"Aye, of course," he said, taking it out of his fob pocket to give to his friend.
Will pushed it back toward him. "Give us five minutes in the small parlor. Then you and Mitchell come drag us out, forcibly if need be."
Will was convinced his friend gave them ten, but they were both more than grateful. They both felt as though they were going to climb out of their skins, and he had to pull away more than once before he had to go home to change his trousers.
A thin sheen of perspiration coated his face and he gritted his teeth as he pleaded, "Darling, that's just too good. You must stop."
"Well, you did it to me."
"I admit it, darling, but you can withstand a bit more handling for a fair bit longer, and the results in your case are not so apparent to anyone who happens to look at me in these riding breeches."
She giggled and put her head on his shoulder, stroking his cheek tenderly. "I'm sorry."
"Nothing to apologise for. It's just a case of mis-timing."
"I still think the cave—"
He sat up and put two fingers over her mouth. "Darling, no. I've told you. It isn't safe. I only went in there because of the violent storm," he lied. "Please, promise me you'll forget all about it. In a couple of days we'll be married, and then we can be together as much as you like."
"I'd like to remember where we first met, though."
"We met on the beach. We can go there any time you like."
"Why can't I find the entrance?"
"Elizabeth, please, just forget you ever saw that cave," he insisted, perspiring anew. "If you love me, never even mention it again."
Parks cleared his throat loudly outside the door. "What ho, chaps, your five minutes are up."
"Come in, Parks. We're decent."
He peeped in. "Hm. Compared to whom?"
"Stop that. You'll embarrass Lady Elizabeth so much she won't be able to face you at the wedding."
"Well, that will never do. I'm sorry. Nothing like young love. But it was you I was talking about. A cold dip in the sea ought to solve that problem."
Will groaned. "Go away, Parky."
"But you said…"
He sighed. "All right, we're coming."
Clothes, jewels, food, the order of service, the guest list, and rehearsals all flew by in a whirl for Elizabeth. She felt as though she were dancing on air. Everyone was going out of their way to cooperate, especially his sister Vevina and her maid Jeanne.
"It reminds me of my wedding at Badajoz," Vevina said with a wink to her maid Jeanne. The two women and Will smiled in fond reminiscence. "Will was best man."
"Glad Stewart is going to return the favor."
"What did you wear, Your Grace?"
"Vevina, please. I had a lovely white gown from Avignon, which some very dear friends of our family gave us. White with red ribbons for the ornaments. What are you going to wear?"
"Oh, she has quite a few gowns to choose from," Charlotte said airily.
She and Vanessa pretended to discuss them, but they knew there was one in particular was ideal for their plans. They managed to manouevre Elizabeth into agreeing to wear it so that her brother's surprise gifts which he had planned would match her ensemble perfectly.
They gave a knowing smile to Vevina, and moved on to the next topic.
"I need to buy you a wedding ring, darling. If you don't mind, I should like you to have a ruby and diamond band, to signify love and eternity. And you will need to have some pearls for luck."
"I have a set of pearls already, so there's no need."
His eyes glinted. "Very well. I shall have to think of some other special gift to bestow upon my lovely wife."
The following day Will returned with a jewel box and a small leather pouch. In the box was an elegant ruby and diamond band which must easily have been three carats all told.
"Is it all right?" he asked with a worried frown.
She embraced him. "All right? It's perfect. Gorgeous. Thank you."
"And this is something I found in our special place," he whispered. "I've cleaned them up. I think they're very old and unusual, very Irish-looking. I think you of all people will appreciate them."
She opened the bag and froze. She was dazzled for a moment by their brightness and the shivering feeling which shot through her as she touched the cold metal.
No, not cold. Warm and vibrant, as if it had a life of its own, an unquenchable fire.
"Do you like the bracelets?" he asked at last, when she kept staring at them.
"They're lovely," she breathed, putting them on her wrists.