Chapter Twenty-Seven
Her wedding day—the first of two—was a delight.
With her family around her and the weather fine, she felt she would be greedy to ask for more.
The little church was full to bursting with well-wishers, the villagers all wanting to see yet another of the Ashton girls marry—and this time to a prince, no less!
Roberta was not nervous; she could be herself because these were her people, and they loved her.
Niki arrived with Freddie, and his bodyguards, and Ernest in tow. He seemed all business. Gabriel joined them, and they retired to a small, private crypt where some of the medieval Ashtons were buried. It was quieter here, and they could be alone.
“We will leave Grantham directly after the wedding supper,” Freddie informed her.
“Arrangements have been made. You will be sailing from Dover—let’s hope the winds are favorable and we don’t have to cool our heels there for too long.
After we land at Calais, we will make the journey overland to Holtswig. ”
“Countess Matilda—” Roberta began, but was cut off by Niki.
“She has already left, with Chamberlain Francis, so she will be there to greet us when we arrive. She will choose your ladies-in-waiting.”
“But I have Antonia. She is coming with me.”
“At least you will have one of your family with you,” Gabriel interjected, as if daring Niki to argue.
“I would not deny you your sister,” Niki said quietly. “She is welcome.”
“Sir.” It was one of the many attendants who seemed to be always about. “They are ready to begin.”
Niki met Roberta’s eyes, and it seemed to her there was a great deal more he wanted to say. There was no time though, and he left with his brother.
Roberta noticed then that the voices from the church next door had dropped away to silence and music had begun to play.
The organ was old but perfect, and the rousing sound of it made Roberta’s heart swell in her chest and tears fill her eyes.
As she walked up the nave on her brother’s arm, she felt the whispers of the congregation like a warm embrace.
Her gown was simple, made of cream satin with lace at the hem and a modest neckline.
It had belonged to Olivia, and her sister had insisted it was perfect for the occasion.
Something borrowed, remember, she had said, squeezing Roberta’s hands.
Roberta’s hair was loose down her back, her crown decorated with flowers from the Grantham gardens, given to her by her grandmother’s own hands.
In her earlobes, she wore the Ashton pearls, with a string of them about her neck.
“Such a special occasion,” Gabriel whispered at her side. “Be happy, sister. If I could wish for anything for you, then it would be that.”
“Thank you, best of brothers.”
“Your only brother,” he said with a grin. “Ah, here we are.”
Roberta looked up. Niki was standing with Ernest at his side. He did not see her approach, but she knew he was aware of her. When she stepped up beside him, he turned his head, and his dark eyes were full of emotion. It settled her, knowing he too was overwhelmed by this moment.
“I didn’t say it a moment ago, but you look beautiful,” he said, leaning in close and sounding very serious. “I want to tell you that I am eternally grateful you agreed to this, Roberta.”
She rested her hand on his, and he covered it with his other hand. “It feels slightly unreal.”
Niki was wearing a dark blue jacket and fawn pantaloons with boots that shone from polishing. His hair was cut shorter than usual, and there was a large medal pinned to his chest that she did not remember seeing before.
He saw her notice it and reached up to touch it with his fingertip.
“This was given to me by my grandfather when I turned sixteen,” he said.
“A reward for passing my exams that year. I did not return to school afterward. I had to learn to be a prince. He said I had reached a turning point, and I was no longer a boy but a man. I still felt very young, but I would not have dared to tell him so.”
The medal had sentimental value, and Roberta was pleased he was wearing it today and not the rows of official decorations she had seen pinned to his breast on other occasions.
This little church with everybody here to celebrate their union—it was a moment she would never forget, and suddenly, she was so happy she could burst.
“What a lovely day!” she said, her voice louder than she meant, and she was embarrassed when there was soft laughter from the seats behind her.
“It is indeed!” Niki said just as loudly.
More laughter, and she was able to recover herself.
She tried to concentrate on every minute so that she could remember later when she was in Holtswig, feeling alone and out of her depth.
When her family wasn’t there to support her.
Or Niki was too busy to help her and be by her side.
Then she would think of her wedding today and hold it close to her heart.
“Are we ready?” the minister asked quietly, kindly eyes upon them.
“Yes,” Niki and Roberta said together, and the service began.
It was over too soon, and yet it felt as if every moment would remain with Niki forever.
After a chaste kiss and cheers from the congregation, they made their way from the church and into the carriage, decorated for the occasion with white tulle and flowers.
Then back to Grantham for the wedding supper, where toasts were made to their health and a long and happy marriage.
Those who mattered to Roberta were here with her, but Niki’s family wasn’t like hers. He glanced at Ernest, who was red-faced with laughter at something Edwina had said, and told himself he was grateful to have at least one relative here whom he loved.
As for the rest of his family, Karl was already in Holtswig, making his way south for his marriage to Lady Henrietta von Blasberg.
He was sorry Karl had caused upheaval between himself and Roberta, and he was glad his elder brother was out of the way.
When they reached Holtswig, he would have the castle to himself without the disruptive influence of his brother. Himself and Roberta.
