Chapter 34

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

" G ood Lord, Mrs. Greedy has a new dress."

Leo looked to where she was making her way into the pew slowly, with her husband behind her, also looking dapper in a deep maroon jacket.

"Is that Uncle Bram's old jacket?" Leo asked.

"He didn't want it anymore, and Aunt Ivy asked if Mr. Greedy would like it. I believe Mavis Johns took the sides in for him," Alex said.

"This place," Ram said from beside him. "There are no words."

Today, Leo was marrying Cyn, and to his mind, it was long past time that he woke with her in his arms each morning. He wanted them to be a family with Meg and Simon. His family, Leo thought.

In the months since he'd asked her to marry him, he'd spent most of his time with them. They hadn't told Simon and Meg immediately of their plans, but when they had, their reactions had been pleased.

"Good Lord, why is Mr. Peeky walking down my carpet drinking that glass full of thick black liquid that will likely stain," Ram said from Leo's other side.

"We will have them cleaned," Alex said. "But to be fair, you offered again."

"Like I've ever had a choice. Mr. Alvin simply appeared at my door, stating there was another wedding, and my hall runner was required for the aisle," Ram said.

"And very generous it was of you," Leo added.

"Why are you not trembling with nerves like the other grooms who've come before you?" Ram demanded of Leo.

"I'm marrying the woman I love. What is there to be nervous about?"

"That your freedom is over," Ram replied. "From this day forth, all decisions are to be debated with another person."

"I have no issue with that," Leo said, looking at the guests. The Sinclair and Raven families took up many of the pews, all dressed in their finest. Cam was smiling, likely due to the feast he would shortly sit down to eat.

The Crabbett Close residents sat on the bride's side, and Tabitha Varney wore a hat with so many flowers and feathers, Mr. Greedy, who now sat behind her, was in danger of losing an eye. She was making eyes at Mungo, who was standing to keep an eye on things. Arms folded and wearing a kilt, he wore his usual grumpy expression.

"I asked Mr. Alvin where the pews came from, and he said that he has connections in high places. It was all very secretive, and he would not tell me more," Alex said.

"It's best not to question what the residents in this town do," Leo said.

"I had wondered if she would come today, seeing as she is due to have the babe any moment," Ram said as their eyes went to the aisle.

"It's her brother's wedding. Of course she's here," Leo protested .

Ellen was waddling down the aisle on the arm of her husband, who had declined being a groomsman because he wanted to support her today. She wore lemon and looked beautiful, even with that large belly holding his niece or nephew.

"I swear, this baby has no wish to be born," he heard her mutter.

"Would you, knowing what the family it's coming into is capable of?" Gray teased her. He then lowered her into the seat next to Harriet. She collapsed with a loud sigh and then smiled at Leo.

"Are you all right?" he mouthed to her. Ellen nodded, but Leo saw how tired she looked.

"Close your eyes, Leo," Alex said.

"What? Why?"

"Just do it, and don't ask why," his brother said.

Leo closed his eyes. Long seconds later, Alex told him to open them, and there she was. His beautiful bride, standing at the beginning of the aisle on the arm of her son.

"Step aside, Leo, I may just have to take your place," Ram said.

"I'll kill you first."

She was magnificent. Her dress was a soft blush pink with an overskirt of lace. Cyn's hair was a mass of curls, with rosebuds pinned through it. In her hands, she held long-stemmed roses.

Leo wanted to walk down the aisle to greet her, but Simon was walking her to him. He stayed where he was.

Cyn had told her family she was to marry again, but they had declined to attend, and Leo thought that was likely due to the fact she was marrying a disgraced Nightingale. But she hadn't minded, telling him she was more than happy with the new family she now had.

Meg, Anna, Fred, and Matilda, holding Lottie's hand, all walked before her, dressed in cream and carrying pink roses too.

Cyn, like him, showed no sign of nerves. Her eyes were on him, as his were on her. That this beautiful, strong woman loved him was humbling.

She'd healed well, but the scar on her arm was still a reminder of how he'd nearly lost her.

Together, they had purchased a new house to help women who needed to escape their lives across London. This she had tasked Lewis and Mary to run.

