I cannot remember sleeping so well in a long time. But I will close with a mention of how sad I was to wake alone in my bed with only my pillows and covers for company.
*~~*~~*
“My Lady?” Giles tapped on the door just as Gwyneth finished her journal entry. “Are you ready for your tea?”
“Yes, thank you…” She hurriedly blotted and closed the book, tucking it away in her bureau. “This is most kind of you, Giles.”
“It is Sunday, Lady Gwyneth. And past time we escorted you to church. The Wolfbridge pew has been empty too long, and you are now well enough I think…”
She would have preferred a lazy morning of remembering and recovering, but knew he was right. “A good thought. Yes, I’d be very happy to attend church. I cannot remember when last I had the chance, so there is no better day than today.”
“Excellent,” he smiled at her and poured her tea. “I trust you slept well?”
“Indeed yes,” she nodded her thanks.
“I am happy to see you in such spirits. I would venture the opinion that you have more colour in your cheeks today, Ma’am. Most becoming.” His eyes crinkled slightly at the corners as he complimented her. “We shall await you downstairs and leave for St. Polycarp’s shortly after breakfast.”
With a bow he left her to her tea and her toilette, and the sneaking suspicion that he knew full well what had put the colour in her cheeks this morning.
And nowchurch?
After last night she had to wonder if she’d make it past the lychgate, let alone walk down the aisle. Didn’t sinners receive a blast of Satan’s lightning upon crossing the threshold of consecrated ground?
Oh well. She would hold her head high. If last night had condemned her to a sulphurous destiny, she’d go with no regrets. She sipped her tea and chided herself for those silly notions. How could such magic embraces be wicked enough to condemn her to Hell? She felt a measure of sympathy for those who would think that way. Then she grinned. Clearly such people had never met her gentlemen.
There was something symmetrically appealing about a morning of devout worship after a night of extraordinary sensual pleasures.
Perhaps she’d be forgiven enough to repeat the experience.
Walking downstairs, after readying herself for the day, she couldn’t help her gaze drifting over Evan and Royce.
And wondering…
ChapterTwenty-One
Giles was happy to see both Royce and Gabriel waiting for the gig as he and Gwyneth arrived outside St. Polycarp’s. The day was sunny, the trees were green and children were laughing as they ran up and down, working off their energies before entering the hushed and cool solemnity of the church itself.
Walking through the lychgate with her hand on his arm, he could not help but recall the number of times he’d done exactly this. From young Maud, so many years ago now, to Lady Adalyn last year, it had been his privilege to introduce them all to their Lord.
Or that’s what it seemed like to him.
She greeted both Royce and Gabriel fondly, smiling at them, accepting their bows and chatting in an elegant but friendly manner.
He knew quite well that she’d taken two of her gentlemen to her bed last night, and he was glad of it. Jeremy, because he was the easiest and friendliest to approach, and at first he’d guessed Evan would also be there, but seeing the adoration on Gabriel’s face this morning, Giles was forced to revise his assumptions.
At last, things would settle into their proscribed paths at Wolfbridge.
Lady Gwyneth’s appearance was faultless. Her lightweight gown of lilac and grey was edged with fine white lace, as was the chemisette that ended in a soft ruffle around her neck. Devoid of ornamentation, the style added inches she did not possess, and her bonnet was correctly adorned with several small pink and white rosebuds.
She attracted attention as they walked together through the churchyard to the entrance, many heads turning, and a few bows and curtseys as they passed. She noted them all with a friendly smile and a slight dip of her head, and her chin was high as she kept pace with him on their progress up to the pew.
He stopped her at the front, the large carved end of the row indicating it was theirs. A wolf and a bridge were beautifully incised into the old gleaming wood, and he let her go in first, making sure she was comfortable.
The church was filling fast, and he could almost feel the eyes drilling into the backs of their heads.
The gentlemen would be seated further back, as befit the servants, but Giles knew they’d have been here with their Lady if they could.
He’d told Gwyneth of that arrangement earlier.
