Chapter Thirty-Seven
Theo woke early as usual, but today she would not be riding.
Today was her wedding day. Yesterday, Chandos, who had taken possession of the family jewelry and brought over a collection of rings.
She selected an emerald ring in a wide gold band.
Her trunks had been sent to the yacht. Then they attended Sarah and Marrow’s wedding and the wedding breakfast. After two weeks of planning, it seemed to be happening so soon. Which made no sense at all.
Payne entered the room, and Theo donned a simple day dress for breakfast. It was strange not to have Chandos there, but her sisters insisted that he not be allowed to see her before the ceremony.
While she dressed for the wedding, a knock came on the door and Mary, Elizabeth, Constance, and, Louisa’s daughter, Alexandria entered.
“We have gifts for you,” Mary said. “Well, three gifts and one on loan.”
The little girls nodded. Mary stepped forward. “I have something new.” She held out a rectangular box covered in silk.
Tears sprung to Theo’s eyes. She remembered all the times she and Mary had done this on their older sisters’ wedding days.
“Thank you.” She opened the box. In it was a gold bracelet set with emeralds.
It looked as if it had been made to match her ring.
But how could that have happened? “It is beautiful!” She hugged Mary. “Thank you so much.”
Next Elizabeth came to Theo. “I have something old.” She handed Theo a velvet bag. In it was a delicate necklace with an emerald shaped in a teardrop. It was as if they all knew which ring she would choose. “It is lovely.” She hugged her niece. “Thank you!”
Mama helped me,” Elizabeth said.
Constance was next. “I have something borrowed.” She handed Theo a gold hair comb. “Mama said not to lose it.”
Theo chuckled wetly. “I will not lose it, and I will return it immediately after the ceremony.”
Alexandria blushed as she handed Theo a packet wrapped in paper. “This is something blue. I hope you like them. I embroidered them myself.”
Theo unwrapped the gift. In the paper were three handkerchiefs embroidered with three different blue flowers, a forget-me-not, a bluebell, and a delphinium. “These are extremely well-done!”
Her niece blushed again. “Thank you. Mama said that the same thing.”
Mary patted Theo on her back. “No crying.”
“I know. Is it time to go yet?” As Theo spoke a knock sounded on the door.
Grace opened it. “All right, everyone. We need to be off.”
Sarah stood behind Theo. “I am so happy for you.”
“One more to go.” They would all attend Felice and Crewe’s wedding tomorrow. Theo linked arms with Sarah. “I am so excited I can hardly breathe.”
“That sounds like me yesterday.” She smiled. “I can tell you that thus far, married life is wonderful!”
They drove to the church with Matt and entered through the side door.
All Theo’s brothers and sisters, including the ones by marriage, were already seated.
Then she saw Chandos. He was magnificent.
He wore a black jacket and trousers, with a snowy white cravat.
His waistcoat was green paisley with silver thread.
He had never looked more handsome. He turned from speaking to Marrow and smiled.
Theo took Leo’s breath away. Her gown was of salmon-colored silk with gold netting.
The neckline of the bodice hinted at her lush breast. It dropped almost to her natural waistline showing off her small waist. The skirt, narrower than in previous years, flared out over her hips.
He couldn’t wait to get her alone. But first the wedding and the breakfast afterward.
The rector took his place as Theo moved toward him, Worthington by her side. “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 …”
Having just witnessed a marriage ceremony, Leo knew he couldn’t take Theo’s hand until after her brother allowed it. Finally, the rector asked who would give Theo to him.
“I will.” Worthington glanced at Leo. “Take good care of her.”
He nodded and the rector continued. Gazing into each other’s eyes, he and Theo continued their vows in strong voices.
Marrow gave the ring to the clergyman. He blessed it before giving it to Leo.
Despite knowing what he’d say, Theo blushed when he promised to worship her body.
Then they were pronounced man and wife. He felt as if he’d run a marathon and had won.
After signing the registry, he turned to Theo. “Are you ready, wife?”
“As ready as you are, husband.” Instead of merely placing her hand on his arm, she twined her arm with his. “Let us go.”
They strolled up the aisle, accepting the congratulations of their relatives. Even his mother appeared happy. Hopefully, her attitude toward his wedding had changed.
February 1825 Stallwart Palace, Northamptonshire
“This baby can come anytime.” Theo rubbed her stomach.
