Judith McNaught Quote

No one but she had realized that the ballroom bore a rather startling resemblance to the gardens at Charise Dumont’s country house, and that the arbor at the side, with its trellised entrance, was a virtual replica of the place where she and Ian had first waltzed that long-ago night.Across the room, the vicar was standing with Jake Wiley, Lucinda, and the Duke of Stanhope, and he raised his glass to her. Elizabeth smiled and nodded back. Jake Wiley watched the silent communication and beamed upon his little group of companions. Exquisite bride, isn’t she? he pronounced, not for the first time. For the past half-hour, the three men had been merrily congratulating themselves on their individual roles in bringing this marriage about, and the consumption of spirits was beginning to show in Duncan and Jake’s increasingly gregarious behavior.Absolutely exquisite, Duncan agreed.She’ll make Ian an excellent wife, said the duke. We’ve done well, gentlemen, he added, lifting his glass in yet another congratulatory toast to his companions. To you, Duncan, he said with a bow, for making Ian see the light.To you, Edward, said the vicar to the duke, for forcing society to accept them. Turning to Jake, he added, And to you, old friend, for insisting on going to the village for the servingwomen and bringing old Attila and Miss Throckmorton-Jones with you.That toast belatedly called to mind the silent duenna who was standing stiffly beside them, her face completely devoid of expression. And to , Miss Throckmorton-Jones, said Duncan with a deep, gallant bow, for taking that laudanum and spilling the truth to me about what Ian did two years ago. ‘Twas that, and that alone, which caused everything else to be put into motion, so to speak. But here, said Duncan, nonplussed as he waved to a servant bearing a tray of champagne, you do not have a glass, my dear woman, to share in our toasts.I do not take strong spirits, Lucinda informed Duncan. Furthermore, my good man, she added with a superior expression that might have been a smile or a smirk, I do take laudanum, either. And on that staggering announcement, she swept up her unbecoming gray skirts and walked off to dampen the spirits of another group. She left behind her three dumbstruck, staring men who gaped at each other and then suddenly erupted into shouts of laughter.