Chapter 31
THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
Throughout the next few weeks, Natalie and Garrett endured the diligent eyes of the ton, watching them everywhere they went.
The high sticklers of society, it seemed, were holding their breath, waiting for Natalie or Garrett to step out of line and give them full right to rain down their judgment upon the couple.
But until then, no one dared censure the earl and his flighty fiancée.
For some reason, London’s most disgraceful pair had been warmly embraced by a few of the ton’s most powerful members.
It was difficult to understand how the Duke of Cortland could act so kindly toward her.
She’d jilted him, after all, had she not?
With mixed feelings of excitement and sheer terror, Natalie, her mother, and Aunt Eleanor whirled about from one event to another.
On a few occasions, they were escorted by Lord Hawthorne and her father.
But it would be unseemly to appear to be living in his pocket.
It was best that she remain close to her chaperones.
And although worse than her punishment last spring, she dared not take any missteps. This time she had everything to lose.
Natalie celebrated one happy event amidst it all.
For one of the events she, her mother, and godmother attended was the wedding of Miss Abigail Wright to the Duke of Monfort, no less!
Taking full credit for their courtship, she wished another duchess well and assumed she’d learn of that story another time, perhaps.
And all the while, like a storm on the horizon, her own nuptials loomed nearer and nearer.
What was Garrett thinking? What was he feeling?
At the water party, he’d denied being angry with her.
He’d also told her it didn’t matter either way.
She wished she could feel as certain of his love now as she had this summer.
She had felt certain then, but only after they’d been alone together a great deal.
Everything felt different now. They’d not talked, really talked, since she’d left Maple Hall with her parents.
And she was to marry him.
In one week.
In five days.
Tomorrow.
This morning.
Oh, Lord, the day was finally here. Her wedding day. God willing, Garrett would present himself at the church on time.
God willing, he would present himself, period.
She’d die if he abandoned her at the altar.
She’d rather undergo physical torture than for him to be late.
Hundreds of guests had RSVP’d, and a large wedding breakfast awaited at Burtis Hall.
Natalie’s parents had decided that, after spending the wedding night in town, the bride and groom would remove themselves for a few weeks to London Hills, Natalie’s dower property.
It was assumed they would return to Maple Hall for the winter.
There was also some discussion of a Christmas house party at Summers Park, the Duke of Cortland’s principal seat.
It would be a family gathering. Yes, Garrett was family now.
Wedding day nerves attacked her with a vengeance.
One moment, tearful sentimentality engulfed her, and the next, nausea-inducing terror.
She would do well to make it down the aisle without shattering into a million pieces.
She wished she could act with the same confidence she’d had when originally undertaking this plan.
Just as Sissy finished pinning a charming little bonnet into Natalie’s hair, Lady Ravensdale entered the room.
She’d visited Natalie the night before to reveal to her only daughter the details of the physical act that would be expected on her wedding night.
Natalie had nodded and acted as though it was all new information, but in truth her mother’s words were much less informative than her experiences with Garrett.
Natalie had no dread of her wedding night. She simply dreaded the wedding itself.
This morning, her mother was tearful yet happy.
“Oh, my darling,” she said with a sigh, catching her daughter’s eyes in the mirror. “You are going to be the most beautiful bride ever to marry at St. George’s!”
With that Natalie scrunched her nose, marring the effect of serene beauty the veil on her bonnet helped to create. “Mama, I am terrified. What if I was wrong? What if he does not love me? He will hate me forever knowing I’ve trapped him. For that’s what I did, Mama, I trapped him.”
Her mother turned Natalie away from the mirror and took her hands between her own.
“A man such as your fiancé would not allow himself to be trapped. Lord Hawthorne is marrying you because he wants to.” She tilted her head and gave Natalie a watery smile.
“I’ve seen how he looks at you, my darling.
He loves you. You are the best thing that man has ever known, and he knows it.
He is not a fool.” Seeing her tears form, her mother moved Natalie’s veil aside and, with a handkerchief, dabbed at the corners of her eyes.
“Now, we don’t want to be late. I will see you at the church.
” With that, she kissed her on the cheek and then left Natalie alone with her thoughts.
And then her father appeared to escort her downstairs and out to the carriage. Everything was moving along as planned. With lightning speed.
