It really was a lovely gown, and Velvet was especially glad of the impulse that had caused her to share her own bounty with Angel and Bess. Bonnie had made the dress as if she had been doing it for Velvet herself. The underskirt was striped in narrow bands of gold and turquoise, the bodice embroidered with freshwater pearls and tiny crystal beads, the sleeves beribboned with silk bows. What no one but Velvet knew was that beneath the gown the bride’s stockings were darned neatly in several places and her shoes were almost worn through. Just before the simple service began, she had thought to loose Angel’s long golden hair so that it hung unbound almost to her waist. It was like a shimmering veil. Angel really was an exquisite bride.
“I pronounce thee husband and wife,” said the queen’s chaplain.
For a long and silent moment, Robert Southwood looked down into Angel’s radiant face, and then, smiling, he kissed her lips sweetly and briefly. Angel then found herself kissed by Lord Dudley, the queen, and Lord Gordon. She blushed rosily. Velvet gave her friend an enormous hug, whispering as she did so, “I am so glad we are now sisters, dear Angel!”
The queen’s servants hurried forth with goblets of sweet Malmsey wine and thin sugar wafers, which they passed to all assembled. “It is a poor wedding that does not offer its guests a loving cup,” declared Elizabeth.
“I am a poor bride,” Angel said, but she smiled as she looked down at her husband’s ring with the Southwood family crest now on her finger. When the cleric had asked for the ring, they had suddenly realized they hadn’t one, and Robin had drawn his own ring from his finger to use as the wedding band. Later, he had promised, she would have a proper one.
“Nay, child. You must be dowered properly, and since you have been my royal ward all these years, it is my duty to see it done,” the queen told her. “For each of the thirteen years you have been in my care and charge there will be a hundred gold pieces, plus an additional two hundred as my bridal gift to you. Finally, my lady Southwood—” and here the queen smiled at the sudden look of delight that passed over Angel’s face—“I present to you this necklace.” The queen reached up and unfastened from about her own neck a small, exquisite necklace of pale pink diamonds set in gold. “For you, child,” she said, and, turning Angel, she fastened it about the startled girl’s throat.
Angel’s hands flew to her face, and then one hand stole to her neck to feel the necklace now lying there. “Madame … madame …” she stammered, feeling totally foolish at her inability to say thank you. No one in her entire life had ever been so kind to her.Never!The queen reached out to pat her cheek, and then, raising her goblet, said, “Once long ago I raised my glass to Geoffrey Southwood on the occasion of his marriage to Skye O’Malley. As I recall, I arranged that wedding, too! It seems to be a royal custom of mine seeing that Southwoods are married off safely. Good health, long life, and many children to you both. God bless you, my dears!” Then she drank, and the others drank with her.
Shortly afterward, the queen departed back toArdern Hall, and the four young people returned to the Mermaid. This time Robin insisted that Angel ride before him on his horse, so Velvet was left to herself in the coach. The moon was waning, but the night sky was bright with myriad stars. Alex rode discreetly ahead of his friend, giving the newlyweds some measure of privacy.
Robin Southwood couldn’t ever remember being so happy in his entire life. All of his days he had been privileged and pampered, but marriage to this lovely creature who was now nestled in his arms meant more to him than anything else he had ever had. He could feel her trembling ever so slightly against him and it distressed him that she was afraid. He would not openly address her fear, for he knew it would embarrass her, and so he sought to distract her.
“When we go back up to London, we shall go to my mother’s warehouses along the river and find all kinds of wonderful materials to be made into gowns for you, my darling. You are surely the most beautiful girl ever born, and a beautiful gem should have an equally beautiful setting. You will let me help you choose, won’t you? I picture you in jewel colors, for they will be perfect with your exquisite pink-and-white complexion.”
“You are most kind, my lord,” came her soft reply, but her head remained turned away.
“Look at me, Angel. Do you know that you have never looked me directly in the eye? Look at me now, my lady Southwood.”
She turned and blinded him with the flash of her marvelous turquoise eyes. There was a small smile on her lips. “Lady Southwood,” she said softly. “I am, aren’t I? I really am!”
He grinned back at her. “You are, Angel. You are most assuredly my lady, Angel Southwood, Countess of Lynmouth, married in the sight of God, Her Majesty the queen,andby the queen’s chaplain.”
“Oh, my lord, what have we done?”
“Nothing yet,” he replied mischievously, then chuckled as she colored a most becoming rose. “Now, madame, I shall issue you my first husbandly order. Will you please call me Robin, my darling wife?”
“Are you sure we haven’t made a dreadful mistake … Robin?”
“No, my lovely Angel, we have not made any mistake. Even the queen knew this rather hasty marriage was right. I love you, and I hope in the days to come that I can teach you to love me. You must never be fearful of me, Angel. You must never be afraid to speak your mind or to ask of me what you will. I will always listen to you. Now before we arrive back at the inn I would discuss tonight with you.”
“Tonight?”
“Our wedding night, but, dear Angel, if you prefer, it is a time that may be postponed until you learn to know me better. The choice is yours to make, sweetheart.”
She was silent for what seemed to him a very long time, and then she spoke in a soft voice that he had to bend over her to hear. “I know you a great deal better than you would believe, Robin, for Velvet loves you dearly and has always spoken of you. I know that you will not hurt me, for you have always been wondrously kind. I cannot, however, think of a more fitting way,” she finished mischievously, “for us to get to know one another better than to celebrate our wedding night as it should be celebrated. One thing I would warn you of, however. Despite my years at court, I am truly a virgin, and not particularly knowledgeable. I only ask that you be patient with me.”
“It never occurred to me that you would not be a virgin, Angel,” came his quiet reply.
It was at this point that they arrived at the inn, and, quickly dismounting, Robin lifted his bride from the saddle. Hand in hand, they entered the building and made their way upstairs to the rooms that the earl had booked earlier. It had been planned that Velvet and Angel would share one of the bedchambers while the gentlemen slept in the other. Now Robin led his wife into that second room, stopping only long enough to remove Alex’s saddlebag and place it in the small parlor where they had eaten earlier. Once in the bedchamber with Angel, he closed the door and threw the bolt.
“I—I have no nightgown,” she said.
“There is no need,” he answered, and then, pulling her into his arms, he kissed her passionately, not even hearing the door to the parlor open and close outside.
“They can’t be here already,” said Velvet. “Surely they would have waited for us, Alex.”
His eye lit upon the saddlebag. “They are here, Velvet.”
“Oh, good! Let us have the innkeeper make a caudle cup, and we shall drink to the bridal couple’s good health!” She moved to the door, but he blocked her path.
“Nay, lass. The bedchamber door is shut, and I do not think Robin would welcome our intrusion at this time.”
“But there’s been no caudle cup! ’Tis a poor bridal ceremony without a celebration.”
