue, and borrowed are taken care of nicely. I don't know who's giving her something old."

"I do," Ceci said, throwing the large white sheet over the wedding gown hanging on a clothes rack.

"You do! Who is it? Who's giving her something old?"

"My great-aunt Charlotte. It's a bracelet, I think."

"Oh, that's kind of her," DeLacy responded. "So that part is settled. Hugo has given Daphne diamond earrings as a wedding present. I think Diedre's green with envy."

Cecily simply nodded, not wanting to become involved in a discussion about Lady Diedre, who was not one of her favorites.

Walking over to the large closet, she took out DeLacy's bridesmaid dress and carried it to the rack. "Do you want to try it one more time?" Ceci asked. "Just to be sure."

"No, it fits perfectly," DeLacy replied, and went to join Cecily, began touching the dress. "It's so pretty. I love the rose-pink taffeta and tulle, the way you've combined them." DeLacy smiled at her. "You are clever." She turned around. There was a loud knock on the door, and it swung open to admit her brother, Miles.

"I've done it!" he exclaimed, striding into the sewing room, closing the door behind him. "h.e.l.lo, Ceci, DeLacy."

"h.e.l.lo, Miles," Cecily responded.

"Done what?" DeLacy asked.

"Managed to get my ushers together. Finally. I have Mark Stanton, Hugo's only living relative on his father's side, plus the three sons of Major Gaunt, who runs the Stanton yard. Hugo's cousin Mark, and the Gaunts, are his only guests, as you know. So with me and Uncle Jack we're six. That's fine, because it's not a huge fancy society wedding."

"Oh, don't say that!" DeLacy cried. "It will be fancy. We're all going to be dressed beautifully, and wear jewels, and you and the other men will be in morning suits. And Miss Charlotte is making the South Wing look beautiful, with lots of plants and flowers."

"So Guy told me. He also said there's going to be a small orchestra, or quartet, something like that. Apparently Cook's got in extra help and we're going to have a delicious high tea. All of my favorite things, like sausage rolls and pork pies. I'm glad it's an afternoon wedding, aren't you?"

"Yes." DeLacy touched the pink bridesmaid dress, and said, "Look, Miles, isn't it lovely? Ceci made it for me."

Miles nodded. He looked across at Ceci, gave her a huge smile. "You've outdone yourself, Ceci. I hear from Daphne that her wedding gown is fantastically gorgeous."

Cecily nodded, her eyes sparkling. "That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it is rather lovely, even if I do say so myself."

"Did Daphne show you her diamonds, Miles?"

"She did, and the sapphires, as well. She's going to wear those tonight, she told me." He grinned at his sister. "I can't wait to see Diedre's face when Daphne comes down to dinner. She's always been jealous of her."

"I know. And Papa never helped, always claiming Daphne would marry the son of a duke. That really made Diedre crazy."

"I asked Papa why Hugo and Daphne are getting married so quickly. The engagement was just announced in The Times. In August, and today is only the eighteenth of September. She'll be a married woman on September twentieth. Gosh, just imagine that. Daphne a married woman." Miles walked over to the window and opened it. "It's stuffy in here," he said.

"What did Papa say?" DeLacy asked, curious herself.

"He said Daphne was worried that Aunt Anne might die suddenly, which she will, most probably. Daphne didn't want the marriage postponed for a year because we were all in mourning."

"Oh gosh, yes, that's true." DeLacy went and sat down on a chair. "Who's arrived so far, Miles? Do you know?"

"Uncle Jack and Aunt Lavinia. I ran into them, and bagged him for an usher immediately. He was his usual genial self, but I thought Aunt Lavinia looked put out. Sort of sulky."

DeLacy said in a low voice, "She's got another man."

"Who told you that bit of nasty gossip?" Miles asked sharply.

"Diedre. She said Papa was furious because Lavinia might bring a big scandal down on the family. This new boyfriend is a married man. He's a member of Parliament. Papa's quite upset about it all."

