By the time the two made it back to the house from their walk hand in hand, the Earl and Sir Charles were ensconced in deep conversation near the blazing fire. The Earl looked up at their approach with a lopsided grin spread from ear to ear. Sir Charles also appeared pleased, with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Are the two of you ready at last?” Adam and Elinor looked up at each other. What did he know? Adam shrugged one shoulder up.
The Earl raised an eyebrow, and then did his best attempt at a stern look while crossing his arms over his chest. It made him look innocuous at best. “Did you think I did not know something was afoot?”
Elinor chuckled at his feigned reprimand.
He carried on, “Your feelings for each other are obvious to everyone else; I am glad the two of you finally came to realize them.”
So he had known all along, the conniver.
“My favourite part was the look on her face when I made you propose and kiss.”
Elinor gasped and sat back on the settee. Adam sat right next to her.
“Oh, I knew, Father. The hard part was convincing Elinor.” His betrothed looked up at him, incredulity written on her face. “I did not properly thank you for arranging the lovely scene that day.” She gave him a good shove with her elbow. He merely laughed and rubbed the soon-to-be-bruised area. The Earl returned to business, ignoring their banter.
“I have already sent for the bishop. He should be here in two days with the licence.” Two days? The Earl responded to her jaw hanging ajar. “Yes, dear, the rest of us have been waiting for months. I think I have been quite patient, considering.” The frail Earl gestured at his frail body as if that were explanation enough.
“Perhaps I should be allowed to ask my godfather for permission first, Father?” Easton interjected.
Sir Charles chimed in, shaking his head. “Nonsense, Adam. You have my permission and my blessing.” They crossed the space and embraced each other.
Elinor held back tears. She suddenly had a longing for her mother to be there. The Earl reached over and squeezed her hand as if he sensed her thoughts.
“I think a nice wedding, here at Wyndham Court, would be just the thing. Hopefully, your grandmother has finished all of the arrangements by now.”
“Of that I have no doubt. I expected her to be scheming, not you.” This produced another wide grin.
“The two of you had best go inform your grandmother and brother.” He shooed them away and turned back to Sir Charles as if nothing of significance had occurred. Rascal.
“We have been mere puppets in this show all along, my dear,” Easton whispered loudly and kissed her on the temple. The two older gentlemen giggled.
“Apparently,” Elinor agreed. He proffered her a gallant arm, and they left for the Dower House.
On a cold but sunny January day, as the sun glistened off the crystals in the snow, she peeked out of her bedroom window. She could not believe this day was real. Easton actually wanted to marry her, in spite of her past. She had found someone who did not hold her past against her. She thought about how she and Adam had been brought together through connections, trials and tribulations—and she knew there must have been divine intervention. Some called it fate, some coincidence, but Elinor knew it all to be the same thing.
She smiled at a few lone snowflakes falling through the sun, and she felt her mother’s presence with her, a pervasive sense of peace and rightness. She opened her window to catch the chill on her face and held out a hand to provide a perch for some of the snow crystals. She shivered despite the exhilaration she felt, and she pulled her dressing gown tighter. A gentle knock broke her out of her reflection, and her grandmother peered around the door.
“Good morning, dear.”
“Good morning, Grandmama.” She pulled the windows closed and crossed the room to greet her grandmother with a kiss on the cheek.
“I do not know how you can stand the cold. It seems as if it goes straight through to my bones at my age.” Her grandmother shivered and walked toward the fire. “I came to see if you needed anything.” Josie sauntered in behind her with a tray of hot chocolate and scones and deposited them on the table next to the settee. She bobbed a curtsy, winked at Elinor and promised to be back soon with her bath.
“I cannot think of anything, Gran. I am remarkably calm for such a day. It feels so right.” And it did. She had not felt this happy since her mother was alive.
“I cannot tell you how relieved I am to hear you say that. I know Adam to be a wonderful man, but I was afraid we had pushed you into what we wanted, with selfish motives.” Elinor shook her head in protest. “I find I have grown a conscience over this matter overnight.”
“Please do not feel that way, Gran. I know you all want what is best for me. I promise I could not have been pushed into this if I was not willing.” Sitting on the settee, the Dowager sat next to her and reached for a cup of chocolate.
“I know you must feel the absence of Elizabeth greatly today.” She paused to gather her emotion. “And I know Sarah would be here if she could, but you must be satisfied with me for now.” She held up her hand to stop Elinor’s protest. “I also know the last thing you want to hear from an old woman is advice on the marriage bed.” Elinor giggled and turned pink. Her grandmother winked back at her. “However, I do want to impart a few bits of advice.”
