Page 31 of The Captain's Midwinter Bride
“I’m happy to hear it, dearest,” Annalise crooned, bussing her cheek.
“There’s only one thing that dampens my relief at being freed from my engagement to Mr. Newell.” Turning big eyes, first on Phillip, then on her, Beth said, “We have invited so many guests to attend the ceremony. And the wedding breakfast. If we are not able to cancel our contracts with vendors, whatever will we do?”
That worry had played on Annalise’s nerves since Beth expressed her desire to cancel the engagement. There was a very real chance that the majority of their vendors would keep their deposits or send around the entire bill to be paid in full. The possibility had left her nauseated, and yet she was willing to bear it if it meant her daughter would be happy.
But now that Beth had voiced her own concern, Annalise did not know how to respond.
Thankfully, Phillip saved her from doing so.
“I’ve actually been considering this, and I have a possible solution.”
Annalise noticed he avoided her gaze, and she was instantly wary. Surely it had something to do with his departure to Wales, for why else would he be nervous?
Taking a moment to clear his throat, Phillip continued. “I was thinking that perhaps we could hold another sort of wedding ceremony…between your mother and me. A renewal event, if you will.”
A loud ringing sounded in Annalise’s ears, and she stared dumbly at Phillip, willing herself to understand his words.
* * *
“Oh Father, what a marvelous idea!” Beth clutched her hands to her chest, her dark eyes sparkling.
It was a ridiculous idea. Phillip had no notion of why he had blurted out such a suggestion. While it was true that he had resolved not to leave for Wales unless Annalise departed with him, another wedding ceremony was not something he would have ever considered. Annalise would surely laugh in his face, and he would not blame her.
“This is the perfect opportunity for you to have the romantic wedding you were unable to have previously,” Beth continued, oblivious to his awkwardness or Annalise’s continued silence.
“Well, we didn’t truly know each other then,” Phillip felt compelled to add. “But we do now. And your mother deserves a grand wedding, and always has.”
Annalise met his eyes then, surprise and doubt melding into curiosity. “Are you in earnest? Do you truly want to marry meagain?”
Her tentative words pierced his heart. Sinking before her, Phillip grasped her hands. “I would marry you every day if I could. Maybe if I did, I would finally believe that such a witty, clever, and beautiful woman is actually my wife.”
Her mouth began to quiver. “But…you’re leaving for Wales. Without me.”
Phillip raised his hand to cup her cheek, running his thumb over her lip. “I’m not leaving anywhere unless you’re coming with me. Spending time with you these last few weeks has shown me that I don’t want to be separated from you again, unless I can’t help it.”
“Oh, you dear man,” she choked out, tears welling in her eyes. “I adore the estate in Wales and was so hurt you hadn’t thought to invite me to accompany you there.”
He’d been such a fool. Too afraid to impose on his wife, unwilling to upset her life as he had done for so long before, that he had failed to see that Annalise was willing to welcome more from him. Perhaps she was willing to acceptallof him.
Phillip reached up to press a kiss to her forehead. “You are married to a daft man, my dear. In truth, I was afraid to ask you. You have a full life here in Bristol, and I thought you would grow bored with the quietness of Wales.” He swallowed a painful lump. “I wrote Charles, and he has not responded. I even attempted to pay him a visit but was told he’s away at the countryside for Christmas. I so wanted to assure you that he would make amends. That the past was truly behind us. But I can’t. Dammit, I can’t.”
“Oh, Phillip,” she began, grasping his stubbled cheeks in her hands, “I have no interest in the past. I’m only concerned with the future. A future withyou.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, he clenched his eyes shut for a long moment. Finally, he released a long exhale. “Seeing as how our lovely daughter will not be marrying at the moment, perhaps after we celebrate Christmas with our friends, we can sojourn to the estate in Wales, all three of us.”
“It will be our very first holiday together as a family,” Beth breathed, her shining eyes darting back and forth between him and Annalise.
“It will be. But it won’t be the last,” Phillip said, rising to his feet and pulling Annalise up to wrap her in a fierce hug. “I love you, you know. I have from the very first.”
Looking up, she smiled brightly. “And I love you, although it took me a bit longer to realize it.”
“Because I had to earn it,” he whispered against her temple, “and I am ever so glad that I did.”
This Christmas promised to be very special, indeed.
Epilogue
“Ihave never seen a more beautiful bride.”
