of her chin, she turned back to the refreshment table and made minute adjustments to the platters of food.
Fifteen minutes later, Marshall returned, his posture and demeanor considerably eased. “Isabelle feels much more the thing,” he told the group. “She’s resting comfortably and will join us later if she’s up to it.”
Lily put a hand to her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank heavens. I couldn’t have gone on with the benefit, knowing Isa was in peril.”
Marshall surprised Naomi by pulling her into a hug. “Thank you,” he rasped. “If anything happened to her — ”
“She’ll be fine, Marshall,” she assured him. “Isabelle is a strong woman. She’ll give you a perfect, healthy child when the time is right.”
He held her back but kept a grasp on her upper arms. A thoughtful look passed across his face. “I don’t know how anyone can stand to have more than one baby. Isabelle might have the fortitude for it, but I don’t know that I do. The nearer her time comes, the more … ” He stopped himself and patted her shoulder. “Well, that’s not for you to worry about.”
Naomi shook her head. “
Now
you remember my maidenly innocence?” she teased.
A footman announced the first guests, Mr. and Mrs. Bachman. Marshall squeezed her hands before going to greet them.
Soon, a fair crowd mingled and chatted. Lily and Ethan made an elegant-looking pair as they spoke to everyone about King’s Cross Vocational. Naomi was awed by her friend’s massive undertaking — a school to train disadvantaged young women in good-paying trades. The institution was scheduled to open its doors for Michaelmas term on the first of October, a date fast approaching. Ethan matched his wife’s enthusiasm for the institution; between her force and his charm, Naomi did not think anyone could help but be persuaded to contribute to the cause.
Naomi had spent a great deal of time at the school, helping in whatever small ways she could. Another benefit to her eventual marriage, she thought as she nodded to some new arrivals, was that she could sit on the board for King’s Cross, as Isabelle already did.
She exchanged a warm greeting with her friend Emily — now Lady Gerard. “How lovely you’re looking, Em.” Naomi admired her friend’s canary dress. Emily raised a hand to touch her auburn hair — and to display the large, yellow-sapphire ring gracing her finger. “Oh, my!” Naomi exclaimed.
“Do you like it? Charles gave it to me just tonight,” Emily gushed. She glanced to where her husband, Lord Gerard, conversed with Mr. Hayward.
Naomi watched her friend’s features closely. There was a pride about her that she’d acquired since the June wedding. She was proud of her husband, Naomi saw, proud of the good match she’d made. But she did not love him. Not yet. Naomi hoped her friend’s marriage would become a true love match before long. Lily and Ethan’s marriage had not begun on the warmest terms, after all, but now Naomi could not imagine one without the other coming to mind.
The sound of laughter drew their attention. It was Isabelle, looking much recovered from her earlier discomfort. She entered the salon on the arm of Lord Freese. Naomi felt a little sigh in her chest at the sight of the inordinately handsome viscount. His tall, broad frame and dark hair and brows should have made him intimidating. The prominent scar on his cheek should have spoiled his looks. But he was saved from ferocity by an easy, jovial nature. Unruly curls lightened the effect of their black hue, and even the scar was turned to an asset, because it lent him an air of experience. Here was a man who had been out and seen the world, fought bravely, and lost blood for his country. The only feature about him Naomi found the slightest unsettling were his eyes, a striking blue, sharply contrasting with his coloration.
His personable demeanor made him popular with other gentlemen while his looks made him a great