by Mandy Goff
“We can begin now, Reverend,” Olivia said quietly, without realizing her voice was carrying to the farthest corners of the church.
“Thank you, child,” he said with a grin. “We have all come together to witness the union of two of God’s children who have found love in Him, and each other.”
The couple smiled at each other.
Olivia barely heard the rest of the time-honored wedding vows. She repeated after Reverend Thomas when prompted and listened with bated breath as Nick made his own declarations. She couldn’t believe she’d made it to this place, with this man.
When Nick placed the band on her finger, Olivia was aware of Marcus coughing quietly into his hand. She didn’t need to look at him to know he was crying.
She would tease him for that afterward.
Later, the wedding-goers would proclaim the couple the match of the Season, perhaps even the decade. And while the simple ceremony had been held in a modest parish church—something highly unusual considering the rank of those involved—all who were privileged to attend said they’d never before seen a service quite so elegant.
Or floral.
Nor, they said, had two people been so obviously in love. They were willing to forgive the bride’s haste, the brother’s tears and the butler’s hysterics.
All in all, everyone agreed, it was a perfect day.
Nick’s estate was every bit as elegant as she’d expected it would be. The house was massive, with a beautiful reflecting pool in the front. The gardens—something Nick had pointed out as their carriage rounded the semicircle in front of the house—stretched for what seemed like miles. Yes, Olivia thought with satisfaction, she was going to like it here.
There must have been fifty or more uniformed and liveried servants waiting outside for the master and new mistress to arrive. Olivia tried to memorize the faces as she was introduced to the men and women, but knew that it would take time before she could recite their names without error. The staff had been welcoming and excited to have a new mistress of the house.
Stepping inside, Olivia was gratified to see that whoever had decorated—she suspected it was Nick himself—had impeccable taste. She wanted to see the rest of the house, curious to become acquainted with her new home. Olivia wasn’t given a tour, however. The most she saw of the house was what was on her way to their chambers.
All of her personal items had been delivered, and she noticed her copy of Twelfth Night sitting on the little stand by a comfortable looking chair. She walked into the dressing room, saw her brushes and other personal items and sighed with pleasure. Olivia marveled over how different, and better, the small things looked in the new setting. Would she never cease to be amazed at how completely and wonderfully her life had changed?
She hoped not.
Olivia thought she would be nervous, or even a bit sad, to be leaving behind her old life. All she found was an incredible joy and anticipation over the future bliss stretching out before her.
She looked at the miniature of her mother that Nick had insisted be placed on the dresser, and for the first time in a long while, she had a return smile for the painted lady.
She wouldn’t condone what her mother had done. Her suicide was a perfect example of the destructive power of love. Her mother had been wrong, you couldn’t love a person too deeply. But you could love them more than God, and when that happened, the relationship became unhealthy and damaging.
She hoped her mother had found peace in the last moments, but she’d never know. She did know, however, she couldn’t allow her mother to continue to govern her life—even unintentionally—from beyond the grave.
“I forgive you, Mama,” she whispered to the picture.
“What was that?” Nick asked, coming behind her and wrapping her in his arms.
She breathed in deeply, enjoying his nearness. “Hmm?” she asked dreamily, thinking they could stay like this forever and she’d not have any complaints.
“I thought I heard something,” he said.
“Oh, that. I was talking to Mother.”
He pulled back a bit and looked at her. His brows were pulled together, and a tiny smirk played at the corners of his mouth. “She wasn’t answering back, was she?”
“Not this time.”
“Not this…?” The playfulness in his face quickly gave way to puzzlement.
Olivia laughed, the loud sound echoing off the walls. “That was a joke.”
From the security of his arms, she felt free to admit, “I accepted my mother’s apology. She made one, in her letter.”
She felt, rather than saw him nod his head.
“I don’t have to live in the shadow of her shame,” Olivia continued. Taking a deep breath, she looked up at her husband. “Just as you don’t have to live in your father’s.”
His face was somber, but he nodded his head. “I know that now. I promise no more running.”
She smiled. “No more running, for either of us,” she agreed.
Neither spoke for several minutes. “I could stay like this forever,” Nick said as he rested his cheek atop her hair.
“Me, too, my lord.”
“I believe that’s Nick to you, Lady Huntsford.”
