Lilah leaned forward to search her friend’s face. “Are you happy?”
She nodded, but there was a nervousness in her expression. “We’re going to get married, Lilah. We’re going to marry, and I’m going to help him run the troupe.”
“You do that already.”
“I know, but now it’ll be official. I’ll be his wife.” She blushed such a pretty rose as she spoke, and Lilah could tell she was happy.
“That’s wonderful, Margarite. That’s better than wonderful. It’s fan—”
“Would you come?”
“What?” Margarite’s words had come out so rushed that Lilah wasn’t sure she’d heard them properly.
Margarite took a deep breath and spoke again. “I want you to come. More, I want you stand with me. You’re the closest thing I have to a sister, and you’re the highest nob we know that would stand with me.”
“You’re asking me to be your bridesmaid?”
“I am. I want you there, but you’ve always been so proper. Even as kids, you knew which was the right fork and the like when I didn’t even know there were different forks.”
Her mother had made sure she knew these things. It made life easier when her father had visited. He liked his daughter to know how to act properly.
“I didn’t know if you’d want to be seen with me,” Margarite continued. “It won’t help you get your gent to the altar.”
“I’m not worried about that.” And how the words freed her even more. She’d spent so much time trying to cozy up to thetonthat it was like finally catching her breath to say, no more. She would not cater to their whims ever again.
“I’d love to stand with you,” she said.
“And you’ll help me do it proper?” Margarite pressed.
“If you’ll let me.”
“Thank you!” Margarite threw her arms around Lilah, and they laughed in true delight. Then they spent a wonderful hour talking about weddings and lovemaking. Eventually, however, Lilah had to return to the registry and Margarite had to get ready for her performance. She wasn’t just a rope dancer. She performed in smaller parts in the theater as did most of the troupe.
Lilah had taken one step out of the door when Margarite abruptly grabbed her hand. “I forgot to tell you!” she cried.
“What?”
“A Scottish gent came by asking about the letters.”
“What letters?”
“The ones Jamis tore up. The ones to your mother.”
“Whatever for?” And what Scottish gent? The only one she could think of was Lord Loughton.
“He had some idea who might be writing. I made sure Jamis said what he knew. He’s not so mad at you now.”
“Because I hired him to do the séance?”
Margarite nodded. “And because I told him to stop being an arse, and he listened.”
Lilah laughed and kissed Margarite’s cheek. “Thank you for helping.”
“I don’t know what good it will come to, but at least Jamis is helping now.”
Lilah smiled. “You’re going to be the most beautiful bride ever. And Jamis is very lucky to have you.”
“An’ I make sure he knows it!” Margarite answered with a laugh.