by Lynn Landes
Matthew’s crinkled eyes narrow as he thinks about the past.
“I remember a story about the Taylors, something about the wife passing quickly.”
“Yes,” Elliot says. “Now, explain what London has to do with you faking your sickness.”
“It’s a long story, but I think we can all benefit from helping each other.”
Elliot leans forward and listens intently.
Chapter 13
London slips back into her small room before Reagan wakes and drops into a chair with a sigh. It’s done. She bought all the dumped shares that she could, giving her a majority in Sheridan Furniture. It was surprisingly less painful than she thought it would be. Knowing Matthew has promised to reimburse her made it much simpler.
“Mouse!” Tessa shouts from the adjoining room, causing her to sigh and jump up.
Now to get to work, Reagan is getting married. London works all day, helping the staff prepare for this evening nuptials. Lady Sheridan thankfully trusts London to dress Reagan for the wedding. Her gown is golden perfection. Hours later, when she is finished steaming it, London starts working on Reagan's hair. Her trunks are packed for the trip, and a valet has come to claim them.
“I thought you’d stay at the hotel to make sure Lord Sheridan is well?” London asks.
“Yes, well, you thought wrong. Are you almost finished?” Reagan stammers and glances at the clock.
“If you are satisfied my lady, then yes, I’m finished.” London replies.
“Wonderful.” Reagan barely glances at her reflection. “I’d like a few minutes alone, London. I’ll meet you at the ballroom.”
London sighs and walks to the door, stopping just before leaving. “I hope you are truly happy in your new life, Reagan,” she whispers.
“I plan on it. Thank you for always being at my side,” she sniffs.
Emotion clogs London's throat, “It was my honor.” They hug, and London takes her leave.
Reagan waits till London is gone to grab her wrap and peer out of the door. Smiling, she rushes through the empty hallway into the elevator and takes it to the third floor. Edmund is waiting by the doors when they slide open. He drags her from the elevator and kisses her passionately. “Are you sure about this, Reagan?”
“I love you, Edmund!”
The love reflected in her eyes is all he needs to see. “I have a carriage waiting outside, let's go!” The lovers disappear using the staff service elevator.
The grand ballroom is full of guests. Over two hundred people are waiting for the wedding to start. Declan waits with the minister in a room outside the ballroom along with his grandfather, and parents of the bride. Dr. Bradley and his wife, Dillon, are in the back of the room watching quietly.
George and Tessa Hubbard glance nervously at each other as they wait on their daughter. “She’ll be here any moment,” Tessa says.
A soft knock sounds at the door, and London steps inside nervously. “Finally!” Tessa shouts. “Where is she?”
“I can't find her,” London replies and flinches when George roars in outrage. Matthew stands and moves protectively towards her.
“You lost our daughter!”
“Not quite, Mr. Hubbard,” a valet says, stepping inside the room.
“Your daughter asked that I give you this at precisely seven-fifteen,” he bows and hands the envelope over.
Declan watches with relief and smiles through the resulting drama. “She eloped with Edmond Rothschild!” Tessa snarls and turns on London, who is watching Declan closely.
His relief is evident when he smiles broadly.
“This is your fault, Mouse! You were supposed to watch her!”
London jumps when they turn their wrath on her. Elliot and Dillon move forward to protect her if needed.
“I did, but she asked for some time alone…”
“Excuses!” George shouts, “You're fired!” He steps closer to her, backing her up to the wall. Declan has seen enough and before anyone else can move, he steps in between them.
“That's enough! Our business is concluded. I'd suggest you leave before the press gets wind of this,” he grins and points at the door.
“Oh, George!” Tessa screeches. “Not the papers!” They rush from the room, and Declan turns to the minister. “Sir, there will be no wedding.”
“Not so fast,” Matthew says, drawing everyone's attention. “I was promised a wedding, and I mean to have one.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Grandfather. We will talk about this later,” Declan snarls.
“I will see it through tonight!” he jerks, gasping and clutching his chest.
Dr. Bradley rushes forward and guides Matthew back into a chair. “Don't upset him, Lord Sheridan,” the doctor insists.
“Well, what am I supposed to do, Grandfather. March out into the ballroom and see if anyone would like to be my bride?”
“That would cause a serious uproar!” Dillon laughs and walks over to loop her arm through London’s and guides her to a chair.
“I don't care what you do, Declan, marry the maid for all I care!” He points at London, “But you will marry tonight!” Matthew shouts and leaps from the chair to poke him in the chest.
“Fine!” he turns and glances in surprise at the maid who is sitting in a chair. “I beg your pardon, Mouse, but would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“No!” London jumps up to run, but Dillon clutches her arm and stops her.
Declan's eyes narrow on the frumpy maid. Dark hair, spectacles, and unable to meet his eyes, he can't help but feel sorry for her.
“Surely, we can make this a business arrangement that we can both agree on. You take my name for six months, and at the end of that time, an annulment can be arranged. I will leave you with a tidy sum, and you'll never have to work again?”
London thinks it over, while no one moves. Intelligent eyes leap to his. “How much money?” she asks.