“Finally,” she breathed, thinking how long and hard the road to get to this place had been.
“Yes, indeed.” He kissed her, his mouth gentle on her own, and Olivia changed her mind. They could stay like this forever and not have any complaints from her.
“God is good,” Nick murmured as he pulled away from her.
“Yes, He is.” Her agreement was so swift and certain that he had to laugh—joyously. They had come such a long way in their short time together. Nick said a quick, silent prayer of thanksgiving. God had granted him what his heart had not been optimistic enough to desire.
Nick leaned down slightly so he could kiss his wife. “Have I told you in the last ten minutes that I love you?”
She smiled, an expression mirroring his own happiness. “Yes. But I don’t mind hearing it one more time.”
So he told her again…and again…and again…
Dear Reader:
I’ve had Nick and Olivia in my head for the past ten years. These two have been squabbling and falling in love in my imagination for what seems like forever, which sounds crazy but seemed completely normal at the time.
It’s been nice to set these two lovebirds free.
I adore Regency England for its customs of courtly romance, lush scenery and beautiful dress—I am a woman after all. But I also love writing about Regency England because I find these fictional people are not so different from modern-day folk. Olivia’s grief over her mother’s suicide, Nick’s unfairly gained reputation, Marcus’s duty to his family—and others—and God’s supremacy and care for His children are all universal emotions and truths. They can touch any of us, at any time…regardless of what period we live in or what clothes we wear.
I pray this story has blessed you in some way. And I hope you are as happy to read Nick and Olivia’s tale as I was to write it.
Blessings,
Mandy Goff
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
After her mother commits suicide, Olivia finds herself questioning the goodness of God. What events in your life have made you question your faith?
At sixteen, Olivia conceals her mother’s suicide in order to protect her brother, Marcus. Discuss whether there is ever a situation where deception would be justified.
When Olivia is honest about her anger toward God, Reverend Thomas responds with a kind and nonjudgmental attitude. How does this loving approach begin to help Olivia repair her relationship with God?
When Nick returns to England, he finds he is the subject of much gossip and speculation. Why does he choose not to defend himself to the gossips? What biblical explanation is there for his choice?
How hard would it be if you, like Nick, knew people believed lies about you? How would you react?
Both Nick and Olivia have been shaped by
shameful family secrets. What is the difference in how they choose to cope with the legacy?
God assures us that we are not tainted by the sins of our parents. Have you, because of a difficult family background, ever harbored fears that you are doomed to repeat your parents’—or others’—mistakes?
In an effort to protect her good name, Nick plans to marry Olivia after the suspicious meeting in the garden with Finley. Why does he believe protecting her honor is more important than the pain he might experience by marrying a woman who is possibly in love with someone else?
In Regency England, arranged marriages—especially among nobility—were common and a way of generating monetary or social benefit to the involved parties. What would the challenges be in a marriage that wasn’t founded on love?
Nick is a master of restraint. He must initially fight his attraction to Olivia because he knows she isn’t a Christian. He also must rein in his desire to pummel Finley—on a continual basis! How important is self-control in a Christian’s life?
The Bible likens a person without self-control to a “city broken down without walls,” (Proverbs 25:28). Why is it crucial for believers to always watch their behavior and actions?
Although he is attracted to her, Nick is initially opposed to any serious relationship with Olivia because she does not share his faith. Why is the Bible so firm on not marrying unbelievers? What kind of problems could two people of different faiths have in a marriage?
After Olivia becomes a Christian, Nick feels confident that God is leading him to marry her, but she rebuffs him because of her agreement with Finley. This makes Nick doubt what he feels God is saying to him. Have there been times you’ve been convinced God wanted you to do something, even though things aren’t exactly going as planned?
Because of his relationship with God, Nick commits to marrying Olivia and doesn’t waver in spite of Olivia’s rebellion and Finley’s interference. How far would you go to honor a commitment? Where would you draw the line and say, “enough is enough”?
The concept of reaping what you sow is prevalent in the scriptures. Is Marcus and Nick’s handling of Finley at the end of the book a just punishment for the blackmailing baron? Why or why not?
ISBN: 9781408938102
The Blackmailed Bride
© Amanda Goff 2011
First Published in Great Britain in 2011
Harlequin (UK) Limited
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
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