Thomas trudged to the kitchen, only to be sent to sit in the adjoining dining room, to await his meal. The preparations for an upcoming family celebration had everyone in the kitchen in a tizzy. Moira, and her new staff of two, hurried to and fro, stirring, chopping and whipping food and themselves into a frenzy.
“Here you go,” Lottie said plopping a plate in front of him. She lowered to a chair and let out a breath. “The new chamber maid won’t last long. The girl is daft and slow.” Lottie met his gaze. “Still looking glum, I see.”
“I am not glum. Just tired.”
Lottie huffed. “You miss Mary. We all do. I keep expecting her to walk in the door at any moment.”
He did as well. However, in her last letter, Mary had informed him that her mother continued in a bad frame of mind. Because of it, Mary extended her stay. She’d not given him a specific time frame and he could not demand it. It was her mother, after-all.
“Good morning.” Mrs. Yarnsby waltzed into the room, a soft smile on her face. “Thomas, I was looking for you. Go to the seamstress at the village and purchase at least two suits on our account. She has some readymade, just ensure they are tailored for you. With your new responsibilities as steward, you must dress the part.”
“Of course, Ma’am.” Thomas wanted to ask if she’d heard from Mary, but felt it was not his place to inquire into his employer’s correspondence.
“I am hopeful Mary will return in time for the festivities. She’s always enjoyed them tremendously.” She waved her hand in the air as if not worried. “My parents and sister will be coming, so I am sure she will return with them.”
He wanted to grin but managed to keep a straight face. “I hope so as well, Ma’am.”
After a soft smile, the woman walked out, seeming to be considering something he was not privy to.
When he took his empty dishes into the kitchen, Moira turned to him and shook her head. “They were supposed to get the dishes,” she gave the new kitchen maids a stern look, which they seemed to not notice.
Moira sighed. “The household is growing, and I am not sure to be prepared for it.” She motioned with her head to two women and shook her head. “Here is the list of things to retrieve from the market, Thomas,” she added, handing him a piece of brown paper.
It was late in the day by the time he’d returned to the estate from the village. Thankfully, the seamstress had a suit that fit almost perfectly, the other two had to be adjusted. He hung the suit in his room and then went to the kitchen.
His heart leapt at seeing Mary sitting at the table speaking with Moira. Her cheeks colored upon seeing him, and he had to keep from rushing to her.
“When did you arrive?” He asked.
“Just a few moments ago. I was famished, so I hurried in here,” Mary said giving him a warm smile.
Moira and Lottie pretended to be busy by the stove as he neared and placed a soft kiss to her lips. “I missed you,” he whispered into her ear.
“And I you,” Mary replied her gaze meeting his and lowering to his lips.
Thomas had to swallow to keep from touching her. “How is your mother?”
“She and father are here, they returned to Berkhamsted with me,” Mary informed. “Both are resting now, upstairs.”
“The house is going to be full, tomorrow,” Moira exclaimed.
“Who else is here?” Thomas asked.
“The Humphries, Mr. and Mrs. Humphries and Miss Penelope, as well as her cousin Miss Edna,” Mary informed him.
Then she smiled broadly. “I am so very happy to be back with you,” she met his gaze and then looked to Moira, “You and Lottie as well.”
“Don’t forget Harold,” Moira added, with a chuckle.
“Of course.”
A thought crossed Thomas’ mind. “Mary?”
She turned to him and he lost his ability to think straight. She was so utterly beautiful. How was it possible for her to accept him as husband? “We could get married while everyone is here.”
“What a grand idea.” A younger version of Mrs. Yarnsby strolled in. Her face bright. “Hello Thomas, I’m Penelope Humphries.” She held her hand out, and he shook it.
“Very nice to meet you Miss Humphries.”
“A wedding, how very exciting, I must tell Vivian at once.” She flew from the room. Mary gave him a quizzical look and then hurried after her.
Moira motioned for him to sit. “May as well eat. Now you’ve done it. You’re getting married within a day or two at the most.”
The wedding was set for the following day.