All Elinor could say was, “Oh.” Please, no mental pictures. She had hoped to be spared the little talk most ladies received before their marriage.
“Firstly, the experience with someone you love or even lust for will be completely different from your unfortunate incident with Nathaniel.” Leave it to Gran to not skirt around the issue.
“Secondly, relax and try to enjoy yourself.” Of course. Relax. She nodded her head.
“Thirdly, use your imagination.” The Dowager cocked her eyebrow and smiled a knowing smile. That was all she was going to say?
“That is all?” Thank God it was over.
“Yes, Adam will teach you what you need to know.” Elinor choked on her chocolate. Her grandmother laughed and then gave her a hug before departing. Josie entered with bath water, more excited than Elinor.
After bathing and dressing her hair, Josie pulled a cream coloured gown from the dressing room, and Elinor let out a gasp when she saw the dress.
“Is that…my mother’s wedding gown?” She rushed over to touch the familiar gown she had seen her mother in daily in one of the few portraits she had of her, “I had not even thought of what Grandmama had picked out for me to wear. Oh, it is even more beautiful in reality!” She lovingly fingered the silver- knotted buttons that adorned the layers of silk.
Josie helped her into the gown, and Elinor felt dreamy as she was enveloped in the same gown her mother had worn to marry her father. She could not have felt more perfect. Josie placed her mother’s pearls about her neck, then after one last glance, she hurried down the stairs to where her father was waiting to take her to the church.
She was wrapped in an ermine cape and a furry muff for the brief ride. A sleigh awaited them to pull Elinor and her father to the church. “A sleigh! How wonderful, Papa!”
“Your mother was brought to St. Christopher’s in this sleigh as well. The Duke had it built for our wedding. It only seemed fitting. It does not get much use in Sussex.” She climbed in and held her father’s hand as she looked up to the heavens, feeling her mother’s presence blessing her this day.
“I feel her with us, Papa.” Until now, she had managed to hold tears at bay, but sitting in her mother’s wedding gown, in her sleigh, on her way to be wed at the same church, with her father at her side, the tears flowed.
“She would be proud of her beautiful daughter.” Her papa was struggling to hold his own tears back. “Your papa is more than proud of you.” He handed her a handkerchief with a smile and a hug.
“Oh, Papa. I know. I love you.”
He barely managed, “You too,” while struggling to maintain his composure.
As they pulled into the churchyard, Elinor could not help but smile as she saw all the children from the orphanage lined up in matching dresses and suits. They could not control their excitement when they noticed the horse-drawn sleigh pull up. Elinor was beyond pleased that they could attend and have a nice holiday from London. She would make sure they enjoyed themselves later.
As she was handed down from the sleigh, the children each handed her a white rose and curtsied before her, then went into the church. The two littlest girls, one being Adam’s little Susie, preceded Josie into the church, tossing rose petals everywhere. Elinor could hear the chuckles from those gathered inside. Then Josie sauntered down the aisle. Elinor could only imagine the huge smile on her face. It was finally her turn. As the door opened, she took a deep breath and was surprised at the crowd gathered in the church. She should have known her grandmother would make it a grand affair. She tried not to think about everyone staring at her. As her papa led her down the aisle, she barely heard the music or saw the familiar faces of the villagers. She did notice her grandmother wiping her eyes with a handkerchief, the Duke smiling proudly at her, and Nathaniel standing next to him as if to remind her that this was right. She realized she had forgiven him, and it felt right. Forgiveness was a beautiful thing indeed.
The Earl sat in his pew on the other side, smiling bright enough to light the church. She was delighted to please him, but not half as delighted as she was to be marrying the man standing behind them at the front of the church, next to the vicar, her brother and Buffy. She finally dared look up at Adam, having consciously not looked for fear she would not be able to walk up the aisle.
He was more stunning than usual, if possible, in black tail coat, with a silver waistcoat and snowy white neckcloth. He held out his hand to her, then handed her a single red rose. Love. Her father placed her hand in his and told Adam there was not anyone else he would rather give her to. Elinor remembered little else of the ceremony, except that it was over blessedly fast.
After the wedding, she was finally able to relax and truly laugh again. She felt a peace that she had never known before. It was wonderful to feel herself again. She knew she still had a major obstacle to overcome, but she was not worried about facing it with Adam. Somehow she knew it would be different with him. She was even a bit curious and excited.
The wedding breakfast at Wyndham Court was a virtual feast. She finally was able to see everyone she had not noticed at the church and was surprised how many had travelled for the ceremony. She fleetingly wondered to herself how long ago her grandmother and the Earl had set the date, as she spied Andrew dancing with one of the triplets, and Buffy and Josie enjoying themselves in a set. She sensed a pattern there.
