Chapter Twenty-Five #2
“When have I ever failed to keep your confidences, brother? Though I confess,” she added, glancing at Charlotte with barely contained excitement, “some secrets prove more difficult to contain than others.”
“Then perhaps,” William suggested with gentle emphasis, “you might assist Her Grace in reviewing the music room arrangements? While I attend to these pressing matters?”
As William strode towards his study, Charlotte found herself swept along by Margaret’s enthusiasm towards the music room. The pianoforte stood polished to gleaming perfection, and holly or winter roses graced every window ledge with particular attention to their placement.
“How beautiful everything looks, I am quite shocked at just how many winter roses the gardener has managed to coax out of the conservatory, even with the repairs that it still needs!” Margaret observed, though something in her tone suggested that she spoke of more than mere decorations.
“When I think of how changed Alverton is, since this time last year... Though perhaps,” she added with careful delicacy, “the changes yet to come may prove even more remarkable?”
“Margaret,” Charlotte began, her curiosity finally overwhelming her patience, “what exactly has your brother been planning with such particular attention?”
Yet before Margaret could respond, Mrs. Walden appeared in the doorway with apparent urgency. It was almost as if everyone was conspiring to prevent her being told about whatever was being planned.
“Your Grace, Cook requires immediate instruction regarding tomorrow’s dinner arrangements. And there is the matter of certain... preparations the vicar wishes to discuss.”
“The vicar wishes to speak with me?” Charlotte repeated softly, her heart beginning to thunder as pieces of understanding began to align. The little hints dropped these past days, William’s particular attention to certain arrangements, Margaret’s barely contained excitement...
“Indeed, Your Grace.” Mrs. Walden’s customary composure could not mask the tone of satisfaction in her voice. “Though perhaps the chapel preparations should be reviewed first? The winter roses have been placed exactly as His Grace specified.”
“The chapel?”
Charlotte’s voice caught slightly on the word. Surely William could not mean...
“Oh dear.” Margaret’s bright tone held no real contrition, and Mrs Walden smiled knowingly.
“Have we somehow given away my brother’s surprise?
Though really,” she added with gentle emphasis that brought warmth to Charlotte’s cheeks, “he might have known that I would find it quite impossible to maintain perfect discretion when such joy approaches.”
Before Charlotte could respond, William’s measured stride sounded in the corridor. He appeared in the doorway and looked at Charlotte in that way which stole her breath.
“I see,” he said quietly, noting Margaret’s knowing smile and Charlotte’s heightened colour, “that my sister’s ability to keep secrets remains somewhat selective.
” Yet something like relief flickered across his stern features as he moved to take Charlotte’s hand in his.
“Though perhaps you might accompany me to the chapel, my love? I find myself quite unable to wait any longer to share certain plans...”
He offered his arm, and Charlotte placed her hand on it, her mind whirling as he led her from the room. Fresh snow crunched beneath their boots as William guided Charlotte along the path to Alverton’s chapel.
Winter roses lined every window, their delicate blooms somehow defying the December chill.
Yet it was not these preparations that caught Charlotte’s breath, but rather the tender vulnerability in William’s expression as he paused before the chapel door.
“I had thought,” he said softly, his deep voice roughening with emotion, “to arrange everything perfectly before speaking of this. To ensure that every detail was precisely as it should be before...” He stopped, swallowing hard before continuing.
“Before asking if you might be willing to speak certain vows again. Not from duty this time, but from the love that has grown between us, despite all of my initial resistance.”
Charlotte’s heart pounded in her chest as she gazed up at him.
“William...”
“I know that such ceremonies are uncommon,” he continued quickly, as though fearing her response.
“Indeed, the vicar had to search quite particularly for precedent. Yet I find myself needing to tell you, to show you, how completely you have transformed not just Alverton’s halls, but its master’s carefully guarded heart. ”
Before Charlotte could find words to express the joy threatening to overwhelm her composure, Margaret’s voice carried from the main house with urgency.
“Brother dear! Surely you don’t mean to keep Charlotte out in this bitter cold? When certain arrangements await our review, and Edmund’s carriage has just been sighted on the drive?”
“Edmund arrives early,” William murmured, though his hand remained steady around Charlotte’s. “Yet perhaps it proves fitting, that family gathers close as we plan such celebrations. Though first...” He gazed down at her with tender gravity. “You have not yet answered my question, my love.”
“What question?” Charlotte’s voice emerged soft with emotion. “You have not precisely asked one, though I begin to comprehend why you have been so particularly attentive to certain arrangements these past few days.”
His free hand rose to brush her cheek with exquisite care.
“Then let me ask properly. Would you stand with me before God once more? Not in a ceremony bound by duty, but in celebration of a love that has grown stronger for having overcome all resistance?”
“Yes.” The word emerged barely above a whisper, yet Charlotte felt its impact in the way that William’s near rigid composure cracked to reveal profound joy beneath. “Though I confess myself curious about all of these mysterious preparations that you and Margaret have been orchestrating.”
“Then perhaps,” he suggested softly, his thumb tracing a gentle arc across her cheek, “we might step inside? Where I believe certain flowers await your approval, and the vicar wishes to discuss particulars of the service.”
Yet before they could move towards the chapel door, Phillips’ measured stride on the gravel path heralded another interruption.
“Your Grace,” the butler called. “Lord Parrington has arrived with His Lordship, and they particularly wish...”
“They particularly wish to hear your plans for this ceremony,” Edmund called, his enthusiasm carrying clearly as he approached with their father. “When Margaret’s letter hinted at such remarkable arrangements being made, we simply had to know more.”
“I see that my sister’s discretion proves consistently unreliable,” William observed dryly, though his hand tightened gently around Charlotte’s. “Though perhaps it saves me the necessity of explanation.”
Lord Westbridge’s expression held cautious approval as he surveyed them both.
“A renewal of vows?” he said quietly. “Most unconventional, yet somehow perfectly suited to the transformation which I observe in you both.”
“Transformation indeed,” Edmund agreed, his usual teasing manner softened by evident emotion. “Though anyone who witnessed your first ceremony might have predicted such change. When, even then, beneath all that careful propriety...”
“Yes, yes,” Margaret interrupted, appearing behind them with typical impatience. “We all saw what was possible, even if certain brothers proved remarkably stubborn about admitting it. But surely such reminiscence can wait? When there are decorations to approve and music to select?”
Charlotte felt William’s quiet amusement in the way that his thumb traced gentle patterns across her knuckles.
Yet as their family swept them back towards the house, she caught the wry smile that graced his lips, which suggested that this interruption marked only a brief delay in sharing his carefully laid plans.
They hurried back inside, and soon, the evening settled over Alverton Grange with gentle grace, stars emerging as servants lit lamps in freshly decorated halls.
Yet it was not the festive touches that made Charlotte’s heart swell, but rather the way that William’s grey eyes sought hers across the beautifully arranged table - full of such profound love that even their gathered family’s knowing smiles could not diminish its power.