Valentine shook his hand but then scowled. “You might have dropped a hint.”
“You’re welcome.” George glanced at those gathered. “So, I take it you finally agree to Mr. Merton’s inclusion in your ranks?”
There was agreement all round and Valentine beamed. He gripped Julia’s hand firmly. “Thank you. Thank you so very much from both of us.”
“And I must thank Miss Radley. If my own health were better, I would have given chase that day instead of standing still like a blind fool. Brighton has become a dangerous place, but also dangerous for men with dishonorable intentions, with a woman like Miss Radley in our midst.” Faraday took both of Julia’s hands. “You have my undying gratitude for coming to my wife’s rescue that day when I could not. Thank you.”
Julia beamed. “I was honored to help in any way I could. You’d both looked so happy moments before.”
He smiled too. “We’re looking forward to your wedding.”
“And the wedding breakfast? Have you made plans for that yet?” Mrs. Faraday asked. She drew Julia aside so the men could talk about the business.
She gulped and then smiled guiltily. “Not yet. I haven’t thought much about the wedding at all yet. Mr. Merton’s proposal was very unexpected.”
Mrs. Faraday shook her head. “To you, perhaps. The rest of us were waiting for this day to come, and high time too.”
Julia glanced at Melanie helplessly, uncertain what to say to that.
Melanie smiled serenely and joined them. “The wedding breakfast is well in hand, I assure you, Mrs. Faraday.”
Her words had the necessary impact. The ladies grew excited and then retreated to serve the men across the room.
Julia drew Melanie aside. “You shouldn’t have lied to them. I’ve done nothing, and no one has even mentioned the wedding breakfast before today. I don’t know what to do.”
“It is done.” Melanie nodded. “Cook promised me months ago that she and Mrs. Baker would divide up any cooking, compare notes on the menu, and ensure you a day you will long remember.”
Julia gaped. “You organized my wedding breakfast before you left Brighton? How could you know I would accept your brother, or that he would even ask?”
“These things are best never left to chance.” She smiled briefly. “We should rejoin the rest of the party.”
Melanie moved toward the women and Julia followed, somewhat in shock. Hadn’t she been told time and again that Melanie didn’t approve of her? That she would stop at nothing to have Valentine wed to someone else? That seemed a vast contradiction to the reality she now faced.
She glanced at Mr. George, only to find the man staring at Melanie too. His brow wrinkled but then he glanced away to speak to Mr. Faraday, no doubt about the building he’d recently purchased. The pair laughed together and then moved toward a rear door.
Melanie followed at a distance and peered into a side room they’d just inspected. She spoke to Mr. George and it was clear her words were awkwardly received. She turned away soon after and rejoined the older women.
Valentine caught her hand. “I can’t believe we’ve won through at last.”
“I can. Didn’t you say that together we could do anything?” She leaned into him a little, her happiness bubbling over. Now all she had to fear was the wedding night. Whatever that might entail.
That was something she didn’t want to think about too hard right now.
After a little while, another set of clocks chimed and she was surprised by how the time had flown. “Eight o’clock,” Valentine announced. “I promised your brother we wouldn’t return too late.”
She nodded then noticed Melanie was already bidding farewell to Mrs. Faraday. “Does
Melanie have exceptional hearing?”
“No, but she does have a better sense of propriety than myself. She’s been glancing at the clocks for a reason, not just to admire Mr. Faraday’s work. Let’s get you home so Linus doesn’t grow cross with us.”
Julia sighed and said her goodbyes then they filed out the door. She glanced back once, making a few plans for her own life with Valentine. She’d find a small corner of the workshop to claim. She didn’t want to be in the way but she didn’t want to be left behind at home every day.
Since it was dark out now, she drew near Valentine and they talked over the details of the shop’s reopening under his leadership. Once, she glanced over her shoulder and noticed Melanie and Mr. George were speaking quietly together. She hadn’t seen them appear so easy with each other in a long time, and she was pleased.
“I’d like to celebrate,” Valentine whispered.
Her spirits lifted even further. “How? Where?”