by Ayles, Abby
His father had been a man of great renown and many friends throughout England. Everyone who knew him came forward if they could in order to vouch for this man’s character and proclaim that his son was surely likewise a good man. Noelle was impressed and pleased by this but no one was moreso taken aback and astonished than the Duchess of Salisbury.
Not a week had gone by before they received a letter from the Duke of Cumberland requesting a visit. “I should like to have you all over to my home in Stone Hill at your earliest convenience,” he wrote. “Her Grace and I are quite eager to see dear Rodrick and her sweet sister Noelle again.”
Noelle was surprised to hear such words from the Duke of Cumberland – Alphonse. It felt unusual to her to ever refer to him as that new name. Now that he was her brother-in-law and her fiancé’s close friend, she supposed she was allowed this bit of familiarity. Especially since he’d referred to her in such a way…
There was no figuring out the man, though. He had been surprisingly stern in such matters before, Rodrick told her. “Out of nowhere he objected to my calling him Alfie, even though it is the name I have called him since we were boys in school.”
They agreed that he was a rather odd man, but that it didn’t necessarily mean that he was a bad man. “We should go see him,” Noelle said to her parents. “It has been a while and the last time was not the best circumstances for either party.”
Her parents didn’t argue with her and the family made plans to go spend a few nights in Haverhill at Alphonse’s castle. Noelle wasn’t looking forward to being there again, but at least this time Rodrick would be there right by her side. That was a comforting thought.
I need never feel alone again now that I have him, she thought. It still felt as though she might wake up from this wonderful dream at any moment.
“Isn’t his house very beautiful?” Emily asked her excitedly in the coach on their way. “I wish that I could live in a beautiful old castle like that, don’t you?”
Noelle didn’t quite know how to answer that question, considering how uncomfortable the place had made her in the past. “It is very old and large,” she said bluntly. “I suppose that you would find it beautiful, you lover of gothic fiction, you.”
She smiled affectionately at her little sister. She wondered what sort of men her mother would be throwing at Emily now that she would be married. She hoped Emily could find someone suitable for herself like she and Catherine had.
One positive thing in all the calamity that had occurred in their lives this Season was that the two sisters had been able to marry whomever they so chose. Noelle never could have imagined, when they went back to their townhouse at the beginning of the London Season this year, that her parents would have given them so much freedom in the end.
As soon as their coach arrived at Stone Hill Manor, Alphonse greeted the entire family – including Rodrick – with his usual enthusiasm and friendliness. He spoke a mile a minute about how marvelous it was to be with them all again and ‘oh won’t you please consider having the wedding here in our home?’ and ‘my, I can’t recall the last time I saw Rodrick here look so happy.’ Noelle got rather caught up in the whirlwind that was the Duke of Cumberland, but at least he was being kind to her and giving her the attention that he never seemed to want to extend to her.
Perhaps now that he’s married to Catherine, he has realized that she is not all that interesting, Noelle thought, trying to keep her giggles to herself.
“Thank you, Lord Drake, but I think that we have our sights set on Westwood for the wedding,” her father told him politely. “But it is indeed good of you to offer, sir.”
“Where is Catherine?” Noelle asked him. “I feel that it has been an age since last I saw her.”
In reality, their ball had only been a few weeks prior, but that was a rather long time for two sisters who had been so close when they were growing up together. She used to hear everything from Catherine first before her little sister did anything. Now she never knew what she was up to and it made her miss her all the more.
Alphonse got a strange look on his face that she couldn’t quite figure out. “Oh, she is upstairs in bed. The doctor was here a few days ago and he recommended that she stay in bed until she feels better.”
Noelle frowned. “Oh no! Whatever is the matter with her?”
“The doctor assured us that it is nothing serious,” Alphonse said reassuringly. “She has caught some sort of illness of the stomach but she will be all right with rest. Anyway, she will likely want to come out of bed now that you are here to spend time with her.”
An illness of the stomach, Noelle repeated in her mind. She wondered if what was really going on was that Catherine – dear Kitty – was going to have a baby.
The family went up the stairs and each of them got settled in their bedchambers. Noelle was grateful to have a room to herself this time. One of the benefits of being a bride-to-be, to be sure. She remembered the last time they had stayed there, when she had been forced to room with her mother and Catherine.
There were more than enough rooms in the castle for the whole family plus Rodrick. That means that there are plenty of rooms for children someday. Noelle was amazed that she’d never thought about this before, but it made perfect sense that the Duke of Cumberland would wish to produce an heir as soon as possible.
She didn’t know much about pregnancy, but it made sense to her that Catherine could be feeling the beginning signs of it. An illness of the stomach indeed.
When it was time for dinner, Noelle was so happy to see Catherine join them at the long table in the great dining hall. She looked a bit flushed and tired, but she was also smiling and she seemed so elated to see her family again.
As soon as she could get her sister alone, she asked her if she was perhaps with child rather than really ill and Catherine nodded her head, smiling shyly. “It is suspected that that is the case, though the doctor doesn’t wish for me to tell many people in case…”
She didn’t need to say anything else for Noelle knew about the dangers that came with childbirth. She gently hugged her sister, excited and hopeful for her. “One good thing about us leaving London soon and moving out to the country is that I should be a little closer to you.”
