‘Mr Harcourt. I commend your ambition,’ she said. ‘Will you permit me to be frank myself? Although society is harsher on a single woman than her unmarried brothers, I am perfectly happy being unmarried, too. That is something we have in common. I see many advantages for you. What are mine?’
He said nothing. A man of little words, or maybe he could think of no advantage. She decided his house would be peaceful if nothing else. His next words made her wonder if he could have a career as a mind reader in the music halls.
‘You may remember when we met by the river you told me you like solitude and your own space. Marrying me will give you that, Miss Upford. I’m a busy man and work long hours. My home isn’t as large as Siddon Hall, but you will have your own bedchamber and sitting room. You will be mistress of your own establishment. I have fewer servants, but you won’t be expected to carry buckets and clean windows.’
They grinned at each other, allied by the shared memory, and Aurelia felt that this was a man she could happily share a house with. He would be a good companion and she would have all the time she wished to read and study. He took her hand and she permitted him to keep hold of it. The thrill that rolled in her belly at being touched took her by surprise.
‘Miss Upford. I should warn you that my marriage needs to be a marriage in the full meaning of the word.’ He released her hand, adjusted his cuffs and twisted the stud of his cufflink round and round as if uneasy. ‘I need an heir and I will obviously need to make certain marital demands of you. If you find that idea too unpleasant, then please tell me now and the matter will be at an end.’
He walked away and stood by the fire, staring into the flames in a tactful manner. Such frank speech was unexpected, yet welcome. Aurelia looked at him from a distance, imagining what would need to happen between them. She’d been kissed, of course, and more thoroughly than she should have permitted, but her romance with Arthur had never extended to anything more physical. She remembered Mr Harcourt’s fingers beside hers on their piano. The shapely elegant digits as they played precisely. To have them touching her intimately would be curious. Feeling his broad-framed body pressing down on hers was an intriguing thought, but not an unpleasant one. It was at this point she realised that although she intended never to love again, she had no distaste at the prospect of lovemaking.
‘I can accept your terms, Mr Harcourt,’ she said. ‘Although I would prefer to spend my nights alone.’
He looked at her and smiled. ‘I would not have suggested anything other than that. I will leave you alone to live your life. You may do as you wish. My house will be at your disposal and, once I have an heir, if you so wish I will not disturb you again in that respect.’
He came back to her now and they faced each other. Mr Harcourt held himself straight.
‘Miss Upford,’ he asked. ‘Will you consent to become my wife?’
Aurelia bit her lip.
‘Yes, Mr Harcourt. I will.’
Chapter Six
The wedding day came around with unseemly rapidity. The banns were read and a little over a month to the day Jonathan found himself waiting at the Upford family church on a mild late September morning with only Edward at his side. The remaining congregation consisted of Miss Upford’s sisters and mother and an elderly uncle. Both Jonathan and Miss Upford had been firm in their insistence that the ceremony was as quiet as possible.
Jonathan stood by the altar, watching the small figure make her way down the short aisle on the arm of Sir Robert. Her face was covered by a long lace veil and a wide skirt of white masses of ruched silk made her already slender figure look even smaller. Jonathan couldn’t quite believe she was going to be his wife in a matter of minutes.
‘What are you thinking?’ Edward asked.
‘That perhaps I should have offered her a bolt of our silk to make her dress,’ Jonathan answered. ‘I considered it, but thought it might be too intimate a wedding gift.’
‘Too intimate for your wife?’
Jonathan gave a curt nod. It had reminded him too closely of his father’s preference for choosing his mother’s clothes and manner of dress. His mother had dressed in drab colours because his father had thought gaiety was unseemly. Jonathan was determined to exercise no such control over his own wife.
‘I think she would find that unnecessary. Miss Upford and I both see this as a transaction of convenience and neither of us is expecting or wishing for romance. All our private intimacy will be purely to create the son you wish us to have.’
