Part 25 (1/2)
He was as tall and broad as Will, and he grabbed his visitor in a crus.h.i.+ng and very un-English bear hug. His hair was a slightly warmer shade of brown and his eyes were of two different colors, but no one would ever mistake them for anything but brothers. Without another word being spoken, Athena could see the bond between them, and how they had been each other's salvation.
”Easy, Mac, easy!” Will laughed as he hugged his brother back. ”I was on my deathbed a few weeks ago, so show some respect for my aging bones!”
”Sorry!” Mackenzie stepped back, alarmed. ”Your deathbed?”
”It could have been worse. I'll explain later.” Will took Athena's arm and brought her to his side. ”Athena, you'll have guessed that this reprobate is my brother, Sir Damian Mackenzie. Mac, meet Athena, Lady Masterson and Contessa de la Alcantara.”
Athena braced herself for shock and perhaps disapproval, but Mackenzie beamed at her with real delight. ”What a pleasure this is, my new sister-in-law! Justin Ballard wrote that Will might return with a most magnificent woman at his side. I'm glad you got her to the altar before she knew you well enough to escape, Will.”
Laughing, Athena offered her hand. ”The pleasure is mine, Sir Damian. Will tried to explain his little brother, but he did you less than justice.”
”Call me Mac or Mackenzie.” Her brother-in-law clasped her hand warmly between both of his. ”Will has been trying to explain me for years, but it's an uphill task.”
Athena noticed the heavy gold ring Mackenzie wore. She looked closer. ”That looks like Will's signet, but there's a black bar across it?”
”The bar sinister, the mark of illegitimacy in heraldry,” Mackenzie explained. ”Will gave it to me for a birthday present one year. Sort of a private joke.”
Athena said thoughtfully, ”Perhaps you should have one made for me, Will.”
Her husband chuckled. ”Isn't the wedding ring I gave you when I recovered sufficient?”
”It is.” They smiled at each other in what she suspected was a ridiculously sentimental way.
”My brother Will, you have returned intact from the field of battle!” This voice was female with a very faint musical accent, and belonged to a dark, spectacularly beautiful woman who flowed across the room to give Will a hug.
”You look splendid, Kiri!” After hugging her in return, Will put his hands on her shoulders and studied her. ”Clearly, the baby has arrived. A G.o.dson or G.o.ddaughter?”
”A most lovely little girl. Damian dotes on her madly and says that she looks just like me. My brother Adam agrees and says she'll likely be a h.e.l.lion. You shall meet our little Caroline later, but she sleeps now. Pray present me to your fortunate wife!”
”Athena, this is Lady Kiri, my sister-in-law, the perfumer,” Will said. ”I haven't said much about her because mere words can't do her justice.”
Kiri laughed. ”Flatterer. Lady Masterson, may I call you Athena since we are now sisters?”
”Of course.” Again, Athena offered her hand and the other woman clasped it.
Athena realized how little Will had said about his brother's wife other than that she was adventurous and had interesting ideas. Though not as tall as Athena, Kiri was tall, and she was lovely in an exotic and un-English way, with glossy dark hair and striking green eyes. ”Do you prefer Kiri or Lady Kiri?”
”Kiri, please. My father was the Duke of Ashton, my mother a Hindu lady, which is why I am shockingly un-English,” she said with a smile. ”But come, we were about to sit down to our luncheon. After you have refreshed yourselves, you must join us.”
”I see my timing hasn't failed,” Will said with a laugh.
Athena studied Kiri thoughtfully. So a duke's daughter had married the illegitimate Mackenzie. No woman would blame her-Will's brother was almost as attractive as Will-but it did explain why Will's att.i.tude to Athena's parentage was so casual.
As Kiri escorted them upstairs to Will's usual rooms, Athena gave thanks that Will had been right that she'd be welcomed by his family. But she couldn't help but wonder how much wider a welcome she would receive.
Over a fine luncheon, Mackenzie said, ”Several of the Westerfield Academy old boys and their wives are in town, Will. Shall I invite them for an informal dinner to see you and meet Athena? They'll all want a.s.surance that you've survived the wars intact.”
