“Fine.” Sophia crossed her arms. “Bring me a chair. And a cup of tea. I’ll rest for twenty minutes and then we’ll leave.”
“Oh, you are impossible!” Adriana laughed. She wagged her finger at Tobias. “This is your doing. Beware the monster you have created. As a child, she was a force to be reckoned with. I see her old self is rapidly returning under your influence.”
Tobias had not said a word during the entire exchange between the sisters. Even now, he asked no questions and offered no judgment. But he did have an opinion, and he voiced it now.
“I will not pretend to understand why you feel it necessary to elope, Miss Grant. And I do not feel this is the time to ask for explanations. But Sophia is quite right, of course. She should be in attendance at your nuptials.” He cleared his throat. “If it will give you any measure of relief, I would like to offer myself as her companion. I will escort her home again after the service and make certain she is delivered safely to Katie’s care.” He cast a loving glance toward Sophia. “I do this, not only for the memories you will make together today, but also so that she may have someone with whom to recall them in the future. Such joy must be shared again and again to experience its full measure. I cannot imagine greater frustration than having a cherished recollection of your wedding day and being unable to reminisce about it with anyone.”
Adriana touched Tobias softly on his sleeve. “You are a wise man, Mr. Mannerly, and a generous soul. You have no idea how grateful I am that Sophia will have you to turn to in my absence.”
“Does that mean you will permit me to be your guest today?”
“Permit? Freddy and I would be delighted!”
Freddy nodded in agreement, but his face was serious. “I am sorry your family will be hurt by this, Sophia. Believe me, it is not what we wanted.”
“You are not to blame,” Sophia replied. “And you are part of this family now, whether Papa accepts it or not.”
Adriana threw her arms around Sophia. “It is good to see your confidence return,” she whispered in her ear. “May it give you the courage to claim what is yours.”
Long after the warmth of that embrace had faded, and the travel chest was loaded, and the church bells rang out thenewlywed bliss of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Wynn, Sophia would remember her sister’s words, hugging them to herself as if Adriana herself were hidden in each syllable.
She had yet to realize how much she would need them.
Chapter Twelve
Settled at lastat the front of the small, stone church, Sophia could enjoy her view of the happy couple. The way the room had shrunk to contain just the two of them. How Freddy held her gaze in his, her hand and heart in his.
Adriana was wearing her favorite winter dress, a long-sleeved, powder-pink creation with very little adornment. Mama had always said Adriana’s personality was all the ornament she ever needed. This was never truer than today. Her face shone with joy. And peace—a feature that seldom made its appearance. But it was here now, in abundance.
A pale-brown mink stole kept the cold from her shoulders and back. But her heart—oh, her heart was warmed with love well met. It radiated from her like the glow of a brave new dawn.
As lovely as her sister looked, Sophia knew it had little to do with her attire. Regardless of what she wore, Adriana would shine today. In this moment, all sorrows of the past, all fears of the future, were quite forgotten. Freddy would join his life to hers, bandage the wounds not yet healed or yet to be formed. It was a moment of unalloyed hope. And it was contagious.
Sophia tilted her head toward Tobias. He was that man for her. The one who made her forget lingering pain and replaced it with dreams she had long believed impossible. Sometimes she even pictured those dreams coming true. If anyone could bring rebirth to her father’s fossilized emotions, it would be Tobias.Look how the scars in her own heart had faded! Perhaps, given enough time, she would be standing in this very church, with her father’s blessing, hearing the parish priest say…
“I pronounce that they be man and wife together.”
Freddy and Adriana turned to face the handful of witnesses, grinning unabashedly.
Somewhere from the back of the church came a gasp, followed by a muffled laugh.
“Shush, Mary. People will stare.” The low voice sounded more bored than dismayed.
“But, Irene, that’s Miss Adriana Grant!”
“I believe she is Mrs. Wynn now.”
“No, you don’t understand.” The woman called Mary spoke in a whisper so loud that the small church echoed with her words. “She’s the daughter of Mr. Conrad Grant. You know.Him. The one who lost his wife and then lost his mind.”
Freddy and Adriana froze. The fresh matrimonial bliss drained from their faces.
“Ah,” said the woman called Irene, sounding decidedly more enthusiastic, “then we simplymustgo and shake their hands.”
A rustling of skirts preceded the soft patter of eager feet up the aisle. As the two women hurried past, one of them glanced down at Sophia and Tobias and—seeming to recognize no one of value—continued on. But her narrow face and regal air would be burned forever into Sophia’s memory.
The other woman—far prettier, but lacking the same presence as her imposing friend—did not even acknowledge their presence. She was far too keen to reach the unfortunate newlyweds, her arms extended in ready embrace, her face a mask of celebration.
Tobias sat bolt upright in the pew. He stared as the mysterious woman hugged Adriana and pulled away, only to grab her hands instead in pretended friendship.
