Radiance (Diamonds of the First Water #3)

Chapter Twenty-Two

E dward wondered why Radiance sounded frustrated. Almost tweaguey. Perhaps she was still shaken from the incident. For his part, he had never been so frightened for someone else in his entire life.

He hadn’t had time to react to the individual who careened into her and kept moving. The cad hadn’t even paused to determine if he’d injured her. In any case, one of the most important people in his life — as he’d quickly realized — was upright one moment, then down upon the filthy street at his feet, the next.

Moreover, when her glorious eyes had opened in her pale face, he’d sent up a silent prayer of gratitude.

And now, plainly, she wanted a little fun. Oddly, she seemed to want it with him. Or maybe she was merely discontent due to the unsatisfactory meeting with Mr. Neble.

“I would wager Mr. Neble is not really reticent at all,” he said into the carriage’s silence. “He obviously cannot see well outside that illuminated workroom, and maybe he doesn’t want anyone to know. After all, a jeweler losing his sight will also lose his business. I would also wager against him having done the cleaning of the coronet himself.”

After a brief hesitation, during which he imagined Radiance was still dreaming of a visit to the Cremorne Gardens, she nodded.

“Perhaps there is someone working for him,” she mused, “whom he wishes to keep secret.”

“Someone who might have done something unlawful. Yet he cannot speak of it without admitting he is no longer capable of jewelry-making himself.”

“More loose ends,” Radiance said, crossing her arms under her splendid bosom.

Edward would love to take her to the pleasure gardens, but that would be akin to a declaration of intent, or the possibility of some future declaration at the very least. Was he prepared for such?

Then again, he didn’t like to think of her exploring the gardens with some thundering buck. She didn’t deserve to be pawed or slobbered upon.

In fact, with her sparkling, jewel-tone eyes staring back at him, he realized he couldn’t not ask her. Obviously, she wished to experience the pleasure gardens. Just as plainly, he wanted to share the experience with her.

He could at least ask if she would like to go under his protection.

“Lady Radiance,” he began, “as soon as you have healed from the brute who ran into you, would you be amenable to my accompanying you to the gardens in Chelsea?”

“Oh, yes, sir. That would be most agreeable.” Then he was treated to a smile of her lovely bowed lips.

“You wish to go at night, I assume.” Cremorne opened some days at three o’clock, but most days at five.

“Indeed, I do. I wish to avail myself of the full enjoyment of the gardens.”

Good lord! He hoped she didn’t say such a statement to another man.

“Such as the ballooning you mentioned. Also, the marionette show and the crystal grotto.”

“Very well.” He was growing excited at the thought of accompanying her and pleased to see the anticipation of such an outing had brought the color back into her face. She looked to have forgotten the shock of a few minutes earlier.

“As long as you don’t insist we take the slow, three-penny steamer to Cremorne Pier,” he teased, “for I think I would tear my hair out during the interminable and crowded voyage. We shall go at the desirable hour of eight. Will the fair Sarah attend with us?”

“I shall see if one of my married sisters will go,” Radiance replied. “I think that would be more appropriate.”

He felt a sliver of nervousness snake through him. First the parents, now the sisters. He thought of Lillian, not knowing if she had been to Cremorne or Vauxhall, for that matter. He would welcome having someone in his corner.

“Perhaps I should invite my own sister.”

Radiance beamed at him. “Miss Lockwood is most welcome, sir.”

And thus, not sure why he’d been compelled to invite Radiance, he would once more escort her out in public. Yet the previous time, at the Cobble House ball, they had not arrived together, so he doubted tongues had wagged or anyone had noticed their single dance. Arriving at Cremorne, their association would be obvious to anyone.

Two nights later, along with his sister who’d been thrilled with the invitation, Edward collected Radiance at her home. Her parents allowed him to whisk her away since Lillian was in their midst, with the understanding they would soon be under the watchful eye of her older sister, Lady Foxford.

“I wanted Clarity to come,” Radiance explained, “but she was otherwise engaged.”

Then she sighed and added, “Purity is perfectly lovely, and I am certain you will enjoy her company.”

Edward couldn’t help narrowing his eyes.

“Why did you speak thusly?”

“What do you mean?” Radiance asked innocently.

“You said I would like your sister as if you were trying to convince me or yourself.”

She gave a little laugh. “She is known for being rather exacting, persnickety some might say.”

“What do you say?” he asked.

“That she has a big heart and always does her best to make sure every civility is exercised in order for those around her to be at ease. She dislikes indecorous or uncontrolled behavior.”

“Yet she married a rake.”