Edward looked chastened. ‘I hope you will discover there is more joy to be had than at a business meeting, Jonathan,’ he murmured.
There was no more time to speak because Miss Upford was drawing close: a ghostly figure wearing a dress with delicate embroidered flowers picked out in white-silk thread on white cut silk that were barely visible. Jonathan faced his bride and lifted back her veil. He looked into her eyes and was pleased to see there was no obvious sign of fear or regret or sadness. If she had shown any indication that she was regretting her decision, Jonathan would have walked from the church without a word. Her face showed little emotion at all and they regarded each other seriously.
‘Good morning, Mr Harcourt,’ she murmured. The same greeting she had given him on the handful of times they had met between the night of his proposal and today.
‘Good morning, Miss Upford,’ he replied. Feeling this occasion demanded something more, he added, ‘You look very pretty.’
Her lips twitched into a smile and her dark lashes fluttered rapidly. Despite his reservations he was filled with confidence that he had made the right decision. There was a discreet cough beside him. The priest was waiting to begin.
The ceremony was brief and ran with the smoothness of the finest oiled machine. If they were actors on the stage, they could not have been more perfect. The only point at which Jonathan faltered was when he was required to promise to love Miss Upford. He glanced from the priest to her and found her brown eyes staring back at him frankly. He was lying in a house of God in front of witnesses. Moreover, his bride was about to make the same lie. He quickly delved into his mind to see if there was any feeling towards Miss Upford that would not make his declaration heresy and seized upon the moment they had shared in the morning parlour when they had sat side by side at the piano and she had guided his hands over the keys.
He had felt fondly towards her then, and at that moment he had been secure in his belief that changing his mind at the last minute and asking for her hand instead of Miss Cassandra Upford’s was the right decision. Yes, he liked her well enough that the lie would pass before his maker. He gave Miss Upford another smile that must have taken her by surprise because her eyes widened and her lips parted in a way that was very appealing. He rattled off the vows without any further hesitation.
The remainder of the ceremony passed without incident and before long Jonathan was slipping a slim gold band on to Miss Upford’s finger. Her hand was small and cold, and almost lost in his palm. As she curled her fingers over, the almond-shaped nails brushed against Jonathan’s wrist at the base of his palm. A bolt of heat shot along the length of his arm, catching him unawares as a sudden desire filled him. He swallowed, aware of the sudden burst of perspiration that washed over his back that had been brought on by the most innocent of touches. What would it be like to become even more intimate when at last they were husband and wife alone in the marriage bed for the first time? There was joy to be had, as Edward had said.
He looked up from their joint hands into his wife’s face and it felt as though he was seeing her anew. And she was beautiful. Her pale throat rose from the low-fronted bodice of her dress and made him think of a swan’s neck, shapely and slender. The modest pleating of silk concealed her décolletage from view while managing to give the impression her breasts were full and rounded beneath. Tiny pearl buttons ran in a line down to her slender waist. He desired her very much a
nd hoped that his yearning was not visible on his face.
When the priest told him he might kiss his new wife, Jonathan hesitated before taking Miss Upford’s face—no, Mrs Harcourt’s face—in one hand and tilting it back. She never took her eyes from his, but kept them fixed on him, clear and open with the lustrous lashes framing the dark orbs. As Jonathan pressed his mouth against hers, his wife responded by pushing them into a bud and yielding to his touch.
Already exhilarated by the unfamiliar sensation of desire for her that had begun to crest, Jonathan spread his fingers across her cheekbone and parted his lips further. The heat of her breath skimmed over his lips, sending him spiralling into raptures. It only lasted a moment before he recollected where he was and that his bride was unlikely to be feeling the same spreading of passion that he was. He dropped his hand and pulled himself away, standing to face her. Watching the colour rise to her cheeks and transform them from rosy to deep scarlet, he could barely keep his mind from straying to the evening that would come and the night he would spend in his wife’s bed. If a kiss could do such things to him, what would anything more intimate reduce him to?
