He, however, wasn’t looking at her. In fact, he reached across her and grabbed up the quill.
She looked down to find a black spot of ink three lines below growing larger and closer to her signature.
“Anthony, I believe we need you now as our witness?” The marquess turned to his brother.
Though the vicar frowned at her, Lord Bellamore grinned and, copying his brother, crouched down and dipped the quill in the spilled ink before pulling the register toward him and signing it next to the black spot.
“I believe I’m next.” Lissa walked behind the vicar and took the quill from Anthony, quickly bending over for ink and signing the book on the other side of the spot. “Now it’s official.”
Ellie sensed her new husband’s relief, which had her studying him as he gave a smile to Lissa and Anthony. She couldn’t fathom why anyone would be relieved to have married her, especially a man of such wealth, refinement, and handsomeness.
As Anthony stepped forward to pat the marquess on the back, Lissa came over and gave her a hug. “I’m exceedingly happy for you, Ellie.”
When Lissa released her, she opened her mouth to question her, but Lissa linked their arms. “Now you must come out to the church proper, because the other Curious Ladies wish to say goodbye.”
For the first time that day, Ellie’s enthusiasm waned. In all the excitement of marrying the marquess, she’d forgotten that it meant not seeing her friends daily anymore. She would worry about them without her being at Silver Meadows.
As soon as she stepped into the almost empty church, Sophie ran down the aisle toward her, tears already gathering in her pretty green eyes. “Ellie.”
Ellie gave her dear, quiet friend a strong hug, her own eyes misting a bit. Then she set her back. “Nowyoumust take care of the new ladies in the school, since I’m not going to be there to do it. And you must send me weekly reports on how everyone is faring.”
“I will. I promise.” Sophie nodded even as she dabbed at her cheeks with a lace handkerchief.
“I will also want to know all about how your literature studies are going with Mrs. Kingman. And when outings are offered, no staying behind just because I’m not there.”
Sophie’s eyes rounded, but then she took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. “I promise.”
“And I promise not to let her.” Georgie, who was never still for long, clasped Sophie by the shoulder so they stood side by side. “She will be by my side at every outing. And who knows, maybe one of us will be following in your footsteps soon enough.”
Ellie smiled widely at Georgie, whose greatest passions in life were birds and dancing. “I do hope that is true. And when the Season starts, I’ll even be able to play chaperone now.”
Both ladies’ eyes widened at the realization.
“A role you were born to play.” Rose strode forward, a smile playing about her mouth. “I do hope they don’t both marry and go off leaving me all by myself.”
Ellie held her hands out, well aware that Rose’s prospects were better than any of theirs, if she’d stop playing pranks long enough to talk to a few men. “Of course they won’t leave you alone. You’ll just have to marry in the same Season, which I’m sure won’t be a problem.”
Georgie stepped up next to Rose. “It won’t be if we can pull her away from her studies long enough to attend a gathering or two.”
The three women chuckled, and the sound had Ellie feeling a bit more confident that they would be fine. They had each other, and more ladies were coming to the school every day. Her own marriage to a marquess would assure the duchess of even more scholarly students soon.
Then, before she could truly accept the significant change in her life, her friends had each kissed her on the cheek and filed out of the church to continue their old lives.
“Ah, here is where they got off to.”
At Lord Bellamore’s announcement, she turned around to find him and his brother standing in the archway.
A small tingle of excitement started again in Ellie’s belly as she gazed at her husband. He and Lord Bellamore were astudy in contrasts, as Lady Sommerset, her art history instructor, would say. The marquess was taller and leaner, with short black hair and gray eyes, while his youngest brother was broader, a little shorter, with fashionable-length blond hair and blue eyes. Ellie far preferred the more distinguished look of her husband. She quite believed that discovering the marquess would be as exciting as discovering a new star cluster!
Lissa spoke for them. “Don’t worry. We wouldn’t wander too far from such exceptional husbands.”
Anthony strode forward, laughing. “That, my dear elderly brother, means she wants something.”
Lissa gave Anthony an innocent look. “Now, why would you make such an assumption?”
“Because I know you well.”
Lissa turned to Ellie. “This is what comes of knowing each other for years. I can’t surprise him very often. You have so much to look forward to.”