Radiance gasped and looked at Lillian. Perhaps she wondered if his sister would be judgmental. He would like to assure her that she wasn’t.

“How did you know about Lord Foxford?” Radiance asked.

“Once I found out I was becoming associated with one of the Diamonds, then I did a little investigating.”

Her expression came over shocked. He couldn’t help laughing.

“I promise you, I found out nothing more than whom your sisters and your brother married and that your parents are powerful and well liked.”

“I see.” She sounded uncertain.

“You aren’t angry, are you?”

She hesitated. “No, I suppose I am not. Merely surprised. I would have told you anything you wanted to know.”

Edward hadn’t wished to ply her with questions. She might have got the wrong idea about his intentions. Besides digging into a subject, putting it under the magnifying glass as it were, was simply his nature.

“You shouldn’t have been a sneaky nosey-poke,” Lillian suddenly chimed in.

“What? A nosey-poke!” He wished he hadn’t invited her if she were going to slander him.

Radiance raised a lovely auburn eyebrow as if to say, See, even your own kin does not approve.

“In the future, should I wish to know anything,” he promised, “I shall ask you forthwith.”

“The future,” Lillian echoed. But she knew better than to ask outright whether the two people seated opposite one another were thinking of forming an attachment.

Radiance offered a small smile. “I shall endeavor to answer anything as openly and honestly as possible.”

“Then tell me, how is your shoulder? As to your forehead, I cannot even see a blemish.”

“Both have satisfactorily healed,” she assured him.

“We’ve arrived,” Lillian declared excitedly.

“I cannot believe I am here,” Radiance said, her green eyes flashing.

Edward felt the same way. For him, he couldn’t believe he was there with this particular female, an earl’s daughter, instead of simply going with male chums as he had before.

“I want to see everything,” Lillian said as they passed through the grand entrance to the gardens, located on King’s Road. A large star-shaped lantern illuminated the ticket box, and then they were strolling the well-lit grounds.

And, indeed, they did see everything. Edward found it amusing, even heartening, to witness the two young ladies experience the pleasures of Cremorne for the first time. While still indubitably a garden — much more so than Vauxhall — there was every manner of show going on all over. There were side shows, shooting galleries, a fringe of ancient trees and a spacious avenue on which to promenade. There were also fountains and statuary; refreshment-bars, dining boxes, and tables.

“We can eat outside later or go into the hotel dining room,” Edward said. “We can decide once we meet up with your family.”

“A bowling saloon!” came her excited response, nothing to do with something as banal as eating. “I wish to try it. Don’t you, Miss Lockwood?”

“Oh yes,” Lillian agreed before lowering her voice. “I understand they have American-style drinks.”

Edward smiled. “Then we shall bowl and drink. But I don’t think we can do everything in one outing. There is a maze, too, don’t forget, and some type of show in the south garden theater.”

“I would like to see the marionettes in the smaller theater in the north garden,” Radiance said, when suddenly she pivoted. “There they are.”

“Sister!” she called out before hurrying across the lawn toward a dark-haired female accompanied by a brown-haired man. After embracing the former and touching the arm of the latter, Radiance turned and escorted them back to where he and Lillian waited.

“May I present Mr. Lockwood. He is a geologist. And his delightful sister, Miss Lockwood. This is Lord and Lady Foxford. But I’m sure you may call them by their —”

“Ray,” Lady Foxford interrupted her sister. And that was all she needed to do to make Radiance stop the too-familiar offer she was about to make.

“It is a pleasure to meet you both,” Edward said. “Have you been here before?”

As it turned out, they had. Lady Foxford, while looking nothing like Radiance, was intelligent and welcoming. Lord Foxford seemed an amiable fellow, quick to make a clever jest. They were only too happy to walk around Cremorne and see all the sights.

When they came upon the acrobats, their entire party fell silent. With a collective holding of their breath, they watched the famous Frenchman, Monsieur Blondin, walk across a suspension rope sixty feet in the air. The many lamps of the park illuminated the very spot in which the tightrope walker would land should he fall.

Fortunately, he didn’t. When he made it safely to the second platform and began his descent on a flimsy rope ladder, they all breathed easier again.

“Time for some punch,” Radiance’s sister said.

“And dancing,” Lillian chimed in. He would have to find her a suitable partner unless Lord Foxford would do the honor.

For his part, Edward was eager to take Radiance once again into his arms. Even more ready to be alone with her, but that was unlikely to happen given their chaperone was no longer a distracted housemaid.

He would take what was offered. As a waltz started, they took to the crowded floor, where hundreds of others also circled the merrily lit orchestra stand.

