Chapter Thirty-Two

T ravel light . That would be impossible. Vanessa had no choice but to order an entire wedding trousseau; after all, she was going to be a countess. Moreover, if she wanted to make Bitter’s boots fashionable, she couldn’t arrive back in London in last year’s clothes.

Be prepared . Three and a half weeks to prepare for this role? Impossible.

Perhaps it was time to set aside Peninsula rules.

The banns were read three Sundays in succession. The wedding was to be held the following Friday—a small family wedding in a quaint, very old, village church.

Chaumbers was not at all what Vanessa expected. That would have been a traditional large country house, beautifully proportioned, perhaps tacked onto a restored medieval keep to lend it character. Or something sweeping and gothic, though that possibility seemed less Taverstonian somehow. But Chaumbers was…different. Not gaudy in the way her father’s house was. Not ugly. Well, yes, it was ugly. It looked like several unattractive houses pasted together. The grounds were spectacular though.

Jasper had asked if they should invite anyone from Cartmel. Did she want Lydia? Or Charlotte? Or everyone from Cartmel? It was no exaggeration to say they could house the entire village in one wing. But no one in Cartmel could afford to travel a good three-quarters of the way to London for a wedding, a trip that would necessitate losing a solid week of work or more. Inviting them would not be kind; it would be insensitive.

Family only. And Hazard, who was practically family. Vanessa understood why Jasper had asked about inviting someone from Cartmel. She had no family.

Olivia was delighted to be asked to stand up with her. Vanessa was a little surprised to discover Jasper had asked Hazard.

“Not your brother? Won’t he be hurt?”

“Reg?” His eyebrows rose. “No. That’s the sort of slight he won’t even notice.” Then he’d grumbled, because evidently, he was hurt. “I would have asked Crispin, had he deigned to grant us his presence.”

She was hurt too by Crispin’s absence but mollified by Hazard’s arrival shortly after Jasper’s request. Hazard was clearly touched to be asked.

It had been a difficult but delightful few weeks. Jasper’s mother was not the ogre Vanessa had believed her to be. She didn’t apologize. And Vanessa did not allude to her long-ago spurning. Or the reason behind it. They simply started afresh, which was what Vanessa also preferred. Lady Taverston—“Beatrice,” but not “Mother,” thank goodness—gave her gentle pointers about the quirks of the house and its staff, and then moved quietly to the dower house a week before the wedding.

When Vanessa told her there was no rush, Beatrice said, “The dower house is more comfortable. The memories here…it’s too much. Besides, I’ll just be a stone’s throw away.”

Of course, Beatrice’s welcome had limits. She assigned Vanessa a guest chamber in a different wing than the earl’s apartments.

They respected propriety, despite their impatience to make up for lost time. They made love only once, out at the folly, a pretend medieval ruin a good long walk from the house.

They went out to the folly a second time, but someone had beaten them there. Fortunately, before they stumbled on the copulating couple, they heard them. Jasper looked shocked. He grabbed her hand and ran, pulling her along. When they were a decent distance away, he said, voice shaking with either horror or laughter, “That was Reg’s voice.”

“For pity’s sake. They’re married, Jasper.”

“Yes, I know, but you don’t understand. That was Reg !”

Georgiana and Reginald had arrived the day before, ten days before the wedding. There was no mistaking Georgiana’s interesting condition. Vanessa was glad the family’s focus turned to her. She wasn’t jealous of Georgiana’s place in the Taverston family: a duke’s daughter, exquisitely pretty, the very definition of respectability, and now the proud bearer of the first grandchild. She wasn’t even jealous that Jasper had tried courting Georgiana.

But, ridiculously, she was jealous of the easy-bantering friendship between Georgiana and Hazard. Evidently, even he had proposed to her once, which was absurd. In addition to all her other gifts, Georgiana was witty, and it was particularly evident because Hazard was too. Vanessa could appreciate wit, but it was not her own talent.

She confided in Jasper while they were walking in one of the gardens.

“She’s wonderful. I love her. I do. But she’s so perfect . And I don’t want to be crabby around her or people will think I hold a grudge because of you.”

Jasper laughed. “A ridiculous notion!” Then he’d wrapped his arms around her. “ You are perfect.”

“I’m not—”

“Georgiana is perfect for Reg. You are perfect for me.” He gave her a loud kiss.

“Yes,” she sighed. “And I do know Hazard likes me, too. I suppose he appreciates seriousness sometimes.”

