by Abigail Agar
Sherry giggled. “I think that is normal,” she said with a smile.
“I know that you want me to marry him, but what about the things that brought me here, Sherry? Should I just abandon my fellows and leave them to their fates?” Jules shook her head sadly. “Would they understand that what I am doing, I do for them?”
Sherry admonished, “You can’t live your life in service of those who would look down upon you for bettering yourself.”
Jules smiled at Sherry. She knew the woman was right, but those in the guild had been there for her when her father had gotten sick. Just as she understood the loss of a father, she understood the pressure the Duke must be under.
“I shall tell him that I will agree,” Jules said at last. Sherry looked so happy that Jules thought the woman might actually start to cry. “You will attend me at the ceremony, won’t you?”
Sherry looked completely taken aback. “You really wish me to attend you?”
“You are my only friend,” Jules said softly. “Where would I be without you there?”
Sherry nodded. “Then I would be honoured,” she agreed with a grin. The two of them shared a hug before Sherry said, “Best not mess up your hair. I’m sure that Sir Lawrence will be sure to make a note of it.”
Jules frowned. “Now if only I could do away with that man. I’m sure that would help the Duke’s frame of mind,” Jules said with a shake of her head.
“I feel that the man would prove just as much trouble dead as alive, Ma’am,” Sherry said.
Jules had to agree that being put on trial for murder would probably not go in her favour. “You are right, but I still do not like the man,” Jules said firmly.
“I don’t think anyone does,” Sherry said with a wry grin.
***
A few days later, Jules was greeted by an excited Lady St Claire. Not only had the Duke procured the special licence, but everyone was due to be in the next day. Jules was not even given a chance to put her thoughts in order before everyone was immersed in getting rooms ready for the arrivals.
Jules was looking forward to seeing her mother again, even if she was a bit nervous about the reason the woman was coming back to London. Sherry helped Jules pick out two dresses from the wardrobe that Lady St Claire had provided to her.
The dress that Jules was leaning toward was an almost white, pale yellow with lace neckline and sleeves. It was a dress far more beautiful than Jules would ever deem to wear usually, but she thought it would be just right among the soft pinks and reds of the rose garden.
When her mother arrived early the next morning, Jules was beside herself with joy. To be embraced again by her family was a relief beyond imagining. Jules showed her sisters and mother her dresses and allowed them to help her pick one out. Georgie liked the pink one, but Tally and Mrs Kelley both sided with Jules on the yellow dress. Georgie shrugged off the defeat once Jules told her that she and Tally could be flower girls.
It was not that common to have flower girls, but Lady St Claire thought it a darling tradition, and she wanted the girls to feel involved in the ceremony. “After all, we are accepting them into our family as well,” Lady St Claire had said fondly. “I always wanted little girls to run about Thornton Hall. It looks like I have that and then some now.”
Jules found that the one person she did not see much of leading up to the ceremony was her groom. The Duke always seemed to be heading off to check on something or to run an errand. Jules could not recall sitting and talking with the man for more than a moment since the day in the rose garden.
“Do you think he will be around after we have said the vows?” Jules asked Lady St Claire with a sigh as the Duke rushed off yet again to go see about some urgent business.
Lady St Claire looked up from her tea and said, “In my experience, men are home only when it suits them, but I would not worry over it. Gregory seems quite fond of you. I think he is just trying to get things taken care of before the ceremony so you two can have some peace afterwards.”
“Is it about the trial that he was helping with?” Jules asked conversationally.
Lady St Claire said honestly, “That I do not know. Gregory does not talk to me about such things, and I like that just fine.”
“Where is Sir Lawrence? I have not seen him in a couple of days. I thought the Duke said he would be here for the ceremony.” Jules frowned. She did not really mind the man’s absence, but she found it puzzling.
Lady St Claire said in a low voice, “He is off grumbling into bottles about his fortune, no doubt.”
“Does he drink heavily?” Jules asked in distaste. She had seen plenty of men who were always in their cups while she apprenticed, and she had always looked on them as some of the sorrier excuses for men.
Lady St Claire sipped her tea and took on a contemplative look. Finally, she said, “I often think he goes to the houses more to talk than to drink. Men deep in the draught are easily guided by a snake’s tongue.”
Jules gave Lady St Claire a look of respect. She really was an astute woman, and Jules had grown to look to the woman as guidance for how to navigate the twisting world that the nobles seemed to think was all straight corridors. “I just pray he is not turning their ears against the Duke. I fear that his ambitions are far from over,” Jules said with a frown.
“You are wise to think so,” Lady St Claire assured Jules. “The man is a most determined sort. I still hold him responsible for what happened to my Richard. He was a good man and only tried to see the best in everyone. I think that was his undoing.”
Jules gave the woman’s hand a comforting squeeze. “That’s a virtue that more in the world could do with, but it is a hard path to follow,” Jules said softly.
