31. Jonto
Jonto
Nico, who’d had the forethought to grab dry clothes before fetching the Judge, met Jonto at the door and escorted him to a side room Ethan had prepared as a place where all the men could change into dry clothing.
It took much less time for them to change than the ladies, and when they were ready, Jonto, Nico, and James strode into the drawing room where Lady Pierpont waited in her usual wingback chair.
In anticipation of their arrival, Ethan had earlier kindled a blazing fire that snapped and crackled in celebration of what was turning into a festive occasion. All three men bowed to Lady Pierpont, who bestowed a proud smile on Jonto. “Well done, my boy, well done.”
Jonto placed a hand on Nico’s shoulder. “As is always the case, Your Grace, Nico, here, was the wise one. While I was very much aware that I care a great deal for Lady Brighton, fear blinded me to the realization that while we’ve only known one another for a short time, perhaps we might build a life together.
Circumstances have forced us together prematurely, but?—”
Her phrasing wasn’t lost on Wilhemina. “Love will come, eventually, Jonto. I only wish your father were here to witness this happy event.”
Striding forward, Jonto knelt in front of the Archduchess’s chair and took her hand. “Since he isn’t here, I couldn’t ask for a lovelier person than you to be with me in his stead, Your Grace.” She bowed over the wrinkled hand and kissed it gently.
Ethan served the Judge a snifter of brandy and waited patiently for Jonto to rise and take one for herself.
With a smile, the serving man dipped his chin in an abbreviated bow.
“It may take some time for the ladies to dress, My Lords, and you look as though a good brandy might take away the chill of the night’s events.
” He moved to Nico and served him as well.
Jonto blinked at the dapper steward. Those were more words than she’d heard the man utter in the entire time she’d known him. “Thank you, Ethan. You’re right. Despite the warm clothes and the fire, I’m still chilled to the bone.”
They stood near the fire, conversing politely about inconsequential matters, until nearly a half hour had passed before Celie and Lily hurried into the room.
Taking that as his cue, James set his snifter on the tray Ethan magically produced, took his place near the fire, and beckoned for Jonto to join him.
Jonto gave Ethan his glass and, with Nico by her side, stepped to James’s left.
Lily walked to the judge’s right, leaving room for Celie and the bride. Seeing that everyone was in place, Celie disappeared again. With everyone’s gaze locked on the hallway, she stepped from a room at the end of the hall with Isla walking by her side.
Jonto’s breath caught at the sight of her bride.
She was resplendent in an elegant white satin gown draped gracefully over her form.
The bodice fit snugly and was adorned with delicate lace trim that traced her neckline and accentuated the gentle curve of her shoulders.
The skirt flowed from a cinched waist and cascaded to the floor in gentle folds.
Jonto thought she’d never seen a more beautiful woman in her life.
As Isla smiled shyly and took her place in front of James, Jonto experienced a moment of panic. She jerked around to Nico and frantically patted her pockets as though she’d miraculously find what she was looking for. “A ring. I don’t have a ring.”
Lady Pierpont, who’d risen as Isla glided into the room, beckoned Jonto to her.
She removed a ring from her left hand and placed it into Jonto’s outstretched palm.
Tears misted those venerable eyes so hooded with age as they turned and regarded Isla.
“Your grandmother gave me this ring sixty-two years ago, and I’ve rarely taken it off my finger since that day.
I think it only fitting that you should wear it now, my dear.
May your husband bring you as much joy as your grandmother gave to me. ”
Isla thought she’d stopped the tears, but they slipped out again as she gently wrapped her arms around Wilhemina’s shoulders and pulled her in for an embrace.
With one velvety soft cheek resting against one textured with the deep fissures of experience and wisdom, Isla managed to choke out, “Thank you, Your Grace. This means more to me than you’ll ever know.
” She stepped back and, with an amused nod to the amount of tears that had escaped her determination not to cry, accepted a handkerchief pulled from beneath the sleeve of the redoubtable Archduchess, which she used to dry her face.
Returning to Jonto, Isla clasped her outstretched hand.
