Chapter 48
ELIZA
The reception at the castle felt like it was fit for a queen. I hadn’t thought I would ever get exactly what I wanted out of today, but at the last minute, Will and I had changed a few things to make it feel like ours, and it was stunning.
Lights had been strung across the courtyard and music drifted through the open doors.
There were candles and wildflowers in tiny vases on the tables instead of the elaborate decorations my sisters had chosen.
Those hadn’t gone to waste, though. We’d simply used them at lunch, along with the massive flower arrangements.
Tonight, however, was all about us. Our music. Our choices. The intertwining of our lives forevermore.
Laughter echoed off the stone walls, people I barely knew and those I loved celebrating Will and me. His hand brushed mine as he moved past me, pausing just long enough to squeeze my fingers before being pulled into another conversation, this time by Zach and Theo.
Kate caught my eye across the room and winked. Charlotte gave me a subtle nod, smiling like she’d known me forever. Even Jesse lifted his glass in my direction, genuine warmth on his face as he looked around the room.
Once again, it was a lot but in the best possible way. My heart felt so full, I’d hardly stopped smiling all day.
“Not bad,” a voice said beside me.
I stiffened, instantly recognizing it. Bracing for what was sure to be yet another round of catty criticism, I turned and lifted my chin just a fraction higher than usual.
Eugenie looked me over from head to toe, her critical gaze probably picking up a dozen things she hated about this dress.
Meanwhile, I loved it. Somehow, Will’s sister and sister-in-law had managed to pick out at least a dozen options that were absolutely exquisite, flying them across an ocean to get them to me before the big day.
That had really put it into perspective how little my own sisters cared.
Kate and Charlotte barely knew me and they’d already done more for me than Eugenie or Winnie ever had.
They’d also gotten ready with me today, with Jane on video call from America and even Will’s aunt, CC, chatting to us for a while.
“Go on then,” I said to my sister, feeling fortified after spending the day with so many incredible women. “Let me have it, then leave.”
“You made the right choice with that dress,” she said, surprising the heck out of me.
I searched her eyes for any hint that she was mocking me, but she seemed completely serious and oddly serene. “Excuse me?”
“It suits you,” she said easily, as if this was the sort of conversation we had all the time. “Soft and pretty but with structure.”
I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“The boning in the corset.” She gestured vaguely. “The way the skirts fall. There’s a shape to the design. Intent. I wouldn’t have said so before, but now, I know that it suits you. Deep down, it’s got a backbone made of steel, regardless of how soft it seems on the outside.”
All I could do was blink at her, absolutely baffled. “How much champagne have you had? Are you feeling alright?”
She smiled, but it wasn’t even her usual cool, calculating smile. This one seemed strangely sincere. “I was glad to see that Will helped you find your lady-balls.”
I choked on nothing but air. “My what?”
“It’ll be far easier to live with you if you’re not just fading into the background anymore,” she said. “Honestly, Eliza. I was so impressed at Roderick House. I didn’t think you had it in you, but perhaps you really are my sister after all.”
I bristled, my eyes narrowing. “So in order for you to recognize me as your sister, you wanted me to tell you off?”
“I wanted you to be an actual person,” she said, clearly exasperated.
“Someone I could talk to without having to walk on eggshells all the time. Do you know how difficult it is to connect with someone who never tells you what they actually think? That day at Father’s house was the first glimpse I’ve seen of you in years. ”
My lips parted, but I didn’t even have an answer to that. “Are you actually trying to apologize? Because it sounds like there might be a compliment in there somewhere.”
She gave me an elegant shrug, another smile playing on her lips. “I’m not apologizing, but I am complimenting you. I’m also hopeful that we might find some common ground now.”
“You threatened to expose the twins,” I said. “You were going to tell everyone unless the Westwoods paid you off and I know Will gave you the money, so no. There is no common ground. There’s only you, suddenly trying to get closer to me now that I’ve married into a wealthy family.”
Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “They’re not just wealthy, darling.
They’re an empire. But be that as it may, their money has nothing to do with this.
I’m surprised he told you, but I really do like the dress.
And the fact that there is a personality somewhere inside you.
I’m looking forward to getting to know my sister finally. ”
“You didn’t think he’d tell me? We’re married now, for goodness sake.”
