Chapter 8
Her face was stiff from smiling. She was afraid it was going to crack. And that the makeup that had been carefully applied would do nothing to hide the fact that the last place she wanted to be was here. She had done what was expected of her as the mother of the groom.
She had breeding and class -- two things that had been passed down through her bloodlines and she did not believe in airing the family's dirty laundry in front of strangers.
She also knew they were being watched like hawks by the curious townspeople and others who had been invited from elsewhere. She had been given an ultimatum by her own son. Host the reception on the grounds of the manor or it would be held at the community center.
She could not allow that to happen of course.
It would create a scandal that would rock the foundation of the family.
And the rumors floating around that she was not with the marriage because of the bride's skin color would hold credence.
So, she had put on a brave and smiling face, hired a caterer and a decorator.
Now her lush lawn with the blaze of prized roses was strewn with people she would not have invited to her home.
And poor Sally looked so distraught. With an impatient sigh, Jacquline glided over to where the young woman was seated on a lawn chair, nursing the same glass of champagne for the past half hour and looking lost and dejected.
"My dear."
Sally snapped to attention like an officer facing her general, reminding Jacquline that the girl would have been a perfect match for her son. She would have been obedient and willing to do anything that was asked of her. Tamping down the regret, she forced a pleasant smile and sat next to her.
"You should be mingling."
"I cannot believe he's married to her." The voice was petulant, and an unattractive pout was on her lips.
"You're going to pull yourself together," Jacquline murmured in a voice that brooked no argument. "People are watching." She looked around and her eyes lighted on a young man wearing tinted glasses. He was the son of one of their associates and looked lost and uncomfortable.
With a discreet nod, she beckoned him over. "Solomon darling, how lovely to see you. Please accompany Sally to the food table and get her something to eat."
"I don't--" Sally's voice trailed off at the icy look on the older woman's face. Without another word, she placed her hand in Solomon's and allowed herself to be guided away.
With that distasteful task dispensed with, Jacquline rose to mingle and play nice with people she did not even like.
"I was hoping to dance with the bride."
Julesa had just taken her seat after whirling around first, with Liam who had flirted with her outrageously, until she was openly laughing at him and then her brother and several others.
Placing an unconsciously protective hand on her arm, Jordan faced his father.
"It's just a dance."
"She's tired."
"How would it look to the rest of the guests if we did not take a turn even once." He held out a hand to Julesa, his eyes challenging.
Placing her hand in his, she sent Jordan a reassuring smile.
"I'll be fine."
Jordan felt himself tensing as his father led his bride onto the makeshift dancefloor. He had stuck close to her to prevent any unpleasantness from his family. And was well aware that his mother was fairly seething with resentment.
He could see the anger behind her practiced smile. She had not liked being backed into a corner and that was exactly what he had done. He had forced her to do something she had not wanted to do and knew there would be repercussions.
For himself, he could handle anything she dished out, but did not want his bride to get caught in the whiplash. It did not surprise him that his first thought was to protect her.
Placing his ring on her fingers had made it official.
She was his to take care of. She was his family now.
He was going to have to work hard to get her to look beyond the name and see him for who he really is, but he was up to the task.
Because this had stopped being a way to get back at his parents and had become something that was of the utmost importance to him.
He was going to have to tread lightly. His plans to take her to the cabin were shelved. There was no way on earth he could be with her in that remote location and not show his true feelings. He wouldn't be able to stay away from her.
Turning away with a sigh, he strode over to the food table to get something to eat.
"It's a particularly lovely day for a wedding," Harry murmured after circling around for a few minutes in silence.
"It is. I appreciate the use of the grounds to hold the ceremony. Your wife went through a lot of trouble to make it happen."
He gazed down into the exquisite face and had to admire his son's choice as well as his bravery and determination to have his own way.
At first he had feared the boy had gone out of his way to piss them off, but he had seen the way he looked at his bride and realized to his surprise that he was in love with her. And she was pregnant.
The idea of the next generation of Wainwright was swaying him and changing his mind.
He had tried to talk to his wife, tried to make her see that there was nothing they could do about any of it, but she would not listen.
She was determined to hate the young lady.
He was not certain he had the energy to continue fighting.
His head lifted to scan the crowd, his gaze finding Joani who looked stunning in a pretty green dress. A stab of jealousy went through him when the man she had come with wrapped an arm around her waist.
After the argument a week ago, he had not been back at her place.
He was about to remedy that. He had tried for several nights to draw closer to his wife, only to be rebuffed.
It was time he admitted it to himself. He was trapped in a loveless marriage and there was no hope for it to be any better.
He would never leave her of course, but he deserved to find his happiness elsewhere.
"Mr. Wainwright?"
Tearing his gaze from the woman across the lawn, he looked at the one in his arms.
"Are you all right?"
A whimsical smile touched his lips. The song was about to end, and he could see his son watching them like a hawk. "I think it's time you start calling me Harry." He led her towards his son and with a nod, drifted away.
"Everything good?"
"I think he's starting to come around," she told him with a smile. "He seems a little preoccupied."
Handing her a plate, he looked over to where his father was talking with his sisters' husbands and several other associates.
"That remains to be seen."
*****
"A cruise?" She turned to look at him in wonder. All he had said to her was that she should pack light clothing and mostly swimsuits.
"You said you have never been."
Clamping her hand on the straw hat she had on, she turned to look at him. "A celebrity cruise?"
He reddened slightly and wondered at the look on her face. They had been married for two days now, and the time had been spent clearing things in order for them to go on their honeymoon.
"We have a share in the cruise line. Look, if you don't want to take the cruise, we could go someplace else."
"Are you kidding?" She exclaimed lightly, trying to put him at ease. "I am looking forward to it."
"Good." He grinned at her, the relief palpable. "I was hoping you'd say that."
As soon as he gave the nod, they were whisked through without the slightest fuss.
Very soon they were cleared and led to their cabin by a steward assigned to them.
"Please feel free to call if you need anything," the man urged with a bow.
"What do you think?"
Standing in the middle of the room, she turned in a circle, her smile wide.
"It's like a five-star hotel. Two beds."
"Yes." Bringing in their luggage, he set it next to the open closet. "What would you like to do?"
"Go up on deck with the rest of the cruisers." She felt uncomfortable being in the same room with him and just wanted to adjust to the fact that they would be spending nights here. They would be in separate beds, but still...
"Then let's go. And I think we should get something to eat."
"That sounds lovely."
*****
He watched her as she leaned against the rail along with the other passengers, waving madly to the people on land who had come to see off their loved ones. She did not appear to be dazzled by the various movie stars and other celebrities on board, but then again, she was one of them.
He had seen several people, mostly men giving her second and third looks, forcing him to step up next to her. Putting his arm around her shoulders, he made it plain to anyone looking that she belonged to him.
"Ready to get something to eat?"
"I am starving," she admitted. It felt natural to lean against him as the ship started moving. "I have every intention of taking tons of pictures."
"I brought a camera in anticipation of that," he told her with a grin.
They made their way to the dining area where a table was reserved for them.
"I had no idea your business extends to cruise ships." She scanned the menu and decided on the grilled lobster with the baby potatoes.
"An associate of mine owns the line and wanted investors." He chose the veal cutlets with the garden salad. A crew member made his way over and started serving them water and freshly baked Italian loaf.
"So, I take it that this is not your first time?" She buttered her bread, and it struck her that she knew next to nothing about him.
"I usually don't have time for cruises. My idea of having fun is taking the jet and going to somewhere exotic."
She bit into the loaf, her taste buds tingling. "I bet you've been all over the world."