Give Me (Wyrd and Fae #1)(44)

Epilogue

The Glimmer Glass



Cade had Glimmer Cottage gutted and remodeled and turned into a pub. When he asked Sharon and Jimmy to run the place, Lilith had suggested they book the wedding reception during Glimmer Pub’s grand opening week. Now Jimmy and his band were tuning up on a portable stage set out in the courtyard, while Sharon good-naturedly harassed the serving staff to make sure all the guests were happy.

Lilith found Marion and Ian with Cade’s mother at a table near the stage. She crossed the lawn to them, glad she’d gone with ankle length instead of a floor-length wedding gown. Beverly was doing well physically. Most of the time she loved being with people. Couldn’t get enough. At the moment she was on a mental holiday, staring into who knows what. It happened sometimes. Marion held her hand but otherwise left her alone.

As Lilith said hello, Sharon came by with a pint of beer. “For you, Dad. I know you’re not much for champagne.”

Behind Sharon’s head, Lilith noticed a man on the roof deck standing at the rail. Originally she and Cade had hoped to have the dancing up there, but it was too small. In fact, the roof deck was supposed to be closed tonight. The man was watching her, which in itself wasn’t unusual. Since she’d agreed to marry Cade, now the earl, Lilith had become accustomed to being watched by strangers. This felt like something else.

She had a strong feeling that the man wasn’t watching Countess Dumnos. He was watching Lilith Evergreen. Her hand went to her throat and touched mother’s necklace, the “something old” for her wedding costume.

She had always thought the macramé with uneven glass and rock was beautiful but odd, like something the French girls would have worn to the Handover. Her feelings putting it on this morning had surprised her. Painful, yes, but a bittersweet happiness. She’d blocked her mother’s memory for so long, and now the necklace was comforting.

Sharon moved on to other guests. Lilith ignored the man on the roof and said, “I’m glad they’re doing well with the pub. I was afraid Sharon wouldn’t accept Cade’s offer.”

“She’s a married woman now, my lady,” Ian said. “That changes a person’s priorities.”

“So I’m told.” Lilith felt a little shock at hearing Ian call her my lady. Wasn’t she still Lilith to him, the same person she’d been yesterday?

She glanced at the roof, unable to forget the man. He had disappeared from view, but she had the definite feeling he was still up there and wanted to talk to her.

“Sharon was at the Tragic Fall long enough,” Marion said. “And she was a hard worker. They’ve really made a go of this place. Ah, here comes the groom.”

Cade sure cleaned up nicely, gorgeous in a white tuxedo. He’d insisted on a white satin bell crown topper, but it didn’t keep all his hair in good order. His green eyes had made Lilith think of dangerous sex the first time she saw them, and she’d learned from experience that her first impression wasn’t wrong.

“Wonderful!” he said. “My favorite people all gathered in one place.”

Lilith leaned against him and put her arm around his waist, and he kissed her forehead and whispered love you in her ear. She’d be glad when they were home in bed together. No matter who—or what—she was, she was happy. She’d always be safe and loved by Cade.

“I’ll be right back,” she said.

Let them think she was going to the powder room. She had to find out who was on the roof.

“Lady Dumnos.”

She cringed. She’d made it to the stairs’ first tread.

“My lady.”

The French girls surrounded her with congratulations and best wishes.

“Bella, you don’t congratulate the woman,” Cammy simpered. “No matter how fortunate the match.”

“It’s so sad Lord Dumnos didn’t live to see this day,” Bella said. “But how wonderful that he and Lady Dumnos were reconciled after their long estrangement.”

“Thirty years!” Cammy said. “I thought The Dowager Countess would be a lot older.”

“She was very young when they married,” Lilith said, “from what Cade—Lord Dumnos has told me.”

“Of course, Lady Dumnos,” Cammy said.

“Yes, your ladyship,” Bella said. “The Dowager Countess must have been quite young.”

Were they mocking her? Lilith was still learning the rules of proper address. Cade was no longer Lord Tintagos, but Lord Dumnos. She was Lady Dumnos. Beverly was also Lady Dumnos, but more properly Dowager Lady Dumnos or The Dowager Countess.

“Please call me Lilith.” Oh, drat. Was that wrong? Likely, from their reaction. “Surely after what we’ve been through…” But how much did Bella and Cammy remember?

“You’re very gracious,” Bella said.

“Very gracious,” Cammy said. “Lilith.”

“Well, then. Please excuse me.”

Lilith found no one on roof deck. She walked over to the rail and searched the grounds for him. Clear skies and stars tried to poke through the clouds, but the air smelled of rain. It was a risk, having the band in the garden, though the tent was supposedly waterproof and could be extended from the stage.

The scene below reminded her of her that night at Tintagos Village six months ago, when tourists crammed the street outside her window at the Tragic Fall Inn. When she believed the Handover was a promotional invention to boost the local economy.