Already His (The Caversham Chronicles - Book Two) (47 page)

“But you said....”

“False bravado. Pure and simple.” She grinned, then winked at him. “I’m full of it.” Lifting the quill and dipping the tip, she told Michael, “Work on your sister’s letters.” Elise put the date on her page. “I shall write to your mother.”

“Are you sure you want to write
her
invitation?”

She smiled. “Of course. She will be the closest thing to a mother I’ve ever had. Mine died after I was born and Amelia didn’t really like me much, and avoided me unless Papa was around.”

“If you need help with it, I’ll be right here,” he offered as he began working on his first invitation.

Haldenwood, July 1, 1823

Dear Lady Richard,

If I promise not to climb a tree or trellis will you come to Haldenwood? It is my fondest wish that you come as soon as possible, ma’am. Michael has decided he does not want to wait until he is out of mourning to marry. In fact, he wishes to get married tomorrow, but I have told him I will not stand in front of the minister until you arrive and give us your blessing.

Please say you’ll come. We await your reply.

With all our love,

Elise and Michael

She sanded, then folded the page. As she pressed her seal into the wax, she said “There. This should do it!”

Next, Elise went to find herself a pair of attendants to stand with her. She found Lia in the nursery, rocking Marcus to sleep. The sight of the sleeping babe in her arms sent a pang of longing through her. She wanted a babe of Michael’s one day, and hopefully by this time next year she would have a son or daughter to rock herself.

Elise asked her sister-in-law if she would stand up for her, and Lia readily agreed, saying she would be honored. Then she went to Beverly’s room and found her sitting on her settee before the hearth, the ever-present book in hand. She sat next to her friend and said, “I wanted to ask you if you would stand with me at my wedding as my maid of honor.” Seeing Beverly’s expression change from one of shock to one of fear, Elise wanted to reassure her it wasn’t something to be frightened of. “You will have Lia to guide you, she’s already agreed, and I promise you will not have to sing or speak in front of strangers.”

“That’s not it. I....” Her friend stuttered, something she hadn’t done in years.

Elise continued, unaware of her friend’s reasons for her nervousness. “I told Michael I wanted you and Lia to stand with me, and he is going to ask Huddleston to stand with him along with Ren.”

“That’s not it. Elise, I... will have to stand up in front of the Bishop as your
maid
of honor, and I will surely be damned for eternity if I did so. Because.... Well, you see..., ’Lise, I’m no longer a maid!”

Elise stared at her friend, a smile forming as she came upon a most perfect solution to their predicament. “Your father will be here, as will Christopher’s mother. I think we should do this as we’ve done everything else since the day we met. Together.”

“That would be p—p—perfect! But...” Her friend began to stutter and her cheeks turned bright pink from excitement. “Oh, d—dear. I came here the morning after. And we were going to c—come up with a date when I got back to town. How do I convince Christopher?”

“You could always just ask him,” Elise said. “Since you were both going to stand up for us, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we stood up for each other?”

“Yes,” Beverly said, sounding more confident that she looked. “That’s what I shall tell him.”

F
our nights later, a celebratory dinner was held at Haldenwood. Michael’s family had arrived from Bath and Plymouth. Viscount Huddleston, his mother, and Beverly’s father other were also in attendance. Before dinner the men congregated in the library waiting on the ladies to come down.

Michael, Christopher and Ren stood near the sideboard, sipping some of Caversham’s incomparable stock of wines. “It’s a pity the rest of your family cannot be here to watch you marry,” Michael told Christopher while they waited in the drawing room before dinner, “but at least you have your mother.”

The other bridegroom’s grin faded. “As am I, but they would never make it in time. Besides,” he added, “the opportunity to marry in a way that is special to Beverly and Elise seemed more important than having my six sisters, and their families, scurrying for gowns and finery to attend our wedding here at Haldenwood.” Michael must have had a comical look on his face, for Christopher continued, “They aren’t heathens, I promise, though I cannot say the same for my two younger brothers. But, if that flock of hens suspected I was marrying here they would would break the bank on new gowns, shoes, pelisses and hats. So not only am I saving myself a headache but also a small fortune for I have a very large family.”

Michael took a sip of his wine, still nervous about the missing license. He asked Ren, “Are you certain Christopher’s license will be arriving before the wedding?”

“If I had known before leaving Town,” Christopher said, “I would have picked one up. But...”

“The license will arrive, I assure you,” Ren said. “In fact, it should be here any minute now, as the special guest we are waiting dinner on is the man bringing it.”

“How do you know he will make it?” Michael wondered what he would do if the courier didn’t arrive. He hated the thought of waiting until a piece of paper got here.

“My special courier sent an outrider ahead,” Ren said. “He is on Haldenwood land as we speak.”

“You’re being very secretive, Your Grace,” Christopher said.

“And have you taken care of the ring?” Ren asked them, skillfully changing the subject. “There is a fine goldsmith in our village who can fashion a band should you need one.”

Christopher patted his breast pocket. “When my mother came down to Town, I requested she bring several rings from the family collection for Beverly to choose from.”

Michael chimed in, “I’ve had one for a few weeks now. Had to buy one as my uncle sold most of the more valuable pieces when he needed funds.”

The Caversham butler stood at the doorway of the drawing room and announced the arrival of Archbishop of Canterbury. Michael watched as Ren stepped forward to greet the gray-headed gentleman as he entered the room with a flourish. Michael and Christopher shared a bemused glance before following their friend to the Archbishop’s side.

“Charles, it’s good to see you. I’m glad you finally arrived. My friend here was getting nervous.” Ren said, as he motioned toward Christopher.

