.
Natalia had lived next door for almost a year, and though she’d heard rumors about the Valdeston Mansion’s grandeur, she’d been quite unprepared to see it. It was a labyrinth with no room or hall leading to where she thought it would. The grand staircase split on the first landing and then after another flight split again. Straight ahead was a painting on the ceiling that looked to have been done by El Greco himself. The home was stunning and well decorated, though it was hard to see it all with so many people about. The glittering gowns paled in comparison to the house. She felt a heavy hand press into her lower back and turned to smile at her husband.
William reached for a glass of champagne from a passing server and handed it to her. “You look nervous.” His green eyes held a light of humor that never ceased at reminding her of their shared history.
“Do I?” Her fingers trembled as she grabbed the glass. He was right. How strange that her husband of only a fortnight knew her so well. They’d married by special license with only their friends and family around them.
It had been good to see her Uncle Perry. He’d wept at the sight of her and she had wept as well.
She was growing used to being Natalia once more. When the papers had announced her and Lorenzo’s return to Society, their presence had been requested at every party, and they had attended most of them.
Yet still, people stared at her as though she’d risen from the dead. And perhaps, in a way, she had.
William bent over and whispered in her ear, “Would you like to retire for a moment?”
She smiled, and her face grew tight as she tried to control her laughter. They’d ‘retired’ at nearly every party they’d made an appearance at, yet not once had Natalia found rest during any of those sessions. Behind closed doors, William became her wild Roma once more, his hands wandering and roaming where they wished, taking what he wanted from her, stripping her bare.
She released a shaky sigh at the thought and prepared herself to tell him no.
But then his eyes darkened, and she knew she couldn’t resist.
“There you two are.” Julius moved through the crowd with determination, cutting a path straight toward them. “I wanted to catch you before you disappeared.” Stopping before them, he sighed and straightened. “I have a gift for you both.”
Natalia’s eyes widened. “Haven’t you already given enough?” Lorenzo’s inheritance had been just as large as Julius had promised and her dowry beyond everything she’d ever expected. William had only accepted it because he’d known what it had meant to Lorenzo, but surely, William would not accept anything else.
William proved that Natalia was learning the ways of her husband quite well when he said, “No more gifts, Julius, or I’ll begin to wonder if you think I can’t support my own wife.”
Julius smiled at his friend. “You and I both know you very well can, but let me spoil the cousin I’ve not seen for so long. Besides, this gift is necessary. Please.” He looked at Natalia then, those pansy eyes pleading with hers.
She looked at her husband.
William’s jaw tightened and then he nodded.
Julius smiled. “This way.” He led them through the labyrinth until they reached an empty yellow drawing room in the back of the house.
The room was a rectangle with rounded corners. The outer wall had windows on each end, curving with the wall and lined with gold. It was stunning.
A noise caught her attention and Natalia noticed a basket sitting on a tea table in the center of the room. When the noise came again, there was no mistaking the tiny meow and the sound of nails scratching for escape. She mindlessly broke from William and went over to the basket. Her heart was racing, and her stomach was in knots. Tears began to burn her eyes, and she lifted the lid from the basket without any prompting.
The smallest kitten she’d ever seen emerged, with patterned black and brown fur that was quite similar to Starlight’s. Though this creature was whole in every way. Its ears twitched and its unscarred hazel eyes looked up at her. “Oh, Julius.” Natalia plucked the tiny kitten from the basket. “Oh.” She didn’t know what to say but was sure the efforts her lady’s maid had made on her face would be quite ruined.
She turned and found two men she very much loved standing only a few feet away from her. “Thank you,” she whispered.
William turned to Julius and glared. “I had planned to be the one to replace Starlight.”
Julius didn’t meet anyone’s eyes and instead, closed his hands behind his back. “I figured you would, but Starlight was not yours to replace.”
“Of course, he was,” William hissed. “I killed him in the first place.”
Julius looked at William then and his color rose. “No. You didn’t. I did.”
The room went silent.
“What?” Natalia stood with the kitten in her hands. “What do you mean you killed him? I remember William holding him.”
“Yes.” William frowned. “I remember Starlight wouldn’t stay still and so I tightened my hold—”
“I may have given the cat coffee that morning while you and Natalia were playing in the field,” Julius said and looked at the ground. Then he took a step away. “It had been Uncle Ganville’s cup and I thought it humorous if he were to drink after the hideous creature. Starlight became quite jittery after, so fearing for his life, I went to Cook. She told me there was nothing she could do and warned me that the coffee would kill him, but I remained silent and prayed he’d survive.”
“And then he didn’t,” William finished with a grunt. “And you let me go on thinking I killed the cat all this time.”
Julius dug his foot into the carpet, becoming like a child again. “Well, I knew Natalia would forgive you, since she liked you better than me.” Then he smiled at William. “And I was right. No harm came from it.”
William advanced.
Julius retreated to the other side of the couch. His hands shot out. “Now, see here.”
“I’m going to kill you,” William growled.
“You’re married. Happy, even,” Julius tried to reason. “Really, I say all should be forgiven.”
William didn’t look interested in forgiveness as he circled the chair and shot toward his friend. “You made me feel guilt over a thing I didn’t even do!”
Julius jumped the couch and sprinted toward the door. “William, remember our friendship!” He slipped from the room.
William was on his heels. “I’ll carve your gravestone myself!”
Natalia stood there petting her new kitten and grinning and thought it very good to be herself again.