Together, they turned to face Judge Riordan who stood beaming at them as though they were two people who’d managed to achieve happiness in the face of the impossible.
Which, if Jonto were being honest with herself, was exactly what had occurred.
Isla handed James the handkerchief because tears streaked his cheeks and dripped off his chin.
He sniffed heroically and scrubbed at his face, using the time to compose himself before once more beaming proudly at the handsome couple.
“I must say, I’ve prayed for this day for many years.
Isla, my dear, you deserve someone who will love you and treat you with kindness and dignity, someone who puts you on a pedestal but isn’t afraid to catch you when you fall.
Jonto, I believe you to be that man and entrust our Isla to be the helpmeet who will walk by your side and complete you in every way. ”
He straightened his shoulders and, with solemn dignity, looked Jonto directly in the eye. “Would you like to say something to your bride?”
Jonto’s eyes softened as she stared into Isla’s eyes.
“I knew you were feisty the first time we were introduced, and you asked if King Jaydon had tossed a lordship my way to sweeten his offer of an admiralty. And later, when you told me you'd withhold your opinion as to whether I was handsome or not—I trust you've come to a decision on that?” Jonto chuckled at Isla’s blush. “And then I think I fell in love with you, just a little, when you came storming up that hill swatting at those sheep with your broom. While some men might try to dull your sharp tongue, I’ll revel in it. Your strength draws me like a bee to honey, and I hope you’ll always keep that which makes you uniquely you. ”
Riordan turned to Isla and raised his brows. “And you, my dear? Would you like to say something to your groom?”
Isla put her hand on Jonto’s cheek. “I first saw your ship while standing in Windsong Cave. I hated you because of what pirates had done to my father, but when I told Celie that it very well could have been you who’d murdered him, she told me if that were the case, you would have been a particularly bloodthirsty five-year-old.
In her typical wise, inimitable way, she was telling me not to judge what I don’t know.
As I’ve spent time with you, I’ve learned that you’re wise and caring.
You laugh as much as my mother, and you’re honorable.
Those are traits I admire most of all. As I stared out over the bay at the Jest that first morning, I envied the mermaid on her prow.
She’d been to places I knew I’d never go.
Now, you’ve opened up an entire world to me.
You’ve promised to sail me to wherever I want to go.
And I do want to go with you, Jonto, because pirates steal things, and you’ve stolen my heart and I don’t ever want you to give it back. ”
Riordan took a moment to wipe the new tears from his face before continuing. “Do you have the ring?”
Jonto had given it to Nico to hold and she turned and took it from him. She placed it on Isla’s finger and held it there while the Judge recited the vows.
“Do you, Marquis Morgan Thomas Jontoreaux, take Viscountess Isla Alula Brighton to be your lawfully wedded wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep only unto her, so long as you both shall live?”
With tears in her eyes, Jonto responded, “I do.”
“Do you, Viscountess Isla Alula Brighton, take Marquis Morgan Thomas Jontoreaux to be your lawfully wedded husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep only unto him, so long as you both shall live?”
Isla couldn’t hold back a radiant smile when she said, “I do.”
“With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
A cheer went up as Jonto bent and kissed Isla deeply and well. There were pats on the back all around for the men and hugs for the women.
Wilhemina opened her arms to Jonto, and when she stepped into the embrace, the Archduchess pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “Congratulations, Lady Lucrèce. Well done.”
Jonto stiffened, and for a moment, all thought fled from her mind. When Wilhemina pulled back, the old woman actually had the temerity to wink before turning and sending a silent signal to her steward.
With telltale wetness at the corners of his eyes, Ethan announced from the doorway, “Refreshments will be served in the formal dining room.”
Isla stepped from Lily’s congratulatory embrace and stared at Wilhemina with disbelief shining from those bright green eyes. “Refreshments? How could you possibly have arranged for refreshments since you had no clue of the evening’s events?”
“Quite a few of my staff live on the premises, my dear, including my cook. They’ve been working nonstop since young Nico, there, dragged James and Celie bedraggled and sodden through my door.”