***
“I don’t know how you got him to agree, Your Grace, but Sir Chapman has agreed to release the men. I daresay there will be repercussions for this victory. However, today we drink merrily,” said Barrister Dulock. He raised a mug of brandy in a salute to the blond-haired Duke before him.
Gregory shook his head and held up his own glass to return the gesture to the man. “I think it was just as much your own rousing speech, my friend. I have repaid my debt and now can marry without the weight of it hanging on me,” Gregory said happily.
Barrister Dulock shouted, “Hear, hear! And may it be a productive and jolly bonding, Your Grace!”
“Now that, I can drink to,” Gregory said with a laugh. No sooner had Gregory finished his drink than he said, “As light as my heart is, I have to go and check that everything is in order.”
Barrister Dulock nodded. “Don’t let me keep you. I’ll keep you abreast of things on this end, but the guild members should be free men by this time tomorrow.”
It was with that thought in his mind that Gregory set out towards home. He thought it might put the dark-haired young woman in a good mood to hear his news. He smiled to himself as he urged his horse back towards the family home.
When Gregory arrived, there were twice as many people as when he left, and spirits were high with respect to the upcoming nuptials.
The cook was making a cake that Gregory thought might have butter cream in it, but he did not want to disturb the woman to ask. He found the ladies seated with his brother at the table, a platter of cheese, bread, and fruit between them as everyone talked amicably.
The two little girls were content to snatch grapes and giggle about their inept thievery while the adults talked. Gregory cleared his throat and said, “Mrs Kelley, it is a delight to see you again.”
Mrs Kelley looked up at the Duke with a broad smile. “And a pleasure it is to see you, Your Grace,” the woman said. “We were beginning to question whether you would be here for the ceremony, or not.”
Gregory laughed and dropped down into a seat near Jules. The young woman gave him a smile, and he inclined his head to her. Gregory said jovially, “I doubt Miss Kelley would put up with my absence for such a solemn affair.”
Miss Kelley hid a laugh behind her hand as s
he agreed, “I do think that God might take offence to me swearing to both our parts.”
“That is a very good point,” Gregory said thoughtfully. He looked over at his brother. “I see you are enjoying being outnumbered by the gentler sex.”
Fredrick chuckled. “It is a wholly different experience than I am used to in these halls,” the younger St Claire brother said with amusement. Georgie giggled at Fredrick, and the man gave the little girl a wink.
“However, these two knaves needed to be brought to justice,” Fredrick said as he shook his finger at the two little girls merely causing further giggles.
Gregory was surprised at the ease with which Fredrick seemed to be taken with the little girls. He smiled and shook his head. As he did so, he caught the eye of Jules who gave him a small smile.
Gregory ventured, “I daresay that you all probably have the preparations, such as they are, well in hand. Can I steal Fredrick away for a moment?”
Lady St Claire nodded her head and waved the men away, “Go on with you. We will be here when you get done with your business.”
Gregory dipped his head to the ladies before he took his leave with Fredrick behind him. He led the way toward his study. “How are you getting on, old man?” Gregory asked as he spied the can that Fredrick was using.
“Well,” Fredrick said with lightness that Gregory had not heard from the man in some time, “Mrs Kelley gave me a salve that was her mother’s recipe. It does wonders for the stiffness and pain,” he said with a thump to his injured leg. “I must say that I am surprised you got the young lady to agree to bond herself to you.”
Gregory laughed as he held open the door to his study. Once Fredrick was through, Gregory followed him and shut the door. Gregory sighed, “To tell the truth, I am surprised as well. We were quite close a couple of times to calling the whole thing off, and that was before she met Uncle.”
“Yes, rather glad I haven’t seen him yet,” Fredrick said as he sank down into one of the leather chairs. “Wouldn’t mind having some private words with him, mind you.”
Gregory agreed heartily, “That would suit me well, but Mother is insistent that we simply ignore him.”
“I don’t think she would mind if he just disappeared,” Fredrick said with a devious glint in his eyes.
Gregory chuckled and shook his finger at his brother. “I should be getting stories ready for your scheme?”
“I’ve seen enough death to last me a lifetime, but I don’t suppose one more would hurt the balance,” Fredrick said as he shrugged.
Gregory went over to the serving table near the wall behind him and poured some brandy into two tumblers for them. He held out one of the glasses to his brother. “I shall just pretend this conversation never happened,” Gregory informed his brother.
“That probably would be for the best,” Fredrick said with a grin as he took the glass and sipped the brandy. “I do not think we have drunk Father’s cherry brandy in a very long while.”
Gregory nodded as he sank down into his desk chair. He held up the liquid and eyed it with admiration. “I thought he would approve of it as pre-wedding preparations,” Gregory said.
