by Abigail Agar
“Yes, it is a shock that she approved, but I am so grateful, Katherine. This day could not have come soon enough. Honestly, it stuns me that I am going to be married to him,” she said.
“You mean because you are marrying a duke?” Katherine asked.
“No. I mean because I am marrying him,” she replied, looking at Jonathan with delight.
The fact that she was going to spend her life with him meant more than Ellie could possibly say. Nothing had prepared her for this, nothing had given her hope that it would ever come to pass. However, the day had finally come when she and Jonathan were truly committed to being together. Even if the days to follow were smooth, even if society did not accept them, Ellie was ready.
She was ready to marry this man who understood her more than anyone ever had. His love for her, even when she was considered so strange by others, meant more than anything. It proved to her that she could exist in the world which took so little care of the beauty and joy around it. It proved that she could take part in life despite not being of noble blood.
When she looked over at Jonathan, she saw his own face, bright and full of excitement. He was speaking with his mother and Lord Potts, clearly enthusiastic about plans for the upcoming wedding. They would have so much to talk about, but Ellie was prepared for it all.
“Ellie, I have a question,” Katherine said, whispering and pulling her father from the others.
“Oh? What is it? Is everything all right?” she asked.
“Yes, absolutely. It’s just that…I am curious about Lord Potts. He is your betrothed’s dearest friend, is he not?” she asked.
“Indeed, he is. You have an interest in him?” Ellie asked.
“I must confess that I am intrigued. Tell me, what all do you know about him? What sort of man is he?” Katherine asked.
“You know, I honestly do not know him well at all. I think it is best if you get to know him yourself,” Ellie said.
Katherine blushed.
“Would he be interested in a foolish girl like me?”
“Oh, Katherine, I think he would be an ideal friend for you. Now, go on your way. Spend some time with him and have a conversation about how excited you are for my wedding. I have every expectation that he shall reciprocate,” Ellie said.
Katherine did, indeed, make her way near to him and Ellie heard her discuss the wedding. Jonathan came over to Ellie and stood beside her as they watched their friends and family interact.
“Well, it looks as though we have brought everyone together by our love,” he chuckled.
“I was thinking the very same thing,” she replied.
“I am curious…well, actually, it is Simon who was curious, is your cousin…is she being courted by anyone at the moment?” Jonathan asked.
Ellie immediately began to laugh and shook her head.
“She is not, but I do believe that she is hoping Lord Potts shall ask to court her soon enough,” she said.
Jonathan grinned and nodded.
“I have a very strong feeling the question will be asked shortly. And her family? Would they support her finding a duke as they have come around to supporting you?” he asked, although it was hardly even a question.
“I do believe that my aunt would be so overwhelmed with joy that she may fall apart entirely,” Ellie replied, shrugging.
“Fall apart?”
“Yes. She would collapse in on herself from the excitement. Believe me, that is a compliment,” Ellie said.
“I am sure it would be. Well, we may do whatever we can to get the two of them together,” he said.
“I have a feeling it shall take very little work on our part,” Ellie replied.
For the rest of the day, the small group of friends and family continued to enjoy the occasion. As the sun went down, they grew quiet and just enjoyed sitting outside. The deer finally approached and Ellie led them all in feeding and them.
Everyone remained in a silent awe that they were able to participate in such a moment and Ellie rejoiced that she could share her love of nature with those who had not supported it.
Her life was changing so drastically in such a short period of time, but Ellie couldn’t be happier about it. She knew that the day was coming when it would change even more, when she would be made a duchess.
In the meantime, whoever, she took a deep breath of the night air and knew that she was home.
Epilogue
“Are they here yet?” Jonathan asked, eagerly awaiting the arrival of his bride and her cousin.
“Not just yet, but soon enough,” Simon said, patiently.
“All right. Forgive me for being so anxious. I am just excited,” he said.
“I know. We all are. The two of you belong together and no one is fighting that anymore. Just be calm and you will see your bride soon enough,” Simon told him.
Jonathan finished making himself ready, straightening his vest and putting on the jacket. Just in time, he heard the coach outside.
“All right, do not look out the window. Promise me,” Simon said.
