Chapter 35

35

At the day and time appointed for Solemnization of Matrimony, the Persons to be married shall come into the body of the Church with their Friends and Neighbours.

—The Book of Common Prayer

When Armaan had left them to find Mira and Sonali, William turned back to Claire. “I nearly forgot. There is a letter for you as well. From a law office in Edinburgh.”

“Really? I thought I had heard the last from them, unless it is to inform me which charity will ultimately benefit from Aunt Mercer’s estate.” She opened the letter and read, finding inside unexpectedly familiar handwriting—Agnes Mercer’s.

Dear Claire,

I must say, I am surprised and impressed. If you are reading this it is because you have decided not to marry Lord Bertram. I daresay he will not be happy with that decision, but you may well be happier for it! Marrying him might have improved your social standing and reputation—or served to stir up all the old rumors again. Who knows?

As he did not fulfill the terms I set forth, he shall not inherit a farthing from me. I told him, should he fail, that my property would go to a favorite charity. And that it will.

One of my favorite charities is you.

Now, before you get too excited, I am bequeathing an endowment to the church and parish poor fund, so you don’t get it all, but I am also leaving you, Claire Summers, my house in Edinburgh, where you served me with such long-suffering patience beyond anything I deserved. You will also receive the funds to maintain it with a small staff. You may live here or opt to sell the place outright. That is your choice.

You may wonder why I did not leave it to you in the first place instead of involving Lord Bertram. After looking into his financial dealings, and realizing how much he needed money, I feared if he learned you were an heiress, he might charm you into marrying him without revealing his true motive. So I decided to give you two options. If you still cared for the man despite his faults, or if marrying him was the only way to reconcile with your mother, then you could do so and benefit from the inheritance as his wife. Or, if you chose to refuse him, you would have a place to live and the means to keep body and soul together should your mother stand by her husband’s command not to shelter you.

I believe you made a wise choice.

I know I was not as kind to you as I should have been. I hope you will forgive me and believe me when I say I grew quite fond of you. I sincerely hope you can put the past behind you and live a full, satisfying life of love and service.

Yours sincerely, Agnes Mercer

“Good heavens...” Claire breathed.

William watched her in mounting concern. “What is it?”

“It is astounding—that’s what it is.”

“Good news or bad?”

“Good, I think. Unless ... You were planning to marry a penniless woman. How would you feel about marrying an heiress?”

A short while later, Claire went to find Mary and explained what Mr. Hammond had learned about her intended, and the efforts made on her behalf to have him sent back on the next available ship.

“Oh, miss! I’m that thankful!”

“It is a long journey,” Claire cautioned her. “And Mr. Hammond says Mr. MacBain is unlikely to reach England before the child is born. However, if all goes well, he could arrive soon after.”

“And may I stay on? Till then?”

“Armaan and Sonali will probably manage the boarding house in future, and I cannot speak for them. But Mr. Hammond has promised you shall have a home, either here or wherever we live after we wed. So rest assured. He is a man of his word and incredibly understanding.” Claire gratefully counted herself as another recipient of his compassion.

“Aye,” Mary agreed. “How blessed we are to be loved by such men.”

That night, when they retired to their shared room, Claire asked Sarah, “What would you say to going to Edinburgh with us after the wedding? I seem to have inherited a property there and would like your opinion on whether I should keep it or sell.”

“Edinburgh?”

“Aunt Mercer left me her house.”

“You’re joking.”

“I am as surprised as you are.”

“Surely you’d prefer to travel alone with Mr. Hammond after you wed?”

“Not at all. I’d love to have more time with you too. And favorite sisters often travel with the bride.”

“I don’t know. It’s a long way. I don’t think I could leave Sea View for that long.”

“Oh, I’m sure between Mamma, Emily, Georgie, and the extremely efficient Mr. Gwilt, things at Sea View will go on perfectly well for a fortnight or two.”

“I suppose it’s possible. I could consider it.”

Claire nodded. “Good. And remember, if you went with us, we might visit that most generous friend of yours. Mr. Henshall? I could thank him personally for returning my necklace. And you could renew your acquaintance with the gentleman, who, according to Emily, is quite handsome and admires you a great deal.”

