Page 71 of A Lady's Beloved Novelist
“I cannot say that confiding in my aunt or in Abigail was the best idea,” Andrea said, an amused smile gracing her lips. “But it was the only thing you could do at the time, and I understand that. Just be prepared for the fact that most of the estate will probably know your secret by the end of the day.”
“Oh, believe me, I have already weighed up that risk,” James said. “It was worth it to win your hand in marriage, and that is something that will never change my mind.”
“I am glad.”
Andrea’s cheeks were beginning to hurt from the amount of smiling that she had done. She was so ready to just bask in the happiness of the rest of her life with James.
“I have so many questions for you,” she admitted. “They were things that I did not want to put in the letters because I wanted to ask you in person. We were getting to know one another so well before everything else happened, and I would like to revisit that.”
“I would very much like that too,” James said. “Though, I do hope you can forgive me for having such a scandalous hobby as writing adventure novels?”
Andrea let out a laugh at his words, shaking her head for how silly he was being.
“Only if you could forgive a woman like me for having such a scandalous hobby of reading them.”
James pulled her in close to him, his hands coming to rest on her waist.
“Then I think all is forgiven, and its’ time to move on with the next chapter of our lives.”
Andrea smiled at him, her eyes darting to his lips as she nodded. “I could not agree more.”
Epilogue
Andrea was stunned as her lips parted from his. They had finally done it, and now their union was sealed under the eyes of God and in front of both their families. Cheers and clapping broke through the church as she took a step back and let it all sink in.
James was her husband. That was a sentence that she would have once scoffed at because there would have been no way that it could have been true. But now he stood at her side, and together they had the rest of eternity to look forward to.
It was two months since the tumultuous events that had led to Cecil fleeing from the estate. Andrea was pleased that it had been the final time she’d ever seen him. There was no greater feeling than knowing that he had clearly moved on to some other corner of England. News of his cowardice and all his lies had been the story that overshadowed James’ writing revelation.
For this, Andrea was sure that James was incredibly grateful. People were much more interested in the coward who was currently being shunned by the rest of high society. Where was he going to pop up next? Who was he going to try and latch himself on to? Andrea had heard a rumour that his parents were no longer allowing him to stay at their estate nearby either.
Whilst she hoped he was not roaming around without a roof to sleep under, it did reassure her that he was not close to Sudeley. Her white dress covered her down to the floor, but it was the veil that had been Andrea’s main concern.
It was long and required two of the young flower girls to hold the back of it so that she was not just letting it drag along the floor. It made turning back to face the guests in their pews rather difficult, but it was worth it. Everyone was clapping and cheering for the new couple, and it truly felt like a special moment for the two of them.
The ball began in the wake of the actual ceremony, and Andrea could hear people talking about it in the crowd of people that were making their way back up to the main house. She held onto James’ arm tightly, giving it a reassuring squeeze as they made it back to the house.
“Mrs Churchill,” James said. He was smiling to himself as he said her new surname. Andrea could not help but laugh at the way he had nothing else to say but her name. “What? I think it has a nice ring to it.”
“I think you will find that it is Lady Churchill,” she boldly corrected him.
“Of course, my lady,” James said. He reached down to place a tender kiss atop her gloved hand. “How foolish of me.”
“After spending so long planning it, we are finally here.”
Andrea let out a heavy sigh. They could hear the guests filling up the house from the other rooms, but Andrea was pleased that they were taking a moment to be alone together.
“I know. Now that we are here, I will have to be honest with you. I thought that if I had to choose one more coloured flower, I was not going to be able to go through with this.”
Andrea burst out with laughter at the revelation.
“I could see it in your face when my mother was pressing you to make a decision,” she admitted. “I did think it was rather amusing.”
“Of course you did,” he said followed by laughter. “Well, I am just glad that it is all over now.”
"Me too, we can finally relax.” The sound of string music picking up floated through the ground floor of the house. “Well, we have a few dances to get through first.”
“I cannot believe some of the people who have travelled so far to see our wedding.”