“I promise. I shall go to the back at once,” Jonathan said, leaving the bedroom of the cottage and making his way to the garden.
There, the reverend was ready and the guests were already seated. They had built more benches to accommodate everyone, but there were only a few dozen friends and family at the wedding anyway. This was how Jonathan and Ellie wanted it. Only their closest loved ones were in attendance, most of them Jonathan’s extended family.
Jonathan smiled and greeted everyone as he made his way down the front to stand beside the reverend.
“They are here?” the reverend asked.
“Simon told me they are,” he confirmed.
A few moments later, the young lady Jonathan had hired to play the harp began her melody. The door from the house opened and Katherine walked through with Simon beside her. They took their seats in the very front and then, at last, Ellie walked from the house into the garden.
Her hair was loose and hung at her shoulders with a crown of flowers sitting atop her head. The gown was made of stunning white silk that Jonathan had not seen but had sent his mother to help Ellie find. The silk was covered with little blue flowers embroidered upon it.
There was nothing he could have imagined more beautiful than her appearance as she made her way between their guests towards him.
Within moments, she had crossed the short length of the garden and met him there.
Jonathan took her hand in his and the reverend began to speak.
“Good morning, beloved. We are gathered here as witnesses of the matrimony between Lord Jonathan Cornwall, third Duke of Danby, and Miss Eleanor Windsor. This is a day of rejoicing in the covenant of marriage. We honor this commitment as these two say their vows. We are glad for them, we delight with them, and we commit to supporting them through the days to follow,” he said.
Indeed, Jonathan felt supported in a way he never had before. It was a great relief to be cared for by so many people. There was nothing which had prepared him to know that he and Ellie were so truly loved.
As they stood together during the ceremony, their eyes meeting and locking on one another, there was only happiness between them. At last, they each said, “I do,” and promised to spend their lives together with only the deepest love in their hearts.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the reverend finally said and Jonathan scooped Ellie in his arms and spun her in a circle. She laughed, joyfully, as he did so. Then, he carried her with his arms under her knees and behind her back, from the back garden and through the house into the front lawn where they had set up a small place for food and beverages.
“My darling Eleanor. I love your name, have I told you that before?” he asked.
“No, you have not.” She giggled.
“Well, I do apologize for that. I love your name. It is exquisite. Oh, I can hardly believe that you and I are finally married. You know, there never was a better woman for me. I am astonished by
how beautiful you look today. You are just…you are my sweet Eleanor,” he said, grinning like a fool.
Ellie appeared so flattered by Jonathan’s love for her, overwhelmed by how deeply he cared for her.
She had once told him that, at times in the past, she had wondered if she was lovely in any way. She really had not believed that anyone would think so. And yet, here he had the opportunity to tell her time and time again that she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
There was nothing more perfect than that.
“Jonathan, you are so kind and loving. What did I do to deserve a man like you? Tell me, do you really feel that way about me or am I just a fool for believing you?” she asked.
“You are anything but foolish, my darling. You are everything to me,” he said.
Jonathan took her hand and gave it the sweetest, quickest kiss. As the others sat at their tables, one of his housekeepers brought the fruitcake and sliced it for them and the guests. It was not so fancy as the fruitcakes his friends often had at their weddings, soaked in rum and covered in powdered sugar. Instead, they had chosen to have it very simple.
Ellie preferred it that way. She told him that her mother would often tell stories of the day she married Ellie’s father and she described how hard he had worked to afford the simplest cake. The baker had sneered at him and told him how much it would cost to have it soaked in rum. Her father had not been able to afford it, but it hardly mattered.
Her mother had told her that the day was perfect regardless.
Because of that story, this was how Ellie wanted their own cake and their special day. Jonathan was perfectly happy to have it that way.
After a short time, Simon came over to Jonathan and placed a hand at his back.
“May we speak?” he asked.
Jonathan smiled and went with his friend.
“Where are you going?” Ellie asked.
“We shall be but a moment. I promise,” he said.
She nodded, but he sensed that she was somewhat annoyed at him for leaving in the midst of their reception to go and speak with Simon. Nevertheless, the two men rushed inside the house to conspire.
