Page 99 of A Marquess' Season of Secrets
“I appreciate that,” Juliana told her. “I’m sure Nash will as well.”
“I am not doing it for my brother, but for our relationship,” the woman insisted. “I have been a horrible person to you, and I said many things I shouldn’t have.
There truly was no excuse for what I did or said, and for that, I apologise from the depths of my soul and ask for your forgiveness. My brother made me realise how wrong I was and how happy you made him. I never want to come between your love again.”
The woman had no idea how relieved Juliana was to hear those words. Part of her had worried that she would have problems with her sister-in-law for the rest of her life, but those worries had now been laid to rest on her wedding day. Juliana could not have asked for a better gift.
“I am so glad to hear you say that,” Juliana said, tears welling up in her eyes. “All I want is one big happy family, and that is precisely what I have. I am proud to call you my sister.”
Eleanor’s face split into a grin as she stood up with tears in her eyes. “May I embrace you for the very first time? I’ve always longed for a sister, you know, and I believe my brother has chosen perfectly.”
Juliana closed the distance and walked into the woman’s arms, not at all embarrassed by the tears coursing down her face. When she pulled back, she found Eleanor just as emotional.
“We had best clean our faces, or our husbands will wonder what we’ve been doing,” the woman suggested. “They’ll think we had an argument.”
Nash wasn’t her husband just yet, but she was delighted to hear Eleanor refer to him as such.
“My mama says holding a handkerchief doused with alcohol over your eyes reduces the swelling and redness, but I do not wish to smell like alcohol on my wedding day.”
Ellie laughed. “I think it better to smell like alcohol than to have everyone believe we were fighting. I’m so glad we have cleared the air, Juliana. I have wanted to do so for some time now but didn’t have the courage to face you. David gave me strength to finally speak with you.”
“Your husband is a wise man,” said Juliana. “I look forward to getting to know everyone in this family. You will have to teach me who I should avoid and who is safe to be around. I heard you have an uncle with itchy fingers.”
“Uncle Maurice,” Eleanor said with a sigh. “He is from my mother’s French side of the family, and he has no shame. I think he is here today, but I shall keep him away from you.”
Juliana laughed. “I am much obliged. I think it’s time for me to go down.”
Eleanor nodded. “My brother is eagerly awaiting your arrival. I’ll call your father.”
Juliana thanked her and took several breaths in and out as she waited for her father. He came within minutes and held his arm out to her.
“Are you ready, my dear?” he asked.
“More than I’ll ever be, Papa. I am so happy.”
“And I am glad to hear it,” her father said, patting her hand. “Let us get you to the altar.”
The wedding was being held in the drawing room under Special Licence, and only their close family and friends were attending. Everyone turned to look at her as soon as Juliana entered the room, but she only had eyes for the man she loved. Nash stood at the front in his morning suit, looking dashingly handsome as he spoke to the vicar.
He turned to look at her and went still before a wide grin burst across his face. Juliana couldn’t help smiling as well and wanted to rush down the aisle and into his arms, but she had to show restraint or give cause for her guests to gossip about her lack of decorum.
She would act like a proper young woman now, but she vowed to have no control at all once they were happily married. Juliana planned to shower Nash with as much love as she could give and make him as happy as he made her. She wanted to walk right into Nash’s arms as she got to the front and had to clasp her hands together to stop herself.
“You are beautiful,” he whispered to her.
“And you’re my dream come true,” she returned. “Do you think we could convince the vicar to skip a few parts of the ceremony?”
The vicar cleared his throat, looking at her with disapproving eyes. “We do not rush anything in the sight of God, young lady. You will have to wait just like any other couple.”
Juliana blushed and looked down, gnawing her bottom lip. Her eagerness to be married to Nash was undoubtedly addling her brain.
“I love that you cannot wait to be with me,” Nash whispered. “I feel the same way. I would have eloped if my sister was not so insistent on something traditional. At least we have three months of our honeymoon to be alone together.”
That made Juliana blush even harder. The vicar shushed them again and began the ceremony with a long-winded prayer, and while everyone else’s eyes were closed, Juliana and Nash kept looking at each other as if they couldn’t bear not to see the other.
It seemed a day and an age before they were pronounced man and wife, giving Juliana a feeling of such pride to know she was Nash’s wife. Her husband surprised her when they didn’t stay for their wedding breakfast but stepped into the awaiting carriage and went straight to their honeymoon.
It seemed he was eager to begin the rest of their days together, to which Juliana had no complaint. As they held hands and travelled their first leg of the journey, Juliana recalled the prayer the apple lady had said over her.