The day flew by as everyone prepared the house and food for the celebration. They were to entertain the Duke and Lady of Barrow as well as, Lord and Lady Torrington, Mr. Yarnsby’s adopted parents.
Thomas kept busy with his new duties. New staff had been hired and he’d spent most of the day at the stables and the corral with a new driver and another man who was to take over care of the horses.
It had been announced that the Yarnsby’s were to move soon, closer to Lark’s Song and the estate was to be used for hospitality.
Apparently Mr. Yarnsby and Lord Torrington had been working on the plan for several months. With Mary’s travel to London, she’d been informed of the upcoming move just the day before and was thrilled at the prospect.
Standing near the corrals, he turned to the estate and studied the grand home. In truth, it was much too large for a single-family and he understood the Yarnsby’s wishing to be closer to family.
When Mary appeared through the kitchen door and looked over, her face softening at spotting him, he waved to her.
She walked to him and he didn’t move, content to study his soon to be wife as she neared. Mary had a way about her that made one take notice. She was lovely.
“You seem deep in thought,” she said, accepting a kiss to her cheek. “I hope you’re not troubled about anything.”
He shook his head. “Considering we will be married tomorrow and that I will be moving into your bedchamber is giving me pause. What will happen when we relocate?”
Pursing her lips, she studied him for a moment. “Mr. Yarnsby has already promised us a charming cottage. I am so excited about you overseeing the construction of it.” She clapped her hands over her chest. “It will have to be perfect.”
“It will not be our land, or our home. If anything were to happen, we could be tossed out without any recourse.”
He hated to dampen her happiness, but it was true. Only a landowner could be secure in where he lived.
“That would never happen,” Mary said giving him an incredulous look. “Why would you think Vivian would ever send me away?”
When he reached to touch her arm, she leaned away, and he met her gaze. “I know she would not. However, futures are not guaranteed.”
“How about we go forward as planned. Let us offer to purchase land from Mr. Yarnsby and build on that. Would that sooth your worries?” Mary studied him waiting for his reply.
There wasn’t any doubt that because of the high regard the family had for Mary, they would not hesitate to offer the land free of charge. He would not accept the terms and insist on paying for it. It was more than he could have ever hoped for, land of his own. The thought of owning land and his own home filled him with anticipation and pride.
“Very well. Once our wedding day and all the celebrations are over, I will speak to Mr. Yarnsby. Don’t you dare speak to him first.”
It was obvious by the way she looked to the side it was exactly what she’d planned to do. “Very... well,” she replied, with hesitation.
Mary placed a hand on the center of his chest. “I am so fortunate to have met you Thomas. I cannot wait to be your wife and spend the rest of our lives together.”
The way she looked up at him made Thomas feel as if he could move mountains with his bare hands. Never before had a woman looked at him the way she did. Perhaps there had been adoring looks, but none had brought out the response in him like Mary did.
“Thomas,” Harold walked toward them with a rope in one hand. “Where should we put the new horses?”
Mr. Yarnsby had purchased a team of very expensive horses, which were to be housed in a not yet built larger stable.
Thomas blew out a breath. “Since this is being done backwards, we will have to leave some of the other horses in the corral overnight.”
“Good thing the weather’s warmer,” Harold replied with a chuckle. “I do believe our employer is overly excited about his new venture.”
“I best let you go. I have much to do myself,” Mary said and pressed a kiss to his cheek. She went to Harold and gave him a stern look. “Ensure you do not overstress yourself. Moira will be very cross with you if you don’t dance with her tomorrow.”
Harold chuckled, his cheeks coloring. “I will do my best to allow the younger men to do all the heavy work.”
Along with the older man, Thomas walked to where men had arrived with the horses. The animals were beautiful and quite restless. It took time to get them brushed down, watered, fed and in stalls. Later that day, the animals would be loosed into a corral until the night.
One of the newly hired stable men led one of the horses into the stable. Thomas looked on as the man brushed the animal down. The man looked up, meeting his gaze. “Who is that dark woman to you?”
Thomas did his best to keep a flat expression. “Why do you ask?”
