Page 77 of Lady of Charade
“That sounds like a wise idea, son, particularly if you are interested in a happy marriage.”
“That,” David said resolutely, “I most certainly am.”
CHAPTER33
Sarah blinked back tears as she placed her hand on the arm of her father. Her father. It was amazing how much could change in a few short months. She had spent so long here in England searching for him that she could hardly believe that all she had been searching for had actually come true.
Despite the Countess’ more than obvious disapproval of her, Lord Torrington had welcomed Sarah into his life, inviting her into his home for dinners and even claiming her as his daughter to any who asked. It was rather astounding, really, David told her, and far from usual for an earl such as Torrington to claim a daughter who had been born outside of marriage.
But the Earl had clearly always been keen to have a daughter, and so he welcomed Sarah into his life as he would any other child born to him. It was far more than Sarah could have ever asked for, and she had been equally as surprised by David’s parents. They seemed to feel that if she was accepted as the daughter of the Earl of Torrington, then they would accept her just as well as their daughter-in-law.
Lady Brentford had, perhaps, been a little too exuberant in the wedding plans for Sarah and David, but if that was the largest of Sarah’s worries, then she could accept that. She had finally convinced Lady Brentford to hold the wedding in the small country church of St. Edmond in the village of Hauxton, where her new home was located.
She had asked that it be a simple affair, with only family and close friends, but it seemed that Lady Brentford had quite a few close friends.
That, however, didn’t matter. What did matter was that Sarah’s father and her friends were in attendance and that it was David Redmond who stood waiting for her at the end of the church’s aisle.
“Are you ready?” her father asked, his voice low in her ear, and Sarah nodded as she smiled up at him. She was more than ready. She was dressed in a long, flowing cream gown, a garland of flowers about her head which matched the assortment of violets and sunflowers in the bouquet within her hands.
Sarah looked up, caught David’s eye, and, with her father beside her, began to take slow yet purposeful steps toward him, her smile growing ever wider as she approached.
The vicar began the proceedings, and when he came to the line where he asked David, “Wilt though love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?” David smiled at Sarah through the first part, but his expression became hard when someone in the pews let out a laugh at the thought of David forsaking all others.
David shook his head, mouthing “Lord Hartley,” with an eye roll, but then all of his levity fled. He gripped Sarah’s hands within his own, stared deeply into her eyes, and fiercely claimed, “I will,” which was enough to silence those who watched them.
Sarah believed him with all of her heart, and that was all that mattered.
* * *
The wedding breakfastfollowing the ceremony was held in their home — theirnewhome. The estate had not been often frequented in the past few years, and the staff seemed thrilled to welcome their new master and mistress.
David was still becoming used to the idea that this was his. Never in his life had his father mentioned the possibility of any of his properties becoming David’s, and David had always assumed that they would all go to Franklin, who was certainly the man best suited to become the master of it all. But Franklin, apparently, was more than happy with the others he would someday inherit from his father, in addition to the property where he currently lived as well as his townhouse in London.
The manor had been built some fifty years prior and held more than enough space for David and Sarah’s purposes. She had been most pleased to discover a beautiful wood extending behind the house, and the village was but a short walk away.
“All who may need me can easily find me,” she said enthusiastically, and David had to laugh, for what other woman would be so eager to have villagers calling upon her at any hour of day or night? But that was Sarah — and it was why he loved her, which he told her so now, and she simply laughed and shook her head.
“Well, Redmond?” The Duke of Clarence said now, as he stood with David, Lord Berkley, and Eddie Francis in a corner of the drawing room. “Do you now understand why we chose to forsake all for one woman?”
“I more than understand,” he said with a laugh. “A few months ago, had you told me I would be here, in my own estate with a wife of my own, I would have laughed at you — or cried, perhaps. I’m not entirely sure. But now… now everything has changed.”
“That’s what happens when you find a good woman,” Berkley said with a bit of a sigh.
“Or the woman finds you,” added Francis, and they shared a laugh as they looked at the enjoyment in front of them — especially the four women who sat across from them, the women who held their hearts.
* * *
Sarah sank backinto the soft cushions of the settee. As much as she adored having her friends here with her and welcomed David’s family into their home, she had to admit that she was also looking forward to the time when it would just be the two of them, alone together at last. But for now, she appreciated the opportunity to have some time with her three friends, whom she knew she might not see again for some time.
“Well, your David Redmond has certainly surprised me,” Elizabeth said from where she sat across from her, and Sarah gave her a somewhat reproachful look. “I’m sorry, Sarah, but from what I knew of him, he was certainly not the type of man to commit to just one woman. Who am I to speak of such things after all that happened with Gabriel in the past, I realize, but still, Mr. Redmond had quite the reputation.”
“Reputation isn’t everything,” Sarah argued.
“No, but it can say much about a person, or an institution,” Elizabeth said. “Wouldn’t you agree, Phoebe?”
“I think fact matters most,” Phoebe said practically. “That is why we report on various issues — so that we can share such information with others, which then allows them to decide for themselves what they may think or feel about an issue.”
“Fair enough,” Elizabeth said with a bit of a shrug, and Sarah smiled to herself.
