The Reception…
As he led her into the Hall, she saw the large cakes that Lillie had set up, and two large bowls of punch, for the guests. Miss Hazel was there, overseeing things; Hannah was helping to cut and serve the cake; Emma, the punch. Sebastian and Benjamin were there, even Burton. Sydney, too, was there, and he and another gentleman were playing instruments softly.
Geoffrey smiled at Burton. “So, Dr Craig has given you permission to come?”
“No,” Burton shook his head sheepishly, “but had it not been for Lady Wellington, my lord, I would not still be here at all.”
One person, then another, came to greet them and to welcome her to Shenandoah County. But after fifty or so, Angel gave up trying to remember their names and only smiled demurely, thanking them for coming. Several asked about the dormitory, and Geoffrey explained it had been Angel’s idea, and the purpose of it.
Dear, sweet Geoffrey.
His voice interrupted her thoughts. “Let me introduce you to Lady Ashwirth, my love, and her son Charles. This is my wife, Lady Wellington.”
Angel looked up, smiling. “My pleasure, Lady Ashwirth. Sir,” she murmured.
She remembered what Geoffrey had said about them; she could instantly see he had been right. The expression on Lady Ashwirth’s face was fretful and somewhat huffy. Charles might have been quite handsome; however, his smile was cold and calculating.
At her side, however, she felt her husband stiffen; his normally friendly smile became slightly forbidding.
The woman grew closer, however, she barely glanced at Angel as she replied. “Pleasant to see you, my dear.”
Charles was still staring at her when he spoke, but his comment was directed to Geoffrey.
“You have chosen quite well, Geoffrey. But fair warning. I may try to pluck her from your grasp.” His voice was unexpectedly cold, and Angel felt Geoffrey’s protective arm draw her closer. She stared back at Charles, unsmiling.
“On the contrary, Charles,” Geoffrey’s voice was firm. “She was gracious enough to choose me.” He then nodded to Lady Ashwirth. “It’s good to see you, Lady Ashwirth. Angel and I hope you’re doing well.”
“Oh… better, I suppose. I should be happier if Charles chose a bride and made me a grandmother.”
It was then Charles tugged at his mother’s arm. His voice was bored now. “Come along, Mother. I believe cake is waiting.”
Angel looked up at Geoffrey uncertainly, but he made only a slight shake of his head. “I shall explain later,” he said into her ear a few seconds later.
Suddenly, the sound of a China plate shattering on the floor caught their attention. Angel leaned forward slightly to see Hannah, her hand extended and her face white. She was trembling as she looked up into the face of Charles Ashwirth. Miss Hazel moved over quickly and whispered to her, and Hannah disappeared into the kitchen. She seemed to be trying hard to fight back tears. Miss Hazel held out a fresh piece of cake to Charles and went on as if nothing had happened.
Angel excused herself quickly and followed Hannah into the kitchen.“Dearest Hannah,” she said softly, “What is it, my friend?”
Hannah turned to face her, tearfully. “Oh, my lady, I’m so sorry. I’ve caused a scene and ruined—”
“No, no.” Angel hugged her fiercely. “I just want to know what that awful man said that upset you so.”
But Hannah only shook her head. “I—I can’t,” her voice trailed. She tried to turn away to hide the silent sobs that now racked her slender shoulders, but Angel continued to hug her firmly.
It took moments for her to regain composure. “Thank you, my lady. I promise to pay for the plate,” she whispered.
“Absolutely not—” But Angel stopped when Miss Hazel’s voice spoke up from behind her.
“No, you won’t, Hannah. It will come from the housekeeping budget. Just take a moment and calm, my girl. You can mix up the punch and stay in here if you like. I’ll send Carrie out to serve.”
“Hannah,” Geoffrey said from over Angel’s head, “You may have the rest of the afternoon off if you wish.”
“No, my lord. I shall be all right. I’m just so sorry.”
But Geoffrey shook his head. “Not another thought.”
But Lillie was peeking out through the small window in the door to the kitchen. “Miss Hazel! There are guests, and no one to serve.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Angel announced. Quickly, she turned, running into James, who steadied her with a murmured, “I’m sorry, my lady.” But his eyes were on Hannah.
Angel hurried through the kitchen door to the cake table. She smiled up at the guests and cut several small pieces of cake, serving them with twinkling eyes. Carrie appeared at the table to help, and a moment later ,Geoffrey was beside her.
She looked around at the guests, chattering among themselves. Things seemed quiet in the hall now.
The quiet, however, lasted only a matter of seconds. Angel raised her head as she heard Charles’ voice, deliberately raised to carry across the room. He had turned to go, and had sent his mother out toward their coach.
“Well, Giles,” he said, quite loudly, “I marvel that Pembroke is not known as the House of misfits and rejects.”
Angel gasped. Geoffrey reached for her, but before he realized it she had escaped his grasp and crossed the room. He moved after her, but he was too late. She was now standing in front of Charles.
On her tiptoes Angel hardly reached the third button on his shirt, but she was reaching upward. The cravat Charles wore around his neck was held tightly in her fist and she was tugging his head downward until it was even with her own.
