Page 69 of The Scandalous Deal of the Scarred Lady
James looked at Helena. Helena looked at James. “Ten,” they said in perfect unison. Then because he could wait no longer, he bent and kissed her, capturing her lips with his own, placing his seal, his promise upon her in a way that there could be no question regarding his intent.
Epilogue
Five Months Later
“They have successfully reached the islands!” Barrington reported, with a cheerful whoop as he threw a letter down on the table between them. “Given when this was posted, I would expect them in port any day now!”
James grinned cheerfully at his business partner, his mentor, and friend as he adjusted his cravat. “I am absolutely useless at this. Lucy always managed these things,” he complained as he picked at the knot.
“I expect she’s more interested in fussing at your bride. Come now, man, is that all you have to say? Our fleet is returning any day!” Barrington laughed and tilted his head to eye James critically. “And the cravat looks fine.”
James was already halfway across the room. “And I am getting married. In case you have forgotten. Come, it must be past time to leave. Should we not hurry?”
Barrington chuckled as they reached the door. “Believe it or not, I was an eager bridegroom myself. I daresay it would do us no harm to adjourn to our places.” He clapped James on the back hard enough to send him staggering. James suppressed a grin and led the way out into the church.
There were not many in attendance. Not because James had not weathered the scandal well. His news regarding his birth and subsequent adoption by the old Duke of Durham had created only a minor stir. The truth was no one had cared much, in light of gossip that was much more fresh and interesting.
Nor had Barrington suffered ill. Those who had witnessed the tragic events regarding Phoebe Barlowe had been loath to talk about it. In the end, the entire matter had been hushed up. Her friends had been told that she had experienced a bad attack of nerves and had gone to the country to convalesce.
The fact that no one thought to ask where in the country, and at what house only went to show just how little Phoebe’s friends had actually thought of her. The literary society simply elected a new officer to take her place. Before the month was out, Phoebe had quite been forgotten.
James thought on this now, thankful that Phoebe was far away in the south of England. While it was not prison, the cottage she’d been exiled to was near enough to one. Barrington had been generous and provided attendants to help Phoebe in her daily life. The fall from the window had injured her back, so it was unlikely that Phoebe would ever walk again. Sadly, this also kept Helena’s grandmother from attending the wedding, being too wrapped up in caring for her daughter.
There would be no further threat from that quarter.
With so few relatives to spare, the pews seemed empty, save for the rows reserved at the back for the servants of their households who had been given leave to attend. He smiled to see Bridget and Antony among those attending. Lucy had joined the servants. It was just like Lucy to sit with those considered of lower classes when she could have been in his family pew near the front of the church.
James shook his head, for Lucy had stayed true to her word, leaving the running of his household to his future bride. Perhaps that was right too. In her own way, Lucy would always do exactly as she wished.
With a glance at Barrington, James turned to ask if he rather thought it was taking Helena terribly long to prepare. Had it only been an hour since they’d even arrived at the church? How long did it take to fuss with one’s appearance anyway? Helena had always looked just perfect to him.
But even as he opened his mouth to inquire, there came a shout from the back of the church, followed quickly by another. A boy from his household, along with a youth from Barrington’s had arrived in the same moment, both vying for their attention in the same instant, each trying to outdo the other in the dissemination of the news they carried.
“The ships! The ships have arrived!”
James had learned from his past mistakes. While he and Barrington hadn’t sent their full fleet to the Americas, there had been just enough ships in this particular expedition that pirates would think twice about attacking them. With the uncertainty of the War of 1812, the seas were still uncertain making their safe return an exciting event indeed.
The news spread quickly through the church — all ships had made it back safely.
“James? What is going on?”
It was Helena, appearing at his side, mystified by the noise, and looking positively radiant, if not ethereal with her face framed by the soft lace of her veil. They had all missed her entrance in their preoccupation.
“The ships have arrived,” he answered stupidly for he was having trouble with the management of his tongue at the sight of her. He would never live this down, he knew. He had half a mind to have her go out and come in again.
But looking at her now, he could not send her away if his life depended on it. Whatever she had been doing to fuss at her appearance had affected a stunning change. Henceforth never to doubt the ability of a woman to accomplish nearly mystical things in regards to her appearance.
“The ships,” she repeated and then frowned, looking from him to her father who looked for all the world like he was about to bolt from the church at any moment. “No. You would not DARE. We are getting married. Today. Right now.”
Barrington looked at James. James swallowed hard. He knew that look. Barrington was already halfway to the docks in his mind.
But then James rested his eyes on the slight figure looking up at him with those beautiful laughing eyes, for she could see the conflict this was causing him and was very near to—
“I will have you know, Lady Barrington, that I am a man who honors my word,” he informed her, bending so that they stood nose to nose. “And regardless of how many ships have come in, and from where, I am in fact marrying you today. Not in haste, but in leisure. We are not rushing this ceremony for the sake of a few ships.”
“Of course not!” Barrington blustered beside him, but he shot James a look promising repercussions later for making such a statement.
She sighed and looked from one to the other. “But your ships!” she cried out in consternation. “It would not be right of me to keep you away from the docks at such a time as this.”