“Are you ready?” Jonathan asked.
“Indeed, I am. I have the ring here. What do you think? Just down on my knee?”
“You have been planning this for two months. Why would you now ask me how best to do it? Please, let us simply go on and get it done. You love Katherine and you want to marry her. It is time you ask,” Jonathan instructed.
As Simon was clearly eager to do just that, they hurriedly went back outside and joined the others. As previously planned, Jonathan stood to give a toast.
“Dear friends, I thank you all for coming to share in this day with us. I am extremely grateful for the support that you have all offered to us as we embark on this new and wonderful journey together as husband and wife. Now, I must ask if you would be patient as I regale you all with the tale of how deeply I love my wife,” Jonathan said.
Their guests grinned with delight at the fact that they did love one another so deeply.
“Now, you must all be aware that our love was not at once approved by everyone. For a duke to marry a young woman without a title is one thing, but my dearest Ellie was not given any real opportunity in life to thrive as she ought to. Her incredible wit and strength were scarcely noticed. It is a miracle that she was diligent enough to stand firm when she had so little support,” he continued.
“And yet, she managed to become the most incredible person I have ever met. Her accomplishments may not be in parliament or in music, but she lives in such a way that I have seen no one truly live their life, taking advantage of the beautiful world we have been given. She grows our food because she wants to, not because it is some chore or job she is forced to do. She engages with the wild like we all should. She understands this exquisite earth,” Jonathan said.
“Anyway, I could force you all to remain here for hours, hearing how deeply I love Eleanor, but I think it is best if I allow you to hear from a voice other than my own. My dear friend, Lord Potts, has asked if he may give a toast to us as well,” he concluded, sitting down beside Ellie.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too.”
Simon stood and held his glass high.
“To the lovely couple, on their wedding day. I am so happy for the both of you, delighted that you have had this opportunity to meet and to be married. I am glad not only for your sakes, but also for my own,” Simon said.
Everyone grew quiet and he turned to Katherine.
“Were it not for their meeting and their fight for love, I would not have met you, Miss Sharp. But my world was made new when I did find you at last. And now, here we are. This is the greatest joy I could ever experience. Well, that is, there is one thing that could make me happier than courting you,” he said.
Everyone went silent, listening closely to hear what it might be.
“And that, my dear, is marrying you.”
Katherine gave a girlish squeak and clasped her hands together with excitement as Simon got down on his knee before her.
“Katherine, will you marry me?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” she exclaimed, not having a care for propriety and throwing her arms around his neck.
Mr. Sharp cleared his throat, rather uncomfortably, as her mother’s eyes went wide with horror. No one else seemed to mind. Simon least of all.
Instead, the guests were overjoyed for the two and the celebration of Jonathan and Ellie’s wedding was shared with this new excitement. They were offered rounds of congratulations and, at last, Jonathan and Ellie had a chance to congratulate them as well.
“I am so happy for you,” Jonathan said.
“Thank you. I am delighted. I never thought anyone could make me this happy, but Katherine truly does. And you, Duchess Eleanor, make for a lovely bride. You shall have to assist my own future wife in choosing fabric for the gown we shall have made for her,” Simon said.
Katherine’s eyes lit up at the mention of a new gown.
“Well, I must confess that it was the Dowager Duchess who chose this fabric, not me. Perhaps she can come with us as we search to have the gown made,” Ellie said.
“That would be delightful,” Katherine added.
The joy continued for a while longer until everyone began to grow tired. Many were ready to depart and, finally, Jonathan and Ellie were alone. They sat in the back of the house, enjoying the garden for a little while before retiring inside.
“Ellie, I couldn’t have had a better day. This was perfect,” Jonathan said.
“It really was. Thank you for making it so special,” Ellie said.
“You made it special as well. The best part is that we were here together. Nothing else matters. Just you and me,” he said.
“It is so wonderful to know that there is a you and me, Jonathan. Being married to you shall be my greatest accomplishment. Even better than feeding deer by hand.” She laughed, referencing his earlier remarks.
Jonathan cupped her chin in his hand, not wanting to wait another moment. He brought her lips to his own and they shared their first real kiss as husband and wife.
