by Tuft, Karen
Lucas had great confidence that they would be prosperous. He and Lavinia had both endured hardships and made mistakes, but as a result, they had also learned that they were strong and could face the challenges that would come. For challenges inevitably would come; such was the nature of life.
St. Alfred’s wasn’t a large building, and it fairly overflowed with family and friends. Lucas’s mother and father sat on the front pew, and all of his brothers and sisters and their spouses and children filled several more pews, Hannah with them. Only Lucas’s sister Martha, who had given birth to baby Abigail the previous week, they’d learned in the letter that had arrived only yesterday, wasn’t here to join them on this occasion, nor were her husband, Albert, and their other two children, Bertie and little Joseph, and they were sorely missed.
Dr. Ellis was here, as were several of the good villagers of Lower Alderwood.
One of the great surprises and delights for Lucas was the arrival of his best friend, Anthony, and his wife, Amelia, along with the Marquess and Marchioness of Ashworth.
“For we must join in the celebration of the gentleman who brought our son home from war at great personal expense,” Lady Ashworth had said upon their arrival at Alderwood the day before.
“Precisely, my dear,” Lord Ashworth had echoed.
“Congratulations to you both,” Amelia had said. She’d hugged Lucas and then she’d hugged Lavinia. “And now I’m going to steal your future wife, Lucas, so that we may get acquainted and become fast friends.”
“All of London was set on its proverbial ear over the disappearance of a rather popular actress,” Anthony had then observed once the ladies had gone off together to explore the parks at Alderwood. “And then the most curious thing happened—Lord Cosgrove, who was the sure bet for acquiring the lady’s favors, according to White’s betting book, left town, supposedly to retrieve his prodigal lady love, but he returned the following day declaring the woman didn’t exist. Can you imagine?”
“Quite remarkable,” Lucas had said.
“Indeed. You know, I happened the see The Darling of Drury Lane perform once, not long after our return from Spain.”
“Did you? You never mentioned it.”
“It was one of those rare times my valet forced me from my home but refused to accompany me. Best valet I ever had too, although my current one is improving sufficiently enough to keep on.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“The actress in question was remarkably talented, as I recall. Wore breeches during the final act. Not the first actress to do so, if you know the history of London theater, but still rather daring of her. I found the performance . . . impressive.” He’d looked about. “Beautiful country, Lincolnshire. Flat though. Green, but flat.”
“Indeed; that’s what lowlands tend to be. Perhaps you would like to visit Primrose Farm one day soon and offer some advice now that you’re a wealthy nobleman and not a captain in the army. You may have learned something useful in the meantime.”
“I believe I will take you up on your offer. Too bad that actress disappeared. Drury Lane hasn’t been the same without her, from what I hear.”
“Most unfortunate.”
Anthony had smiled knowingly. “I think you would have found her most appealing.”
“I have no doubt at all that you are correct.”
And now she was his wife, Lucas thought as he slid the ring on her finger.
* * *
“I don’t understand what could possibly be such a big mystery that I couldn’t even visit my own farm for three weeks,” Lavinia said as their carriage rolled north from Alderwood. “You promised we would work together to create a home at Primrose Farm.”
“And we certainly shall,” Lucas replied. “I left the interior completely in your hands, if you’ll recall.”
“Except that I couldn’t even supervise any of it because of your so-called mystery,” she said. “Your mother has spent more time at the farm than I have.”
“Think of it as preparing your bridal suite, my love. We are poor, you know, and must economize, so no extravagant travels to far-off lands for us. Allow that I wanted Primrose Farm to look like more than an empty house when I brought my bride to it.”
Lord Thurlby, who had requested Lavinia call him Father, had offered his gig to Delia and Artie, who, naturally, had made plans of their own for the next few days. Hannah had been invited to stay at Alderwood, with Susan and Rebecca promising Lavinia that they would attend to her and keep her company.
Lavinia looked around her, remembering the first time she had traveled this road, taking in the scenery and wondering what Primrose Farm would be like now. It seemed a lifetime ago. She and Hannah and Artie and Delia had not known what they would find, but Lavinia had been ready to do whatever it took to leave London and the likes of Lord Cosgrove and others of his ilk behind.
“I was never so proud of you as when I heard how you stood up to the earl,” Hannah had told her not many days after Delia’s little ruse, when it had dawned on Lavinia that she hadn’t shared that particular nugget with the three of them after everything else that had happened.
Indeed, facing the earl openly had given Lavinia a peace of mind she wouldn’t have had otherwise, she was sure.
“We’re nearly there. Close your eyes,” Lucas said.
Lavinia smiled and closed her eyes.
Lucas kissed her rather thoroughly. “I don’t think I shall ever tire of kissing my wife.”
She laughed.
After a quarter mile or so, she sensed the carriage turn onto the lane that she knew led to Primrose Farm, and then it eventually rolled to a stop.
“You’ve been a very obedient wife so far,” Lucas said. “So I will praise you for it, because I’m no fool, and I don’t expect you will always be so obedient, despite the vows you took earlier today. Let me help you.” He opened the carriage door and put down the steps, then guided her as she descended from the carriage. “Thank you for trusting me,” he said. “You may open your eyes now.”
She opened her eyes.
There before her was the two-story brick farmhouse she remembered—its shape and size. But it was not the same at all, for now the brick exterior was clean, and the doors had fresh paint, as did the shutters that hung alongside new, clear windows, and there were new shingles on the roof. It was utterly normal and completely wonderful.
Lavinia loved it.
“Now, walk with me, if you will, Mrs. Jennings, past these trees. Can you see? Over there.” He pointed.
She looked in the direction where he was pointing, and saw two small stone cottages standing side by side. “A home for the new Mr. and Mrs. Grimmett, and a home for Hannah. I asked her, you know, before we began building, if she would like a cottage of her own, and she said yes—so long as she can visit us from time to time.”
“Foolish woman,” Lavinia said, blinking back tears. “You would think we’d sent her all the way to India rather than down a small lane.”
“She is special to me, Lavinia. She kept you safe and gave you the confidence and the courage you needed to survive all these years, my clever, wonderful girl. How grateful I will always be that an old crone tumbled into my lap and proclaimed me her husband. For now I am.”
“And I am your wife,” Lavinia said. “Lucas, do you suppose any of the trees on our property would be good for climbing?”
“I believe so. Why?”
“Because I think climbing trees and breeches might go together quite well. What do you think?”
He grinned at her. “I couldn’t agree more.”
“It’s a good thing Ruby Chadwick gave hers to me, then, isn’t it?” And then she laughed and dashed off toward the house, Lucas chasing after her, for there was a new house to explore without falling through the stairs and new adventures to be had and a new, normal life to be lived.
And a love to be savored for a lifetime.
About the Author
Karen Tuft was born with a healthy dos
e of curiosity about pretty much everything, so as a child she taught herself to read and explored the piano. She studied composition at BYU, graduated from the University of Utah in music theory, and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda honor societies. In addition to being an author, Karen is a wife, mom, grandma (hooray!), pianist, composer, and arranger. She likes to figure out what makes people tick, wander through museums, and travel, whether it’s by car, plane, or paperback.
Other Books by Karen Tuft
Reality Check Unexpected Trouble in Paradise
The Earl’s Betrothal