Considering the events of the past several weeks, Garrett ought not to have been surprised when he stepped out of the vestibule near the altar to see the church bursting at the seams. There were even several guests left standing near the back.
Garrett pulled at his cravat. Marcus had tied it much tighter today than usual.
Ah, yes, Marcus took his job very seriously.
His dedicated valet, in fact, had insisted Garrett dress in the latest formal wedding attire, with white breeches, a silver waistcoat, and a silver and blue jacket. Garrett felt conspicuous. He would have been much more at ease in his normal black attire and a pair of riding boots.
When he went to tug at his cravat once again, Stone, his best man, leaned in and whispered, “You’re going to ruin the knot.” His friend’s voice rumbled with more than a hint of laughter.
Garrett suppressed a growl. “There will come a day when we trade places, my friend, and then you shall know the feeling.”
Stone chuckled.
And then a murmur rose at the back of the church.
She was here. A hush fell over the sanctuary, and then the music trumpeted, signifying the beginning of the ceremony. The vision at the end of the aisle glowed. Carrying yellow roses, she wore a dress made up of gold and white.
His breath caught. Natalie was going through with it.
His bride. She was beautiful, courageous, the light of his life, and it seemed that all would be well after all.
The sky wasn’t falling, and the earth had not collapsed upon itself.
A warmth unlike anything he’d known blossomed inside him at the stunning epiphany.
Everything was going to be all right.
He was in love and marrying the woman of his dreams. How had this happened? When had everything fallen into place so perfectly? And how was it he was only just now realizing this?
His eyes caught hers as she drew nearer to the front of the large cathedral on her father’s arm. She appeared a little pale, more delicate than usual. Her cornflower blue eyes were large in her face. They looked uncertain as she met his gaze.
Until Garrett smiled at her.
In that smile, he allowed all the love he felt at that moment to overflow from his heart. Watching him, she stumbled slightly. Her father caught her so that it was hardly noticeable. Garrett loved her. He loved her.
Ah, yes. I love her.
The bishop began speaking, and all Garrett managed to think of was how very lucky he was to have been saved by Lady Natalie Spencer.
He would spend his life doing all he could to bring her happiness.
He would take her abroad, on the travels she’d missed out on this summer.
While the manor was rebuilt, he would show her some of the most beautiful places in England and on the continent.
He would take her to Italy, to Spain, hell, even to India.
He would show her the world! And then when the construction and furnishing at Maple Hall were all completed, they would return, and they would begin a family. And he would cherish her.
He felt like a groom.
Stepping into the church, Natalie nearly collapsed in relief at the sight of her fiancé standing at the end of the aisle.
She was also glad to see her brothers were not lined up behind him with pistols pointed at his head.
If he showed, she had half expected he would be attired in his normal unrelieved blacks. And although he looked handsome enough in those, she was oh, so pleased to see him dressed for this occasion. He looked more handsome than any man she’d ever known.
His chiseled features were strong and sturdy, his eyes honest and true. As she stepped toward him, holding onto her father with one hand and her bouquet in the other, her doubts returned, for he looked grim.
Her feet felt leaden as she approached the altar.
And then he smiled at her.
Not a wry smile, or a condescending smile, or even a smile of laughter. She’d seen all of those over the past few weeks as they’d attended balls and parties and all sorts of ton events together. This smile was different.
This smile spread a warmth from the top of her head, through her breasts, her abdomen, and down to her toes. This smile was one she’d not experienced before.
It was love.
The power of it nearly sent her toppling to the floor. Her father grasped her tightly, however, and kept her from making a fool of herself. She looked again into Garrett’s eyes and marveled at what she saw. He looked as though the weight of the world had been lifted from him.
Leaving her father, she allowed Garrett to take her hand in his, and together they turned to face the bishop. Her senses hummed as she inhaled the scent of his masculine cologne and felt the warmth of him beside her. Her knees weakened in relief. She’d not been mistaken after all!
The priest spoke of how the two would become one.
And she felt as one with him. The distance she’d felt before was gone.
She felt as though she was in a dream, a wonderful dream, as he slipped the wedding band on her third finger.
When he’d slid it all the way on, he lifted her hand to his lips and placed a kiss there as well.
The congregation sighed, seeing such a sign of what was surely a love match.
And in the blink of an eye, they were man and wife.