The older man accepted a glass of wine from a footman, and greeted all the gentlemen in the room, including Lord Hepplewhite and Lord Vance. “I’d not miss a week of fishing your streams and lake for the world,” the Archbishop replied. “And if I get to officiate Camden and Huddleston’s marriages, all the better.”

“I thank you, sir,” Christopher replied, and Michael seconded.

“See, you two? I told you I had the minister and missing license covered.” Ren chuckled as he shook his head. “You were worried for nothing.”

“When the invitation arrived, I had my secretary clear the calendar,” the Archbishop said. “Haldenwood has always been one of my favorite places to visit. The last time I was here was to marry your father and my cousin, Amelia. I had a wonderful visit then. If I remember, the trout in your stream are fat and delicious.”

“Haha! They still are, Charles,” Hepplewhite said. “Why Vance and I caught three just today, and plan to go out again tomorrow. You should come with us.”

“I think I will,” the Archbishop said.

As the three of them began a conversation about fishing, Michael pulled Ren aside and asked, “How did you manage to get the Archbishop here?” Christopher nodded, wanting to know as well.

“I’ve upheld the responsibilities of the title for a few years now, without ever taking advantage of the perks of my position,” Ren said, his grin spreading. “It was time I asked for one of those perks.”

The ladies soon joined them in the drawing room, having been in the Duchess’ morning room discussing wedding plans, which the men had earlier decided they wanted no part of. The butler returned and announced dinner, and the guests followed His Grace and the Duchess into the massive dining hall reserved for special occasions at Haldenwood. After everyone had taken their assigned seats, and the footmen filled the wine glasses, toasts were made starting with Ren’s to both brides and their grooms, then Michael squeezed Elise’s hand under the table reassuringly and stood. “If I might have everyone’s attention please, I would like to make a toast.” He looked to his future bride, who appeared near tears, and said, “To my darling minx, I look forward to spending the rest our lives together. You are my heart, my home. From you I gain my strength as a man, to you I give all that I am in hopes that we may one day see our children and grandchildren grow to follow in our footsteps. I want to be your mounting block in this most adventurous ride we call life. May our nursery be filled with as many children as God wishes us to have, for I shall adore them all as they are part of you.”

His gaze never left hers, as a blushing Elise wiped a stray tear, and thanked him. Huddleston, arose and toasted Beverly as well, thanking her father for raising the most perfect woman in the world for him. Then Lord Hepplewhite rose and toasted the young couples, and also thanked the duke and duchess for all that they have done for he and Beverly since the death of his wife. Without them, he said, his daughter would not have found the love she had with her future husband.

When dinner was done and the children were sent to their beds, the ladies congregated in the salon, while the men went back to the library to enjoy his grace’s finest port and cigars. Michael was deep in conversation when he notice Elise coming toward him. Moving over to her, he smiled. “Care to try port and cigars, minx?”

“Not hardly,” she whispered. “Meet me in the music room in five minutes.” After she left the room, without appearing too hurried, he downed the rest of his port, and set the glass on the tray on the sideboad. He wanted to see just what his future wife was up to.

Elise closed the door to the darkened music room and went to the back, near the wall of beveled-glass windows which provided a modest amount of moonlight from the partial moon overhead. She got there before Michael and waited for him. There was no balcony on this level, and no other entry or exit from the room.

Footsteps in the hallway announced Michael’s arrival. Elise’s heart began to race with excitement.

“’Lise?” she heard his whispered call in the cavernous room.

She stepped away from the curtains and into the light, so he could see her. When he got close she closed the distance and wrapped her arms around his waist and lay her head on his chest. “I’ve missed you, Michael. We’ve been so busy with the arrangements for the wedding, that I haven’t had time to let you know how happy I am. Your toast tonight reminded me how very lucky I am that you want me for your wife. Throughout dinner I was thinking of a way to get you alone so I could tell you this.”

He placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head to face him. “I’m the lucky one, sweetheart,” he whispered as he brought his lips down on hers.

She opened readily for him, giving him everything she’d been unable to for nearly a month. With this one kiss she shared all of her heart and soul, her body and life.

Her tongue danced with his, tracing the peaks and valleys of his teeth, and beyond. His hands came forward to caress her waist and up to her breasts. She broke away from his mouth and traced along the line of his jaw back to behind his ear with light touches of her tongue.

“I love you, Michael. I have loved you forever.”

He pulled backed and looked into her eyes with his own passion-filled hazel depths. “I know you have, minx, and I love you, too. Why have you asked me up here to meet you?”

“You’d asked earlier why we chose an afternoon wedding, and I wanted you to know so that you do not panic in the morning if you hear we’ve left. Beverly and I are going for one last ride together as unwed ladies.” Elise felt a tear spill over her lashes and she swiped it. “It’s something we will never be able to do again, as I leave with you after dinner, and she with Christopher the next morning.” Another tear spilled over, opening the damn. Elise removed her kerchief from her pocket and dried them. “We don’t know when we will see each other again, and until we do we will have tomorrow morning to cherish.”

Michael kissed the tip of her nose, the simple act reassuring her he didn’t mind. “Enjoy yourselves, minx.” He led her to her bedroom and left her at the door. “Goodnight, sweetheart. I will see you at the altar.”

A
t precisely three in the afternoon the next day, Michael and Christopher stood with the Archbishop in front of the altar in the small family chapel at Haldenwood. Roses of varying shades of pink and white, all cut from the Duchess’ garden, mixed with greenery bedecked the altar and entry way to the small stone structure. Christina’s three little ones came toward them spreading flower petals from their baskets on the aisle before them as they walked. They made excellent flower girls as they prepared the way for the Duchess, who would stand as Matron of Honor for both brides, as each bride would also stand as Maid of Honor for the other.