Catherine appeared to be so relieved to hear her say such a thing. “I am so glad that you do not think ill of me. Alphonse was supposed to be your beau…”
Noelle shook her head at her. “Really, Kitty, it has all worked out for the best. You got your Alphonse and I got my Rodrick.”
She wished that they could stay there longer – something that she previously would not have thought possible for her to think – but the family had other places that they wished to visit. They were having a tour of the country now that they had a wedding to prepare for.
“You’re of course invited,” she said to Kitty before they left. “Both of you. I so hope that you can make it!”
“We shall certainly try our best,” Kitty replied with a smile, gingerly touching her stomach.
Noelle recalled how concerned she had been about this couple, but they surprised her now in how well they got on together. They really did seem to be deeply in love with each other. I suppose that I judged them both too harshly, but it has miraculously all worked out.
She wished that she could say that their mother felt the same way. The entire coach ride to Hertfordshire was spent listening to the duchess complain about Catherine being with child so soon and how it had never been a proper match by any stretch of the imagination. Noelle ignored her as best as she could.
Their coach arrived at last at Wildhill and Rodrick’s mother was so overwhelmed by the sight of them all as they came inside one after the other, being introduced hurriedly by Smyth. “Yes, yes, I know who they are!” she chirped, going at once to curtsy and hold each of them graciously by the hand.
By now, of course, she had received word from Rodrick that the proposal had been accepted, so she knew that they were all going to be a part
of her family now but she hadn’t anticipated the arrival of all of them at once. “It is so wonderful to see all of you again, but where on earth will you all be staying?”
Rodrick grinned. “I have it on good authority that the old man on the hill a few miles away has a few extra rooms,” he said with a wink.
And so, it was that the Duke and the Duchess of Salisbury stayed at Westwood and visited a little with the Earl of Montgomery whilst Noelle and her sisters stayed at Wildhill. It would be far easier to plan for the wedding there if she had her sisters right there on hand.
There had been such a flurry of excitement in the days leading up to the wedding that Noelle hadn’t quite been able to find a dress for herself, but Rodrick’s mother had a solution. “The sweet little town of Hertford has a dress boutique, I do believe,” she told her. “I am sure that you may find a nice white gown there.”
She, Noelle, Noelle’s sisters and her mother went to Hertford the day after their arrival in town and Noelle was able to find herself a sweet and flattering white dress. It had what looked like little flowers in the lace fabric. She was fortunate to find a veil for herself as well.
The morning of the wedding came on the third day there at Wildhill. The ceremony was to take place inside, in the sitting room, and then there was to be a reception in the back, in the lush fields that Noelle loved so very much. She was quite nervous as one of the lady’s maids helped her into her dress.
I shall have to send for Edith, Noelle thought as she was dressed. I cannot abandon her to become a lady’s maid somewhere else. Besides, this home could certainly use another servant.
Already she was making plans for when she was the lady of the house. She didn’t ask for much, but she longed for her maid and friend to join her.
As she was walking into the room for the wedding ceremony, she saw Edith sitting there in the front row, along with several other of the household staff.
Noelle beamed at her as she walked past. Now it would be much easier to keep her here at Wildhill.
The ceremony went by so quickly yet so beautifully at the same time. A minister from the town of Hertford performed the ceremony for them and Noelle’s nervousness turned into giddiness as she beamed at Rodrick and he placed the gold band onto her finger.
The wedding banns were read in Hertford the day before and everyone in town seemed to be thrilled that the handsome and charming son of the late Mr. Edwards was marrying the beautiful Lady Noelle Fletcher. No one in his town thought anything was strange about the union.
As soon as the ceremony was over, Noelle and Rodrick rushed out of the cottage as everyone cheered and applauded them. They went into the garden where there was dancing and light refreshments. Noelle was incredulous that she had finally married the man of her dreams and she could live with him in his sweet little fairy tale cottage.
She still felt as though any moment she was going to wake up and all of this happiness was going to be proven false. But of course, such a thing did not happen.
After the reception ball, Noelle and Rodrick got into a coach and rode off for a nice short holiday in Derbyshire. As much as she loved and appreciated her family, it was exciting to finally be able to get away from them for a while and focus all of her attention on her new husband.
She felt like singing when they came back after their brief holiday and Noelle found all of her dresses – and her drawing board – lovingly placed in Wildhill. Edith was there to greet her at the door with a friendly smile and a hug.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Edwards,” Rodrick said to her sweetly, holding her hand as he led her to the couch in the drawing room.
“Welcome home, Mr. Edwards,” she said with a giggle. “What shall I call your mother now, if I am to be called Mrs. Edwards?”
Sure enough, his mother came into the room and gave each of them a celebratory hug. “You may call me Mother now,” she replied with tear-filled eyes. It seemed as though she’d been looking forward to telling Noelle that for some time.
