Louise M. Gouge (22 page)

Edmond hurried on to avoid delving too deeply in that last inference. “Now that Danders’s treachery has been uncovered, he has confessed all and is in the care of the constable.
And
your fifty pounds annual inheritance has been secured.”

To give Anna time to sort out all he had disclosed, Edmond turned his full attention to driving. They rode in silence, and soon he spied his destination ahead.

After several minutes she slipped one arm through his and rested her head, or rather, her bothersome bonnet, against his shoulder. “You did all of that for me?”

“Of course.” His longing to give her a true kiss made his chest ache, but with that silly bonnet in his way he settled for caressing her cheek. “My purpose was to give you peace of mind about your father’s promises, but—”

“Edmond!” Anna sat up and squeezed his arm. “Do you realize what this means?”

“Why, yes.” He chuckled to see such unfettered joy brightening her lovely face. “You do not have to depend upon Mother—”

“No, not that. It means you will have the funds to support you as you study law.” A bright pink blush crept up her cheeks. “That is, if we…if you…” She huffed out a breath and stared away.

“Dearest.” He gently gripped her chin and redirected her gaze back to him. “Always thinking of others. But do not be concerned about my expenses. God has already arranged everything. Uncle Grenville’s offer of sponsorship provides more than my place at the Inns of Courts.” Eager to complete an important task, he tugged the mare to a stop, jumped from the phaeton and helped her disembark. “We have arrived, my lady.”

“Westminster Abbey?” She gazed up at the edifice, then at him, trust emanating from her beautiful emerald eyes.

Her sweet innocence melted his insides. How he longed to kiss her. But not in public. Not in front of this holy building. He had brought her here for another reason entirely, something he had longed to do since the day he met her. Despite their trials, despite Society’s ridiculous rules, they had overcome every barrier, and nothing prevented him from making her his bride. His heart overflowed with love for her, and he laughed for the joy of it.

“Yes, Westminster Abbey. I consider this the most beautiful church in London.” He glanced off to the right at the Palace of Westminster, where even now Greystone and his fellow lords were making decisions concerning the American war, something he no longer needed to worry about. “With my brother’s influence, I believe we can arrange to be married here.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

A
nna’s sense of mischief drove her toward a teasing reply, but the hopeful look on Edmond’s face sobered her. Somewhat.

“Am I to take this as a proposal, Mr. Grenville?” Though she tried to sound nonchalant, her voice wavered with the joyful emotion pulsing through her.

He scrunched his face into a comical confusion. “Why, Miss Newfield, I do believe that is what it was.”

“Well, then, I accept.”

“My darling—” He gripped her hand and bent to kiss it.

“But—” Even through her gloves she felt a pleasant sensation streak up her arm, a feeling at odds with her thoughts. “I fear such a grand cathedral will overwhelm me. Could we not consider a small country church?”

“Hmm.” Edmond stared up toward the cathedral’s two square towers, his brow furrowed. At last he shrugged and gazed down into her eyes, causing a lovely flutter in the vicinity of her heart. “My darling, we can marry wherever you wish. That is, as long as it is in a house of God, for I believe this will set the course for our lives. Just say you will be my bride.”

Never had Anna been more certain of God’s direction. “Yes, my dear Edmond. I will marry you.”

His intense gaze on her lips increased her own longing for his kiss, which had begun the moment they stepped into the phaeton at Lord Greystone’s town house. But this was hardly the place. She swallowed her unruly sentiments, for once lamenting her strong sense of propriety. Not about the denied kiss, but about what they must do before she could in all good conscience marry this wonderful man.

She reached up and toyed with his ruffled cravat, admiring the lace edging. “Edmond, we must make amends to Lady Greystone for her disappointments.” He started to speak, but she put a finger on his lips to stop him. “She did not have to take me in, yet she did. She did not have to sponsor my introduction into Society—”

“Such as it was.”

“Shh.” Again she touched his lips. “But she did.”

He grimaced. “Very well. What will you say?”

“I have not thought that far ahead, but for now we should return to your brother’s town house.”

He sighed, then narrowed his eyes. “Very well. But I will not permit her to intimidate you.”

