‘You look quite beautiful, my dear. I’ll see you inside.’
Good heavens – Mama and Mrs Marchand had also attended. There was almost a congregation present. She hurried to her seat at the front of the church and sat down with Beth and Miss Parsons beside her.
The clothes that had been altered to fit Patrick’s new shape fitted perfectly. He stood proud and straight, staring back down the aisle waiting for his bride to appear. He looked handsome. Red hair and green eyes was typically Irish and had never held much appeal for her but she was forced to admit that she was coming to appreciate this colouring.
Beth was staring at John who was presumably Patrick’s groomsman. Before she could prevent it her sister spoke loudly enough to be heard by everyone. ‘Why is Mr O’Riley’s valet standing up there with him?’
‘Lady Beth, John is standing as my friend. And I’m honoured to have him beside me.’
The small organ, that had been installed by Richard when he’d inherited the title, began to play music suitable for a bride walking down the aisle.
The small congregation stood and Richard looking even more attractive than usual in his dark blue topcoat, grey silk waistcoat and snowy white stock, took Hannah to the altar without even glancing in her direction.
As this was the third time she’d heard the wedding service this year she could almost repeat the words in her head. Richard had taken a seat on the other side of the aisle, not sat next to her. Then she realised she’d not left a space for him so he’d no alternative but to sit elsewhere.
Vows were exchanged, the ring was placed on Hannah’s finger, and they were pronounced man and wife. They led the small procession from the church and were greeted by a round of applause from the locals gathered by the lychgate.
Patrick lifted Hannah onto the high seat of the gig and then jumped in beside her. Her husband would have to travel in the carriage with her unless he got a lift with Sarah and Paul. This was unlikely as Mama and Mrs Marchand were also travelling in that vehicle.
She stood with Sarah and Beth and waved the happy couple off. ‘I hope they get back in time as there are black clouds gathering and I think it’s going to rain heavily soon.’
‘In which case, Amanda, the sooner we’re away the better. Will you allow me to hand you in to our carriage?’
This, she assumed, was a rhetorical question so she didn’t bother to answer. As was often the case nowadays she got it wrong.
‘Your grace, I asked you a question.’
‘I beg your pardon, sir, I was wool-gathering. Thank you for your kind offer but I’m perfectly capable of getting into a carriage without your assistance. Do you intend to travel with us?’
There was a dangerous glint in his eyes when he answered. ‘I’ve no intention of running along behind, my dear, so you must suffer my company for the journey.’
The steps were down so she skipped up and took her place on the far side of the carriage. Beth and Miss Parsons followed and then Richard got in. The coachmen kicked up the steps and slammed the door.
Fortunately, Beth filled the silence with gay chatter about everything and nothing which meant that she and Richard didn’t have to speak to each other or anyone else.
As soon as the door was open and the steps down she was out of the carriage like a scalded cat and hurried, trying not to look as if she was doing so, into the house in the hope that she wouldn’t have to exchange words with Richard.
That there would be words exchanged, and not friendly ones either, was a certainty. However, he would refrain from giving her a severe set down until the wedding breakfast was done and their guests departed. He would never let his anger ruin his friend’s happiness.
Somehow she got through the celebration without revealing how upset she was. The one thing that did surprise her was that the doctor appeared as happy about the nuptials as everyone else. Perhaps his feelings for Hannah hadn’t been as strong as everyone had thought.
The meal was interminable and she ate almost none of it. At last she was able to stand up and indicate to the ladies it was time to withdraw and leave the gentlemen to their port.
‘Amanda, will you play for us whilst we wait? I miss hearing you perform so beautifully on the piano in the evenings,’ Sarah said as they walked into the drawing room.
The piano had been the first and most important item of furniture to be transferred and it appeared not to have suffered from the experience.
‘I should love to. Is there anything particular you would like to hear?’ She addressed this question to all the ladies but no one had any particular favourites and were all happy to leave the choice to her.
No sooner had her fingers run across the keys than she forgot her anxiety and lost herself in the music. She’d decided on a piano concerto by Bach that she loved and could play without recourse to the music. As the final notes faded she was jerked back to the present by her audience clapping loudly. She quickly closed the lid determined that would be the only piece of music she wold play tonight.
Hannah had made it quite clear she wished to depart with Patrick as soon as possible. As neither of them had seen Bagshot Hall she didn’t blame them. She stood up and was about to join the others when her eyes blurred, her head spun and she was falling.
Familiar arms caught her before she hit the floor. ‘Darling girl, I’ve got you. I knew there was something wrong.’
She was beginning to recover her senses but knew there was no point in asking him to put her down. He strode from the room, upstairs and into her own bedchamber. He placed her tenderly on the bed and then stood back.
‘Peterson, my wife’s been unwell for weeks. I’ll leave you to make your examination.’
The last thing she wanted was to be examined by any gentleman that wasn’t her husband. Then Mrs Marchand was at her side.
‘I’ll stay with you, your grace. His grace asked me to do so. He’s pacing up and down outside the door.’
The doctor approached her, fully professional and her concerns about being touched by him evaporated. ‘My first question, your grace, is how many monthly courses have you missed?’
