Chapter 19

Christmas Evening had taken an unexpected turn for those at the house party. Grace had asked James if he would carry William downstairs, and when they were all gathered in the drawing room, she announced that William had something to say.

"Why do I have to say it?" His cheeks flushed as everyone stared at him expectantly.

"Because you are the man," Grace hissed at him.

"But you are better than me at things like this, and I am an invalid."

Grace rolled her eyes. "That licence is years out of date. I have plenty of time to change my mind." She turned to the group, all of whom were smiling, clearly having heard her words and guessed what the announcement was. Grace shrugged. "You have surmised correctly, this buffoon has asked me to marry him, and although I am sure he will land me in bedlam, I love him too much to say no."

The whoops, embraces, and congratulations went on for some time. When everything had settled down, Grace told them of her present and how William had asked her.

"You sly romantic," Hamish chuckled. "That is a gesture which puts us to shame."

"Learn from an expert," William said but laughed at Grace's look. "I do have to warn you that although it is a gesture I am proud of, it took me about ten years to think up."

"Duly noted," Grace responded.

"When are you to marry?" Florry asked. "Are you to seek another special licence?"

"No, there is no need for that. I have spoken to Grace, and we have agreed that we will marry when I can stand at the altar and watch my bride walk down the aisle." William took hold of Grace's hand as he spoke the words.

"That is lovely," Julia sniffed. "We will help in any way that we can."

"Julia, we are having a small gathering," William warned his niece.

"That is fine, but it does not mean it needs to be drab. Just a few decorations and a small celebratory wedding breakfast afterwards."

Grace looked at Julia before turning to William. "When you are well enough, shall we make a dash for the border?"

"Most definitely."

"Do not even fun about that!" Julia growled.

"Who says we are funning?" William responded, a grin firmly in place.

***

The ball on Twelfth Night was a sight to behold. Arabella and Michael had exceeded themselves, creating a ballroom decorated exquisitely but not ostentatious enough to cause the tenants any discomfort.

The garlands around the room were made of local foliage, with only a few items added from the hothouses to add a little colour. The remainders of the yule log were burning in the fires at either end of the room, and a group of local musicians was on the platform rather than employing musicians who did not know the dances of the locality.

The supper room was filled with urns of cawl and lamb stew, while mounds of freshly made bread would help soak up the rich gravy. There were the usual Welsh cakes and bara brith, which were a staple of food locally, but Arabella had also ordered syllabubs, jellies, meringues and thick soups, wanting everyone to go away with full stomachs. She had ordered so many Welsh oggies and Glamorgan sausages that the tenants would be taking a lot of food home with them at the end of the night.

"You have provided so much to eat," Serena said as she entered the supper room in search of Arabella.

"If everyone goes home with a full stomach and a parcel of food for the next few days, then I will be happy," she said. "Do you think the food is too plain?"

"Not at all, I have already heard favourable comments being made," Serena assured her. "Your husband is looking for you. The dancing is about to start, and he says you have to come and lead it."

Arabella groaned. "I have been practising this stupid dance since we thought of having a ball. Michael was determined that I would be ready to perform it."

"And are you not? Just say the word, and he will be surrounded and dealt with by the Bluestockings," Serena said.

Arabella laughed. "It is the slowest dance we could think of, and I am sure the tenants will be bored senseless by the end of it, the poor things."

"You fail to notice how highly the tenants regard you," Serena said gently. "They know you have difficulties, and they will understand and enjoy you dancing with them as you go down the line."

Serena was to be proved right. Each man who took hold of Arabella's hands as she moved along the longways set treated her as if she was a precious being. It humbled her when all she received was encouragement, praise, and a thank you as she moved lower down the set. She could not take the smile from her face; she was with decent people and felt like she belonged, something that never happened in the heady days of her seasons in London. She knew with certainty that she would never return to that world. It had little appeal when she was now surrounded by those who cared and accepted her.

Grace gripped William's hand under the covers as they watched Arabella dance. She had known Arabella was going to attempt to take part and hoped for the young woman's sake that everything went to plan. It would be so easy for Arabella to receive a knock in her confidence if she tripped because of her injured leg.

"She is doing fine," William whispered, squeezing Grace's hand in reassurance.

"I know, she looks happy, but I worry."

"How can you worry when we are like a king and queen watching over their subjects?"

"You always did have ideas above your station." Grace shook her head at William's chuckle. His words held some truth in them; the alcove was decorated like a mini version of the rest of the ballroom. Two small beds had been placed side by side and covered to hide the fact that they were beds. Cushions and soft blankets surrounded them, and they had their own servant to fetch and deliver drinks and food as they required it.

"We have been very spoiled," William said.

"You must say when you are tiring," Grace urged. "I do not want you to have a relapse."

"I am being very careful. I will have to seek James's support soon, but I am enjoying watching them all together and, for once, not having a care in the world between them."

"Yes, it is good to see. I know life will challenge them, but they are strong enough to get through it, I am sure."

"A lot of that is thanks to you," William said gently. "When you look at how they have been brought up, the one constant in their lives as adults has been you."

Tears sprang to Grace's eyes. "Oh stop it! What has happened to the grouchy old man who used to torment me just for the sake of it?"

"He is having a break for now. I am sure he will return soon enough when the joy of married life has turned into something more mundane." William laughed at Grace's scowl. "I am teasing."

"I know. It still does not stop me from wanting to strangle you, though."

"I love a fiery woman."

"Oh behave."

"In all seriousness, you have been a mother to these girls."

"The one regret that I have is that we are not going to have children of our own," Grace said, knowing that William would have the same feelings. There had been lots of talk in their younger days about having a large family.

"It will be of no use to either of us to think that way. Julia is everything I would want in a daughter, and through her and you, I have many whom I know I will feel the same about within a very short time."

"You do have a way with words sometimes." Grace smiled at him, deeply touched that he would know what to say to reassure her. This was the William she had fallen in love with; this was the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with, and she had never been happier.

"That makes me an inventor and a wordsmith. Talking of inventing, I have been running some ideas by Florry, and we think we have come up with a plan for a wooden leg with wheels, although we are struggling to work out some obstacles, such as stairs."

"What?" Grace choked out.

"We will find a way around it. Florry is quite the genius, you know. I think she is wasted being a pirate's wife."

Grace laughed. "You are a buffoon."

"A buffoon who loves you," William said, placing a kiss on her cheek, which would have been outrageous had they not been hidden by the alcove. "I was also wondering if you think Arabella would mind if this setup was recreated in my chamber? It would make visiting with you far more enjoyable and comfortable, for I do have to consider that you are not as young as you were."

"I just might seek out Mr Betez and beg him to marry me if you so much as utter a suggestion like that to Arabella."

"You would not be so cruel."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Not when you have spent so much time with your cousin. The way she saw off her husband has ensured that I will always come up to snuff with you, my sweet. Getting rid of husbands could be a family trait."

"Why you…" Grace started, but William kissed her firmly on the mouth, and although she should have pushed him away, she thought it best to indulge a man who was clearly still feverish.