“Emily romanticizes everything.”

“Perhaps. But even I can see that dreamy look in your eyes whenever his name comes up in conversation.”

“I could not just ... call on him. It would be too forward.”

“We would not be going simply to call on him. We are going to look at the house. And while we are there, it would only be polite to visit an acquaintance, especially one who performed such kind offices for our family.”

“Now you sound like Emily. Very well, I shall think about it.”

“You do that, Sarah. And while you’re thinking, I will begin making plans.”

On an early September morning, Claire rose from bed, stomach fluttering with anticipation as she prepared for her wedding. As in days of old, she and Sarah helped each other dress.

As she laced Claire’s long stays, Sarah said, “You’re trembling. Are you nervous?”

“A little, yes, although mostly eager.”

Sarah gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze. “It is going to be a lovely day. Relish it.”

With her assistance, Claire donned an elegant new gown of ivory satin, which their mother had engaged a modiste to make for her. Mamma had also had a pretty new gown made for Sarah, who would serve as Claire’s bridesmaid.

Soon after they finished dressing, Fran arrived to curl and arrange Claire’s hair, as well as Sarah’s, Mamma’s, Emily’s, and Georgiana’s.

As Claire sat at the dressing table, Fran met her gaze in the mirror and asked, “Do you recall the first time I dressed your hair? For the Huntley ball?”

“I remember.”

“I knew then you would be a most beautiful bride one day, and I was right.”

They smiled at each other’s reflections, then Claire rose to make way for Sarah. When all were ready, they went downstairs together.

Major Hutton sent his carriage to collect Claire, her bridesmaid, and her mother, while the others would walk to the church. It was a fine, temperate day for a stroll, and a perfect day for a wedding. Claire decided to take Sarah’s advice and relish every moment.

When the carriage arrived at St. Giles and St. Nicholas a few minutes later, there was Mira waiting for them in a sweet ivory gown similar to Claire’s, a wreath of flowers in her dark hair. Her father stood beside her, handsome in a dark blue frock coat, fine waistcoat, and snowy cravat. Armaan and Sonali stood just behind them and seemed to have eyes only for each other.

William stepped to the carriage to help the ladies alight, keeping hold of Claire’s hand. His gaze, full of warmth and wonder, was a delight to behold and filled Claire with love and gratitude anew that this man would soon be her husband.

The party from Sea View and Westmount arrived on foot: Emily and James, Viola and Major Hutton, and a much younger man he introduced as his brother, Colin. Georgiana and Mr. Hornbeam brought up the rear.

Georgiana’s hair—so recently and carefully curled and pinned by Fran—was already falling loose into her eyes, and her skirt bore grass stains.

“Georgie!” Mamma called. “What on earth happened?”

“Oh, nothing. Chips ran off with Mr. Hornbeam’s walking stick, so I chased after him and wrestled it away.”

“Of course you did.” Sarah slowly shook her head, a tolerant grin on her lips.

“Well,” Claire said, “you all look beautiful to me.”

“And to me,” William echoed, squeezing her hand. “Now, shall we go inside and get married?”

Together they entered the nave, and Claire was surprised by how many people were in attendance. There was Mrs. Ballard, Mary, Fran and her husband, Mrs. Denby, a few women she had met at church, and many others she did not recognize—a testimony to the affection the townspeople held for her family.

Claire walked to the front of the church and stood with William before the altar, Sarah on her other side as attendant, while Armaan stood near William.

The vicar began with the familiar words, “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....”

As the service continued, Claire felt a sense of unreality. For more than two years, she had all but given up hope of a happy life and a loving marriage. But now? Oh God, I thank you. She pulled herself back to the present and concentrated as the vows were read from the Book of Common Prayer.

When his turn came, William looked at her, green eyes warm with affection, and replied without hesitation, “I will.”

The vicar next charged her, and Claire responded with a quiet yet resolute, “I will.”

The pledges and prayers were read. The rings blessed and exchanged, William opting to wear one too, as some men did.