‘None at all. They have been much lighter than usual these past two months but have still arrived on time. I know what you’re thinking that I could be increasing. I thought the same myself as I’ve been feeling unwell and my bosom is tender to the touch but knew this couldn’t be the case.’
He smiled. ‘I’m certain that you are increasing, your grace. If you allow me to give you a quick examination I can confirm it. Do you know the last time you had a normal course?’
‘I can’t remember exactly but I think it must be more than three months ago.’
He politely turned his back and she heard him washing his hands at the washstand whilst Mrs Marchand raised her skirts for her and then covered her limbs with the sheet. The doctor’s touch was impersonal and gentle.
‘I can confirm that you are three months along. You can expect a happy event next April. I can assure you it’s not uncommon for a woman to experience what you have. You can continue to do everything that you normally do. The symptoms you’ve been experiencing, fainting, lack of appetite will settle down as the months go by. I can assure you that the chances of a miscarriage are slim now that you’ve passed three months.
‘I’d advise against riding, but apart from that I don’t consider pregnancy as an illness but a natural state of things for a healthy young woman.’ He smiled and stepped back. ‘I’ll leave you to give the good news to his grace. Congratulations, your grace.’
Hastily she rearranged her clothing and scrambled out of bed. She smiled her thanks at Mrs Marchand who waved and vanished through the sitting room door leaving Richard to charge in from the corridor.
‘I’m so sorry, I’ve been a brute to you. I thought to play you at your own game until you came to me wanting to end this nonsense. If I’d known you were so unwell… What did the damn doctor say?’
‘I’m not ill, my darling, we’re expectin
g a baby next April. It seems my reprehensible behaviour, tendency to squabble and burst into tears is caused by my condition.’
He didn’t shout with joy, just took her hands, his eyes clouded with worry. ‘I don’t understand how that can be – you’ve not missed a monthly course at all.’
She quickly told him what the doctor had told her and finally he smiled. ‘These past few days have been the most miserable of my life. I know this is what you wanted, that thinking you might not have a child has been making you unhappy, but you do realise you must have conceived on our honeymoon?’
‘I was speaking to Mrs Marchand earlier and she assured me that there are things that can be done to avoid a yearly pregnancy that don’t mean we have to stop making love.’
His eyes darkened and he drew her close. ‘Do you think those downstairs will miss us if we remain up here?’
She leaned in until every inch of her was touching him. His heat burnt through the thin material of her gown. ‘I don’t care if they do. However, I want to go downstairs and give everyone our good news. This will be a first grandchild for my mother. Also, dearest, it would hardly be polite to abandon the bride and groom so abruptly.’
‘Absolutely not as far as you’re concerned. I’ll go down and explain why you can’t return. I’ll be back after our guests have departed.’
Chapter Seventeen
Patrick sat with Hannah watching the door, waiting for the doctor to appear or for Richard to come and tell them why Amanda had collapsed.
‘His grace is coming in now, Patrick.’ Hannah, like everyone else, jumped to their feet not out of respect but because she was eager to hear his news.
‘You may relax, I’ve the best possible information. We’re expecting a happy event next April. It was a shock to both of us as the usual indication was not there. The doctor has advised that Amanda rests for a few days but there’s no danger of losing the baby.’
Patrick was the first to congratulate his friend, and then the ladies followed and finally Paul added his good wishes. Richard drew him to one side.
‘I was abrupt with you when you enquired about my marriage. Amanda hasn’t been herself these past few weeks and now I know why. I don’t give a damn myself about having an heir so soon, but for some reason she believed I would reject her if we didn’t have children.’
‘I don’t think I can give Hannah a child. I’ve certainly had sufficient opportunity over the years but I know that none of my liaisons resulted in progeny. I told her before we married.’
His friend looked at him as if he was speaking in tongues. ‘Good God, why the hell did you do that? I cannot think of anything less suitable to tell one’s future wife than that you’ve had dozens of affairs with other willing females.’
‘Peterson was sniffing around. I wanted her to balance the possibility of being childless and married to the man she loved, against his potential offer. As you can see, she made the right decision.’
More champagne was fetched and as they were about to raise their glasses Paul interrupted. ‘Forgive me for stealing your moment, Major, but Sarah and I are also anticipating a happy event next year.’
Her grace, rather than looking pleased, seemed decidedly put out by this second announcement. ‘I am far too young to be a grandmother. I was congratulating myself on the fact that I wouldn’t be under the same roof as the first one and now discover a second will arrive to disturb my peace.’
Mrs Marchand gently took her grace’s arm. ‘Come, your grace, too much excitement isn’t good for your nerves. Shall we take a short turn around the garden whilst we wait for our carriage to be harnessed?’
Richard instead of looking annoyed at his mother-in-law’s comment looked worried. He moved to her side immediately. ‘My dear Aunt Ellen, you’ve done so well these past few weeks. I think Mrs Marchand is right and it would be best for you to avoid further excitement for a while.’
She looked confused and then upset. ‘Did I say something I shouldn’t? I’m so sorry if I offended anyone. I must leave at once. Will you walk in the garden with me, dear boy, in case I become more unwell?’
