Notice of banns for three consecutive Sundays was followed by “Seventh of January, Mr. Nicolas Benedict Red—... Can you make out the rest of the name?” she asked. Emrys bent closer and shook his head. It was a scrawl. “And Miss Janet Adelaide Pringle, residents of this parish!” She clutched at his arm with excitement. The officiant was also named along with two witnesses to the marriage, listed below the participants.
He smiled and squeezed her hand. “Mr. Nicholas Benedict Red—” He squinted trying to make out the rest of the name. “Redman, Redfearn, Redford?” he guessed.
He turned to the reverend. “By any chance were you here in 1790? Would you know this gentleman’s name? We can’t make it out.”
“No, I’m new to the parish. It would have been old Mr. Beagle back then. He’s been dead for three years.”
“How frustrating, but still the first part of the name is clear enough and we have the Christian names.”
“Benedict!” said Annis. “My second name is Benedicta!” The tears rolled down her cheeks. “She named me for him!” He put his arm round her then and pulled her close, never mind what the other man might think.
“She did,” he murmured. “We might have guessed that!” He turned to the reverend.
“Thank you very much. I should like to make a donation to the church plate.”
“That would be most kind of you, your lordship.”
Emrys handed over a purse and then bethought him of something else. “No one else has come asking about this, have they?”
“This record? No. In fact, I can’t recall anyone asking for our records in the whole time I’ve been here.”
Emrys nodded. “Had enough, love?” he asked quietly of Annis, and she nodded.
They declined the reverend’s offer of tea and returned to the horses.
Annis was still wiping tears off her face, and he put his arms round her. “All right, love?” he asked.
“I’m overwhelmed,” she admitted. “Nicolas Benedict Red... what do you suppose the name could be?”
“We’ll find out. If he’s a peer, we’ll discover it. We’re heading to my grandmother’s house now. You will like her, and she will love you. Another half-hour’s ride and we can be comfortable,” he said and kissed her briefly. If he kissed her the way he wanted to, they would shock the reverend and delay their trip.
*
“Good heavens, Emrys,is it true you’ve married a governess, or is Maria Fortnum all about in her head?” Annis’s wandering gaze came back to the wizened little old lady with the pure white hair sitting in a chair by the fire.
“It’s true, Grandmama. I’ve brought her to meet you.” He put his arm round Annis’s waist and shepherded her forward. “Annis, this is my grandmother, Lady Stavely.”
Annis made her best curtsy. “Lady Stavely, it’s an honor to meet you. Your grandson speaks very highly of you.”
“Does he now?” The old lady’s eyes ran over Annis speculatively. “Well, she’s not a beauty like the other one, but perhaps she’ll treat you better. Have you brought those beautiful children with you?”
Emrys took all this without a blink and said, “No, not this time. We won’t be staying long, I’m sorry. But we will bring them back soon, I promise.”
“Hm. Come here, girl, I want to look at you, and my eyes aren’t good in this light.”
Annis stepped forward, suppressing a smile. She was used to obstreperous old ladies. She’d met a few in her time as a governess. She sat down on the cushion by the lady’s feet and presented her face for inspection.
“Mm. A good chin and a fine complexion. She doesn’t look stupid either.”
“She isn’t,” snapped Emrys. “That’s enough, Grandmama, you won’t put her out of countenance, so stop trying.”
“Protective, isn’t he?” she said to Annis.
Annis smiled.
“Yes, I am. And if you understood what she has been though, you would understand why,” he said.
His grandmother looked at him directly. “Well, I hope you mean to explain that.”