They were here in the front row, holding hands. That night of terror had galvanized Lewis into declaring his feelings for Mary, and she'd reciprocated. Seated with them was Clara, who had decided she wanted to stay and take Mary's place at the Phoenix Agency. She was almost unrecognizable from the woman he'd met that day.

"Hello," Cyn whispered when she reached Leo and Simon had returned to his seat.

"You take my breath away, sweetheart."

"I'm so happy, Leo."

He kissed her softly. "As am I, my love."

The service began, and Leo spoke when he was told to speak, as did Cyn, both in loud, clear voices. They then turned to face their family and friends as husband and wife.

Aunt Ivy was weeping, and Uncle Bram was close. Happiness , Leo thought, it was everywhere today.

"Well, kiss her then!" Cambridge Sinclair roared. "It's time to eat."

He faced his wife. Leaning in, he whispered, "I love you," against her lips and then kissed her softly.

"Come along, Lady Seddon," Leo said, taking her hand. "Let's eat."

Large tables had been set up, and a long trestle was buckling under the weight of the food piled on it .

"Ah, Leo."

Turning, he looked at Alex.

"What?"

"Two things, actually," his brother said, considerably paler than he was just minutes before. "Ellen has gone into labor, and our cousin is here."

"Where is Ellen?"

Alex pointed to where his sister was being led toward 11 Crabbett Close by Essex Huntington and Gray. Aunt Ivy and Bud were following. Mr. Greedy was on the move also, heading to his house to no doubt collect his medical supplies.

"Shall I follow them?" Cyn asked, sounding worried.

"Gray told me he would send word if they needed anyone else but to carry on with the reception for now, as her labor could take hours," Alex added.

"Which cousin?" Leo then asked his brother.

"Aunt Elizabeth's daughter Flora. She's over there with Harriet and Uncle Bram."

Leo felt Cyn's arm slide around his waist, and he did the same to her, pulling her closer. His wife, he thought, here at his side.

"Which daughter was she?"

"The youngest one with the squeaky voice who used to shoot her slingshot at us when Mother visited her sister."

"Well then," Cyn said. "She should fit right in."

Leo snorted and then kissed her again. "Right. Let's greet my long-lost cousin, then eat and drink, because I have a feeling we will need it. Trust Ellen to want her baby to share our wedding day."

…

Alice Ellen Fletcher was born four hours later. Mother and baby were doing well. Gray stumbled out of the house and straight for the table that held alcohol. After downing a dram of whisky, he was able to tell them all that his daughter was the loveliest child ever born and his wife was an angel.

"My first took twelve hours," Mrs. Douglas was heard to mutter. "It hardly seems fair Mrs. Fletcher's was only four."

After visiting Ellen and his perfect niece—Gray had been right—Leo took Cyn in his arms on the dance floor.

"Another excellent wedding, Seddon," Lord Nicholas Braithwaite said, dancing by with his wife, Alice. "I was just commenting again on how you lot are very similar to our family."

"Thank you, my lord. I believe that is a compliment," Leo said.

Cyn giggled.

"So, this is true happiness," Leo said. "I thought I knew what that was, but the truth was far from it."

She smiled up at him with so much love that his throat felt tight.

"And it has only just begun," she whispered.

…

Thank you for reading THE FALLEN VISCOUNT. Not ready to be done with the Notorious Nightingales yet?

Book #4 in the Notorious Nightingales series THE REBELLIOUS RAKE is available for pre-order now, read on for the blurb!

Can he out run the sins of his past?

With the death of his father, Ramsey Hellion returned to England to distance himself from the hell he'd left behind. The day he met Miss Flora Thomas, his life took another turn.

Haughty and beautiful, she was a strong-willed woman who disliked him at first glance. Ram had always enjoyed a challenge, even one who refuses to yield to his charms.

The day his father's sins came back to haunt him, Ram realized he needs a great deal more from Flora than just her love. He needs her to save him.

Can she trust him with her heart?

Flora loathed men born with tolerable looks who believed they should be adored because they exist. Ramsey Hellion was one such man, so why did he intrigue her so much? Perhaps it was because when his rakish facade slipped, she saw turmoil beneath.

She'd learned the hard way how difficult a woman's life can be when controlled by a man, but when danger steps back into Ramsey's life, she must act. Flora knows she'll do what it takes to keep him safe, because no matter how much she's denied it, life without Ramsey Hellion was not something she wished to contemplate.