Chapter 31 #2
A laugh took me, and that was it, the spell was broken. “I love you too much. You wanted this, and it’s mine to give. The only thing I bring to all of this is my free will, and I choose you.”
James’s lips found mine. His kiss was a thing of beauty, a promise of passion though subdued. “You give me everything,” he whispered and held me in his arms while we fell asleep.
The day before our wedding passed in a blur.
From dawn, we were busy. Callum and Mattie’s suite of rooms at the top of the castle became my bridal staging ground.
Three women carried out the final adjustments on my dress.
I stood about, acting the mannequin and pulling faces at Mattie and Ella as they performed the million and one other tasks that needed to be done.
At midday, James collected Belle from the airport and brought her to me. We took a short lunchbreak together before he had to go. Belle smiled and smiled, her eyes wide at the castle, at the sight of me in my dress, at every time James and I touched.
In the evening, we ate dinner together with a sense of occasion, the mood high.
Tomorrow meant everything. James and I would be married and, for the few days after, we’d be honeymooners.
Then reality would hit, and we’d need to make the long drive south to claim what was rightfully his.
Ours. But before then, we relaxed and sank into the happiness that was our due.
Our poor, orphaned souls had found each other. We didn’t need vows to make us into one. We’d already done the hard work ourselves.
For the first day in almost a month, I woke up without James next to me. Instead, Mattie raised her blonde head from the opposite side of the huge bed.
“You’re getting married today!” she crowed, beaming the second she opened her eyes.
“I am so happy. It’s going to be so beautiful.
The flowers had better turn up on time. We’ve got the caterers arriving just before we leave for the church, but the timing needed to be tight.
Oh, I am so worried about getting this perfect. ”
I grinned at her, lost on the details and beyond grateful I had a wedding planner as my best friend.
When we lived together, she’d often appear in my bedroom with a cup of tea for me, all hyped up about her plans for the day.
I missed that. I’d miss it ongoing and was grateful we had this now.
“I love you,” I said. “It’s going to be beautiful and perfect because you organised it and because I’m marrying James.
If it rains all day, I couldn’t care less. ”
“You know that’s the first time you’ve ever said that.
Being happy agrees with you.” She climbed gracefully from the bed and threw open the curtains.
“I love you, too.” She heaved a sigh and gazed out at the day.
“It’s going to be so strange, not living with you.
I’d resigned myself to it when I realised I was committed to Callum, but somehow knowing that you are moving on, too, well, it’s made it all the more real. ”
“You’ll be a whole country away.”
She hummed in agreement. “We’ll be busy setting up businesses. Eventually, we’ll both have families…”
“I was thinking about that. I need a role at Belvedere, and there’s this great big garage full of cars. I’m going to ask James if I can do something with them. Maybe open a museum.”
“That’s a wonderful idea. You’ll make a new future for your family.”
The thing about Mattie was I could read her like a book. Her hints were not all that subtle. She’d said ‘family’ twice in quick succession. How…
“You know,” I uttered.
How? I hadn’t told a soul apart from James. We hadn’t explicitly said we’d keep our pregnancy quiet, but I assumed we’d agree on the right time to tell. “James told Callum?”
Mattie spun around, her eyes lit in triumph. “I knew it!”
I gaped. I’d been played.
“Knew what?” a voice came from the door. Ella. “Knock knock,” she said belatedly.
“Come in. You might as well,” I called.
My soon-to-be sister-in-law emerged. Belle followed.
The new faces looked from Mattie to me expectantly.
“Fine. I’m pregnant,” I said, then dropped back to the bed to let the fussing commence.
Three hours later, I was dressed in my beautiful gown, had light makeup done, and my hair swept into a complicated, elegant braid, loose curls framing my face but not concealing the shaved side, newly shorn, my rebellious, individual streak proudly on display.
Today, in marrying James, I’d become a countess. I liked the title, too: Countess Elizabeth Fitzroy. It sounded the piece. I’d make it my own.
Belle’s face, when I’d told her that last little fact, was almost as stunned as she had been with my pregnancy announcement.
What a day.
The men had long ago left for the church and, with Belle at my side, we descended the castle steps, Mattie carrying the front of my dress and Ella the back, just in case I tripped. Then I was driven the ten minutes around the loch to the tiny Scottish village.
In the car was a little basket from James containing water and crackers, just in case I still felt queasy and hadn’t managed breakfast.
I had never in my whole life felt so loved.
At the church, Mattie waited on one side of the door, Ella and Gordain on the other.
Belle took my hand. “I’ve never been so proud of any of my children before. You have found true happiness with yourself and are going into marriage with an open heart. My beautiful Beth, I know you will be a wonderful wife and mother. Thank you for inviting me to be at your side.”
I sniffled, then blinked rapidly to hold back the tears. I wanted to say so much to her, about how she’d raised me and saved me, about how she was the best and I owed her so much, but she laid a hand on mine.
“And I know about Alison. You’ve been paying for her.”
“How?” There had been enough money in my account to pay up until this week. Then, I’d almost resigned myself to accepting James’s fortune as mine to spend. Almost, but I hadn’t done anything about it.
“The girls told me. Jessie is horrible at keeping secrets.” She gave me a hug. “No more babies. Apart from when I babysit yours—my grandchild. I see why you did it and I’ve made up my mind. You were right, my child. Thank you.”
Belle hushed me from saying any more, then climbed out of the car. I followed in mute silence, relieved but almost sad. But the feeling couldn’t last.
My wedding was about to begin.
Nothing could eclipse this day.