The three of them left through the French doors that led onto the terrace. The ladies didn’t even stop to put on their bonnets.
‘I think that we should also take our leave, sweetheart, I’m eager to see our new home and it will be dark in an hour or two.’
There was a flurry of goodbyes and in a short space of time he was sitting beside his wife in the gig driving the two miles to Denchester and then to discover Bagshot Hall.
‘Goodness me, we’ve forgotten about Ellie and John. How are they to get to their new home?’
‘They walked from the church as it’s only a few hundred yards. They will have everything ready for us. I still can’t quite credit that you agreed to marry me when you could have had someone so much better.’
‘I love you, Patrick, and no one else would do. My head’s still spinning at the speed with which my life has changed over these past months. I don’t know if you realise this about me, but I prefer things to remain the same. I like order, calm and a peaceful environment in which to live.’
He chuckled. ‘And yet you still married me. I’ve never known a family to attract so much excitement and disruption – if you wished for a quiet life then you’ve married the wrong man.’
‘There’s something I’d like to do before we get home. Could we not speak to Mr Carstairs and tell him about his son? He might well be frantic not knowing what’s happened to him.’
‘I should think it more likely he’s relieved the bast… the villain’s no longer here to plague him. Do you want me to tell him why he was shipped off to India?’
It was her turn to laugh. ‘I should think I do. You can hardly inform him that his eldest was forced to become a sailor by the duke without giving him the reason.’
‘Do you wish to come in with me or will you stay with the gig?’
‘I’m quite content to sit here and wait on your return. I don’t think there should be a lady present when you explain what happened. See, the vicarage is just ahead.’
With some reluctance he pulled on the break, looped the reins around the pole and jumped down. This was hardly something he’d expected to be doing on his wedding day – but then nothing about his life was straightforward and he doubted it ever would be as long as he was associated with the Denchester family.
He knocked more loudly than he’d intended. The door was opened by a flustered maidservant who immediately stepped aside to allow him to go in.
‘The master is in his study, sir, I’ll conduct you to him immediately.’
Far too quickly he was standing in front of the reverend gentleman who’d not only just married him, but also joined Richard and Amanda and Paul and Sarah in holy matrimony.
‘Forgive me for intruding, Mr Carstairs, but my wife insisted that I must tell you something that will cause you pain.’ He explained the reason for his visit and the poor man flopped onto the nearest chair.
‘I feared something far worse. I thought him dead. I wouldn’t have blamed his grace in the circumstances if his decision had been less lenient. I don’t know where we went wrong with that boy, he was always wild but that turned into viciousness.’ He sighed loudly and shook his head.
‘I’m sorry to have had to be the one to tell you this. His grace has made sure your son will have sufficient to buy his passage home. He’ll only have to work going out to India.’
‘I must apologise for what he attempted to do. The old duke insisted he would pay for him to have the best education available and I think it gave the boy ideas above his station. Do you wish me to inform my wife of the true state of affairs?’
‘You must do as you think right, sir. I can assure you that the few of us who know will never talk of it again. One thing I must ask you, do you think your son will blab when he returns?’
‘He’ll not come back here, I give you my word on that. Anything he says to the detriment of his grace
and his family will be ignored. Thank you for telling me. I cannot like the boy, but I will always love him and will forgive him as the good Lord has instructed us to do when he is ready to ask to be forgiven.’
They shook hands and Patrick walked out glad that Hannah had insisted he did this. Now there was no obstacle in the way of their happiness.
He told her what had transpired and she smiled happily. There was scarcely time to discuss his visit as they immediately arrived at the gates to their new home.
‘Oh my, it has a drive, formal gardens and are those deer grazing on the grass?’
‘They are indeed. We cannot see the house yet as it stands in a dip below these trees that line the drive.’
He urged the horse into a trot, eager to see what Bagshot Hall itself was like. His hands were shaking when he drew rein.
‘No wonder it’s called a hall, sweetheart. It’s far bigger than I’d anticipated. It must have half a dozen bedchambers as well as rooms in the attic. It can’t be more than fifty years old.’
She clutched his arm. ‘How can we possibly afford the rent for something as magnificent?’
‘I neglected to tell you that Richard has given us this place as our wedding gift. It has two farms on the estate and is self-sufficient.’
For once she was speechless. A groom was at the horse’s head and he jumped down and then lifted her from the high seat.
The front door opened as they ran hand in hand up the scrubbed stone steps. He picked her up and carried her over the threshold, then, ignoring the assembled staff waiting to greet them, he bounded up the stairs and shouldered his way through the nearest door.
Fortunately he’d selected the entrance to the master suite and there was a large bed awaiting them. There was no need to go slowly – she was as eager as he to consummate the union. After all, this wasn’t the first time they’d made love and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.
*
Mr O’Riley’s fears that he was infertile proved baseless and there were four babies born the following year. The Duke of Denchester and his duchess had a fine son in April. Lady Sarah and Mr Marchand produced a beautiful daughter in May and Mr and Mrs O’Riley had both a daughter and a son in July.
The Duke's Predicament (The Reluctant Duke Book 3) Page 16
