She shivered.
Aidan laughed in agreement and opened the door for her. Anne hurried ahead of him down the marble-tiled hallway to the blue salon.
She burst into the room and was rewarded with the welcoming cries of Tess and Leah. Her friends were more beautiful than she remembered them.
Tess and her husband, Brenn Owen, the earl of Merton, were expecting their second child. They had left their son Hal with his nanny, since he suffered a slight cold. Pregnancy only served to make Tess more radiant. Anne liked her husband immediately, especially when he took Donner from Aidan and dubbed him “a handsome baby.”
Leah proudly showed off her son, Benjamin. He was over a year old and the happiest boy. Leah’s husband, Devon Marshall, viscount Huxhold, absolutely doted on the child. Anne hadn’t seen her for years and marveled over the sense of peace and maturity womanhood had brought to Leah.
Baxter interrupted the joyful reunion by announcing dinner. Donner’s nanny took both the boys up to the nursery so the parents could enjoy their meal. Afterward, the women left their husbands to their brandy while they slipped back into the blue salon to enjoy tea and cozy confidences—as they had as debutantes.
“Can you believe how well our husbands are getting along with each other?” Leah asked, accepting a cup from Anne.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Tess agreed. “In fact, Brenn confided to me over dinner if Aidan is successful with his Scottish legislation, he will take a more active interest in his seat in the House of Lords and push for Welsh concerns.”
Anne tilted her head thoughtfully toward Leah. “Now that you have met him, is the mad Lord Tiebauld such a terrible person?” At one time, Leah had been contracted to marry Aidan and had done everything in her power to avoid the liaison.
Leah laughed. “He is quite charming, but absolutely smitten by you. No, my dear Anne, I believe everything has worked out exactly as it was intended. You and Aidan are wonderful to each other.”
Anne felt her eyes turn watery. She cried often now, but not out of sadness. Her life brimmed with happiness. Many times during the day, she would pause and reflect, scarcely believing her own good fortune. Now, she fussed with the creamer. “Yes, he has made my life worthwhile.”
“I think he might say the same of you,” Tess observed.
“I pray you are right,” Anne said. “At least now his house is clean.” She told them of the first time she’d seen the great hall at Kelwin. They laughed so hard, tears rolled down their cheeks.
Tess changed the subject. “Do you ever think back to the evening at Lady Ottley’s musicale when we talked of sticks and pillows?”
Leah howled with laughter and covered her face with her hands. “How could we have been so naïve?”
“But it all worked out fine,” Anne said. “We did figure it out.”
“Yes, but only after a few embarrassing moments,” Tess confessed.
“I’m curious,” Anne said. “If you had to sum up what you’ve learned about marriage—”
“And love?” Leah interjected, always the romantic.
“Yes, and love,” Tess agreed softly.
“—What would you say to the young, impressionable girls we were back then?” Anne finished.
Her question made all of them pause to reflect. Tess sat back in her chair, her hand resting on her rounded belly. Leah stirred her tea. Both women considered the question carefully.
It was Leah who spoke first. “Well, I believe I have discovered—and I should say now that I don’t want to be held to this opinion years from now, because I may change my mind—”
Both Tess and Anne laughed. “Well, truly,” Leah defended herself. “I am the youngest, but I’d wager I know better than the two of you the twists and turns life takes. I’ve learned that sometimes what we see as misfortune is really destiny. Love is not always rational. It’s almost as if God plays a hand.” She smiled. “I’ve become philosophical. Still, who would have thought I would love so dearly a man who was my family’s enemy…or have found so much happiness with him? Before him, I was lost. Now he is my life.”
Tess reached for her hand. At one time, the two of them had been rivals. Now, they were friends. “I am glad you are happy.”
“Thank you,” Leah said quietly and then, on a stronger note asked, “Who is next?”
“I am,” Tess said. She sat up, back straight, her hands slipping down to help support the weight of her pregnant belly, her spirit proud. “I