“I wish I knew what was taking it so long.” She and Leo had arrived back in England in time for the family get-together, then traveled up to their main estate and immediately wrote to the Rollinses.
While the master apartments and the nursery and schoolroom were being refreshed and remodeled, they continued on to the rest of their estates.
They had returned to Stallwart Palace just after Christmas to await the coming of their first child.
But the dratted thing was refusing to make a showing. Theo was almost two weeks late.
“This is quite common with firstborn children,” the midwife said reassuringly.
“No one else in my family has been this late.” Why her?
“Theo.” Grace’s tone was gentle. “Most of your sisters have had twins. They always come early.”
“Yes, but Louisa, Madeline, and Augusta were not this late.” Theo prayed there was nothing wrong.
“That is no indication of your pregnancy and the birth of your child.”
Grace was right. All of her sisters by blood had experienced morning sickness, and she had not. “I suppose you are right.”
Leo knocked on the door and entered. “Is there any news?”
Theo shook her head. “Your son is apparently as stubborn as you are.”
“Oh, no! I think it’s your daughter.” He kissed her. “I so want a girl.”
“You are perverse.” Theo could not not sound a bit crabby. “Most gentlemen want boys.”
A slow smile grew on his handsome face. “More fools they. Having a girl means we will have to keep trying.”
“You are impossible.”
He took her hand and kissed it. “True, but you love me anyway.”
“I do love you.” Theo drew him down for a kiss.
“And I love you.” He searched her eyes before kissing her again.
“How is your mother doing?” The dowager duchess had arrived two weeks ago and made a point of keeping to herself until Grace and Louisa had also arrived.
“She wants a boy.” Leo’s tone was dry and dismissive.
“Everyone will get what God gives them,” Louisa commented. “Come, Theo, you should walk.”
“I know.”
Leo helped her up from the chaise. She took two steps and almost doubled over in pain.
“What is it?” He held on to her until she could stand.
“I believe her grace has got her wish,” the midwife said as she moved around the room gathering her things and going into the birthing room.
“I need to walk.”
Leo wrapped his arm around what was left of her waist. “I’ll be right here with you.”
“I’ve sent for small bites of food to be brought,” Louisa said. “You must keep up your strength.”
Before Theo could reach the door, another pain struck.
“These are close together,” Grace said. “Do not go far.” She glanced at Leo. “Up and down this corridor. I do not think it will be long now.”
“You see what you did?” Leo said teasingly. “You complained so much, the baby gave up.”
“Good. Hopefully, this means he or she will listen to me.”
They made it to the corridor and fluid flowed down her legs. “I think my water broke.”
The midwife came to the door of the birthing room. “I think it’s time you got in the chair.”
The chair was the birthing chair that all her sisters had used. Its strange shape was supposed to help with the birth. Theo’s maid removed her robe, leaving her in a chemise. Pain speared through her again. “That was close.”
Leo helped her into the chair, and the midwife took a look under her shift. “I can see the head.”
Until last week, they had been concerned that the baby would be breech, but it turned. Since then, Theo had had more trouble pushing it down so that she could breathe. She caught her breath with the next pain.
“Push hard,” the midwife said. “That’s excellent. Once more and we’ll know what we have.”
Theo pushed with the pain and the baby seemed to pop out. “What is it?”
“You have a boy, your grace,” the midwife said as the baby screamed. “He has a good set of lungs. Once more for the afterbirth, and they can clean you up.”
Theo bore down as hard as she could. The afterbirth had to come out whole.
“There you are. Excellent job.” The midwife grinned.
One of the nursemaids handed the baby to Leo. “He’s beautiful. Wrinkled, but beautiful. And bald.”
Payne cleaned Theo and helped her to the bed. “There you are, your grace. I shall order something for you to eat.”
“Thank you.” Theo gazed at her husband and baby. “I would like to see my son.”
Leo came over and sat in a chair next to the bed, then handed her the baby. “We must decide on a name.” Their son started to root around and she put him to her breast. “We could name him after your father and Matt?”
“Bartholomew? Douglas, my grandfather’s name, might be better.”
“What do you think of Douglas Harold, after my grandfather, Matheus?”
“Douglas, Harold, Matheus, Marquis of Stratton. I like it.” He grinned and stroked one finger lightly down her cheek and over their son’s head.