She offered him a playful smirk. “Nor will
I
permit her to intimidate
you.
”

They climbed aboard the phaeton and wended their way home by way of Green Park, chatting more freely than they ever had. Anna learned of Edmond’s preference for country living, which bode well for her choice of a place to marry. She informed him of her preference of lamb over beef. They both enjoyed long walks, and now that his leg had nearly healed, they would take them often.

In the middle of the park they bought cups of fresh milk from one of the famous Green Park milkmaids. After they slaked their thirst, Edmond took a few winding turns around the flowerbeds, avoiding the children who chased about under the watchful eyes of their nursemaids.

All too soon they arrived in Hanover Square at Lord Greystone’s town house. They found the viscount at home entertaining Lord Winston in the drawing room. Both Lady Greystone and Mrs. Parton appeared not to have moved from their chairs, but the viscountess had assumed the more pleasant demeanor she wore in company.

As Anna and Edmond walked toward the room’s occupants, he put an arm around her waist. “This should tell the baron everything he needs to know.”

Indeed Lord Winston’s blond eyebrows arched upward, and his warm expression grew distant.

After greetings all around, the baron addressed Lord Greystone. “You will excuse me, my lord.” He stared at Anna and Edmond, then gave them a haughty sniff. “I must be off.” With proper adieus, he departed.

Anna quietly sighed, but her relief was short-lived. Lady Greystone refused to look her way. On the other hand, warm approval filled Lord Greystone’s and Mrs. Parton’s expressions.

“Madam.” Anna sat next to the viscountess and put a hand on her chair arm. “Please know that I will be forever grateful to you for all you have done for me.”

“Humph.” The lady still would not look at her.

“You have just cause to be disappointed in me.”

That brought a disapproving grunt from Edmond. In the corner of her eye, Anna saw Lord Greystone nudge Edmond’s arm.

“For your comfort, I will accept Mrs. Parton’s offer to live with her and work at her orphanage until Mr. Grenville and I can arrange our marriage.”

“What?” Now Lady Greystone turned an angry glare on her. “If you actually think I will permit a daughter-in-law of mine to
work,
you do not know me at all.”

She stood, strode to the hearth and stared up at the large painting of Greystone Lodge. For several moments no sound could be heard in the vast room. Anna wondered if the others were holding their breath as she was, awaiting whatever explosion might emanate from Lady Greystone.

At last the viscountess spun around and faced them. “Now, Edmond, we must invite the cream of the
haute ton
to the wedding, for it will advance your law career, if you insist upon pursuing such a course. We will book St. Paul’s for the ceremony and have the wedding breakfast here in the ballroom. Lady Blakemore will—”

“We thank you, Mother.” Edmond walked over to her, holding up one hand. “However, we prefer Westminster Abbey, and you need not go to the expense of a breakfast.”

Anna saw a hint of disappointment in the lady’s face. Hurt, actually. She hurried over and looped her arm in Edmond’s. “But, my darling, perhaps it would be wise to advance your career.” Never mind that she still preferred that simple country wedding.

But her words had already done their job. Lady Greystone’s expression warmed—ever so briefly, but sincerely. Anna could hardly contain her tears of joy. Looking at Edmond, she could see a bit of a shine in his eyes, too, accompanied by a smile that made her knees go delightfully weak.

* * *

Holding his prayer book, Richard Grenville faced Anna and Edmond. Beside Edmond, Lord Greystone grinned like a proud older brother. At Anna’s side, Mary Grenville beamed at her husband as he conducted his first wedding ceremony. Behind them, dozens of members of the
haute ton
filled the pews. But it was Edmond’s strong, handsome face Anna focused on at last as Richard began to speak.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate…” Richard’s deep baritone voice, so like his two brothers’, echoed throughout the vaulted sanctuary of Westminster Abbey.

Anna could have recited the beloved ritual with him, having watched
Papá
join together countless couples through the years. But growing up in the remote village of Blandon, she had never expected to be a bride herself. This truly was the happiest day of her life, despite the size of the cathedral.

Although she had wished to marry in her childhood church, Anna had willingly surrendered her preference so Lord Greystone could celebrate the event with them. With his duties in Parliament, the three-day travel time each way would have prevented his attendance.

