“Oh, we know.” Kate rolled her eyes. “The crowd seems to have dissipated a bit. Shall we try our luck with the greenroom now?”
* * *
When they reached the parlor where the cast gathered after the production, they found that a bevy of admirers still surrounded Effie. But once she saw Caro and Kate, she pushed past the crowd to speak to them.
Frank stood off to the side watching her, his expression inscrutable.
“It appears she’s been missed,” Val said to his cousin as he and Eversham came to a stop beside him. He gave a low whistle at the dozens of bouquets on the table behind her. “She’s very much been missed, I think.”
“Effie is one of the most talented actresses of her time,” Frank said simply. “It’s no wonder that she has legions of admirers. I daresay she always will.”
Turning to Eversham, he asked, “Is there any word on Tate and Croyden?”
“Nothing new.” Eversham shrugged. “They are both due to stand trial soon. They won’t hang, of course, because they’re peers, but if convicted, they should face a stiff penalty. They can request trial in the House of Lords, but since their victims were highly connected to one of their own, it’s unlikely they will escape punishment as they wish.”
“Thank God,” Frank said with ill-disguised relief.
Mick, who had murdered the man who helped him and Tate kidnap Effie, had already been put to death. Though Val hadn’t felt sorry for the fellow, given his misdeeds, it did disgust him to see the way in which justice seemed to operate on two tiers: the harsher one reserved for those without the rank or connections to protect them.
“She’s safe now.” Val clapped his cousin on the back.
“You’re right,” Frank said, relaxing a little. “I just can’t face losing her again. You don’t understand, Val.”
Val squeezed his shoulder. “I do understand.” He looked pointedly at where Caro was engaged in an animated conversation with Kate and Effie. “I understand all too well.”
Recognition dawned in Frank’s eyes. “I suppose you do at that.”
* * *
On the other side of the room, Effie was beaming. “I know you’ve said it’s not necessary, Caro, Kate, but I cannot thank you enough.”
After discussing the play, Kate and Caro had asked Effie how her husband was faring, prompting her expression of gratitude.
“If you hadn’t arrived when you did, and if we hadn’t gotten him to a physician, I don’t know what would have happened,” Effie said with the intensity of a woman who’d almost lost the love of her life. “I’d never have found a way to escape and get a doctor for Frank on my own.”
“We’re just happy he’s recovering and you were able to marry at last,” Caro assured her. After the near loss of his only son, Mr. Thorn’s father had surprisingly relented on his stance against his son’s relationship with Effie. But relent he had, and before Mr. Thorn had even left his sickbed, they’d been wed. “And you both seem to be thriving in the married state, I must say.”
“And so do you, Caro.” Effie grinned.
“What will you do after the play is concluded?” Kate asked, turning the subject.
Effie’s cheeks colored. “I was hoping to speak to you both about that,” she said with a small smile. “You see, I was wondering if perhaps you could use some assistance with the salons, on those days when you are unable to lead the meetings? I enjoy them so much and I do have some experience speaking before crowds.”
Caro blinked. While it was true that sometimes she was often pressed to find time to lead the salons, they were also the highlight of her week. Still, she liked the idea of taking on another leader for the groups.
“I think that’s a marvelous notion, Effie.” Caro smiled. “You would be perfect for the role.”
“I love the idea,” Kate said decisively. “But you’ve only just married; surely you won’t have time for such an endeavor.”
“Oh, we are in love, but we don’t wish to live in one another’s pockets.” Effie laughed. “He will have his club, after all. He can manage without me for a few hours a week. I won’t give up my independence simply because we’re married now.”
“I think we know a little bit about that,” Caro said.
Epilogue
Later that evening, Caro lay back against her husband’s chest, the movement causing a ripple of water to cascade over the edge of the bathtub.
“Are you sure your valet doesn’t become upset when we make a mess like this?” Caro gave a worried look to the pile of extra toweling stacked neatly on a nearby bench.
“Of course he doesn’t.” Val pressed a kiss into her bare shoulder. “He lives to mop up watery puddles.”
“He does?” Caro asked skeptically, turning to look at him, though it was difficult in her present position.
“No,” her husband admitted, situating her in a more comfortable position—one that didn’t threaten to emasculate him. “But you mustn’t be afraid of him. He likes you. It’s Ludwig he has issues with.”
Caro’s cat had made the regrettable decision to sharpen his claws on Val’s best boots, and ever since, Ludwig and the valet had been at odds. Though she wasn’t sure Ludwig knew or cared about the fastidious servant’s ire.
As if he’d known he was the subject of discussion, the cat chose that moment to saunter in. Then he disappeared below view of the sides of the tub.
“He’s drinking the water again, isn’t he?” Val asked, though the sound of rapid slurping made the question moot.
“Do you mind him very much?” Caro leaned her head back on his shoulder, rubbing her foot along his calf.
After using the access to her neck to scrape his teeth lightly across the place where it met her shoulder, he pulled back a little at her question. “Of course I don’t mind him. He’s yours. Besides, we’ve come to an understanding. It’s all been settled between us now.”
“Oh, you have, have you?” Caro had come to learn so many facets of his personality, but this playful side was one she especially loved. “And what is it that you’ve agreed to?”
“Ludwig has agreed that so long as I do not keep him from his daily allowance of cuddles,” Val said, stroking a hand over her breast, “then he won’t keep me from mine.”
“That’s mag”—Caro gasped when he pinched her nipple—“nanimous of him.”
“He’s nothing if not a gentleman,” Val agreed, sliding his hand down her chest and over her stomach to touch her center.
And for a long time, there was no talking.
Once they’d left the cooling bathwater, dried themselves, and climbed into his bed, Val drew her against him. “The truth of it is, Caroline, that I would endure any number of cats, dogs, and hedgehogs if it meant I got to spend the rest of my life with you. So, one persnickety feline barely signifies.”
Caro placed her hands on either side of his face. “I love you. So much. And what’s more, I trust you. I never thought I’d be able to feel so again. We wasted so much time in those years we spent apart.”