Chapter 20
Five Days Later
“Where are they?” Patricia demanded, looking through the crowd of finely dressed guests standing outside the quaint country church. “Where is my grandson?”
Helena looked around as well, her nerves a messy bundle in her stomach.
It was not just Jeremy and Evander she was looking for, though.
It was Lord Ingram. He had disappeared the night he had forced her into that awful dance, and no one, not even her mother, seemed to know where he had slunk off to.
She had shared her worries with Evander and Jeremy, but both assured her not to worry.
A feat that was much easier said than done, especially as fresh drama was unfolding at that very moment.
Like everyone else, Helena was dressed for a wedding.
Her gown now fit her perfectly, and her white veil was placed atop her head, covering her face with sheer gossamer.
“Has anyone checked his rooms? Or the gardens?” Patricia demanded as she leaned heavily on her cane. “Oh, what if he drank too much last night? What if he is passed out somewhere and is completely oblivious to the time!”
“He is not,” Damien assured, walking up to his grandmother with Caroline at his side. “I saw him walking down the hall this morning before dawn with his valet. He looked fine.”
“Fine enough to marry?” Caroline asked, tilting her head at her husband.
“Well, he was with his valet, so I assumed he was simply getting ready early,” Damien admitted.
Adrian, who had wandered close enough to catch the tail end of it, snorted. “Before dawn? That does not sound like Jeremy at all. The only man I have ever known to rise before dawn for his own wedding is standing right here.” He clapped Damien on the shoulder.
“Guilty as charged,” Damien said dryly.
“Do not tease him so, darling,” Bridget offered softly to Adrian.
At his side, Caroline laughed.
“Of course, Jeremy would be up before dawn to put on his wedding clothes,” she remarked, then placed a hand on her belly with a small, rueful smile. “Though I suppose I owe you an apology for not showing up for our first wedding, my love.”
“Do you think it is possible he might not show up?” Damien murmured with a grin as he rubbed Caroline’s hand.
Though his words startled Helena, Elara, who had drifted over with Constantine, folded her arms and studied the church doors with a considering look.
“I do wonder,” she admitted. “He did not look at all like a man eager to be married, if I am honest. I saw his face when his grandmother announced that the day was getting closer. This is highly suspicious.”
“Elara, do not start,” Adrian said as he waved a hand, but Caroline was intrigued.
“What a mystery! I suppose we will find out what is going on soon enough. I wager he ran away to the Indies after all.”
“Now is not the time to make such jests, my dears,” Patricia scolded, shooting first Elara, then Caroline, an impatient look. “If he is not asleep or lost or running late, where on earth could he possibly be?”
The dowager shot a fretful look back at the crowd as the others suppressed their laughter.
“Oh!” Patricia exclaimed. “Evander! Thank heavens you are here!”
Helena turned her head toward where Patricia was looking, and her heart fluttered as she watched Evander walk calmly through the open crowd.
He looked more handsome than ever in his tailored black suit.
But instead of his usual black cravat, he was wearing one that matched the shade of the hydrangeas in Helena’s bouquet, as if it were a small gesture acknowledging what she found beautiful.
“You can tell us where Jeremy is, can you not?” Patricia asked, anxiously gripping Evander’s arm as he stopped before her.
“I can assure you he is quite fine,” Evander promised her calmly.
Then his eyes drifted to Helena, and her breath caught in her throat as she saw the devotion twinkling in his bright blue eyes.
“However, there has been a slight change of plans,” Evander went on, reaching for Helena’s hand.
Helena slid her fingers between his gloved fingers, relief and joy flooding her heart.
“It is not Jeremy who will be marrying Miss Robinson today,” he went on, moving to stand at her side. “Instead, I will be taking on that honor.”
Gasps erupted into the air, but none were as loud as Patricia’s. Her eyes widened impossibly as she turned a deathly shade of white, and for a moment, Helena feared the woman might drop dead right then and there.
“Your Grace… I mean Patricia… Are you—” Helena floundered with her words as she moved to Patricia’s side, but with surprising speed, Patricia stepped away from her as if she were poisonous.
“The scandal!” Patricia boomed, clutching her hand to her chest. “You two? This entire time? What about my poor Jeremy? Where is he? Is that why he has gone? Because of the betrayal of your tryst?”
“I assure you, Jeremy is not only in good health but is in even greater spirits because of this change of plan,” Evander explained calmly.