A Blandon wedding also would have prevented Lady Greystone hostessing the wedding breakfast, another concession Anna had decided was important to establishing peace within the Grenville family. While she found the event a bit overwhelming, she could see many of the influential guests sought Edmond out not only to congratulate him but to chat about law. It seemed that even the wealthy required the services of a barrister from time to time, which boded well for his law career. As for Anna, she had eyes only for her handsome husband, and he returned more of those knee-melting smiles.

In the days before and after the wedding, the rift between Lady Greystone and Edmond appeared to have healed, which was more than could be said for the viscountess and poor Richard and Mary. Rather than wait for the living at Greystone Village, Richard had accepted a church in Cornwall, far from his mother’s controlling reach. Anna and Edmond agreed the less said about that matter, the better.

On the other hand, they both took delight in Lady Greystone’s next project. She was determined to find a bride for Lord Greystone, and in their own happiness, they were more than pleased to help her. Then Mrs. Parton insisted
she
would find a match for the viscount. Anna and Edmond watched with amusement to see who would win the competition.

A week after becoming man and wife, they moved the last of their belongings from the town house into a large apartment Uncle Grenville owned in St. James Square. The old gentleman welcomed them with gifts of a full pantry and two servants to tend their needs. Of course Matthews still served as Edmond’s valet, but Anna had yet to decide upon a lady’s maid, for Lady Greystone would not release Esther.

“’Tis an excellent address,” Uncle assured them. “Edmond will have a short walk to my office at Lincoln’s Inn, and you will have your privacy.”

As if to emphasize that privacy, he wished them happiness and bade them goodbye.

“What shall we unpack next?” Edmond had been very attentive, giving Anna her every preference.

She eyed the few remaining boxes. “I suppose I should look through
Papá
’s things. I have postponed the chore long enough.”

Seated beside her beloved and leaning against him for support, she rummaged through the box of papers and letters. Among them she found some of her first efforts at sketching and painting, which sent a nostalgic twinge through her heart. When the Lord granted her children, she would save every precious memento like these.

Next she pulled out a familiar page. “This is the only letter we received from Peter after he went to America.” The twinge in her heart became a painful pang. After all these months of hearing nothing, not even from the army officials, perhaps she must finally accept that her brother was indeed dead.

“May I read it?” Edmond reached for the missive and quickly perused it. “Ah, his excellent wit fills the page.”

“And not a mention of bloody battles or fears of dying for king and country.”

Edmond set the letter down and pulled her into a comforting embrace. “He was the best of men.” He kissed her temple, then reached into the box. “This one has an unbroken seal. I wonder how it escaped Danders’s greedy tentacles.”

Absorbing the strength of his arms, Anna studied
Papá
’s name on the missive. “I do not recognize the handwriting. Is it all right to open it?”

He chuckled softly, sadly. “Your father will not mind.”

She snapped the seal and unfolded the page. For a moment she could not comprehend the words, but at last they began to make sense. “Peter!” Unable to say anything more, she held out the letter.

“What?” Edmond seized it. “‘Dear Father and sweet Anna, No doubt you will be surprised to hear from me, especially if you received reports that I met my end on the battlefield. A friend is writing this letter for me, as my right arm has been injured. After being separated from my regiment for most of the winter, I have at last made contact and will soon return home to you.’” Edmond choked and set down the page to swipe a hand across his eyes. “He will be devastated to learn of your father’s death, but at least
he
is alive.”

“There is no way to soften the blow, but knowing Peter, his faith will be his strength.” Anna buried her face in Edmond’s shirt front. “Oh, my darling, God has given me back my beloved brother. I have a family again.”

He withdrew a linen handkerchief from his coat pocket and dried her tears. “And a new family who loves you, too.” A teasing grin appeared. “Well, if you do not count my mother.”

Pleased at his attempt at humor, Anna sat up and gave his arm a playful smack. “I forbid you to say anything about my mother-in-law. She is—”

Edmond stopped her with a kiss, halting her defense of Lady Greystone, indeed, removing the viscountess entirely from her thoughts. But as her husband’s kiss deepened and her feelings warmed, Anna did not complain.

* * * * *