“I would have to concur,” Fredrick said as he took another sip of the sweet liquor. After a moment of contemplation of his drink, Fredrick asked, “I trust things are going well with your investigations?”
Gregory pursed out his lips and said, “Well, I got Maxwell to release the guild members who were being erroneously accused of setting the fire, but I still have no idea who really set it.”
“Might be time to leave such matters behind with your nuptials approaching, Brother. I would hate to think of Miss Kelley coming to harm because you could not let things lie,” Fredrick said with a worried tone.
That very thought had troubled Gregory. It was the only thing that had given him pause about marrying the dark-haired woman. He would never wish to pull her into harm’s way, yet marrying her would assure that she was taken care of as well as her family even if something should happen to him.
“I fear that I will never be able to rest my head if I do not at least try to find out why it occurred. These things are happening far too often for comfort. Would I not be remiss if I did not try to mend the wrongs I see for my own children’s sakes?”
“You guilt me with the ghost of children who are not yet born,” Fredrick said in wonder. “I sometimes wonder if you are not really Father in disguise.”
Gregory chuckled. “He could trick a mule out of his cart, that’s for sure,” he agreed. “But he also said that we had to take pride in who we are and who we were. Can we really do so with this hanging over us?”
“I beg you take a seat in the House of Lords and speak that to them,” Fredrick said adamantly. “I fear that your proxy does not withstand the onslaught of the Lords the same as you would, Brother.”
With a shake of his head, Gregory warned his brother, “Do not flatter me into a corner, Fred. The House of Lords is a stagnant pool that only fosters distrust of the poor and underprivileged.”
“Seems all the more reason to add fresh water to it,” Fredrick said, but he waved off his brother’s ire. “Do not get yourself so tightly wound before the ceremony. Mother has that pastor of hers coming to do the rite.”
Gregory took a deep breath. “I will be glad when we are all on our way back to the estate,” he said with feeling.
“I think Miss Kelley will enjoy Thornton Hall if her family is any indication,” Fredrick said with a smile. “Have you told her that you plan to retire to the country after the ceremony?”
Gregory shook his head and swirled the brandy in his glass. “I was saving it as a bit of a wedding present for her. A beginning of a honeymoon to help her adjust to her new role as Duchess,” Gregory said thoughtfully. “Besides I am not at all eager to be out amongst society at the moment.”
“On that point, I do not blame you,” Fredrick said as he raised his glass and took another sip.
Chapter 8
The day before had been spent mostly relaxing and passing stories, but as soon as the sun was over the treetops the morning of the ceremony, Lady St Claire had the whole household stirring. Uncle Lawrence had finally made an appearance. Jules had made sure that she warned her mother and sisters to steer clear of the man.
Jules eyed her reflection in the mirror. Her sisters were wearing white Sunday dresses, and Sherry had put roses in their hairs much to the little girls’ delight.
Jules, however, could only think of her fluttering stomach and how weak her knees suddenly felt. Perhaps she should tell Lady St Claire that she was ill and should lie down?
Sucking in a deep breath, Jules squashed down her nerves and cowardly thoughts. No. She had made this deal, and she was going to stick to it. Jules slipped a strand of her hair back behind her ear as she tried to just breathe.
“I think they are getting ready for you, Ma’am,” Sherry said as she came back into the room. “Don’t be meddling with your hair,” she added as she came over and pinned the wayward strands of Jules’ hair into place.
Jules admitted, “I think I might faint.”
“Then I will drag you down the stairs,” Sherry said helpfully.
Jules nodded absentmindedly as she followed Sherry out the door. She mumbled, “Good.”
When they made it to the kitchen, Lady St Claire was waiting. “You look lovely, if a bit green,” the woman said to Jules. “Nervous? I was quite nervous on my wedding day too. Just breathe and step,” the woman said as she put her hand behind Jules’ back and escorted her out the door with Sherry following behind them.
Georgie and Tally had been waiting on the other side of the patio doors, and they began dropping rose petals, fresh from the garden, on the path in front of Jules.
Jules tried to smile at the girls but found herself too nervous. Lady St Claire took a step to the side and sat down next to Jules’ mother.
Traditionally, marriage ceremonies were solemn events and never filled with g
reat pomp because the rite was the important thing. The very idea that the ceremony would be short and to the point was what was keeping Jules’ feet moving forward. The Duke waited by the altar with his brother by his side. The priest smiled at Jules encouragingly as she came to stand next to the blond-haired Duke.
She met the Duke’s gaze for a moment, and her heart sped up. The suit he wore brought out the man’s grey eyes and fit him snugly. Jules swallowed nervously as she looked around at the priest. He had begun saying things, and try as she might, Jules could barely pay attention to them.
The ceremony went by so quickly that it had hardly arrived before it was gone. She said her parts and did what she had to do. The next thing she knew, the Duke was signing his name in a registry then handing the quill to her so that Jules could do the same.
