“I’ll go there often,” he said. “I’ll come to Everleigh often. And of course I will miss you, Stell. I will live at Elm Court. It is home. It will always be home for as long as Papa lives—and I hope that will be until he is at least ninety. I will not be lonely. I have my books and my life. And when Igetlonely, as maybe I will in a few years’ time, then I will take a bride of my own. Life moves on, and we must move with it. He is perfect, Stell?”
“Of course he is not,” she said, “any more than I am. But he is perfect forme, Bert. And I think I am perfect for him.”
He smiled at her, squeezed her hands more tightly, and kissed her forehead, leaning carefully forward so that he would not disturb her hair or her clothing. Estelle swallowed what felt like a lump in her throat and smiled back. She could hear her father talking with her stepmother in the bedchamber. Bertrand stood back so that she could precede him into the room.
“Well, just look at you,” her father said. “Good God, is this reallymy daughter? Dash it all, Estelle, come here.”
Estelle laughed as she set her hands on either side of his waist. “Mind my hair,” she warned him. “It took Olga a whole hour.”
It was time for them to leave then for the short drive to the church. Carriages were drawn up all about it, and a small crowd of villagers was gathering about the gate. And Justin had beensoright about the time of year, Estelle thought. The valley was indeed breathtakingly lovely with all the autumn foliage. The village was too. It was surely the very best time of the year to marry, with Christmas approaching and the coziness of the winter months and the promise of spring not too far off.
After a final hug inside the church doors, Bertrand and their stepmother went together to take their places in thefront pew. The vicar waited at the front of the church, and the organ began to play.
“Come,” her father said, smiling at her and offering his arm. “Your mother would be so very proud of you today, Estelle. She loved you both very dearly.”
“Oh,” she said. “Thank you, Papa. How blessed I am. For Mother loves me dearly too.”
She set her arm within his, solid and dependable, and walked toward her bridegroom, who had risen with the rest of the congregation and stepped a little into the nave so that he could watch her come.
And ah, she loved him. Her throat was still a bit tight from Bertrand’s hug and her father’s words about her mother. But her future, the rest of her life, was awaiting her in the large form of Justin Wiley, Earl of Brandon, and it was going to be good. It was going to include everyone from her past, everyone from her family and his. But it was all going to center abouthim.
He did not take his eyes from her while she walked to meet him or while her papa gave her into his keeping. Or even when the vicar began to speak.
“Dearly beloved,” he said.
***
And they were married.
Husband and wife.
Earl and Countess of Brandon.
The nuptial service was at an end, the register had been signed, and they were making their way from the church, smiling from side to side at all their relatives. For all of them were now indeedtheirrelatives. Not his and hers any longer, buttheirs.
And some of those relatives, mostly the younger ones,were outside in the churchyard awaiting them, armed to the teeth, of course, with yellow and wine and russet flower petals they had got from somewhere. They were lined up, waiting to pelt them as they made a dash for their carriage.
“I love this part of a wedding,” Estelle said, grasping Justin’s hand and laughing. “Though I have never before been at the receiving end.”
“Enjoy it, then,” he said, laughing with her.
“It is a shame to run,” she said. “But they will be disappointed if we do not.”
“Here we go, then,” he said, and they dashed along the path while autumn rained down upon their heads.Notautumn rain, but autumn colors, already vibrant about her person and on the trees all about them. The children were shrieking with laughter as they hurled their loads. Everyone else grinned and laughed. Villagers applauded and smiled.
And he belonged again, Justin thought. He had been fully accepted back at last. Perhaps because he hadwantedto be back.
He handed his bride into the carriage and followed her in.
“Protect your ears,” he said.
She tipped back her head and closed her eyes briefly as the church bells pealed to announce their marriage. The congregation—their family—was beginning to spill out of the church.
“Oh,” she said, turning shining eyes in his direction. “This is the happiest day of my life, Justin. I know that is not very original, but—”
He did not hear the rest. For the carriage was in motion and so were all the pots and pans and Lord knew what else tied beneath it. It created a ferociously deafening din.
He set an arm about her shoulders and turned her toward him.