“Paper?” Declan demands.
The minister hands over a paper and pen, he scribbles a sum on the paper along with his name and the terms of the agreement. London reads it and stares at Matthew, who has fallen oddly quite.
“May I see that please?” Matthew asks. “Since no one is here to act on your behalf, Miss. I will act in their place.” He reads over the contract and adds an extra zero to the end of Declan's original number. He then signs the document, and London moves forward to sign.
“Dillon?” Glancing at her friends, she sees them both smiling and nodding.
“God’s hand is in this,” Dillon whispers and nods.
London stares at her friend, then Matthew and feels oddly peaceful.
The minister moves forward and signs his name as a witness. “Now, I will need some time to change the names on the marriage certificate.”
“I need a drink,” Declan snarls and glares at his grandfather.
“Surely, we can send the guests home. I can't marry you in front of a ballroom full of people wearing this,” London suggests hoarsely.
Declan is beyond reason, and he turns with a wicked grin. He looks at his grandfather, “My Grandfather wanted a spectacle, so I insist we give him one. If you insist, you have time to change,” he snaps without looking at her.
“I can help,” Dillon grins and guides her from the backroom to the hallway and into a suite on the first floor. “Don't worry about a thing.”
“This is crazy, you have to get me out of here, Dillon!” London jerks off her spectacles and wig and tosses them into a bin.
“It’s unorthodox, but you will never have to work as a maid again, London.” She opens the door and pushes her inside the room. London turns and stares at three maids waiting against the far wall.
On the door near the sunroom hangs a gorgeous blush pink ballgown with tulle, seed beads, and crystals. She gasps, and her hand covers her mouth.
“Why is this here? How did you know?” Suspicion raises, and she glares at her friend.
“I thought I was going to th
e wedding of the year. I had a few dresses brought over to choose from.”
“Oh,” she chews her lip and looks at the dress. “It will never fit me, Dillon, your three inches shorter than me!”
“Don't be ridiculous. It will only need minor alterations, and I brought a team to handle that. Now, let's get you dressed.”
“I don’t understand,” she murmurs as the women descend on London. They are shocked when London strips out of her costume, revealing her true size. Dillon promptly picks up the costume and tosses it into the bin. “Say goodbye to the Mouse!” She giggles while they work.
London sits while she is washed, dressed, and trussed. They finish her hair, and Elliot knocks on the door. “Dillon asked me to look at your wounds,” he moves quietly over to her and stares in delight.
“You are going to knock his socks off! He’s never going to see this coming,” Elliot looks down at her trembling hand and flips it over. His smile fades when he sees the condition of her hand. “What happened?”
“Someone squeezed it,” she murmurs and stares while he grabs a bag and digs out his cream. “Am I crazy for doing this, Elliot?” she asks.
Dillon walks over, holding her train and smiles at her husband. “No. Sometimes, we have to accept that God's plan and our plan aren't the same. Trust him as you always have.”
“It doesn’t seem fair to Lord Sheridan. What will he think when he sees me?” she frowns and chews her fingernail.
“He will fall to his knees and thank the Lord for sending you his way,” Dillon snaps. She secures the train and stands back to look at her best friend. “You look beautiful, London.”
Chapter 14
“Do you trust me, Declan?” Matthew asks.
“Of course,” he sips a second whiskey and avoids looking at him. “You can always change your mind,” he says hopefully,
“No. I need you to have an open mind and, more importantly, an open heart.” Matthew smiles when the knock comes.
“It’s time.” The minister says from the doorway.
Matthew walks out and whispers to the minister. He points down the hall, and Matthew turns to his Grandson. “I'll see you in the ballroom.”
Declan shoots back the rest of his whiskey and straightens his cravat before he walks out into the ballroom and smiles at the excited chatter of the guests. Today he found out that his stockholders have dumped their shares, and he's marrying a maid. “Perfect,” he grumbles.
The music starts, and at the end of the aisle between the rows of chairs stands his grandfather with a vision in soft pink. He walks with his cane and whispers something to the young lady he's guiding, and Declan looks around in confusion. Where's the Mouse? This woman is no one's maid. She is tall, elegant, and lovely, from what he can see. They move up the aisle towards him, stopping, and he hears the minister ask.
“Who gives this young woman to this man?”
“I do,” Matthew says clearly and proudly. He lifts the veil and kisses her cheek before placing her gloved hand on top of Declan’s and smiles through tears. “You’ve made me very happy today,” Matthew says. He turns and walks to the from aisle to sit next to Elliot and Dillon.
Declan only has eyes for the young woman in front of him. “You?”
London stares at him and smiles at the look of confusion on his face. She leans forward and whispers, “I will explain everything later.”
He straightens and nods, “I can’t wait.”
The ballroom has gone silent as they exchange rings, and she finds her hand is trembling as she slides the gold ring on his finger.
Declan removes her glove slowly, and the satin trails over her skin, leaving a path of goosebumps up her arm. London goes through the motions with Declan, imagining that he is feeling the same thing. She's never felt more like a fraud than in this moment, declaring to love, honor and obey a man she barely knows.
