Decisions...
“Miss Angel? Perhaps you should wake up. Mr. Wellington will be here within the hour. And he seems always early.”
Angelica’s eyes fluttered open at the mention of his name. She stared back at Maddie, remembering, and relaxed back on to the pillow. “Ten more minutes, Maddie? I’m afraid I slept poorly last night.”
Maddie frowned. “I’ll put your clothes out on the bed for you while you rest. But I don’t think Mr. Wellington would be pleased with you if he came, and you weren’t ready.”
“Indeed.” Angel’s face held a scowl now. “Mr. Wellington isn’t pleased with a lot of things I do. He’s already given me a list, Maddie,” she said, grimacing at the words. “Failing to be ready will be next on it, I’m sure.” Suddenly, she giggled. “I shall have to train him.”
“Be careful, Miss Angel, that he does not train you.” Maddie said, closing the door to the wardrobe. “I have brought water for you to wash in. And fresh towels.”
Angel sighed and pushed herself up into a sitting position. “Thank you, Maddie,” she said, yawning. “No rest for the weary.” Then, turning to the housekeeper, she became very serious.
“Maddie?”
“Yes, Miss Angel?”
“I have come to a decision.”
Maddie straightened, her dark eyes wide now, and serious.
“I plan to marry Mr. Wellington.”
“Are you sure, Miss Angel?”
“No. Yes. You don’t wish me to?”
“I don’t wish you to do something you might regret later.”
“That’s what he said.”
“But Miss Angel, having met him,” her dark brown eyes searched Angelica’s, “I believe he’s perfect for you.”
Angel returned her gaze. “My choices are so limited, Maddie. What else can I do?”
Maddie stared back, silently. It was a long time before she spoke.
“I don’t know, Miss Angel. I just don’t know.”
* * *
There was a knock on the door, promptly, at ten o’clock. Angel was on her way downstairs when Maddie opened the door with a curtsy.
“Good morning, Mr. Wellington. May we prepare you some tea?”
“That would be nice, Maddie. Thank you.”
Maddie smiled, and giving a graceful curtsey, left the room.
He bowed, taking Angel’s hand. “Good morning, Angel. I trust you slept well?”
“Dreadfully, sir. I hope your night was better.”
“Not much. Shall we talk?”
“Yes, sir.”
He led her over to the couch and settled her, sitting down beside her. “Now, young lady. Tell me why your sleep was so disturbed.”
A frown creased her brow. “I just fear…” Her voice became nonexistent as she stared across the room. “I-I shall disappointment you terribly, and your staff. We have grown very informal here and…” she paused.
“I have every confidence in you, Angel. Each moment that I spend with you, I grow more certain of your abilities.”
“Do not say that, please. I am sure I shall disappoint you.”
“The only thing you could do to disappoint me, Angel, is to refuse to try. Did I not promise you I shall be by your side?”
Her eyes returned to his face as he took her hands in his. “Yes, sir. That means so much to me.”
Mr. Wellington raised each of her hands, kissing her palms, and smiled down into her eyes. “You stand firm behind your decision to marry me, then, Angel? You accept my offer?”
She met his silver-grey eyes, and answered quietly. “Yes, sir. I accept.”
“Yet your eyes are wide and frightened,” he whispered. “I realize it’s frightening, Angel, but I promise I shall do my utmost to make you happy.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “And there’s one more thing,” he said, reaching into his pocket. When he withdrew his hand, it held a small velvet box. “This is for you.”
She watched, trembling, as he handed it to her. Geoffrey put one hand under hers to support it. With the other, he lifted the lid to the box.
Angel gasped. Inside was a crafted gold bracelet, gently crisscrossed and inlaid with tiny diamonds; so many of them she couldn’t have counted them had she tried.
“Oh, sir… this is—” she halted, finding herself at a loss for words. Tears threatened.
“It is but one of my gifts to you.” He took it from her and gently put it on her left wrist.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered. She turned her hand in the sunlight, seeing the sparkles of the stones bring prisms to the room.
“The rings won’t be ready until tomorrow. You shall have to wait for the ceremony to see those.”
“But I…” the tears filled her eyes now, “I have nothing to give you, sir.”
“Do you not, sweetheart?” His voice was gentle as he lifted her face to his. “You’re giving me the most rare and precious gift of all; yourself. I could ask for nothing more.”
“Oh, sir.”
“But I promise you a proper wedding ceremony, to make our vows public, when you reach Pembroke. Father Michael, the Priest at St. Mary’s, will be happy to perform it. And I shall have you a wedding dress specially made.”
“I still have my mother’s from her wedding to my father. I believe it would suffice, at least for the ceremony here. It is quite beautiful.”
“If that’s your wish,” he said quietly, “It’s your choice. Ah. Maddie is ready with the tea, I believe.” He looked up, smiling.
Maddie curtseyed and brought the tray in. Angel poured the tea as Mr. Wellington asked for Elizabeth and Benjamin to come in. A moment later, all three of them stood before him.
Angel watched, fascinated, as he explained to the staff what he wished to do. Their faces lit up as he explained he would keep the house in Angel’s name and that if they needed anything at all, they were to let her know.
As they moved back into the kitchen, Angel watched their faces and smiled.
“You, sir, are magnificent.”
He looked down at her, surprised, and she continued.
“I have never seen Maddie and Elizabeth so fond of another individual. They hated my step-father.”
He shook his head. “Then I respect their judgment even more greatly than before.” He took her hands once again. “However, my goal is not for them to like me, Angel. My goal is for you to be happy and satisfied that they will be well cared for. It’s another of my gifts to you.”
She looked up. “Thank you, sir. They are so special to me.”