The man shrugged. “Looks different. Seems strange that she’s allowed so much liberty.”
“Measure your words.”
Unperturbed, the idiot continued undeterred. “I’m sure you agree with me that no one wants her kind about.”
“She’s the mistresses’ companion and close friend...” Thomas started closing the distance between them until they were nose to nose. “She will be my wife tomorrow.”
The man’s eyes widened as he realized the huge mistake he’d made during his first week of employment. “I didn’t mean...”
“Pack your belongings. I will see about what you’re owed. It won’t be much.”
“Sir, please. I need this job, I have a wife...”
Thomas could barely keep from slamming his fist into the man’s face. “I am sorry for your wife, to have a man like you for a husband.”
“Thomas?” Harold entered the stables looking from one to the other.
The imbecile turned away to appeal to the older man. “Thomas is firing me. Does he have the authority to do so? I said something, I didn’t mean anything by it, I swear.”
“What did you say?” Harold said pinning the man with a hard look.
The man looked to the ground. “Just asking about the dark-skinned woman. Why she was about.”
“I agree with Thomas. Your services are no longer required.” Harold looked to Thomas. “The men who delivered the horses need to be paid. They are about to go to the village to find a bed for the night.”
Harold usually handled the payments and ensured anyone who came to the estate was given a small meal before going on their way. Obviously, he wanted Thomas to go and not end up in a fight the day before his wedding.
Moment later, his ire must have still been evident because while the men, who’d brought the horses, ate, Moira pulled him aside. “What happened?”
Having to repeat the idiot’s words made him angrier, but he managed it.
Moira rolled her eyes and huffed. “Do not allow an imbecile like that to ruin things for you. Mary is a beautiful and kind woman. There will be other times when you will face judgement because of the color of her skin. I am not saying to get used to it, but to accept that it will happen.”
“I am not sure how to react, other than to get angry and defend her.”
Moira sighed and nodded. “There is no better reaction than to love your wife and show judgmental people their opinions don’t matter at all.”
“This is the first of many, I suppose.”
“Yes it is. Local people will come to know her and become aware that she is considered part of the family. They will think twice before insulting her, because it would mean losing access to the most prominent families in the area.”
The next day came and Thomas was much too busy to consider it was his wedding day. Mary was conspicuously absent, which he was a bit thankful for as he didn’t have time for the distraction her presence brought.
As the visitors arrived, the newly hired coachmen took their carriages away to where the stable workers would handle the care of the horses. Everything went smoothly, and Thomas had to admit, he enjoyed the duties as steward.
He peered out from his position by the door noting there were no carriages on the horizon. Mentally, he went over who was yet to arrive, noting only one set of people had not come.
In the large parlor, everyone mingled, the voices loud and merry, most excited at the prospect of spending an evening at the estate. The invitation to remain had been done purposefully by the Yarnsby’s, so that the guests could properly recommend it to their extended connections in London.
“How are you doing Thomas?” Lottie, dressed in her new starched black and white frock, came to stand next to him. “Isn’t this exciting?”
Like him, she’d also been promoted. Lottie was now the housekeeper. Lottie, along with Moira and Harold, had all decided they’d remain behind at the estate. Moira as head cook and Harold as the estate’s steward.
“The last of the guests arrive,” Lottie said looking into the horizon.
Thomas nodded and took a breath. In just a few hours, he and Mary would be married. Every guest in attendance a witness to their declarations of love.
“My wedding is far too large,” Mary complained as her mother fussed with her hair. “This is really uncalled for. I am part of the staff.” She batted her mother’s hands away.
Penelope grinned at her. “I think the family deserves a large wedding since my sisters cheated all of us out of one.”
Both Clara and Vivian had impromptu weddings, which although lovely, had been last minute and with only minimal attendance.
Of course, Mary loved to be considered part of the family and that they included her and Thomas’ marriage as part of the planned event. The sisters had all insisted she had to have a beautiful wedding. Nonetheless, Mary wasn’t sure what kind of impression it would make on the guests.
