Page 42 of How to Seduce a Viscount
At the bride’s home. Wren would like to hear that. But Luce had not liked that last part about ‘as soon as possible’.
‘Why the haste? Are you ill?’
Grandfather gave him a warm smile. ‘I am not ill, my boy. I am old. All time is precious now. But don’t you worry. I only thought to suggest haste because I’ll be busy this spring planning my eighty-ninth birthday,’ he added cheekily and Luce laughed.
‘Then yes, if earlier is better for your very busy calendar, we’ll do it “as soon as possible”. Thank you.’ Luce rose. ‘If you will excuse me, I would like to go and tell Wren the news.’
‘Shall I write to the family with your news?’ Grandfather said, waving him off. ‘My afternoon is clear and I am guessing that very shortly yours won’t be.’ There was a roguish gleam in his eye. ‘I will see the two of you at dinner and we’ll celebrate.’
‘He said that? Really? We’re to be married in the bride’s home?’ Wren was teary eyed as she lay in his arms, as Luce knew she would be.
‘He did say that.’ And much more. Maybe someday, he’d tell her about Grandfather’s shenanigans. ‘He also said we shouldwed as soon as possible. I’ll see to it that we have a special license, but you’ll need to see to the rest. Plan whatever kind of ceremony you want, whatever decorations you want.’
She sighed against him. ‘I wish we could have snow so we could drive off in your sleigh.’
‘We’re too close to the sea, I’m afraid. No snow for you, not this late in the season.’ He held her close with a laugh. ‘But I am glad to hear you’re readjusting your perspective on winter.’
‘I’ve adjusted my perspective on many things since I met you: marriage, love, home, family. These are all things I never thought I could have. But you’ve made that possible. You’re quite the most extraordinary man I’ve ever met and now you are mine for ever.’ She looked up at him, her eyes silvery, her hair tangled from love-making. She’d never looked more glorious to him than she did right now—a picture of love, of happiness, of for ever.
Luce would have to amend those words just ten days later as the wood doors opened at the back of the Sandmore chapel and Wren stood there for a moment framed in late winter sunlight. She made the most spectacular winter bride in a gown of pale blue velvet that had belonged to his grandmother, her hair loose, hanging in wavy tresses down her back. His grandfather stepped forward beside Wren and presented his arm for a slow, stately walk down the aisle, offering everyone ample time to appreciate the glory of the bride, especially Luce.
He mentally added this picture of her to his ever-growing collection of his wife. His wife! The thought, the words, would not cease to fill him with satisfaction, with contentment. It would be official shortly although he’d thought of her as his wife since the day she’d accepted his proposal.
The last days leading up to the wedding had been filled with unexpected joy, watching her with his family as they’d arrived, piece by piece. The first to arrive had been his parents. His mother had taken one look at Wren and swept her into her arms, declaring, ‘Another daughter to love! One can never have too many, not with these boys around.’
Caine and Mary had arrived next from Newmarket, Mary starting to show the signs of their blessed event expected this summer. Mary had been the one who’d helped Wren decide on a wedding dress. Guenevere, Devlin and the new baby had braved the journey, surprising Grandfather with a request to do the baby’s christening at Sandmore before they returned home. Kieran and Celeste had the furthest to come, all the way from Wales. They’d only arrived last night to complete the reunion although they’d all been together at Christmas not so long ago. Celeste had hugged Wren, eyes glistening with gratitude. ‘The boys told me what you did for me. Thank you, Sister.’
Luce knew how much that one word would mean to Wren, who’d craved a family, who yearned for siblings. She had those aplenty now in her three sisters and three brothers by marriage. She had new cousins and aunts and uncles by marriage as well. Luce had made her a family tree to keep it all straight as a wedding gift. He’d left blank spaces on the tree, too, for a future that was rapidly approaching. Looking around at the faces of his family it was hard to believe it had only been two months since they’d all been together. So much had changed. And for the better. He’d found Wren, and love and new hope. Stepan was alive and there was hope in that, too, that someday they’d all be together again. But for now, for this moment, when he took Wren’s hand from Grandfather, he had more than enough in the present to be thankful for, more than any one man had a right to. He’d not thought to find a wife let alone love in unprepossessing Little Albury.
‘What are you thinking?’ Wren whispered, eyes shining, as the vicar started the service.
Luce grinned. ‘That love found me when I least expected it and where I least expected it.’
‘On your doorstep?’ she murmured with a laugh that earned a censorious look from the vicar. Luce exchanged a conspiratorial grin with Wren. This was the beginning of a life that would be unconventional in all ways. How could it be otherwise when the fourth Horseman married Falcon? Together they were destined to fly. And if they fell, and they probably would on occasion as both of them were too stubborn to prevent it, well they’d do that together too. They’d waited their whole lives for this. This was their time and there wasn’t a moment to lose in claiming it.
Epilogue I
April
No expense had been spared for the Earl of Sandmore’s eighty-ninth birthday fete held at his estate amid the glory of spring time in England. Wood anemone, cowslips, the dog violets and the roundhead rampion were all in full bloom. The sky was blue overhead and all was right in Luce Parkhurst’s world because he strolled the garden paths of Sandmore with his wife beside him. Somewhere ahead of them, his brothers strolled with their wives, their laughter occasionally reaching them on the breeze, but Luce had lagged behind on purpose, wanting a moment alone with Wren.
‘Does it feel good to be back?’ he asked, stopping to pluck a bluebell and tuck it behind her ear. It still was a marvel to him that she was his, or as she would say, he was hers. It was a marvel, too, to be able to share Sandmore with her as a place they’d both grown up. Coming to Sandmore for Grandfather’s birthday had been a chance to retrace those youthful steps together—the lake, the garden paths and the school room on the third floor.
‘Yes, it is good to visit but it’s not home, Luce,’ she offered quietly. ‘Tillingbourne is home. It is where I belong because you are there, because our family is there.’
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. Tillingbourne was still under restoration but renovations aside, the place had undergone a transformation over the past few months. Sharing space did that to a place. There were more cut flowers in vases and fewer Holland covers on the furniture. There was more noise, too. Wren had turned the abbey into a gathering place for the women in the village, a place where they were as likely to meet to knit blankets as they were to learn to how to defend themselves should the need ever arise. Luce had caught her on several occasions giving tips in self-defence in the ballroom.
There were children, too. Wren had insisted that no woman be left out of her gatherings because she needed child care. Luce didn’t mind. If he needed solitude he could always escape to his library and Wren would know where to find him.
‘You miss Tillingbourne and it’s only been a week,’ he commented.
‘A very busy week,’ she countered. ‘We travelled. We had the family party, then the public party.’ Luce had presented the memoir to his grandfather at the family gathering. He’d read the introduction out loud after supper and managed to bring a few tears to his grandfather’s eyes.
‘Is being a Parkhurst all you hoped?’ Luce teased gently. In between the parties, there’d been long afternoons with lawn games and late nights as he and his brothers and their wives talked over endless card games. It was grand to be together, but Luce understood. He, too, would be eager to leave tomorrow and return to Tillingbourne, to their life.
‘More than I hoped.’ She smiled and took his hand. ‘You’ve given me so many gifts over the past months, Luce. Being part of your family is one of the greatest.’ Her eyes glistened and heraised a thumb to wipe them away. She’d been emotional this week, crying at Grandfather’s party, tearing up as she’d hugged her new sisters in-law upon arrival. His stiletto-wielding wife had sentimental depths. It was sweet.
‘But yes, it is a lot. I am amazed Grandfather is still on his feet. I’m exhausted.’ She slid him a shy look. ‘Perhaps I’ll need to get used to that.’
