Chapter 40
Forty
A month later, Finn married Owen, and she could not have asked for a more perfect day.
The sun shone over Chuddums as family and friends packed the village church to wish them well.
For the occasion, Mrs. Sommers had dressed Finn in white organza, and the gown’s billowing skirts made Finn feel like a princess.
She wore her amber ring as well as a necklace of pearls given to her by her new mama and a set of blue garters from Iris.
Owen had selected the orange blossoms in her hair and the silver damask rose in his buttonhole.
He wore a dark blue frock coat, dove-grey waistcoat, and charcoal trousers expertly tailored to his lean physique.
Although he’d tried to tame his hair, the front wave fell over his eyes, and Finn thought he must be the handsomest groom who ever lived.
Before the Harringtons and the Hawks, the rector declared them man and wife. Owen kissed Finn, and she kissed him back so thoroughly that laughter rang through the church. As they exited, Tansy tossed rose petals at them, and Simon threw an old shoe.
Now they were back at Bottoms House for the wedding breakfast. To accommodate all the well-wishers, Xenia and Ethan hosted the affair in the garden, where two dozen tables had been set up.
The heady perfume of roses mingled with the mouth-watering aromas of raised game pies, glazed hams, and fresh-baked rolls.
For dessert, there were jellies, creams, ripe summer fruit—and of course, the wedding cake.
Baked by Mrs. Pettigrew, the cake was dark and rich, bursting with currants and candied peel, and artfully decorated with white royal icing and sugar flowers.
Finn, seated at a table with her new husband and their motley family, was bursting with joy. This marked the beginning of a new chapter, and she could hardly wait. To the astonishment of both her and Owen, the Grantleys had offered them the Pearce manor as a wedding gift.
When they’d protested that the gesture was too much, the duke had replied, “Is it any more generous than Finn donating the emerald parure to the village? The house, like the jewels, ought to go where it will do the most good. As a descendant of the damned Pearces, I would be honored to provide restitution to a descendant of Rose and Thomas. Practically speaking, the manor has many rooms, which you will need for the Hawks—and for your own future brood.”
Finn would be spending her wedding night with her husband in their new home, knowing that those she loved were safe under the same roof.
“I’m so happy,” she whispered.
Owen kissed her hand. “Today has been perfect, hasn’t it, love?”
“That’s about to change,” Grantley muttered. “Wally is about to give his speech.”
“It will be fine,” Gigi said. “Wally wanted to honor the occasion with a few words.”
Wally, decked in a coat of eye-dazzling cobalt, rose purposefully to his feet. From his pocket, he removed a roll of parchment. He untied the string…and the paper unraveled, touching the ground.
Grantley and Ethan groaned.
“May I have your attention?” Wally tapped his glass. “I would like to say a few words to commemorate the nuptials of Lord and Lady Owen Harrington.”
Cheers went up.
“As the oldest resident of Chudleigh Bottoms,” Wally began, “I have had the privilege of witnessing the many changes that have shaped the fortunes of our village. From the unexpected ice storm of 1789 to the great flood of 1805…”
Grantley’s eyes glazed over. Even Gigi began to fidget.
Finn didn’t mind, however. She was floating in joy; nothing could ruin the day. Seeing the smile in Owen’s eyes, she knew he felt the same.
“However, that is for another time,” Wally said.
“Today, I want to talk about love. For decades, we villagers believed that we were destined for misfortune. But facts have recently been brought to light that tell a different tale. Our village’s most important story was never about a witch or a curse: it was about love.
The kind of devotion that bound Rosalinda and Thomas Mulligan—and that binds Finn and Owen Harrington today. ”
The guests clapped and stomped in approval.
“Love is more than a feeling. It is a promise,” Wally went on.
Finn saw that Ethan had his arm around Xenia, who rested her head on his shoulder. Grantley whispered something in Gigi’s ear that made her blush and giggle. Manderly raised Evie’s hand to his lips, and she gazed back with open adoration.
And there was Finn’s own husband, whose love was not only a promise but a gift. In return, she’d pledged him her heart, body, and soul—and wished she had more to give. Because a lifetime wasn’t enough to love and be loved by Owen Harrington.
“There is a rhyme we all know,” Wally said.
“It says that Bloody Thom will be trapped until love’s seasons set him and his beloved free.
Well, each of the last four seasons has brought new love into our village.
At the same time, our fortunes have lifted, and I think you’ll agree that it is no coincidence. ”
“The Harringtons have broken the curse,” someone yelled.
Wally waited for the applause to fade.
“I would like to end by proposing a toast.” He raised his flute. “To the health and happiness of Lord and Lady Owen Harrington.”
“Hear, hear,” everyone chanted.
“And to the promise of love,” Wally said. “The most important promise we make to one another.”
They all drank to that.
Later that afternoon, Finn found Caleb in the garden gazebo.
His face had healed. Every strand of his pale blond hair was pomaded in place, and he wore a plum-colored frock coat.
Seeing where his gaze had been fixed before she arrived, Finn thought the uncommon care he’d taken with his appearance wasn’t just for the wedding.
She went to stand beside him at the railing.
After a beat of silence, Caleb said awkwardly, “You look nice.”
“So do you,” she said. “Though it’s a pity your shiner’s gone. It would have matched your coat.”
As she’d hoped, her teasing broke the tension.
“I buy a proper coat for your fancy wedding, and that’s the thanks I get.”
He gave her a crooked smile.
She smiled back.
He dropped his eyes, then raised them. “Look, Finn, I never apologized—”
“It’s all right. I understand why you did what you did.”
“Being a stupid, reckless sod doesn’t excuse—”
“I am not saying you aren’t a stupid, reckless sod,” she said. “But that isn’t why you went to Carver.”
His brow furrowed. “If you say so.”
“I understand, you know.”
She tipped her head at the lone figure in the distance. Standing by the roses, Iris looked lost and alone. She had no idea that Caleb had been staring at her from afar, his expression one of stark longing.
“Understand what?” he asked uneasily.
“Love makes us do mad things,” Finn said.