Then the vicar led the congregation in another prayer before pronouncing them “man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Gratitude washed over her. This was real. William was her husband and she his wife. God had given her such a great gift. How good He was.

Together they knelt and the vicar prayed a final blessing over them. Claire felt blessed indeed. She was now Mrs. Hammond!

When the prayer ended, William helped her rise, and they followed the vicar and parish clerk into the vestry for the writing of the marriage lines into the parish register, which was witnessed by Sarah and Armaan. As Sarah straightened from signing her name, she met Claire’s gaze and the two sisters shared joyful, tremulous smiles.

During the wedding, Sarah had experienced a whole spice box of emotions: cinnamon sweetness seasoned with salty tears and the bitter tang of thyme. Would a man ever vow to comfort her, honor, and keep her? To have and to hold? To love and to cherish?

She was truly happy for Claire. Yet her heart ached. She too longed to be held. Loved. Cherished.

After the ceremony, Sarah hurried home, determined to vanquish the unsavory emotions with her usual tonic of hard work and serving others.

They were hosting the wedding breakfast at Sea View, which Mrs. Besley, Jessie, Lowen, and Mr. Gwilt had been busily preparing and setting out in the dining room. There were hot rolls, fresh butter, ham and eggs, boiled tongue, and braised fish. Cider, tea, and hot drinking chocolate awaited at one end of the table, and the bride cake crowned the center.

Sarah herself had made the cake for the occasion, taking extra time and care since the cake was for a favorite sister on her very special day. She’d followed the bride cake recipe she’d found in The Experienced English Housekeeper . It was a rich fruit-and-nut cake with layers of both almond and sugar icing. Sarah thought it looked rather well and hoped it tasted good too.

With William and Claire not being well-known in Sidmouth, the crowd was perhaps smaller than at Viola’s and Emily’s weddings, but the mood felt just as jovial. Sarah was heartened to see friends and neighbors gather to honor this sister they barely knew for the sake of the Summers and Hutton families they did know.

Dear Mrs. Denby was there, chatting with Mr. Hornbeam and Miss Reed, who would soon become his wife. Major Hutton, Viola, Armaan, and Sonali sat nearby, talking with Mamma. The major’s younger brother, Colin, had come to town to congratulate Armaan and Sonali and had remained for the wedding. He sat teasing Georgie and Mira in equal turns.

Guests carried plates of food from the dining room to the parlour or drawing room and spilled out onto the veranda.

Mr. Gwilt fluttered about as usual, refilling cups and clearing plates with a smile. Sarah assisted him, cutting cake and handing it around, watching and listening with quiet satisfaction as guests exclaimed over how delicious it was.

She was also pleased to see Fran, Mrs. Ballard, and the housemaid Mary chatting together like old friends and enjoying the rare pleasure of sitting at their leisure and being waited on for a change. Maybe someday Sarah would learn to enjoy leisure as well. And perhaps, just perhaps, she would accept Claire’s invitation to travel with them to Scotland.

Claire looked around Sea View with a sense of wonder. All of these people were here to celebrate with her, some because they were acquainted with her mother or sisters, yes, but still they had come. She no longer felt like a pariah, no longer felt shunned.

While she stood talking and laughing with James and Emily, William came along and grabbed her hand, pulling her into the quiet hall. There, he wrapped his strong arms around her and stole a kiss, away from the prying eyes of the wedding guests. Or so they thought.

From out of nowhere, Mira squeezed herself between them, pleading, “I want a kiss too!”

They separated and leaned down to oblige her with pecks to her cheeks.

Then Georgie appeared and took the girl’s hand. “Shall we play a game of spillikins, Mira?”

“Yes, please!” And the two girls retreated happily into the parlour.

When they had gone, William wrapped his arms around Claire once more, grinning down at her. “I like all your sisters, of course, but at the moment, Georgiana is my favorite.” He leaned down and kissed Claire again.

Happiness bubbled through her, heart and soul. God had renewed her life and given her more than she could have asked for or imagined. Not only had she been restored to her family, but now she and William were about to start a family of their own. Claire reached up and held his beloved face in her hands as she kissed him back, filled with thanksgiving and hope for the future.