“As I said before, he prefers to ignore what he doesn’t wish to exist.”Glenaire watched her with steady eyes.She would cease to exist to them; she already had.They both knew it.
She reached up and brushed the coarse black hair from Andrew’s eyes.“So be it,” she said out loud.
Andrew looked puzzled and glanced at Richard suspiciously, but her swift kiss more than satisfied him.
Richard watched them for a moment; his slight smile reached his eyes slowly.He looked around the room as if satisfied with what he saw.“One presumes there is a license.Perhaps the Reverend would like to see it, Heyworth.There’s a good man.”
“Alas, my lord, it is a common license.What is the date Mr.Mallet?”the reverend asked.
“Six days exactly.We can be married at St.Mary’s tomorrow morning.”
* * *
The next morning,the newly wed couple processed back to Andrew’s little house, the bride carrying flowers, their friends marching behind them and crowding up the stairs into the study.If they couldn’t marry there, at least Georgiana got her wish to celebrate there.
Georgiana had given both her hands to Andrew and repeated the words that joined their lives as light streamed through stained glass.When Andrew leaned to kiss her, their loved ones clapped in delight.
When they reached the study, Richard peered down at his sister.“Georgiana,” he said, “you might want a moment to freshen.Or perhaps not.You are disgustingly radiant already.”
“Corporal Harley?Ah, good man!I see the champagne wine is chilled.Cakes and ices as well.Excellent.”
Georgiana laughed as everyone did her brother’s bidding.They always did.This time no one seemed to mind, and she minded least of all.She had his support and that was all that mattered.
* * *
We should celebrate more often.This house was in need of joy, Andrew thought as he stepped around Mr.Peabody and John Bailey deep in conversation on the bottom of the stairs.
He looked at the guests standing in his kitchen door and spilled around his sitting room.They chatted in groups of two and three and happily sipped champagne.He and Georgiana would fill the house with guests often in the future.Not tonight, though.Tonight is for us.
That night he wanted nothing except to be left alone with his wife.Glenaire had already begun to hint Jamie away, promising dinner at Cambridge’s best inn.Harley announced he would spend a few days in Georgiana’s little cottage, ostensibly packing it up, but in reality giving them privacy.
All I want is my bride, who seems to have gone missing.
“Geoff, have you seen Georgiana?”Andrew asked.“She and your mother were deep in some female conversation ten minutes ago.”
“Went out back for air,” Dunning replied, putting on his cloak.“Mrs.Mallet looked a bit peaked.”
Peaked?Andrew looked in the direction of the kitchen.His tiny garden lay beyond it.
“I will bid you good day, Mallet, and give you my congratulations one last time.Mother and I will take our leave in a few moments,” Dunning said.
Andrew merely nodded.He headed through the kitchen before Dunning could finish.He heard others making their departures behind him.
“Georgiana, is there a problem?”he asked coming out the door.“Your brother is preparing to leave and?—”
He stopped short at the sight of his bride, pale as linen, bent over in the shadowy garden.Edwina Potter sat next to her on a stone bench against the brick wall that surrounded his small patch of green.The old woman had an arm around her shoulders.
Andrew rushed forward.
“What is it, Love?”
“I fear champagne didn’t agree with her,” Mrs.Potter told him.“She’s had a bit of nausea.”
He knelt in front of Georgiana.
“I’m sorry,” his new wife mumbled.“It should pass.”
“Indeed it will, young man.Nothing to be concerned about,” Mrs.Potter told him with a smile as she rose to her feet.As if to confirm that, Georgiana sat up straight.