“Ah,” Jasper laughed, “he does. But for serious Hazard, you’ll have to fight Alice Fogbotham.”

“Alice?”

“Georgiana’s cousin. She’ll be here for the wedding.”

She gave him a long look. She didn’t mind that Georgiana’s cousin was coming but found it a little odd when the wedding was so small.

Jasper cleared his throat. “Actually, I asked Georgiana if I might invite her. To keep Haz company. Draw him out.”

“Draw Hazard out? What on earth?”

“It’s a very long story. Ask me another day. We’re out of sight of the house. I’m going to kiss you now.”

*

Suddenly, it was her wedding day.

Georgiana, Olivia, and the delightfully clever Alice Fogbotham helped her to dress, two maids hovering in the background, waiting to lend their hands.

When Vanessa was nearly ready, Beatrice appeared in the guest chamber. She was very composed and plainly beautiful in mourning black but with a yellow rose tucked into her widow’s cap. She put a sparkling pair of diamond earrings into Vanessa’s hand.

“These were a gift from Jasper’s grandmother on my wedding day. They were her mother-in-law’s before. I’d like for you to have them. You needn’t wear them today—”

“Oh, but of course I will!” A little awed by what the jewels represented, she stripped the silver bobs from her ears to exchange them. “Thank you, Beatrice.”

“I want you to know how glad I am for Jasper. And for you. You make him happy. I wouldn’t have wanted anything different for him than that.”

“Thank you. I’ll be a good wife to him.”

“I know you will. Now I will leave you to the girls. The men have just left for the church. We should follow in a few minutes. It will take us longer to get in and out of our coach.”

The moment the door closed, Olivia elbowed Vanessa in the ribs. “I knew she liked you.”

“Of course she does!” Georgiana said, reaching out to help fix the clasp on one of the earrings. “Now.” She stepped back. “Vanessa, you are stunning.”

“So long as Jasper thinks so.”

“Let’s go,” Olivia said, clapping her hands with glee. “I can’t wait!”

Georgiana and Vanessa exchanged looks, and then laughed. Olivia was more eager than a bride.

It was a jumble, climbing into the coach, riding the short distance into the village, then climbing out again—all without wrinkling their gowns or snagging their jewelry. A crowd of villagers had already gathered in the churchyard to cheer them after the service ended. The curate, who had been waiting at the church door, escorted the dowager, Georgiana, Olivia, and Alice inside. Vanessa heard voices, excited voices, before the door shut again. The faint sound of organ music began. The curate opened the door.

Reg had offered to walk her down the aisle. Not to “give her away,” that would be silly and a bit sad. But she was grateful he’d offered. She’d had no one else to ask since Jasper had claimed Hazard.

Her eyes adjusted to the dim light inside the church. The man waiting, arm crooked, to escort her, was not Reginald. She nearly tripped over her own feet.

“Freddy! Freddy, what are you—”

He grinned at her, a lopsided grin that looked more than a little worried.

“If you want to run, Nessa,” he said under his breath, “I’ll shoot him.”

A laugh caught in her throat. “How did you know?” How had he found her?

He took hold of her arm. “Music, Nessa. Walk with me.” They started slowly down the aisle. He leaned his head toward her. “That fellow there.” He gestured with his chin. “He told me I’d be welcome. Gave me this, or I mightn’t have believed him.” He pressed his ring back into her hand. “I hope—I hope I’m not wrong-footed again.”

A quick glance showed Crispin, nattily attired in his uniform.

For the love of God! He’d slipped on that rock on purpose!

Plotting three steps ahead of everyone else.

Crispin didn’t look her way. He was whispering something to a somber-looking stranger who held a curly-haired toddler in his arms.

“Not wrong-footed. Freddy, I’m so happy you’re here.” Tears welled up, blurring her vision. She was happier than she’d ever been. She clung tight to her brother’s arm, and he guided her along.

“Now don’t cry, Nessa. Iversley’s face is about to crack open with that smile. You can’t go up there crying.”

“I won’t. I’m not.”

They reached the front of the church, and her brother released her to the man she loved with all of her heart. The music ceased. The world went silent as if everyone present was holding their breath. Inexplicably nervous, Vanessa glanced at Jasper. Jasper looked calm.

“Vanessa, my love, my world,” he murmured, his fingers brushing hers before he turned to face the rector.

Her nerves disappeared.

The rector lifted his book.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony…”