Noelle had never had a mother like her before, of course, and she was more than happy to be able to speak of her in that manner now. “Very well, Mother,” she said with happy tears of her own.
Moving in with Rodrick was an easier than expected adjustment because she had never lived with a young gentleman before and she also had never lived in a cottage – her family always owned grand manors with many rooms for their many daughters. But all of these seemed to not matter at all. This house was a home full of love and warmth for her and Rodrick was in it.
“It still tickles me to think that Mother had a change of heart about all this,” she said to him. “That is just not the sort of thing she usually does… Oh, but I shall never forget it as long as we both shall live!”
Epilogue
Being married to Noelle was so much more amazing than Rodrick had ever thought possible. At first, it had been all about the difference in living with the young woman rather than just seeing her around at balls and other functions. And then once he got more or less used to finding her in his home, he still had to keep his heart from racing whenever he saw her there.
He had lived with his mother for his entire life, so he didn’t need to adjust to sharing his home with another person, which helped things. Noelle, on the other hand, seemed to be getting used to living with fewer people, plus a smaller house. He was quite happy for her when her beloved maid showed up inside Wildhill when they had returned from their trip
That had been a rather sweet surprise from her family.
Another sweet surprise came in the form of an announcement from Noelle’s sister Catherine a few days after they’d returned from their trip: Catherine was going to have a baby. Noelle had apparently suspected as much but now it was confirmed and she cried with love for her little sister and her future niece or nephew.
“I knew that her doctor thought she was with child, but he wasn’t sure yet and was hesitant to let her tell everyone,” Noelle told Rodrick.
“How wonderful! You’re going to be Auntie Noelle soon.” He smiled at her.
She smiled back at him. “And you’re going to be Uncle Rodrick, you know.”
He chuckled. “Oh, that’s right; we’re married,” he teased her.
Rodrick put his arm around her and gave her a soft kiss. She melted against him and felt so warm and perfect. He simply couldn’t get enough of her.
The Edwardses had a lot of things to look forward to. It was also announced that James and Miss Tate were to be married in a few weeks. “Is it just me or is this the most active Season we’ve had in some time?” Rodrick asked Noelle and his mother.
“It is most likely because you’re getting older,” his mother replied with a grin and a wink. “Now that you’re a happily married man, you shall see a great many of your friends following suit.”
It struck him as odd that he hadn’t witnessed more of his friends getting married, but Rodrick supposed it was mainly because he didn’t have that many friends. I suppose Alphonse got married, then I did, and now Jamie, he thought, feeling rather sentimental when he thought about the three of them hanging out as bachelors.
Not that he longed for the days when he wasn’t married to Noelle, of course.
Being married to her was everything he had ever wanted out of life. He would marry her again if he could and it made sense!
The London Season ended in the autumn, but that did not mean that there weren’t still parties and balls for people to attend if they so wanted. After all, Hertford had a large number of residents and then there was the even larger span of Hertfordshire. And they were not limited to parties in their own area either.
James and Rosalyn enjoyed hosting parties and get-togethers at Westwood; meanwhile Alfie and Catherine were always inviting Rodrick and Noelle over for visits. Because they were expecting a baby, they did not often host balls at Stone Hill Manor but they hosted smaller gatherings of family and friends.
Rodrick noticed that Noelle seemed quite at home with all of th
ese smaller get-togethers of friends and family. She didn’t seem to miss the bigger, more lavish balls of London.
“You know, I never really cared for that sort of thing,” she said to him. “I know that Catherine probably misses being able to go to something like that, but by next Season she will likely be a little preoccupied.”
She smiled and for a moment Rodrick wondered if perhaps she was envious of her sister. There didn’t need to be any rush in that area, of course. Rodrick wondered if their manor house would be big enough for a family should they ever have children, but he supposed that it had been big enough for his mother and father…
“By next Season, we shall probably all be preoccupied,” Rodrick said. “As Mother pointed out to me, now that we’re married, we’re considered too old for the ton to care about us.” He chuckled and shook his head.
It didn’t really matter to Rodrick that going to London no longer held much charm for them. The weather was not really nice enough for travelling all the way to the city, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have a good time in their own sweet little town. Hertfordshire had a lot of heart to it; that was why it had ‘Hert’ in it, he imagined.
When his cousin Jamie finally announced his first big ball of the off-season, in celebration of their recent nuptials, Rodrick was excited to be able to have some fun with their neighbors and friends. It would be good to see some familiar faces from London as well, though he didn’t believe for a moment that anyone would give him a second glance unless it was to look at the beautiful woman on his arm.
Jamie chuckled when he stopped by and Rodrick said as much to him. “Really, cousin, you are far too modest. Everyone who knows you likes you far more than you give them credit for.”
Rodrick smiled and shrugged.
James shook his head at him. “Upon my word, Rodrick, you are worth ten of me. Would that I had your grace and charisma.”
Rodrick blushed a little bit, not fully able to believe his cousin was speaking for others and likewise not believing that James was telling him anything that was true about how he felt about him either. He knew that his cousin was much shyer than he was.