“Is Cremorne everything you hoped?”

“Yes, sir,” she said, her green eyes looking up at him from under her auburn lashes. “And more.” They whirled around the orchestra house. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

“I have never had a better time,” he said. “I mean while at Cremorne.” But truthfully, Edward was having a better evening than he could ever recall with any female who wasn’t a high-flier. But that declaration might be a tad too candid.

He ought to keep a cool head where the lady was concerned. After all, meeting her sister’s husband was a stark reminder that Radiance would be expected to make a match within the upper echelon of her class.

Yet the warmth of her under his hands reminded him that he needn’t plan for the future. He should enjoy the time they were having that night and not think of anything more.

“I believe my sister approves of you,” she said, surprising him.

He hadn’t realized he needed Lady Foxford’s approval.

“My sister likes you, too,” he countered. It was true that Lillian had already said more than once what a jolly mort she was.

“Does she?”

He nodded and spun her around, then held her closer than perhaps the dance warranted. Her gaze sparkled with interest, making his stomach twinge. How did Radiance manage to cause that flutter feeling like wings inside him?

Regardless, she did. And more like a falcon’s wings than a butterfly.

The music ended, and he led her from the floor. Lord and Lady Foxford had also been dancing, but Lillian was standing by herself. He ought to have stayed with her.

Edward asked the only other man in their group, “Lord Foxford, would you care to dance with my sister?”

“Oh, no,” Lillian protested. “That’s quite all right.”

But with the ease of a former rake, Lord Foxford took her hand.

“You wound me, Miss Lockwood. Don’t disappoint a married man who rarely has the chance to dance with another fair flower.”

“Yes, please do,” Lady Foxford said. “My husband is an excellent dancer, and I am happy to loan him to you.”

Thus, Edward found himself alone with the two Diamond sisters. They couldn’t be less alike than if they weren’t related. Except for their expressions. They both wore matching ones, which seemed to be taking his measure.

Suddenly, his necktie felt too tight. Edward cleared his throat.

“Have you also been to Vauxhall?” he asked Lady Foxford.

The pretty dark-haired lady blinked. “Do you mean also as in you have been there and wonder if I, too, have been? Or also as in wondering if I have been there as well as here?”

“The latter,” he clarified, feeling as if he must stay on his toes.

“Potentially, that is a good question in this social setting. If I had been there and you had as well, then we could compare the two pleasure gardens. However, I do not believe my sister has been to Vauxhall, and I would hate to leave her out of the conversation.”

Lady Foxford asked Radiance. “Have you?”

“I haven’t.”

“And thus,” Lady Foxford continued, “it is not a good topic at all since it leaves out the female you are escorting tonight.” She finished with a slight shake of her head, as if Edward had greatly disappointed her.

With these rules, he struggled to think of something on which they could all speak.

“It would be acceptable for you to ask my sister if she wished to accompany you to Vauxhall,” Lady Foxford added. “Then you could compare the merits of the two gardens together.”

“I would enjoy the opportunity to do so,” Radiance said.

Edward didn’t like to be pressed into anything. On the other hand, if Radiance wished to go to Vauxhall, which wasn’t a particularly wise idea given its decline, then he would prefer she went with him than some Johnny-raw or, worse, a slyboots. She needed protecting in these types of places, and he was happy to be her guardian.

“I shall be privileged to take you,” he told her. “I suppose it would be most advantageous if you and your husband could come along, too,” Edward addressed Lady Foxford.

She wrinkled her nose. “Not my cup of tea. Perhaps our brother and his wife or our other sister, not Lady Brilliance as she is of a tender age, but Lady Hollidge. After all, Foxy and I cannot have all the fun.”

Radiance responded with a roll of her eyes. “Shall we go to the banqueting hall next? Or do you wish to dance again?”

“I am entirely at ease, either way,” Edward said. As long as he was in her company, he didn’t mind what they did. That, in itself, surprised him.

“A very sound response,” Lady Foxford said. “Sister, do you wish to dance again?”

“If this is the last opportunity of the evening, then yes, I would like to.”

Edward was glad of her answer. He welcomed another chance to hold her in his arms. Thus, as soon as one song ended, he drew her into the crowd as the next one began.

“What about your sister and mine?” Radiance asked.

“Lord Foxford will look after them both.” They moved easily together around the floor. It was the second most enjoyable moment of the evening. “You are an excellent dancer,” he told her. “A pleasure to —”

A scream rent the air followed by another, and then dancers began to surge toward them, scrambling out of the way of something unseen.