“You are a handsome girl; the lack of dowry should not have mattered.”
Amelia looked at her father and realised something for the first time: He was a hopeless romantic. She had always known he had married for love but, until now, the reality had not sunk in with her. She sighed before speaking. “Papa, there are hundreds, yes hundreds, of unmarried girls all with dowries and all prettier than I.” She held her hand up to stop her father’s interruption. “No. I’m not being overly harsh on myself or fishing for compliments. I saw it with my own eyes. There were far prettier girls than I sitting on those wallflower benches, Papa. Younger, prettier, richer girls will find themselves as spinsters at the end of the season and, no, none of us deserve it, but that is the reality. We decide we are going to try our luck in London when in reality the dowry-less ones of us should be trying our luck where the odds are slightly more in our favour.”
“That doesn’t mean you should accept just anyone, Amelia.”
“No, I shouldn’t, and I wouldn’t, I can assure you,” Amelia responded. “Did you not listen to me when I returned? I fell in love with Captain Worthington the moment I first saw him. After seeing him, watching him during that first year there was no one else I could ever be with. I didn’t fully realise that until this season when we started to spend time together in Green Park. Until then, it was just love of him as a figure, but once I got to know him, I was completely lost to anyone else, even if there had been anyone else. I love him, Papa, and only him.” Tears had sprung into Amelia’s eyes as she spoke, the depth of her feelings only just being realised by herself.
“But if things had been different—”
“Yes, I would never have had this opportunity. I will be happy Papa; I believe he has feelings for me. He might not love me quite as much as I love him, sometimes, one loves more than the other; we have both seen such marriages, but it is enough for me.”
“Are you sure you know what you are doing Amelia? I would hate to see him turn away from you when he returns to his life in London. I’m realistic enough to realise you won’t be accepted into the highest circles.”
“I’ve never wanted that,” Amelia said with a smile. “I realise there will be difficulties, but he is a good man who is flawed, and I love him dearly.”
“I only want you to be happy, my dear,” Mr Basingstoke said, finally acknowledging that he could not refuse his favourite child his blessing.
“I promise you I will be,” Amelia said, moving from behind the chair and crouching at her father’s feet, wrapping her arms around his waist. “You will come to love him Papa, I promise.”
“I hope he appreciates you; I really do.”
“He is aware that he’ll have eight angry brothers and one angry father if he doesn’t,” Amelia said with a smile and a kiss on her father’s cheek. “Thank you, Papa.”
*
The day Mr Basingstoke walked his only daughter down the aisle was the happiest and saddest day of his life. He was happy he had seen for himself the adoration that shone from Captain Worthington’s eyes when he had turned to see his bride walk down the aisle, but he was giving his darling girl away to another and felt a pang of sadness in his chest at the loss.
Amelia had glowed in her ivory satin dress. The pearl clips in her hair were the same ones that had been scattered on the floor of the sedan chair only weeks before. An amber necklace adorned her neck, a present from William who could not join her on her happy day.
The couple clung to each other’s hands as they said their vows, looking deeply into the other’s eyes, seeming to forget there was anyone else in the church with them, they were so engrossed in their own little world.
The wedding breakfast was eaten at the Basingstoke household; Lord Newton had insisted on paying for the feast as a thank you to the Basingstoke’s for the care they had given to his brother during those difficult days after the operation. Amelia had been thankful that her wedding had not been a drain on the family’s resources and pleased at the way Anthony had tactfully addressed the subject.
Alexander had tried to reassure his father-in-law of his commitment to his precious daughter, but Mr Basingstoke had to admit early on during the visits before the wedding that Alexander was proving a doting suitor. Amelia had felt a sense of contentment that she had never expected when witnessing her father and her beloved laughing together.
Eventually the wedding breakfast was finished, and Amelia was helped into the Newton carriage in readiness for their journey. They were going immediately to Anthony’s home, but Anthony was travelling with Richard to give the newly-weds some privacy. He was more than happy to hear that Alexander was selling his house in Jermyn Street and setting up a home somewhere outside the capital when husband and wife had the time and opportunity to decide which town or village appealed to them the most. In the meantime they were to stay with Anthony and his family.
If Richard felt a pang of remorse at the news that Alexander was selling his London home, he hid it well. He was genuinely happy for his friend and, if he still had a few reservations about Miss Basingstoke, time would prove to him that Alexander had married his equal in every way.
The London gossips might have speculated about the marriage announcement in the Times for a morning, but in the main, Miss Basingstoke was too far beneath their notice, and Captain Worthington was no longer in the centre of their little circle for them to waste much time on the matter. The news had more of an impact in the home of Sir Jeremy Basingstoke. Lady Basingstoke berated Serena for a whole week about letting a rich captain be won by their lowly cousin when Serena should have had him entangled long before Amelia had her grip in him. Serena sent an insincere letter to Amelia which was dealt with appropriately, along with the letter from Lady Basingstoke suggesting that Amelia might like to invite Serena to stay with the newlyweds; both letters were unceremoniously thrown in the fire by Alexander before Amelia had time to stop him.
And Samson. The loyal dog remained at Captain Worthington’s side until the golden-haired protector was too old to provide assistance any longer. He was then given the most comfortable situation in the drawing room of the Worthington home and fussed over by everyone who entered. He eventually died peacefully in his sleep, having been loved more than any animal could expect.
Long before he had become infirm, a partner had been found for Samson and Bella, a very placid St Johns dog had given her beau many litters of little ones. Ben, one of the litter had stood out almost from the time he was born and was trained as Samson had been. He definitely was an off-spring to be proud of as he took to guiding Alexander just as well as his father had before him and, as such, Alexander still had Samson’s needed support through Ben.
Every day Alexander awoke, he would gaze at his sleeping wife. They both appreciated that his sight might not last forever, and Alexander wanted to make sure his memory would be full of images of Amelia even if the darkness returned.
When Amelia started to increase, Alexander marvelled that he would be able to see his children, something he had never dared to hope for in those first dark days after Trafalgar. When in later years his sight did dim a little he was able to rely on Ben more, but his five sons and six daughters all grew up happy to support their darling father.
From facing a life full of darkness, Alexander was facing years of light and laughter because of one young lady who had been placed with the wallflowers unwanted by those who thought themselves the best that society offered. He was forever grateful and in love with his wallflower, his darling Amelia.
The End
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The Captain's Wallflower Page 18
