“It is all anyone can talk about,” Caroline chimed in excitedly. “Everyone thinks you revealed your secret identity deliberately, to make the news all the more thrilling!”
Joanna smirked. “I have heard several ladies say you did it to improve your legitimacy as The Matchmaker. If I did not know the truth, I would believe that. You must have been born on a lucky day or something, Anna, for I doubt it could have worked out better if you had meant to create this outcome.”
“I have been very fortunate,” Anna said quietly, suddenly shy about having all of the attention on her. “But enough of all of that—you have undoubtedly heard enough to last you a lifetime. Someone else must have an entertaining subject to talk about?”
“I am with child,” a voice squeaked.
Anna’s head snapped toward the voice, but it was unclear who had spoken. However, Phoebe was staring at Matilda with such utter shock that it soon became quite obvious.
“You are?” Anna gasped.
Matilda nodded slowly. “I have known for a month, but Albion’s mother insisted it was prudent to keep it to oneself until the quickening.” A nervous smile graced her lips. “I felt the child kick for the first time last week, but I did not want to write to inform you all. I thought it deserved to be mentioned at an informal meeting of the Spinsters’ Club.”
A moment later, she was bombarded, all four of her friends knocking her—gently—to the ground as they smothered her with their hugs and kisses and congratulations.
“You shall be the most wonderful mother,” Anna murmured, hugging her friend tightly. “Oh, they will be a force to be reckoned with!”
Matilda laughed and grabbed all of her friends, hugging them in return.
They were still like that, entangled together on the picnic blankets, laughing and smiling in their mutual pride and happiness, when the sound of gentlemanly voices drifted through the gate of the ornamental garden.
One of the gentlemen cleared their throats. “I wondered if I might borrow my betrothed for a moment?”
Anna sat up, grinning as she saw Percival standing there at the garden gate with a bouquet of orchids in his hand.
“I truly did ask Max if it would be all right, this time,” he said.
The other gentlemen were standing around him, clapping him on the back as if he was making his first attempt to woo a lady. It was a rather endearing scene, and one that gave Anna such hope for the future. Although, there were three faces missing: Max, Dickie, and Norman.
The former was at Harewood Court and was due to arrive later that afternoon. Dickie had imbibed too much and retired to his chambers until he felt better. And Norman was enjoying his honeymoon with Victoria in Scotland, with firm promises to return in time for the wedding.
“We helped,” Albion said, standing closest to Percival. “I showed him how to cut the stems properly, so it would not affect the growth of the plant as a whole.”
Matilda beamed. “I taught him that.”
“You have taught me a great many things,” Albion replied, smiling at his wife with such pride in his eyes. Indeed, there was no greater supporter of Matilda’s work than her husband.
“Not before he trounced us at shooting,” Nathaniel said with an irreverent grin. “You should have told us he had such tremendous aim! Then again, he shot love’s arrow through the most difficult—and worthy, of course—of hearts, so I suppose we should have known.”
Leah nodded, patting Anna gently on the back. “She is worthy indeed. And you, my darling, are a terrible shot. I imaginethatis why you were trounced.”
“Ah, she knows me too well.” Nathaniel laughed. “There is nothing as fine in this world as being entirely known by one’s wife. Truly. I am not often serious, but you have everything to look forward to, my good man.” He clapped Percival on the shoulder.
“This may sound peculiar, Percival,” Evan said, “but we have all been anxiously awaiting you. Have we not, Olivia?”
Olivia chuckled, unable to hide her love for her husband as she nodded in agreement. “We have. And you, Percival, have saved the best for last.”
“What you have to understand,” Daniel added, “is that when you marry into the Spinsters’ Club, you become as invested in them as if you were part of the club yourself. Of course, they have their secrets between them, but the happiness of one is the happiness of all. It is the most bizarre and wonderful thing, so I trust that you will ensure dear Anna’s happiness forevermore.”
Nathaniel laughed. “Indeed, or we shall have to pretend we are angry with you on their behalf, then secretly invite you to meet with us. You see, we have our own club—the Spinsters’ Husbands’ Club. It isextremelyelite.”
“Anna’s happiness is in careful hands,” Percival promised, smiling at her. “And I look forward to the day we are finally married, just as I look forward to the day that I may attend my first meeting of the Spinsters’ Husbands’ Club.”
The other men chuckled at that, congratulating Percival on his sense of humor. The mood between them was friendly and comfortable, as if they had all known one another since boyhood, and nothing could have delighted Anna more. In the past month, Percival had gone from strength to strength, becoming the sort of gentleman she knew he had always dreamed of being: popular, at ease in his own skin, optimistic, and deeply in love.
She got up and dusted the stray blades of dried grass from her skirts, making her way toward her beloved.
“Now, now, should you not have a chaperone?” Nathaniel teased.