Mrs. Humphries entered the room and immediately hugged her. “This is all so wonderful. I am so blessed to see all of you get married. You look absolutely beautiful, Mary.” She wiped at tears daintily with her handkerchief.
Mrs. Humphries then whirled to Penelope. “You will also have a large wedding. No last-minute dash for you, young lady.”
“I agree,” Mary said with a grin. “Yours should be the grandest of all.”
Penelope grinned and whirled, arms outstretched. “Of course, mother, Tommy and I will have the grandest wedding of the year.” She stopped and frowned. “Once he proposes, that is.”
As always, there was an awkward silence at the mention of Penelope’s childhood friend who showed no interest in her, past a friendship.
“I so love the bride’s dressing ritual,” Lady Barrow entered the room with Lady Torrington, both neared and looked over Mary.
“You look radiant darling,” Lady Torrington said, and then picked up a mirror and held it up for Mary to look at herself.
Barely able to recognize herself in the reflection. Bright eyes looked back at her and Mary was struck speechless and then tears spilled down her cheeks. “I am the most fortunate girl in the world.”
“D-don’t cry,” Vivian said with sniff. “Y-you’ll make me start crying.”
“Stop at once,” her mother’s strong accent made Mary sit up straighter and sniff one last time. “This is a joyous occasion, is it not?” Everyone nodded. “Very well.”
She took in the room. “Indeed, my daughter is very blessed to be surrounded by all of you. I am grateful for how you’ve accepted her into your family with so much love.”
“I believe there is a wedding to get to,” Lady Barrow said, a tell-tale tinge of red on the tip of her nose. “We are all blessed to be part of the Humphries’ family.”
On the first floor, the murmuring of voices ceased when Mary began her descent down the stairwell. Her heart hammered wildly at the sea of faces looking up to her. Everyone seemed enthralled, following her movements.
Of course, some were there to attest to the fact that the estate would be a perfect place to have a wedding and host guests at the same time, but still, the moment was more than magical.
When she reached the bottom step, her father took her hand and weaved it through his arm. He pressed a kiss to her temple. “You are the most beautiful bride, aside from your mother, that I’ve ever had the privilege of seeing.”
Mary inhaled to keep from openly weeping and kept her gaze forward to where Father Matthews and Thomas stood.
Next to Thomas, who looked so very handsome, stood Harold, who was to be the best man. She’d chosen Vivian to be her maid of honor, however, she was quickly joined by her sisters, and all three took their places on the priest’s opposite side.
She had to smile at the three having appointed themselves a trio of maids, for she’d not have it any other way.
As Mary stood next to the love of her life, she repeated the vows and focused on Thomas. At looking up into his eyes, the entire room disappeared and except for Father Matthews’ words that they repeated, nothing else existed.
Upon kissing to seal their marriage vows, the room erupted into applause. When they turned to face the room, maids and valets appeared with flutes of champagne so that everyone could toast their nuptials.
The rest of the evening, although magical, had very little to do with them. Thomas and Mary sat at a table to the side of the room, while Duke and Lady Torrington along with the Yarnsby’s sat at the head table entertaining the guests.
A harpist and flutist played beautiful songs that Mary committed to memory. The Humphries were well aware of her favorites and the player ensured to play them. It was a beautiful evening and soon Mary could not keep from yawning.
She leaned into Thomas’ ear. “I am so glad the focus is not on us so we can escape soon.”
“I was thinking the same.” He squeezed her hand, the intimate touch as he slid his fingers up the back of it to her forearm sent chills of anticipation up her arm.
A waltz began and they were encouraged to dance. Mary an accomplished dancer, as she’d attended classes with Vivian, worried about Thomas.
However, much to her surprise and elation of those in attendance, he guided her around the room with ease. Soon they were joined by the other couples, the room filling with music and chatter as everyone glided in circles a display of colorful skirts moving in sync.
It was not much later that Thomas guided them to the bottom of the stairs, then taking her hand, pulled her forward. They hurried the rest of the way and escaped to begin a future that Mary knew would be utterly wonderful.