“Yes, well, he hasn’t exactly been honest with you before, but if you must know, my ex-boyfriend has paid off his debts.”
Wait, what? “I’m not sure I’m following.”
“I broke up with him after, but not before ensuring there’s a loan agreement in place,” she said, as if that should help it all make sense.
“He’ll be paying Will back, probably for the rest of his life, but your husband will get his money back, and in the meantime, he’ll be receiving dividends as an investor in the company as well. ”
I frowned. “Why would you do that?”
“He made poor decisions.” She sniffed and pretended to study her manicured nails. “I corrected them, then chucked him in the bin. That whole situation made me realize he was a loser and I don’t need one of those in my life.”
“That was a surprisingly responsible way to go about things,” I said, then threw her own words back at her. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“I know. Shocking, right?” She paused briefly, her head tilting as she studied me. “Maybe I took a page out of your book. You stood up for yourself and I followed suit.”
My eyes widened, my brain still whirring trying to catch up. “Is that another compliment?”
She inclined her chin, the expression in her eyes softening. It was so alien to see that I leaned in a bit closer when she smiled. “You deserved to find the love of your life, Eliza. I’m happy for you.”
Before I could respond, Will appeared at my side, not subtly placing himself ever so slightly between Eugenie and me. “Eliza, are you okay?”
His gaze flicked briefly to Eugenie, still very much distrustful of my oldest sister. I slid my hand into his and offered him a reassuring smile. “I’m fine.”
Eugenie looked between us, then back at me. “Alright, well, I just wanted to congratulate you both, but do you think it would be okay if I started calling you a little more often?”
My eyebrows inched up. “You want to call me, as in, speak to me on the telephone?”
“Yes,” she said. “Voluntarily. It would be nice to have a chat every so often, don’t you think?”
I stared at her for a second, then nodded slowly. “Okay.”
She smiled again. “Excellent. In that case, I’ll let you get back to it. Congratulations. Both of you.”
With that, she turned and walked away, and I watched her go, still completely baffled. “Did that just happen?”
Will’s head was shaking as he let out a quiet laugh. “I think so.”
“Yeah, wow.” I leaned into him, my head tipping toward his shoulder. “I have no idea where that came from, though.”
“Neither do I,” he murmured, just standing there with me for a minute as we watched her disappear into the crowd. Then he straightened up. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“Escaping from our own reception for a few minutes,” he said, leading me out of the hall through one of the side doors.
The music faded behind us as we strolled outside and to the outskirts of the garden.
The air was cooler now, this morning’s rain long gone, leaving everything damp and glistening under the soft lights strung through the trees.
The scent of wet earth and flowers wafted through the air and I inhaled deeply, feeling so incredibly blessed to be back here, at the estate I loved, married to the man I loved.
It felt so right that I could barely contain a squeal when I thought about it too long.
Will stopped near the edge of the garden, where the lights didn’t quite reach. He let go of my hand to reach up, brushing his thumb gently along my jaw. “I love you, Eliza Roderick.”
“I love you too,” I said softly, smiling as I leaned into his touch. “What are we doing out here, though?”
His mouth curved slightly, like hearing that I loved him still surprised him, but he didn’t let it linger long. “I have a gift for you.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “You’ve already married me. That feels like the big one.”
“This one’s better.”
“Oh, good.”
He took a small breath, those blue eyes silvery in the low light as he held my gaze. “Jesse is taking over as COO at Westwood and Sons.”
I stilled completely, blinking hard before my eyes slowly started growing wider. “What? But you love your job.”
“I do, but not as much as I love you,” he murmured. “I’m retiring, Eliza. Moving here to be with you and help you run the estate, if that’s alright?”
As he said it, my thoughts just stopped. I stared up at him, unable to believe that he’d do that… for me. “Why?”
He watched me for a second. “I have enough money in investments and my accounts to fund our lifestyle five times over. We won’t ever struggle.”
“That’s not…” I shook my head. “That’s not what I’m thinking about at all.”
“I know, but I need you to understand that this isn’t a risk. It’s a choice I’m making to be here with you. This is where I want to be. It’s the life I want to live.”
“Here?” I repeated. “Are you sure?”