They signed the register and returned to the house on foot, walking the short distance down the lane from the church to the grounds where neighbours of the Upfords and workers from Jonathan’s mill lined the road to congratulate him and shout words of encouragement to the couple. Jonathan and Aurelia walked arm in arm and that would have been pleasant if they had been alone, but there was no time to speak privately because they were required to thank the well-wishers and catch the posies of flowers thrown by the small girls whose deft fingers usually spent the days threading spools of silk through the Jacquard pattern cards.
The only snatched moment when Jonathan felt even remotely close to his new wife was when the turning to the river walk came into view.
‘It’s a pity you didn’t bring Caesar with you,’ Jonathan remarked. ‘He’d have enjoyed retrieving the flowers.’
‘He’s so ill-behaved he’d have torn them to pieces and the girls would have cried,’ Aurelia pointed out, her eyes brightening. ‘If he hadn’t tried to chase the church cat up the steeple, that is. He’s safely shut in Mother’s dressing room where he can’t get into mischief. He sits in the window seat, pining for his lost love like a four-legged Romeo.’
Her face suddenly fell and she looked at the bunches of wildflowers held in her gloved hands. Jonathan was mystified what had brought on the change until he remembered their conversation about the dog. Caesar had been aiming above his station in life, trying to mount the prized Irish Setters. He wondered if his new wife had made the comparison between the dog and her husband, both aiming for a match with a woman above them.
* * *
Sir Robert and Lady Upford had ordered a wedding breakfast of lavish proportions, but the celebration was a sedate affair. If there had been more guests, Jonathan and his bride might have attempted to pretend that the union was a love match and held hands or whispered sweet words between coy looks. However, as the close family was fully aware of the circumstances and the smattering of neighbours that had been invited were more interested in the feast, they felt no need.
Besides, Jonathan reflected, how many wedding celebrations involved the newlywed husband joining his father-in-law and business partner to sign documents transferring the sale of land?
Jonathan, Edward and Sir Robert stood uneasily, whisky in hand, as each of their respective solicitors added their signature as witness. The occasion seemed as solemn as when Jonathan and Mrs Harcourt had signed the marriage register, although his new bride was a touch more agreeable than her father, who clapped Jonathan on the back and suggested a quick game or two of cards before returning to the party.
When Jonathan politely declined, Sir Robert smiled knowingly.
‘Keen to be off, of course,’ he said. ‘Mr Langdon, would you excuse us for a moment? I would have words with my new son-in-law that are for his ears only.’
Edward excused himself and Jonathan waited in suspense, hoping this was not to be a father-like man-to-man talk about the intimacy of the marital bed.
He needn’t have worried.
‘You’re in possession of the property and my daughter now, Mr Harcourt,’ Sir Robert said. ‘I trust you will take care of both as you should.’
Jonathan held his hand out to the baronet and gave him a firm look.
‘I guarantee you will find both as well looked after as you could hope.’
‘She’s a good girl, if a little headstrong at times,’ Sir Robert murmured. It was the first instance of fatherly concern Jonathan had seen and he returned to the party feeling warmer towards his father-in-law.
Miss Theodora Upford was massacring Bach on the piano when Jonathan entered the room and the conversations had grown louder to compensate. He could not see his wife immediately, but eventually spotted her sitting in an alcove with Edward, both holding flutes of champagne. Evidently they had retired there for some peace. The chair was a fussy piece of furniture; a double ‘love chair’ with each seat facing the other across a low rail that rose behind each sitter to create a back. Edward was leaning across the divider, speaking to Aurelia who leaned in confidentially, her face bright with interest. Jonathan wished he possessed his friend’s easy charm. For a man who professed to have no interest in the fair sex, he was enviably confident in their company.