There did not seem to be any particular type of dances occurring with the children about. It seemed like a reel-waltz-cotillion with giggles and joviality. The girls held hands and turned in circles while the adults tried a modified waltz. She turned and laughed as she watched the children dancing, particularly Susie as she held on for dear life to Adam with her feet atop his. If he had not already captured her heart, she would have lost it then.
“Can you spare a dance for your old papa?” Elinor turned and saw her father standing there watching her.
“I think I can arrange that.” She took his proffered hand, and he led her to a safe spot on the floor.
“What is next for you, Papa? Are you able to stay here a while?”
“Perhaps, though I want you and Adam to have some time to yourselves without all of us interfering old folk.” She made a playful face.
“Where will you settle down? We would love to have you here, of course.”
“I have not decided anything other than it is time to move on. I could go to London, or maybe back to the country when the tenants move out, though I am not sure I want to live there again.” He paused. “And, I am not so old yet.”
“Of course you are not old, Papa!” she interjected. He chuckled.
“But I am not a spring chicken either. Your mother’s love and companionship were everything to me. I truly felt like part of me died with her. Nevertheless, I know she would be disappointed in me for dwelling in the past for so long. So, henceforth I am determined to live each day for that day and see what happens.”
Elinor smiled up at him. “I think there is a lesson in it for all of us, Papa.” She embraced him and he led her over to Adam, who was surrounded by doting children.
“Pardon me, everyone, but if you will allow me one dance with my beautiful wife, then we will go outdoors for snowball fights and sleigh rides before we return for chocolate.”
The news was met with loud cheers from the children, and Adam grabbed hold of Elinor and whisked her off to the dance floor.
“Finally, I have you to myself for a moment. Even if I had to bribe the children.”
She looked up at him adoringly and laughed. “You love every minute of it, and you know it.”
He smiled lovingly back at her and twirled her around. “How does it feel to be Lady Easton?”
“Surprisingly good, though I believe I prefer Mrs. Trowbridge.”
“Surprisingly? Should I be offended?” He raised his eyebrows in mock indignation.
She slapped him playfully on the arm. “No, you should take it the good way.”
He chuckled. “Marriage lesson number one noted.” He twirled her again. Buffy and Josie were still dancing. “It looks like there will be another marriage soon.”
“Yes, she found her handsome beau.” Elinor smiled wistfully.
“I am glad to have been of service.” He made a small half bow while dancing.
“Yes, it worked out nicely. You did not have to go to so much trouble to introduce them though.”
“Noted for the future.” He pulled her closer and continued to swirl her around. Nathaniel and one of the triplets passed them and smiled greetings. When they were back across the room, Adam inquired about the situation. “How are you feeling about things with Nathaniel? I am still unsure of how I ought to react, myself.”
“I feel relieved it is over with. Although I suppose there will still be Beatrice to deal with somehow.”
“Where is the termagant?” He made a half-hearted effort to scan the room.
“She conveniently has a head cold.” Meaning her father would not let her ruin another day for Elinor.
“Ah.” He pulled her closer and revelled in having her in his arms for the remainder of the dance, letting everything else around them fade away. When the music stopped he did not let go, and there were chuckles all around them.
They heard a spoon clinking against a glass and looked up to see her father, the Duke and the Earl on the dais ready to make a toast. A footman handed them flutes of champagne and watched as the Earl was lowered into his chair and rolled over to them.
“I will not bore you all with long speeches. I shall only say I am ever grateful that I was able to witness this wonderful event, and I could not be happier. Now here are the keys to the cottage, my son. I do not want to see you for at least two weeks. You have grandchildren to make!” He made shooing motions indicating that he meant straight away.
She felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment. There was no good response, except, perhaps, to empty her glass. She handed her glass to a footman, then felt Adam pulling her towards the door. They made hasty farewells, ensured certain Andrew would see to entertaining the children, and then she was packed into a carriage.
As they made it into the woods toward the cottage, Elinor nestled in close to Adam. He raised an arm to allow her to snuggle in close. “Am I to assume this means you do not find touching my person offensive, Mrs. Trowbridge?” He smiled and wiggled an eyebrow at her.
She looked up with her big green eyes and with an equally mischievous grin. “You assume correctly, Mr. Trowbridge.” And, he was correct. And so was everyone who had told her that when she found the right man, she would not be afraid.
Adam took that as a good sign and tapped on the roof of the carriage for the driver to make haste.