Super Summer Set of Historical Shorts
Page 81
The room let out a collective gasp, and people started looking around, trying to find the mysterious woman who had won the duke’s heart. Instead of slinking back like she’d been wont to do, Tabitha rallied herself, and held her chin high as she walked toward Nicholas when he held his hand out to her, motioning for her to come to him.
“My fiancée, ladies and gentlemen,” he said. “Miss Tabitha Blackmore.”
The applause took a moment to start and when she saw Sabine Banon rip her mask from her face in anguish, she thought she’d have a revolt on her hands soon, with her stepmother and Frances joining in. But people followed Alexander’s lead with his boisterous applause, and she clasped Nicholas’ outstretched hand as the mostly approving crowd cheered.
They descended the stairs, and made their way to Nicholas’ mother. Tabitha was nervous of the reaction from the dowager duchess at having a commoner as a daughter-in-law, but the woman told her that after living in a marriage which had been made of convenience and stature, she understood the importance of a marriage based on love and happiness.
“You are that worthy woman for Nicholas, Tabitha,” she said, nearly flooring Tabitha with her kindness.
The rest of the night passed in a blur, as Nicholas kept Tabitha close beside him. Never in her life had she felt as utterly content as she did while he twirled her around the dance floor, his strong arms about her waist.
“I am rather afraid of letting you go,” he said, looking down at her, “For fear you shall disappear on me again.”
“Never,” she promised, smiling up into his eyes. “I am yours, now and forever.”
Epilogue
Four months later
“My cousin Alexander is simply fascinated by your friend Matilda,” Nicholas whispered in her ear as their wedding guests milled through the ballroom enjoying themselves.
She followed Nicholas’ eyes and saw Tillie, looking resplendent in a ruby-colored gown of her own creation, moving through the crowd with a large blond duke-to-be weaving in and out of the mass of people just a few paces behind her.
“One never knows what Tillie’s true intentions may be,” she murmured with a bit of a laugh. Nicholas moved behind her and put his arm around her shoulders.
“Do you feel different?” He asked, leaning close so nobody else could hear.
“What do you mean?” She turned her face toward his.
“Being a duchess, a wife,” he pressed. “Was it as difficult as you thought it would be four months ago when you agreed?”
She raised her eyebrows but smiled when she thought of how different her life now was.
Ellora and Frances had been seething when she had returned home following the masquerade.
“You little liar,” Ellora had spat as Tabitha walked through the door. “You were sneaking around in an attempt to snare yourself a husband!”
Frances had nearly thrown a dinner plate at her head, but when Nicholas had walked in two steps behind her, their demeanor shifted instantly, all flattery and sweet words about being welcomed into such a prestigious family.
Tabitha had rolled her eyes and ignored them as she packed her belongings. She had decided to take advantage of Tillie’s offer to live with her until the wedding, essentially breaking her free from her stepmother and stepsister.
As a wedding gift, Nicholas had paid a rather exorbitant price for all of the contents of Tabitha’s workshop. She did not need a storefront anymore, now that she was a duchess. Instead, she worked out a deal with the finer shops in town to carry her creations now that she had the time and artistic freedom to create only what she wanted to — no more rushed orders or forced production.
Sabine and her mother, Hester, had lain relatively low once the engagement was announced. Other than dirty looks and a whisper of “Kenmore fraud” for the first few weeks, they’d disappeared into relative obscurity, only to reappear around the time of the formal engagement tea.
Naturally, they had gotten an invitation because decorum demanded it, according to Lady Gemma. As expected, Sabine had been rather vengeful, taking full advantage of their current difference in social stature as she shot barbs at Tabitha while Lady Gemma was swiped at by Lady Hester.
Except, neither of them had counted on the force that was Matilda ‘Tillie” Andrews and her lack of patience for entitled, prejudiced hornets.
“You’ll behave or you’ll be shown out,” she smiled sweetly at Sabine when she had rudely implied that Tabitha had rather unscrupulously ensnared the duke.
“You cannot talk to us like that,” her mother had hissed at her. “You are a commoner.”
Tillie smiled at that.
“A commoner whose family could buy and sell your home, your land, and your holdings ten times over,” Tillie said. “Now be nice before I ask Daddy to blacklist your farm from ever exporting any goods anywhere.”
Common knowledge was that the Banon family was struggling with money thanks in part to Lord Archie Banon’s penchant for gambling and brothels. To have the knowledge so common and spoken out loud, Lady Hester paled and nearly fainted from the retort. Sabine hissed instead and stood, pulling her mother with her.
“We do not need to listen to this,” she said haughtily.
“No,” Tillie said. “You do not. You should leave.”
Left in the position to remain where their dirty secret had been aired or to be forced to do what a commoner demanded, they chose to leave.
Needless to say, they had not been at the wedding. In fact, word was they’d gone to their country home for the remainder of the year with no immediate plans to return to London after Sabine’s third season without a husband.
Tabitha looked at her wedding guests and smiled. Some she knew. Some she would get to know better, and some she didn’t care to know at all. But with Nicholas’ help, she was learning to navigate the waters of who was who and what was expected.
“Are you quite certain you will not miss this place for the next year?” he asked, turning her in his arms to pull her against his chest.
They were sailing in two weeks for France. Tabitha had classes to attend if she wanted to keep up with the latest in fashion trends.
She’d broached the subject of school in Paris tentatively at first, worried he wouldn’t understand. But she should have known better — Nicholas perfectly understood her need to continue learning.
“I love our home in France,” he said, running his hand down her back. “I think you will, too. We will spend the year there, and I wager it will be difficult to convince you to return. You may need to resurrect that Kenmore character, however. A duchess would hardly be allowed to take a course and be graded objectively, you see.”
The only loose end was Tillie. She was reasonably upset when Tabitha told her their plans to spend the year in Europe, but she cheered fairly quickly.
“My father owns a dozen ships,” she said brightly. “I can travel to you whenever I want, can I not?”
“Yes, of course you can,” Tabitha said, enveloping her in a long embrace.
Now, as their guests were settling into a long evening of dancing and cheer, Tabitha felt Nicholas take hold of her hand.
“It’s our time to make a grand exit,” he whispered against the shell of her ear. “Are you ready?”
“Ready for what?” She teased.
“A lifetime of happiness and adventure,” he said, pressing another kiss to her neck. “A night of passion and pleasure. So, as I said — are you ready?”
She let him take the lead as they walked from the ballroom. Was she ready?
“You know I am, Nicholas,” she said, her voice low and full of promise. “The question is — are you?”
THE END
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About Ellie St. Clair
Ellie has always loved reading, writing, and history. For many years she has written short stories, non-fiction, and has worked on her true love and passion -- romance novels.
In every era there is the chance for romance, and Ellie enjoys exploring many different time periods, cultures, and geographic locations. No matter when or where, love can always prevail. She has a particular soft spot for the bad boys of history, and loves a strong heroine in her stories.
She enjoys walks under the stars with her own prince charming, as well as spending time at the lake with her children, and running with her Husky/Border Collie cross.
www.prairielilypress.com/ellie-st-clair
ellie@prairielilypress.com