Before long, Roberta’s luggage was being loaded onto his coach—the remainder would be sent on later—and she was hugging and kissing her family. Tears were being shed and laughter shared, and then they were away.
As the vehicle headed for the road to London, Niki realized it was just the two of them.
Antonia was riding in the second coach and Freddie had—generously, Niki reluctantly appreciated now—agreed to share with her and some of the Holtswig entourage.
The bodyguards were riding alongside. There had been so many people and so much noise and emotion, and now it was just Roberta and Niki. He didn’t know what to say.
“Has a date been set for our next wedding? I feel like I am an expert now at being the bride.”
He looked up. Her dark, glossy hair was peeking out from beneath her bonnet, and her blue eyes were a little shy.
She was smiling a wry smile, and suddenly, it was easy to smile back.
This was Roberta, the woman he felt comfortable with, and surely if there was one person he could speak to, it was her.
Niki cleared his throat. “Not immediately. There are arrangements to be made. All the usual pomp and ceremony.”
She hesitated, folding her gloved hands in her lap, and then said, “You do remember I am not very familiar with pomp and ceremony. I am the girl who rode your prized stallion through the brambles and swam naked with my sisters. And we won’t mention the cartwheel.”
The thought of her naked in the water was not something he wanted to dwell on right now, when he was trying to be reassuring.
“Don’t worry. There will be plenty of people to tell you what to do, and if you stumble over your lines, they will whisper them.
When my grandfather died, the investiture went for an entire day, and I had to stand in a heavy robe and try to appear regal. It was exhausting.”
She giggled. “I hope you don’t expect me to look regal.”
“Roberta, it will be fine. I want you to not worry. Let me do the worrying for both of us.”
Her smile softened, and there was a warmth in her blue eyes, an expression that, just for a moment, took his breath away.
She was so beautiful, and she was his. He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her and tell her he loved her.
But, with a glance out of the window, he recalled that there were guards out there.
Perhaps now was not the right time. Niki knew he was not always able to open his heart and say what was in it.
A bleak childhood and a sense that he must protect himself had not helped.
He knew it would take time for him to learn to trust. So instead of doing what he really wanted to, he turned to what he was good at.
Practical matters. And perhaps he could reassure her at the same time.
“I don’t think we have spoken of what will happen when you arrive in Holtswig.
Let me set your mind at rest. You won’t be expected to begin your duties immediately.
You will be allowed time to settle into life in the castle.
Chamberlain Francis will be pushing for you to do this and that, but I won’t let him bother you too much.
I will tell him you are weary from the journey. ”
“Thank you.” It sounded heartfelt.
“When you are ready, you will be introduced to the Holtswig court, which is small compared to England’s. And remember, Matilda will be there with her children, as well as Ernest. Karl has already left, so you need not bother about him.”
“Hmm. And what about after we are married? I am sure you will be busy, so what will I do all day while you rule the country?” It was said with humor, but he recognized the worry in her eyes.
“I have never been married before, and my mother left when I was a child and now lives in Italy. There has not been a Princess of Holtswig for many years. What I am saying in my pompous way is…”
She giggled. “You are not pompous, Niki. At least, not as much as you used to be.”
Niki paused, feeling ridiculously pleased by her praise. “What I am saying is that you will have a clean slate. It will be up to you to decide what responsibilities you want to be yours. I suggest you feel your way through the possibilities, Roberta, and let your heart guide you.”
She nodded as if she liked the sound of that. “And riding? Will you show me your favorite spots?”
“Yes! We will ride. I hope we will ride every day.”
“Good.”
The conversation lapsed, and the coach continued along the rather bumpy roads. He did not intend to stop other than to change horses, as time was critical. He needed to get home, and they still had a long way to go. Niki closed his eyes.
He was a married man, and he smiled to himself as he acknowledged it.
He was married to Roberta, the woman he loved, and he would do everything in his power to ensure she never regretted agreeing to their union.
This would not be like the marriage of his father and mother. The thought turned him cold.
His mother, Countess Marie, had been gone for a long time now, but he remembered enough.
Arguments between his parents had been commonplace, and often things were thrown and broken.
Servants had watched wide-eyed as Edgar and Marie went to war within the walls of their castle.
The two of them had changed lovers as often as they changed their clothes, until eventually his mother ran off with her Italian paramour and was seen no more.
Sleepily, Niki wondered if she was happy.
He had not heard from her for so many years, but sometimes he wondered what he would do if she suddenly appeared at the door and asked to come home.
Chamberlain Francis would refuse to admit her, and Niki understood why.
They did not need any further disruption in his country.
Bad enough that someone was trying to kill Niki.
He knew he was not a popular ruler among the people, especially those who lived out in the countryside.
Those around the castle, in the town, were more sophisticated, and they tolerated their progressive prince.
But if his mother took up residence again with all her wicked ways, it would only serve to make matters worse.
Niki had to set an example. He needed to be seen as a morally upstanding ruler, with a happy personal life, and nothing like his parents, or even Karl.
He was making a new beginning, with Roberta at his side, and it was his dearest hope that it would go very well.