“Damn you, Barney, why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
His friend shrugged.“Never had the opportunity.Why?Does it matter?It all worked out in the end, didn’t it?”
Does it matter?His fists tightened.He thrust them into his pockets and turned away.
He would have to tell her.Now.Today.Before the ceremony began.Tell her the truth.Let her make her own decision—free and clear of his aunt’s blasted trap—without any nonsense about rumors or scandal or honor hanging over her.
A chance to choose to marry or not.For the first time in her life.
The organ played a chord.He whirled and there she was, standing hesitantly in the doorway of the church, a vision of loveliness.She looked down the aisle at him, and gave him a small, shy smile.
He found himself smiling back and her whole face brightened.
Her attendants came forward, fussing around her and in that split second he made up his mind.He wasn’t going to tell her.Not now.Not until they were married.
It was dishonorable of him, but he was going to do it regardless.
#
TESSA TOOK A DEEP BREATHend stepped inside.It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the relative gloom inside the church.As expected, there was a scattering of people already inside, most of whom were unknown to her.Her gaze was drawn to the sight of Marcus, standing at the altar, waiting for her.He looked tall and stern and magnificent and grim in formal black and white with a silver and gray embroidered waistcoat that she knew would match his eyes.
She blinked, seeing that beside him stood his friend Mr.Wimple.He had a best man?And yet he had refused to allow his aunt be Tessa’s matron of honor, or give her away?Oh well, what did it matter?
She took another breath, ready to march down the aisle alone, when a low cough and a movement on her left attracted her attention.She turned, and gasped.
“NannyJune?”Tessa’s eyes blurred as, beaming, her beloved old nanny came forward and embraced her.And behind her stood ...
“Phillips?Is it really you?”
Grinning, the dear man who’d taught her to ride stepped forward and awkwardly patted her on the shoulder.“There there, lass, don’t take on.”It was so very like him that it only sent more tears running down her cheeks.
Phillips drew a crisp white handkerchief from his pocket, shook it out and handed it to NannyJune, who blotted Tessa’s cheeks, saying, “Now come along, child, his lordship is waiting.”
Tessa glanced at Marcus, waiting by the altar.His posture was as stiff as ever, but he seemed to be smiling too.“How did you know?How did you get here?”she asked the two dearest people from her childhood.They’d been more like parents than her real parents.
“His lordship arranged it all.”Phillips said.“Arranged everything, even sent his own carriage to bring us up to London.”
“And ordered us new clothes,” NannyJune added proudly.And now that Tessa could see again, she saw that they were both dressed in smart new clothes.NannyJune was wearing a new, smart version of her favorite old hat with the faded pink silk roses.
“Now come along, lass,” Phillips said.“Let’s get you married.”He presented his arm, and when Tessa looked at him in surprise, he added, “It’s all arranged.I’m givin’ the bride away, and June here is your matron of honor.”
“Bridesmaid,” NannyJune corrected him.“I never did marry, you know.”She adjusted the fall of the Tessa’s gauze overdress.
Somewhere an organ began to play and, half-blinded again by tears, Tessa was led by her old groom and nanny down the aisle towards the dear, dear man who’d given her such a gift to make this quiet little wedding so special for her.
Phillips handed her over to Marcus, Nanny June fussed a little, arranging her dress, and then stepped back.The minister began.“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here ...”
Tessa barely heard the service, her heart was so full, but she managed to make her responses in the correct manner.When it came to the part about ‘let any man speak’ she felt him tense, but nobody spoke.And when Marcus slipped the ring on her finger, she felt no despair, as she had in her previous weddings, only a sense of relief.And when they were declared man and wife, more tears threatened, but were overwhelmed by a surfeit of happiness.
On the way out, she saw that the church was not quite as empty of people she knew as she’d thought.Flynn and Miss Chance were sitting at the front, in a pew opposite Lady Gosforth, claiming the bride’s side.
And a number of the servants from Alverleigh House had sneaked into the back pews and sat there beaming at her: Bragge, Peverill, Cook and others.Even young Joey was there, scrubbed to within an inch of his life, dressed in his new clothes and with Billy half hidden in his jacket.He waved the little dog’s paw to her.
She and Marcus stopped to talk briefly to Flynn and Daisy—Marcus invited them back to Alverleigh House for a small, informal wedding breakfast—and the next time she looked, all the servants, and Joey and her dog had vanished.
The wedding breakfast was amazing.Cook had outdone herself.There was a large raised game pie, several cold roast chickens, a platter of crab patties, two dressed lobsters, a ham shaved to wafer thin slices, several salads, a basket of warm bread rolls, fresh from the oven, two large jellies decorated with whipped cream, an enormous trifle, dishes of strawberries and other fruits and a large elaborately decorated wedding cake.Champagne fizzed gently in tall, fragile glasses.
And this was what Cook deemed necessary for a small informal wedding breakfast for a handful of people.Tessa wanted to laugh.Cook obviously was in the Lady Gosforth camp when it came to celebrating an earl’s wedding.
