Chapter 18

18

J asper had once wondered how far Bess might go to see him married. Apparently, she would drop everything in London and race to his side in less than a day to arrive in time for an impromptu wedding in the country. Ironically, at an estate presumably created for spinsters.

Not that the wedding was entirely impromptu.

A second carriage followed behind hers, one laden with tulips and pastry confections, and a gown befitting the grandmother of the groom.

Jasper had been in the library, finishing the second volume of Sense and Sensibility in the large chair opposite to Elizabeth’s before the fire, as she read the third volume.

“Forgive me, my lord,” the butler interrupted. “But it appears the dowager Lady Darington has arrived.”

A maid snuck a grin at the butler as he passed. The entire staff of Spinster’s Something-or-other knew about the tryst Jasper and Elizabeth had been enjoying.

Elizabeth closed her book as did Jasper. “I imagine my mother and sisters will be following soon.”

Jasper offered her his arm and together they hurried to the front door to greet Bess. “Shall we put a wager on who will arrive first—your mother and sisters, or your friends?”

Elizabeth laughed, an open, carefree sound he looked forward to hearing for the rest of his life. “I imagine they will be arriving close to one another.”

Together, they pushed through the door just as Bess’s carriage came to a stop, as did the one behind her.

The door to the coach flew open, knocking the footman back several steps as Bess erupted from it as though she’d never needed a walking stick in her life. She all but ran to Jasper, arms outstretched.

“My boy is getting married.” Her eyes were bright, sparkling with unmitigated joy. “To a woman he loves.” She pulled Elizabeth into an embrace. “It will be such a joy to have you in the family, my darling Elizabeth. Thank you for taking care of Jasper when he?—”

Bess’s mouth formed an ‘o’ and she wheeled around to Jasper once more. “Your head. Are you fully recovered?”

Jasper chuckled at her excitement and nodded. “I’ve had an attentive nurse.”

Elizabeth’s cheeks flamed red as she no doubt recalled precisely how she had nursed him back to fair health. Again and again and again.

“I’m so glad.” Bess squeezed Elizabeth’s arm. “Thank you for caring for him. I hope he wasn’t too surly a patient.”

Elizabeth tempered a grin, her face straining to remain sober as she spoke. “Not at all.”

“Oh, and Jasper, I had the flowers we had ordered swapped out for tulips.” Bess beamed at Elizabeth. “He told me those are your favorite.”

“I heard you’ve had quite the hand to play in all the flowers I’ve received,” Elizabeth said with a genial smile.

Bess blinked. “Me? Oh, no, dear. Jasper went to the florist every morning before breakfast to hand-select each bouquet for you.”

Jasper looked away, feigning innocence.

Elizabeth put her hands on her hips, playful in her chastisement. “You told me Bess had ordered all the flowers.”

Bess gave a cackle. “This boy has been mooning over you since the moment I saw the two of you together. I’m just glad the two of you have finally realized how right you are for one another.”

The rattle of a carriage pulled their attention to the gate once more as not one, but four carriages rolled up.

If Jasper and Elizabeth had indeed wagered on Elizabeth’s friends or family arriving first, they would both have won as all those who loved Elizabeth poured from the open carriages, including Lord and Lady Brightstone, the latter holding her large stomach.

Jasper didn’t bother to ask if travel was good for a woman so far along that she ought to be in confinement. He knew well enough she would absolutely not miss Elizabeth’s wedding.

Both Jasper and Elizabeth were swallowed up by the delighted squeals of her family and friends. But before Jasper was pulled away, Bess reached out and clasped his shoulder. “I’m proud of you, my boy.”

Then, without bothering to ask if he wanted it or not, she drew him into a hearty embrace and his heart swelled in his chest. His grandmother had always been his staunchest supporter and only true family. It gave him pleasure to know her joy at his impending marriage to a woman he loved.