Jonathan began to walk towards them, but before he could arrive, Miss Cassandra Upford stepped into his path. She was dressed in rose-pink satin and had silk white and pink roses woven into her hair. No one should overshadow the bride on her wedding day, but Miss Upford seemed to be edging as close to the line as possible. He was glad that he had chosen the quieter of the sisters, even though he still felt a stab of conscience that he had committed a terrible social faux pas by overlooking the elder, unmarried daughter.
‘I wanted to tell you how happy I am that you are marrying Aurelia,’ Miss Upford said, giving him a becoming smile that made her cheeks dimple. Her brows knotted suddenly and she reminded him of Aurelia, whose manner was altogether more serious. ‘You will take care of her, won’t you? I love her dearly and she deserves to be happy.’
Jonathan glanced towards his wife, who was staring in his direction with an odd expression on her face. Although she was leaning in to Edward so he could speak to her, it was clear to Jonathan that she was watching the conversation between her husband and sister.
‘Miss Upford,’ he said stiffly, ‘I am aware you know the circumstances of our marriage. Your sister and I do not love each other and she is as aware of my feelings towards her as I am of hers towards me. I made vows today and I intend to keep them. I promise you I will do my upmost to see our marriage is happy and successful.’
Miss Upford smiled again. She slid her eyes towards Aurelia. ‘Good. I think that is more important to Aurelia than any vows of heartfelt devotion you could make. I’m so glad you are to be my brother, Mr Harcourt. Would you permit me to send you a sketch of Aurelia as a wedding gift to you? I am by no means proficient, but I can capture a likeness well.’
Jonathan had seen her watercolours and knew the modesty was feigned. She was very good. He threw out some compliments about the pieces of her work he had seen and thanked her for the gift. She held her hand out to him expectantly and Jonathan kissed it. She turned over her shoulder and gave Aurelia a warm smile and sashayed away. Jonathan resumed his attempt to reach his bride. From the troubled expression she had not been happy about his being waylaid by her sister.
Chapter Seven
Edward stood as Jonathan arrived and offered Jonathan his seat.
‘You must forgive me for capturing your prize for at least a short while, Jonathan. I have been explaining to Mrs Harcourt that her principal task as your wife is to ensure you take time for dining out and amusement.’
Jonathan struggled to think of the former Miss Upfor
d as Mrs Harcourt, though he could not yet bring himself to call her by her name.
‘I don’t believe that was one of the vows she made,’ he joked.
Edward turned back to Aurelia and bowed over her hand. ‘Yet another failing of the institution of marriage! Nevertheless, Mrs Harcourt, you and I shall begin our conspiracy now. I shall invite you both to dine with me a fortnight from now and you shall participate by agreeing.’
He secured her promise, then left the couple alone.
‘What was Edward talking to you about?’ Jonathan asked, taking his place beside his wife.
Jonathan sat in the seat Edward had vacated. The chair was a clever piece of design now he thought about it as it gave him an excellent view of his wife who twisted to face him. It displayed an elegant three-quarter silhouette with a line that swept from the glossy rolls of her hair gathered above the creamy neck he had admired in the church and down through her torso to the waist that seemed impossibly tiny. He longed to trace his finger along the line and wondered what the shape would look like sketched in charcoal and picked out on silk.
‘Only what he told you,’ Aurelia answered. She looked at him sharply. ‘What was my sister saying to you?’
Jonathan confirmed his suspicions that she had not been happy to see them together.
‘She was giving me her wishes that we will be happy together,’ he replied. He did not add her strange comment about Aurelia deserving happiness.
Lady Upford glided over and insisted the couple should cut the towering cake and begin to make their preparations to depart. While Aurelia passed slivers out to the guests, Lady Upford gave instructions to the waiting butler to make sure the second layer was well wrapped and stored. Traditionally this would be eaten at the christening of the couple’s first child. Neither Jonathan nor his bride mentioned this, but both eyed the thickly iced slab of fruit cake thoughtfully.
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