Harrison grinned and extended his hand to the man. “Congratulations, Bodville. I am very happy to hear that. She’s a lovely young lady; I wish you both every happiness.”

“Thank you, my lord.” Bodville continued to smile, clearly delighted by his circumstances and prospects.

“Where is Miss Verran this evening, Mr. Bodville?” Adelaide asked, looking about him, knowing she had not met the woman yet. “I should dearly love to meet her.”

“She did not accompany me this evening, ma’am,” Bodville told her, looking a little hesitant. “She is a mine captain’s daughter from Redruth and did not feel particularly suitable for the gathering.”

Harrison bit the inside of his cheek in anticipation of his wife’s response. It was true that Jenna Verran was a mine captain’s daughter, formerly a miner’s daughter, and their life was relatively simple. Above the common poor in the area, perhaps, but hardly elegant.

Rather like Emblyn, Jenna represented Cornwall in a way that Adelaide might never see or understand.

“Nonsense!” Adelaide cried with real insistence. “She would have been more than welcome! If Redruth were any nearer to us, I would have you fetch her at this moment!”

Bodville looked as startled as Harrison felt, and they both stared at Adelaide in abject wonder. “You would?” Bodville asked before Harrison could manage it.

Adelaide nodded eagerly. “Yes! After all you have done and continue to do for Wheal Lidden, I could not do anything less than to welcome your bride-to-be with open arms and offer my friendship. We mine wives must stick together, mustn’t we?”

Harrison wondered if she had any idea how extraordinary her words were, or if she could even imagine what actual mine wives looked like, sounded like, or endured. Granted, he did go down into his mines several times a season, but he was hardly putting himself in the same danger that his miners were. There was almost no risk with what he did when he went down, and he came home to finery and a hot meal that his staff prepared.

But her innocent suggestion was more than he had hoped to hear from her, and he was impressed, nonetheless.

“I would love to have her call upon me here,” Adelaide insisted, furthering his astonishment. “Or, if she prefers, we might meet at Wheal Lidden and walk together.”

“I will inform her, my lady,” Bodville replied unsteadily. He blinked, glancing at Harrison as though he could somehow provide a steadying influence. “Would you… would you both honor us by attending the wedding? It will be a rather small, simple affair, but we will celebrate with many of our friends and neighbors as a proper Cornish wedding should.”

Adelaide looked at Harrison, smiling with what seemed to be true delight, though he seemed to have lost his sense of interpretation where her features were concerned. “I’ve never seen a true Cornish wedding celebration. Surely we can attend.”