“I could, I suppose, absorb them into my household. But we are much more formal at Pembroke. I doubt they would be happy there.” He was smiling now. “Eat your scone. I wish to take you to your uncle’s office, and then to the park. Then, I shall bring you home, and go back to town to arrange for the ceremony tomorrow. I’m sure you would like your uncle to be present for it?”
“And my Aunt Sarah, too, if possible. She will likely be thrilled to have me leaving the territory. Uncle Thomas offered me a place at their house, but Aunt Sarah has never been very fond of me.”
His brows rose. “Why ever not?”
She shook her head. “I’ve always thought it was because I resembled my mother so. There was always contention between Aunt Sarah and mother, and I never quite understood it. But I think she would be upset if she were not invited to our wedding.”
“Then I promise she shall be. Now, if you’ll gather your cape, we shall pay a visit to your uncle.”
“Yes sir.”
Angel ascended the stairs with a glance down at the beautiful bracelet he’d given her. She couldn’t ignore the belief that he cared for her; at least a little.
* * *
The morning was a whirlwind. Uncle Thomas seemed a happy and relieved man when they went to visit him. He hugged Angel tightly when he received the news, and she hugged him back.
Mr. Wellington spoke, over Angel’s head. “When I return this afternoon, perhaps we can make arrangements for the household budget. I want the ladies to feel at ease when they need to shop for goods. In addition, the house will stay the possession of Angel, but I will oversee the books. It will, however, need a butler. And please let Mrs. Dreifus know she’s invited to the ceremony. I’ll let you know the time later.”
“Certainly,” Thomas answered.
The walk in the park was delightful. Angel was able to coax Mr. Wellington to open up more. He told her stories of things that had happened in his childhood at Pembroke, and how he and his friend, Francis Adams, played tricks on Miss Hazel.
“Oh,” Angelica put her hand to her mouth. “Did she find out?”
“Oh yes, and it was the last trick we ever played. Now you know why I’m afraid of her.” He made a rueful face and grinned. “When Francis comes to visit she watches both of us with total suspicion. Now, of course, he comes with his wife, Merriweather, so Miss Hazel has relaxed a bit. Merrie wouldn’t allow us to do such terrible things. However,” he chuckled, “as well as being a very competent housekeeper, Miss Hazel has a very long memory.”
She giggled. “Then you both had better be on your best behavior around her.”
“Indeed.”
Angel listened as Geoffrey told her more about Pembroke, including a description of the fountains in front of the house and its circled drive. He also described the view of the mountains and the valleys in the west, frequently visited by deer. “But I must warn you, sweetheart, about the steep cliffs on the other side of the road. The view from there is lovely, but dangerous.”
Angel walked with her arm through his, smiling. Today, he seemed so relaxed.
Before she realized it, he was opening the front door for her. He kissed her forehead, his face close to hers, and then kissed her hand. “I’ll be back this afternoon, Angel, when the arrangements are complete. Unfortunately, tomorrow after the ceremony, I’ll be forced to begin my journey home. It’s not my first choice, but I see no help for it. Hopefully, I can arrange to have the coach arrive for you early next week. Can you be ready?”
“I believe I can, sir.”
His face was very close to hers. He smiled at her as he tilted her chin upward. “I shall return as soon as possible, my love,” he said, and turned, striding toward the street.
* * *
Geoffrey Wellington left the office of Angel’s Uncle Thomas, smiling. Everything was done; the arrangements; accounts and increased pay for the staff; the hiring of the new Butler. The priest had been agreeable for the service at ten o’clock the next morning. There was nothing more to do until he reached Pembroke and arranged for her arrival. This afternoon would be free to spend with her.
He thought of Angel on the way back to her home; convinced his father had been right. She would, after all, need some taming; indeed, a good bit more than he realized at first. He was determined to be patient, but was ready to do it. Her strengths, however, far outweighed any flaws she might possess, and the only ones he could obviously see were related to her volatile temper. He knew he could count on her loyalty, above all else. He was looking forward to her arrival at Pembroke. Wishing he could take her back with him was not helpful; it couldn’t be done.
But, a mental picture of Angelica riding in the saddle in front of him on his stallion with his arms wrapped around her left him smiling.
* * *
Angel spent the late morning and early afternoon finding her mother’s wedding dress tucked away among the boxes in the attic.
“Look, Maddie,” she said, holding it up.
Maddie smiled. “It’s a bit large, Miss Angel, and very fragile. But I believe I can alter it.”
“Thank you, Maddie. I hate to have Mr. Wellington pay for a new one; he has done so much already.”
Maddie had gone to work immediately, and Angel began to ready herself for Mr. Wellington’s visit.
* * *
He arrived at two-thirty, accepting tea when Maddie offered it. Moments later, she and Elizabeth and Benjamin stood before him.
Geoffrey smiled at each of them. “Everything is done; please use the housekeeping accounts whenever you need. Angel’s uncle will arrange for the repairs needed, but if they aren’t done in a reasonable amount of time, please let Angel know. If you have any difficulty, please write to her, and I’ll take care of it, even if we have to make a trip to come home. Benjamin, we shall be expecting you and Pitney soon at Pembroke. The Butler is to arrive tomorrow morning; his name is William, and he has instructions not to disturb things here too much.”
He watched them as they filed back into the kitchen, smiling.
Turning to Angel, Geoffrey gathered her into his arms. “You will have the final word, my love, in whether you approve or disapprove of the new butler. If not, you can dismiss him and perhaps your uncle can send a replacement for an interview. And I have done one other thing, Angel. I have sent a wire to Pembroke instructing them to begin the journey here as soon as possible. The coach should arrive by Sunday. Can you be ready?”
“I’ll make sure of it, sir.”
“Good.” His smile lifted her spirits. “I’m eager to get you to Pembroke and under my wing as quickly as possible.”