Will glanced at Athena. ”Are you willing? I'd like to see my friends, and they'll all want to meet you. I think they feared I was becoming a dour old bachelor.” When she hesitated, he said, ”Think of it as getting the worst of London over quickly.”
”Of course you must see your friends, but I have nothing suitable to wear,” she pointed out, glad she had an excuse. ”Even when the rest of our luggage arrives, I have nothing that isn't old and unfas.h.i.+onable.”
Kiri leaned forward, her eyes bright. ”Athena, I have something of a reputation for making friends look their most beautiful on short notice. Will you allow me to turn you out in style? Though you are taller, we are not dissimilar in build, and I have a gown that will suit you very well, with a few minor modifications. Please?”
”She's not exaggerating,” Mackenzie said. ”Give Kiri a few hours and you'll be fit for the finest society in London.”
Athena hesitated, feeling awkward and out of place. Meet so many of Will's grand friends with no time to prepare mentally? Reminding herself that she could face anything with him at her side, she said, ”I shall place myself in your hands, Kiri. It will be interesting to see what you can do with such unpromising material!”
Chapter 36.
Five hours later, Athena stared into the full-length mirror, stunned. ”Kiri, you are wasted as a duke's daughter. You could become the most expensive modiste in London if you wished.”
Kiri laughed. ”I prefer to work with friends. They are less critical than paying customers would be. But you're a very fine advertis.e.m.e.nt for my skills!”
Athena nodded, admiring the rich burgundy brocade of her gown, which brought out the red tones in her hair. No one would guess that the magnificent gold-embroidered band of material that Kiri had added to the hem wasn't part of the original design. Athena's elegantly upswept hair made her even taller, but not too tall for Will. ”Thank you, Kiri! Now I have confidence enough for anything.”
”The last touch.” Kiri handed her a tiny gilded bottle. ”One of my perfumes. Wear it if you approve.”
Athena opened the bottle and sniffed, then smiled. ”Lovely! It makes me think of earth and suns.h.i.+ne.”
”I shall blend a custom perfume when I know you better, but I thought this would suit on short notice.”
”No wonder your boutique at Damian's does well.” Athena dabbed the perfume on her wrists, then behind her ears. ”Who will be coming tonight?”
”Mostly cla.s.smates of Will's. My brother Adam, the current Duke of Ashton, and his wife, Mariah. Lord and Lady Kirkland. They both play the piano superbly and I shall try to persuade them to perform for us. The Randalls. Besides being a cla.s.smate of Will's, Randall also served in the same regiment for years.”
Kiri c.o.c.ked her head to one side as she considered. ”I think that's all, but Will and Damian went out together this afternoon, so I have no idea whom they might bring home. Perhaps they'll find another guest or five.”
Athena laughed. ”You're very relaxed about that.”
”As I said, an informal dinner of friends. What matters is the company.” Kiri chuckled. ”Though it helps to have a really superior chef, of course.”
Athena was about to ask if it was time to go down, when a knock sounded on the door, followed by Will calling, ”Are you ready to be admired?”
”Indeed she is,” Kiri called back.
The door opened and Will stepped into the dressing room. Athena's jaw dropped at how shockingly handsome and fas.h.i.+onable her husband looked in his dark, superbly tailored evening wear. ”You said that a superior valet informed you that a man with your build could never be fas.h.i.+onable! You have proved him wrong.”
”It helps when I borrow Mac's clothing,” Will explained. ”He's much more fas.h.i.+onable than I, and the effect carries over. But look at you, my dear girl! An owl in the finest of feathers!”
Athena blushed. She knew that Will liked her in anything, and best when she wore nothing at all, but the admiration in his gaze was silent proof that he would never be ashamed to have her on his arm.
He came forward and gave her a light kiss before he produced a velvet-covered box. ”We visited a jewelry store because Kiri ordered me to buy you garnets. I hope you like garnets? They'll look good with that gown.”