“Lies!” Patricia screeched. “Jeremy promised me that he would marry this time!”
Helena held Evander’s hand tightly, her worry growing to new heights as Patricia seemed to be moving toward a fit.
“Come now, Grandmama,” Damien said, matching Evander’s calm tone as he stepped up to join them all. “You know in your heart that Jeremy did not want to be married. It was only from your constant insistence and guilting that he finally agreed.”
He turned to Evander and Helena then, and Helena was startled by the raw acceptance and understanding in the man’s eyes.
“Besides, it is clear that it is these two who should be getting married. Just look at them. It was not Jeremy by Miss Robinson’s side, taking on the responsibility of this celebration, but Evander.
It was Evander who chose not to allow her to carry such a weight alone.
If Jeremy truly did want to marry her, he would not have left her here alone in the first place. ”
Helena glanced at the crowd surrounding them, comforted that at least a good many of their guests were starting to look more understanding than aghast. She found her mother’s eyes, and to her surprise, Mary-Anne smiled at her warmly, a silent reminder that all she truly wanted for her daughter was happiness.
“No,” Patricia insisted. “He just needs a good talking to, is all. Damien, go find him. Tell him he needs to perform his duty and—”
“I love you, Grandmama, but no, I will not,” Damien interrupted her. “This pressure you have pushed upon poor Jeremy is very obviously far too heavy a weight for him to take on. Let him live the life he wants.”
He then glanced toward Helena, offering her a reassuring nod.
“And allow Evander to marry dear Helena.”
Helena looked fondly at her new husband, marveling at how happy he looked as he sat by her side at their wedding reception.
There was no pinched brow. No crease of worry on his forehead, no tightening of his vivid blue eyes as if he were straining to contain his discomfort as he had been for the last several days.
He was relaxed, his handsome face smiling and stress-free as he spoke to Elara and Caroline, who had come to offer their congratulations.
“I say I have rather enjoyed these sudden twists of events,” Elara said giddily, turning her affectionate gaze to Helena. She reached her hand to her, and Helena felt no discomfort in laying her palm in Elara’s.
“I knew right away it was our family you belonged in,” Elara said with a sly wink. “We are sisters now, and I do very much look forward to the fun we shall no doubt have. Will we not, Caroline?” she added, glancing toward Damien’s wife.
Caroline’s smile was as affectionate as Helena’s as she looked down at her.
“We certainly will,” she agreed, her hands trailing down to her rounded stomach.
“Of course, I will have to wait until this little one is ready to join us. I am afraid Damien and I must depart quite soon. All this excitement and intrigue has me feeling so very tired, and I had to beg Damien to allow me to stay this long.”
“Go,” Evander and Helena encouraged in unison.
They shared a glance and broke into laughter at their shared speech.
She bowed her head toward him, silently urging him to speak first. He winked at her, then rose from his chair and went around the table to stand before Caroline and take her hands in his gloved ones.
“Helena and I will be returning to my London estate tomorrow morning,” he told her. “Please write to us when you are feeling comfortable with visitors.”
“I will, thank you, cousin,” Caroline replied, her gaze turning pleading as she shifted her gaze from Evander to Helena. “But please take no offense if you receive no such letter until after the baby is born. I truly do feel most exhausted most days.”
“No offense taken,” Helena promised, going to Evander’s side.
She took Caroline’s hands from his and leaned, both women giving each other a familial kiss on the cheek.
“We understand completely,” Helena assured her. “Please do what you must to ensure your health and that of your precious new baby.”
“Your new bride is as kind as she is beautiful,” Damien said, joining them.
Helena did not miss how Damien’s arm wrapped possessively around Caroline’s back. Nor did she miss the instant look of happiness on Caroline’s face as he did so.
“Thank you for your compliments and your presence,” Helena replied. “I do fear Patricia would have taken extreme measures at the church if you had not intervened.”
Damien bowed his head to her in respect.
“I love my brother,” he said, shifting his gaze to Evander. “But it is quite clear to me that it is you two that belong together. I never thought I would see him this happy after so many years.”
Helena turned to look at her husband, watching as an appreciative smile drew across his face as he and Damien shook hands.
“Thank you, old friend,” Evander replied sincerely.
They bid farewell to Caroline and Damien, and for the next several minutes, Helena talked comfortably with Elara as they made future plans.