Katherine tapped me on the shoulder, indicating that it was time to go down, and I sent the boys ahead. Then she handed me a handkerchief, and I dabbed at the tears in my eyes and took a sip of water to ease my queasiness. Having only dry toast for breakfast this morning helped.
“Thank you,” Katherine signed to me.
“You are welcome,” I signed back. “But what are you thanking me for?”
“For coming into our lives and bringing love back to us.”
I shook my head. “You all already had the love in your hearts.”
“But you set us free.”
“I just opened the doors your grief had closed.”
“And showed us the way to our hearts. Now hurry, my brother is waiting for you.”
I laughed.“You just want to see Anthony.”
Katherine smiled and signed back,“Yes.”
Sunshine cleared the morning mists from Trevelyan Hill and burst through the stained glass windows, bathing Benedict and all those gathered to witness our wedding with dancing hues of color. Mr. McGuire escorted me to Benedict’s side.
It seemed like an eternity ago that I’d climbed the steps to Trevelyan Manor and first met the master of Trevelyan Hill. His voice was just as deep and thrilling to me as it had been on the very first day. His scent of sandalwood and leather was just as intoxicating, and the man himself was infinitely more distracting because I now knew some of the pleasures hidden beneath the elegant cut of his suit, and looked forward to “thousands” more. How I had ever thought his eyes were too dark for a woman to see through to his to soul was beyond me. For as I looked into his eyes now, I saw the heart of an honorable man with a wealth of love for me. And as I took his hand to face the minister, I considered myself a rich woman, one who had always been rich, blessed with love. I was also a woman with a secret I was eager to share with Benedict.
Katherine held Robert’s hand and stood beside me. But her gaze wasn’t on the minister; she was looking at Anthony, her heart shining in her eyes.
Stephen and Justin stood next to Benedict. Mrs. Trevelyan looked on; her expression had progressed to reserved instead of dour. I knew only time would show her that love would heal all. Well, perhaps not all. I didn’t think anything would help Dobbs’s sour disposition, but I quite looked forward to keeping him on his toes with lots of little ones to run rambunctiously through the house making sunshine.
Benedict brought my hand to his lips as we waited for the minister to finish speaking, and whispered under his breath to me, “Titania, my queen. Why is it that you are more ravishing than ever?”
I think an imp from my fairy queen heritage got hold of me, for I decided to ruffle Benedict’s calm. “They did not work,” I whispered.
He furrowed his brow, confused by my reply.
“Our contraceptive instruments.”
His dark eyes widened as his gaze connected with mine. A gleam not unlike that of the sun glinting off the demon door filled his eyes with light, letting me see the joy in his soul.“Indeed?”
“I expect there will be more and more of me to ravish in the weeks ahead.”
“That’s like Ambrosia upon my soul,” he said.
“Ambrosia? Truly?” My body tingled as I remembered his penchant for the unusual, which had taken us both by surprise.
“I suggest we get this wedding underway before I am overcome with passion, and sweep you away to the bedroom.”
“That would be the most practical thing to do, Mr. Trevelyan.”
He lifted a questioning eyebrow that melted my insides. “The wedding or the bedroom, Miss Lovell?”
“Both,” I said breathlessly as he swept me up in his arms.
Benedict glanced at the stairs, then at the minister.
The minister, seeing Benedict changing everything we’d rehearsed, stopped his “We are gathered here” speech. I think that after taking one look, the man knew he was about to lose the bride and groom. Being a practical man, he quickly performed an abbreviated version of the marriage ceremony, before Benedict scandalously swept me away.
Love had carried us all beyond the mists of midnight to the bright dawn of a new day.
The Mistress of Trevelyan Page 36
