“I know,” he continued, “that I am expected to be a husband quietly. I am to protect my wife, serve my village, and do what I can to be an upstanding member of society. I can do all of that. Well, almost all of it. You see, what I have learned since my return is that I cannot bear the thought of being apart from my wife. It is rare to meet a lady who makes you feel like you were not living before, merely surviving, but that is what changed when I saw my wife. Anna, would you mind coming here?”
Again, all in attendance turned to her, and she looked at him in bewilderment. It was only when Sophia nudged her that she stepped forward, joining Spencer by his side.
“Spencer,” she whispered, “what are you–”
“Is she not exquisite?” he asked. “I have had the pleasure of looking upon her since my return, and of late I have also had a lot of time to think and to reflect. I have recognized that our wedding ceremony was quieter than my wife deserved, and so, one year after our wedding day, I was hoping that you would all humor me.”
Around them, people seemed to understand what he had planned. Anna glanced down at the silver fabric of her gown, and she flushed pink.
“My Duchess,” he announced, taking her hand in his, “I wish to renew my vows to you. I promise to always care for you and to doall that I can to give you the life that you deserve. I do not think that even a king could do that, but I promise to always do all that I can. I will make you the happiest lady in all of England, and I will love you until my dying breath.”
It was only a four-letter word, but it was precisely what she had been wanting to hear him say. At his vows, she brightened, her eyes sparkling. Around them, their guests applauded them, but Spencer knew that none of it was for him. It was all for her, the beautiful and precocious lady who had done everything that she could for their family.
“You may wish to take a turn now,” he whispered as he leaned in to her.
“Oh!” she gasped. “I… well, good evening, everyone. I am yet to greet you all, but I thank you for coming. I do not know who among you was aware of my husband’s plans, but I certainly was not. Nobody has ever– nobody has planned something like this for me before, and I cannot thank him enough for it. Love is a very fickle thing, as is duty and family and all of those things that I hold so closely to my heart.”
She glanced at Sophia, and Spencer felt his pulse quicken. If she said the wrong thing, they would all be ruined, but she turned to him with a confidence that only she could exude, and he knew that he could trust her.
“In fact,” she continued, “I have truly come to understand just how important family is, as well as the value in being honest.And so, I would like to present to you all Lady Sophia, my husband’s dear sister.”
There was silence around them, and before Spencer could say anything, Anna stepped forward and took Sophia’s arm, guiding her to the platform.
“Anna,” Spencer asked, “what are you doing?”
“Trust me,” she said quickly, turning back to the guests. “Lady Sophia was taken ill as a child, and was taken away from their home and was deemed lost. Last year, they found one another, and at last she has been able to return to us. We could not be happier, and we trust that you will all be welcoming to her, too.”
The quiet remained, and then the whispering began. Spencer tried to listen for something unkind, but there was nothing. There was only positivity among those in attendance, and within seconds, people were swarming Sophia, who took it in stride with a smile. Spencer turned to Anna, steering her away from the small crowd that had gathered and walking her to the edge of the ballroom.
“How did you know that would work?”
“In truth, I did not, but if there is one thing that thetonloves, it is spectacle. You gave an outpouring of emotion so lovely that they will not question Sophia. They are all happy, which means they will not ask anything more.”
“And if they do?”
“If they do, it is a good thing that you and I know how to tell a story.”
She was smiling still, and it made him realize just how much he had missed seeing her happy. He had already made his intentions known to her, but he also swore to himself that he would never allow her to be upset again. He could not stand it.
“It is going to be a terribly long night,” he grumbled.
“Why is that? You planned the event after all, have you changed your mind?”
“Not at all, but I shall assume that separate bedrooms will no longer need to be tolerated?”
She considered it for a moment, which almost made him groan in anticipation, but he managed to keep his composure, and then she grinned.
“I would say so, yes.”
“Then the rest of this night will be spent waiting to go to our room,” he sighed. “Frankly, it cannot come soon enough.”
At that, Anna understood the predicament. They would have to go the rest of the evening, unable to touch one another.
She had waited this long. She could wait a few more hours.
“Nowthat,” Maria said excitedly, “was a wedding!”
“I can only hope that my dear sister has one so lovely one day,” Evelina agreed, much to her younger sister’s fury.
