Chapter 39
Alexander wore a kilt to his wedding. The ever-reliable Mr. Octavius Gellert had discovered that John Knox, the man into whose care Alexander had briefly been placed, was a member of the Gordon clan.
That made Alexander feel that he had a claim on the tartan, an honorary member of the clan.
A letter to Alexander Gordon, Earl of Huntly and Laird of the Gordon Clan had brought an effusive welcome.
He was pleased that a boy who had once swept chimneys and was now a Duke would consider the Gordons his kin.
In return, Alexander felt a sense of pride to wear the kilt and plaid of a true Scotsman.
Sebastian Cadzow, a fellow Scot, Gordon clan member, and signatory to the letter of introduction sent to the Earl of Huntly, stood beside Alexander at the door of the small church in the village of Ewhurst. That village, in the county of Surrey, lay within the lands of the Earl of Ravendel.
His county seat, Harrington Manor, the home in which Violet had grown up, lay a mile from the church.
It had been a stipulation, gladly accepted by Alexander, that the marriage take place on Ravendel land.
Every Ravendel woman had been married on that land, at that church, for generations.
For Violet, it had been a demonstration that whatever her relationship to George and Charlotte was, they considered her a part of their family.
Alexander’s acceptance of the church as the site of his marriage had gone no little way to earning George’s friendship.
The complete surrender of Ambrose Devereaux and seven other prominent Tory peers in the vote on the Child Slavery Bill had also made a difference.
Once considering Ambrose his political leader, George had now voted with them and the Whigs, ensuring that the Bill was passed back to the Commons.
It would go to the Palace for Royal Assent in a week’s time, thus becoming law.
“Are you ready to accomplish your next milestone, old man?” Sebastian asked him, as they stood before the church door.
He beamed at Alexander who took a deep breath.
“This is a thousand times more nerve-wracking than standing up in front of the assembled Peers of England,” Alexander said.
“It is nothing old chap. She will be here soon and before you know it, the two of you will be man and wife. Then onto the next adventure.”
The church itself was small and cool. The sun outside the church had been uncomfortably warm, especially with the heavy plaid draped over his shoulder.
He had felt some relief, standing in the cool, stone shade of the ancient church.
The congregation was composed of those villagers who had long been tenants of the Ravendels.
It seemed that for all his bluster and politics, George Ravendel was a kind and thoughtful landlord.
Those locals that Alexander had spoken to had been fiercely protective of the family and Violet in particular.
They seemed to regard her as a favorite daughter of Ewhurst.
He had also met Clara, who was also high in the villager’s esteem due to her brilliance as a veterinary doctor.
She had helped many local farmers and her expertise was regarded with something akin to awe.
Clara had greeted Alexander with a warm hug, formality tossed to the wind, and a kiss on the cheek.
She was an exuberant girl with a bright smile and an open nature.
Alexander already knew that he would soon come to regard her as a little sister.
Now, the church was full and Clara, Lillian, and Charlotte, the wife of George Ravendel, sat in the front pew.
George would be giving away Violet and their arrival was imminent.
Alexander stood, facing the altar, and fighting to keep his racing heart under control. Sebastian leaned close and whispered.
“By the way, old chap. Had a chat with my good friend the Earl Grey, our illustrious Prime Minister the other day. Wanted me to sound you out about a possible position in his cabinet. If you’re interested, of course.”
Alexander could not help but look utterly startled. His head whipped around.
“You’re telling me this now! Here!” He hissed.
Sebastian gave him a disarming grin. “Thought it would distract you for a moment, old boy. Give it some thought though, eh?”
“Whit kind of job cuid I possibly do in an English government?” Alexander whispered.
“British government, old chap. British. Minister for Scotland perhaps. Or Minister for Labor given your knowledge of conditions for ordinary working people.”
Alexander gaped but at that moment, the church doors were flung wide and Violet appeared on her father’s arm.
All other thoughts fled his mind and Alexander could only watch as a vision of beauty approached.
She wore white and glowed. A veil covered her face but could not hide her sapphire blue eyes.
George Ravendel looked as though he were about to burst with pride as he made his way, somber and dignified, down the aisle.
The rest of the ceremony passed by in a blur.
Alexander answered the prompts put to him by the vicar as did Violet.
He thought they sounded dignified and regal and could not believe that his own voice sounded anything like this.
Then he was lifting the veil and kissing his new bride.
The church erupted into cheering and applause, with George Ravendel throwing his arms high and leading the cheers.
Alexander kissed his beautiful goddess, long and deep, then looked into her blue eyes for another long, eternal moment.
He remembered the days of darkness, when it seemed like every hand was against him and there was no comfort to be had anywhere.
He remembered the strange days in an alien country, walking the halls of a mansion and not knowing how to behave.
Now, he felt that at long last, he was home.
It did not matter where he happened to be.
It could be the mansion of Lorchester, which had felt so cold and lonely when he first arrived there.
It could be the bare home on the outer western edge of London that he had made his home while fighting his crusade.
It could be the woods of his estate, sleeping under the stars beside a wood-fire.
As long as Violet was by his side, none of it mattered. Anywhere was home. She was home. Where he would always be accepted.
The End?