"Good heavens! That's some nasty charge against Lavinia. And how does Diedre know?"

"I think she overheard Papa telling Mama."

"Eavesdropping again, I bet you anything," Miles shot back, making a face.

Cecily, going about her work of hanging up the bridesmaid dresses, and checking the shoes and gloves, was laughing inside. Miles always complained to her that DeLacy loved to gossip about the family, but he did too. She was well aware he thought Diedre was mean about everyone, and certainly it was common knowledge that she was jealous of Daphne, especially of her great beauty.

Daphne was the sweetest of the four Dees, and Cecily was relieved and glad she was marrying Hugo. She had made the right decision, according to her mother and Great-Aunt Charlotte. Cecily knew everything about the situation, but was under oath not to reveal anything. Loyalty binds me, she said to herself. That was the oath. She would never break it.

Cecily hadn't been listening to DeLacy and Miles chattering about the family for the last few minutes, preoccupied as she was with the clothes for the wedding. But when DeLacy began to laugh uproariously, she glanced across at her and then looked at Miles, who was still standing at the window. Cecily raised a brow, and asked, "What did I miss?"

Miles grinned, answered, "DeLacy mentioned the famous sapphires from Hugo, and I said that no doubt Great-Aunt Gwendolyn would not like them because they match Daphne's eyes. Like all the frocks you make for her."

Cecily grinned.

And so did DeLacy, who then said, "I bet you a sixpence Great-Aunt Gwendolyn asks if they're real. She can be very odd."

They all laughed.

A few minutes later Daphne arrived in the sewing room, looking elegant, dressed entirely in cream with touches of black. Cecily nodded approvingly.

DeLacy said, "Oh, how chic you are, Daphers. Just elegance personified."

"Thank you, Lacy. It's a new outfit Mrs. Alice made for me. It was designed by Cecily, of course. I love all the black touches, the black patent belt, the shiny black b.u.t.tons, the black piping."

Looking across at Miles, she changed the subject, went on, "I hear you now have six ushers, with yourself. I'm happy, Miles. You were so worried."

Miles strolled across the room and squeezed her shoulder. "I'll never let you down, old thing. I suppose I had better scoot ... you're going to try on your gown. n.o.body's supposed to see it, right?"

Daphne nodded, and took hold of his arm, led him to the door. "Thanks for everything, Miles, you're really a very nice brother."

Miles stood in the doorway, smiling, his eyes resting on Cecily, as he said, "Farewell, my beauties, see you anon."

Once they were alone, Cecily took the sheet off the wedding dress, and said, "I'll help you to try this on now, Lady Daphne. I don't think there's anything for me to do, but I had better check."

They walked over to the screened-off corner, with Cecily carrying the wedding gown on its hanger.

A few moments later, when Daphne came from behind the screen and stood in the middle of the floor, DeLacy began to clap. "Oh, Daphne, you are just gorgeous! The dress is ... unbelievably beautiful. Congratulations, Cecily."

The wedding gown was made entirely of pure-white Chantilly lace, laid over a white taffeta bodice and skirt. The latter was narrow, very slender, and the lace fell into a long train at the back; the waist was cut very high, in the French Empire style, so favored by Napoleon's Empress, Josephine. The sleeves were long, made only of the white lace, while the neckline was scooped out, just covered the shoulders.

Daphne looked down at the bodice. "Mama's diamond brooch will be pinned here, just below the scoop and in the middle. Am I right, Cecily?"

"You are, m'lady." Cecily brought her a headdress composed of white silk-and-lace flowers made into a coronet, and put it on top of Daphne's head, pressed it down.

She said, "This will hold your veil in place, Lady Daphne. Don't worry, it won't fall off. I'll make sure of that."

Cecily stood away, looked at her, and smiled, thrilled at the effect. "The veil will complete the picture, but I don't want to try it on you again. It's so delicate."