Staring furiously into his face, her voice was fierce with anger. “How dare you, Charles Ashwirth! Have you no manners? How dare you insult the wonderful people at Pembroke who are the finest in the world! And how dare you insult my husband. Unlike you, he is the most wonderful and gallant of men.” She felt arms about her suddenly and realized that Geoffrey had freed Charles’ cravat from her grasp.
Next, Geoffrey lifted her by the waist and set her on her feet behind him. With one arm, he held her there as he took her place, standing in front of Charles himself. “Is there something you wish to say to me, Charles?” Geoffrey’s face and voice held a tone more forbidding than Angel had ever heard it.
Charles was red faced and surprised.
Angel was glaring at him from behind her husband, whose arm was still about her attempting to keep her back. But Geoffrey’s voice was every bit as threatening as hers had been, when he spoke.
“I wish you to know, Charles, I never again expect to hear you have made disparaging remarks toward my wife or my staff. You owe every one of them an apology for being so crude as to say these things on a day reserved for the celebration of our vows.” He reached for Angelica and brought her to stand next to him with his arm protectively around her.
Charles dragged a boot across the floor. There was a long pause of silence as he looked from one to the other. “My… apologies, Lady Wellington…” there was a pause before he added, “and everyone.” Still, his voice had a snide tone to it. He nodded to Geoffrey and disappeared, leaving Geoffrey and Angel staring after him.
It happened when Charles was gone from sight; great applause broke out in the Hall. Angel blinked, realizing for the first time the display of her ferocious temper had been witnessed by others. She looked down sheepishly and bit her lip.
“I’m sorry,” she said, afraid to look at Geoffrey.
But Giles Kidd was the first to approach, giving her a bow. “I, my lady, am not sorry. Someone has needed to call him out on his poor manners since he was a child. Obviously his parents never did.”
“Giles is right.” Zeke Killian stepped forward. “ Seeing Charles bested by one so small and delicate was delightful.”
Angel didn’t hear Geoffrey’s response. She looked helplessly at her husband as others came over to voice the same opinion. Geoffrey, however, gave her a glance that told her plainly he did not share their sentiments.
The lines at the cake and punch tables were dwindling now. Carrie and Emma were still at the tables serving, and Geoffrey and Angel both continued to mix among their guests.
When Angel dared to peek up at her husband next, he was watching her. And he was not smiling. Embarrassed, she determined to make it through the rest of the afternoon and do her best to smile.
She scanned the room as the crowd began to take leave, and noticed a small figure huddling in the corner, holding a piece of cake on one of the China plates. The glass cup full of punch rested on the chair next to her. Neither of them looked as if they had been touched.
The figure was Marie.
Angel rushed over toward her and sat down in the empty chair next to her with a hug. “Marie, I am so honored that you came.”
Marie looked shocked at her display of affection, but attempted to smile.
Angel continued, softly, “And I didn’t get a chance on Wednesday to thank you for your testimony. It must have been very hard for you.”
Marie’s eyes were sad as she spoke. “Lady Wellington, it was all I could do. But I’m still so afraid.” She looked away for a moment, and then finally looked back at Angel. “I heard you are building a dormitory for ladies with no place to go.”
“Indeed we are.” Angelica eyed her thoughtfully, saying finally, “Are you in need of a place to stay?”
“Yes, but… you may not want me…” Marie said in a whisper.
“Why ever not?”
“Because I have been staying at Madam Rubye’s place,” she said, finally. “I was not one of her—girls, but I…” She glanced around the Hall to see if anyone was listening. “I had no place else to go. I would stay at the clinic until it was dark… and then I would go there to sleep. Since the clinic is closed I’m only able to help a few hours a day in Dr. Craig’s office. The income from it is small and Rubye said I needed to find another place to stay.”
“The dormitory is supposed to be completed at the end of the week, my friend. Louisa Graham will be running it. She would be happy to talk to you about moving in. Do you know her?”
“Yes, my lady. She is here.”
“Is she? Where?” Angel followed Marie’s line of vision, and spotted Louisa standing across the room in conversation. When she caught Angel’s gaze she excused herself, hurrying over.
A few moments later Angel left Marie with her, making plans.
* * *
Geoffrey looked down to see Miss Hazel standing in front of him.
“Yes, Miss Hazel?”
“My lord,” she said, when he saw her. “A word, please?”
“Certainly.” His eyes rested on Angel before following Miss Hazel into the kitchen.
“We are about to finish up the work and go back to Pembroke. However, I wished to say something to you.”
“Go ahead, Miss Hazel.”
She looked around, making sure no one was listening. “I caught the exchange between my lady and Charles Ashwirth. All of it.”
“Yes,” he said, frowning. “Go on.”
“I beg of you, Geoffrey. Please do not be too hard on her. I believe what she did was a good and noble—and brave thing.”
Geoffrey was still frowning “Do you? And the reason?”
Miss Hazel’s voice remained firm. “Several. He spoke in a public place—ugly things about you and Pembroke and the staff. And she called him out on it, also in public. This is not the first time he has done that, my lord. But I believe it will be the last. That alone calls for praise for Lady Angel.”