And truly he did love Elizabeth, a woman who accepted him exactly as he was, who had convinced him to lower the barrier around his heart, to make himself vulnerable.

Beyond his reputation, beyond his past, beyond those who made him feel unworthy of love, unwanted. He knew now that none of it was true.

Elizabeth made him feel entirely loved. Absolutely wanted. And worthy of her in every regard.

There could not be a happier man more smitten with his wife in all of Christendom than Jasper was with his soon-to-be-wife.

A bride never had so many women crowding around her as did Elizabeth the following morning. Ribbons were pulled here and there, a flower was adjusted in her hair, her skirts were fanned out and brushed over repeatedly. The day of her wedding to Jasper had arrived.

Grace fluttered around with excitement flushing her cheeks, no doubt envisioning her own impending nuptials, while Kitty went on chattering about the men of the ton who had caught her interest—and there had been many.

Hannah watched Elizabeth with a secret smile on her lips and her hand resting on the enormous bump of her belly, likely imagining Elizabeth in the same delicate condition that they might discuss children together and have them grow to be best friends as well.

In truth, the idea of motherhood was not unappealing. Elizabeth had never considered having a child before. Especially as she had never thought she would ever wed.

But imagining a child with Jasper’s dark hair and dark eyes, how that small babe might look cradled in his strong arms, filled Elizabeth with a longing in her breast for a maternal bond that she was desperate to eventually know.

“After the ceremony, we need a moment alone together,” Elizabeth warned her friends. “I have gifts for every one of you.”

Lucy raised her brows. “I never say no to gifts.”

But Jillian was skeptical. “Do I want to know what this gift is?”

A secret smile played over Amy’s lips.

Elizabeth intentionally kept from looking at Hannah who was likely giving her a knowing smirk. “You’ll find out soon enough. For now, it is time for this wallflower to break her vow and finally wed.”

The others left the room in their lovely pastel dresses, leaving Elizabeth alone with her father to make their way down to the small chapel.

“Are you happy, Elizabeth?” He asked.

“I am.” She took his proffered arm. “He loves me for exactly who I am.”

Papa patted her arm. “You deserve nothing less. Your Mama always wanted you to rush into marriage so she could have grandchildren, but I told her to be patient, that your time would come. When the right man who was worthy of you came along.”

He sniffed and Elizabeth looked up to find his eyes watering with quiet affection. She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for believing in me.”

“Always, my girl. Always.”

They walked down to the chapel, a small room on the first floor of the manor house, a relic from a time long before the newer portion of the home had been built around a medieval tower keep. Bunches of tulips adorned the short row of pews, and all of her family and friends turned when she and Papa entered.

But it was not her friends she saw when she made her way down the aisle. It was Jasper, appearing handsome in a dark jacket and breeches, his hair mussed in that way that was slightly out of fashion and just tempting enough for her to want to run her hands through.

His eyes lit when he saw her, a wide, unabashed smile lighting his face. His gaze swept down her gown, an elegant pale-blue silk with small white flowers embroidered at the hem. A gown her mother had ordered for the season in the hopes of securing Elizabeth a husband.

And now she had one.

She strode forward, not looking at the ground, too fixated on the man who would soon be her husband. The carpet underfoot caught on the tip of her toe, and she tripped.

Papa shot her a look of shocked horror, but Jasper only smiled wider, his expression endearing.

Rather than heat with embarrassment and humiliation as she might have done in the past, Elizabeth chuckled and shrugged her shoulders. After all, tripping was a natural part of her life, and she was done feeling ridiculous for every spill and stumble.

Her father handed her to Jasper, who thanked him, and together she and Jasper stood before the priest.

“I love you,” Jasper mouthed. “You look beautiful.”

At that, her face did heat, with pleasure at his words. With the knowledge that what he said was true. That he loved her exactly as she was, someone who would never chide her clumsiness or roll their eyes at her novels. But he would be at her side to hold her upright and read those very same books.

And be the hero in her own true love story.