“Repeat after me,” the minister says, “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Why does it feel suddenly real, when Declan repeats his vows loud and clear?
Panic flutters, and London starts to pull her hand back, but Declan grins a wolfish smile and tightens his grip.
“Too late now,” he whispers as he slides the gold band on her finger.
London's ears start ringing, and she is thinking about running, when the minister says, “You may now kiss the bride.”
Once again, as in the garden, Declan trails a finger down her cheek and slides a hand around the base of her neck, pulling her closer to him. His mouth descends on hers, and the ballroom erupts with cheers! A photographer snaps a picture.
It was only supposed to be a chaste kiss, the conclusion to a business deal, and perhaps they are merely caught up in the moment, but neither wants the kiss to end. Declan kisses her, tasting and savoring, and when he pulls back slightly, he realizes she has fisted the front of his suit in her hand to hold him still.
“Oh!” London releases him and blushes bright red, to which he throws his head back and laughs.
“Let me present, Lord and Lady Sheridan!”
Chapter 15
Declan smiles and thanks the last guest. He glances over at his bride and realizes he doesn’t even know her name! Perhaps he missed that part during the ceremony. How did he end up in this position? Married to a woman he doesn't know, and she's all woman, he thinks appreciatively.
“He’s staring at you again,” Dillon teases.
“Stop,” London hisses. “I can’t imagine what he must be thinking right now. London smiles at her best friend. “It’s highly likely that I may have to move in with you at some point.” She glances over and catches him looking at her while he talks to his grandfather and Elliot.
“Anything else in that contract we should know about,” Dillon teases.
“Oh,” London covers her face with her hand and blushes. “I’m walking away from you.” She turns to flee, but Dillon laughs and pulls her back in for a hug.
“Forgive me, it's just that I've grown tired of seeing you struggle. It's such a blessing to see things go your way. I'm thankful, that's all, and you'll always have a home with us, should you need it.”
Elliot walks over with Matthew, and Declan follows slowly. “London, I need to redress your wounds before we turn in,” Elliot insists.
“Wounds? As in more than one?” Matthew demands.
“Please don’t concern yourself, I have an excellent doctor,” she insists with a soft laugh.
Declan listens and learns two things in a matter of seconds, “Your name is London?” he asks sharply and, “What wounds?”
London drops her face into her hands as Matthew turns to him.
“Declan, London is the woman who rescued me.”
“You were the maid who rescued my grandfather?” His voice has grown louder with each question.
“Yes,” she says, glancing at Matthew, who is smiling.
“I’ll have your bride back to you in no time, Lord Sheridan, feel free to follow or wait here,” Elliot says.
“We'll go with you,” Matthew replies and offers an arm to Dillon. Elliot insists everyone follow them to his suite where his medical bags are. Once they are securely inside, London tries to stall.
“Surely, you can do this in the morning, Elliot,” she stammers.
“No. your hand must be closely watched, especially after the incident last night,” he guides her to a chair, while Dillon moves around the suite, lighting lanterns, and Matthew starts a fire in the fireplace.
“This is why you screamed out last night?” Declan asks.
“You don’t need to worry yourself,” London says as Matthew sits in the chair next to her.
Elliot moves to his bedroom and returns with his bag and calls to Dillon for a bowl of water. London tries to pull her gloved hand back.
“Do we really need an audience for this?”
“Just sit still for goodness sake,” Dillon snaps.
London frowns and glances away, not wanting to see the look on their faces
when they see her palm. The glove is removed, and Declan walks over until he is standing behind her and looking over her shoulder.
The moment the gauze is removed, the air strikes the open blister she hisses.
“I’m sorry, I’ll be quick,” Elliot says.
Matthew grips her other hand in his, “Squeeze if you need to,” he whispers.
London studies the aged hand, offering comfort and strength and gives him a teary smile.
“Thank you,” she murmurs. His compassion and guilt beat at her. How long has it been since someone cared about her welfare?
“How bad is it?” Declan asks the doctor.
“It would’ve been better if the blister could have remained. It acts as a bandage allowing new skin to regrow. London, I don’t like the look of this. I want to remove the skin to avoid infection.”
“That doesn’t sound pleasant,” she sniffs, and Matthew pats her hand gently.
“Can you give her something for pain, first?” Declan asks gruffly. He stares at the wound on her hand and blanches when he realizes the pain that she must be in.
“No. Just do it, Elliot,” she replies.
“It may hurt, but I’ll try to be quick.”
Elliot glances up at Declan, “Hold her,” he snaps. Declan's hands drop down to her bare shoulders.
“That's not necessary...” London jerks when the cold scissors hit the raw skin.
She hisses and pushes back against Declan's hands, trembling from the pain. He's shocked to feel her break out in a cold sweat.
“I'm so sorry,” Matthew frets and pats her hand, which is squeezing his tightly.
“I'm okay,” she says hoarsely, but finds herself thankful for the hands holding her.
Elliot is true to his word. It’s over quickly, but she is not happy to hear his next words. “I want you to leave it open to the air tonight. It will help the new skin to grow quickly. Keep it clean and only wrap it if you need to.”