Geoffrey looked thoughtful, thinking that praise was certainly not what he had in mind for his wife for her behavior that day. But he also said, quietly. “It is the first time I have heard it with my own ears , or I would have called him on it myself. But I would have chosen a better time and place than my bride did today.”
“Perhaps so,” she answered. “And while I know you would have been more discreet, perhaps today’s error in judgment by Charles merited something more… public. The main thing,” she continued, “is that it lets the staff know with certainty she is completely loyal to them, and they may trust her. Now everyone, including Charles, knows it too. And, my lord, they also know of the loyalty and respect she has for you.” She waited a moment and added, finally, “She is no silly little chit, my lord. Angel Wellington is a Lady, through and through.”
She watched his face as he absorbed what she had said. Finally, she gave him a brief nod, and a curtsy. “That is all, Geoffrey,” she said, leaving the room.
Geoffrey watched her go, feeling as if he was twelve years old again and Miss Hazel had just found a snakeskin in her desk drawer. Her words echoed in his mind a moment before he turned on his heel and strode back into the Hall. There, he found Angel graciously waving goodbye and thanking the last couple for sharing the day’s event with them.
As she realized his hands rested on her shoulders, she turned slowly and looked penitently up into his face.
Neither of them spoke as he turned her to face him, lifting her chin and focusing his gaze down into her eyes.
Father Michael’s voice broke through the silence. He had approached without either of them knowing it. “Consider, my son, the earnestness, and the dignity with which she spoke today in the defense of you and yours,” he said, adding a moment later, “before you act.”
Geoffrey’s eyes did not leave Angelica’s. “I shall, Father,” he said, finally. “Thank you.”
As unexpectedly as he had come, Father Michael was gone. Geoffrey stood there a moment longer, continuing to gaze down at her. Finally, she lowered her gaze and leaned her forehead into his chest, seeking comfort. He enfolded her in his arms. “Come, my love,” he said softly. “It’s time to go home.”
Miss Hazel had come from the kitchen as he swept Angel up into his arms. “Supper will await at Pembroke, my lord.”
“Thank you, Miss Hazel,” he nodded, carrying his wife up the steps and outside to the waiting coach.
* * *
The ride back to Pembroke was silent. Angel sat in his lap and leaned against his chest as he held her closely. She knew she was in trouble. How much, she did not know. She could feel his large hands stroking her back, and she nuzzled into his neck.
“I’m sorry, Geoffrey,” she whispered sadly. “I-If you feel the need to p-punish me…I shall try to accept it g-gracefully.”
“Shh, my love. I must think this through and consider it carefully before I decide what to do.”
She nodded silently and leaned back into his chest, accepting the comfort of his arms. When they arrived at Pembroke, however, she remembered what Miss Hazel had said. “May I go upstairs, sir? I d-don’t think I-I can eat right now.”
He frowned. “You need to eat, Angel.” He took her waist and sat her back slightly so that he could look at her. “I need a day or two to reflect on this, and so do you. It will likely be Tuesday before we discuss it again. Unless you feel the need urgently.”
“I do, sir. I hate waiting. It k-kills me.”
“No, my love. It won’t kill you. And I don’t wish to take a chance on punishing you unjustly. I know what Miss Hazel said, and what Father Michael said. And they are both correct, to a degree. But your temper got away with you today, in public. I don’t wish to see that happen again.” A finger under her chin caused her to look up. “So, you see, Angel, it’s necessary that I have time to think and to seek wisdom.”
She raised sad eyes to his. “Tuesday, then?”
“At the latest. If I reach a decision sooner, we’ll discuss it. I shall let you know. But for now, I hope you can eat something.”
She sat for a moment, not at all sure that she could. Finally, she nodded. “I’ll try, sir.”
“Good girl.” He kept her chin lifted, until she raised her eyes to his once again. “I meant every word I said today, Angel, about loving you. I have known it from the moment I caught you running from your uncle’s office. And when you became defiant in front of your him in an attempt to protect Maddie, I was assured of your loyalty. My love has grown stronger for you every passing day. By the time I am sixty, I think you’ll have slain me.”
Angel leaned against him, reaching out to put her arms around his chest. “I love you, too, Geoffrey Wellington. I shall always love you.”
Geoffrey held her for a moment, tightly, before setting her down next to him and rising to step down outside the coach. “We should go in, my love. James is at the door.”
“Wait—sir?”
He turned back.
“May I… ask a question?”
He sat down beside her once again. “Of course.”
Angel looked up, not knowing exactly how to phrase her question. Finally, she took a breath.
“Today, when Hannah dropped the plate…” She paused, frowning. “She told me her story, sir. And I was wondering if—if Charles Ashwirth was the one who...”
“Yes.” His voice sounded flat. “He was the one who threw her away, as if she were nothing more than a sack of potatoes that had gone bad.”
“I thought as much, when I saw the look on her face,” she said sadly. I think I hate him.”
“You are not to say that, Angel.” Geoffrey frowned.
She nodded, her mouth forming a straight line. “Yes sir. But I feel it, even if I can’t say it.”
Geoffrey glanced away from her and rose, as if he was attempting to keep a straight face. “Come, sweetheart.”