“Or furnishings or any of that sort of thing. Am I correct?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Rupert”—Freddy stood—“don’t you have something to do in your study? I’m sure we shall go on much more quickly without you.”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” He bowed. “It has to do with my surprise.”
“Devil,” Vivian said to his back as he ambled out of the parlor.
Serena raised one brow. “For all that his name is Stanstead, he is truly a Beaumont.”
Vivian and her future relations followed the housekeeper out of the room and up the stairs.
As they entered the first bedroom, Freddy pulled a face. “I must apologize to you. I did not raise my son to be interested in domestic matters. I had so little interest myself.”
“No matter. I’m perfectly capable of taking them on.”Ecstaticwould be the word. Since Vivian was thirteen, she’d been looking forward to having a home to do with as she would. Beresford was a bitter blow. Yet, with Rupert by her side, she would move forward to a new and much better life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Sun flooded Silvia’s bedchamber. This was her wedding day. She couldn’t believe that after having hated Nick for so long, she was finally going to become his wife. Not that it had been Nick’s fault. Her father had a lot to answer for. She and Nick would deal with Papa later. This day was to be celebrated.
She had been dressed for the past several minutes, waiting for Vivian and Cousin Clara. Not long ago, Silvia had heard a carriage drive up to the front of the house, and she wondered how soon the visitors would leave.
The door opened and Cousin Clara entered in a froth of brightly colored shawls and skirts. “We are almost ready to go. Lord Beresford sent this over earlier.” Clara opened a box. “For you to wear.”
Silvia’s jaw dropped. She’d never seen anything so striking. Displayed on a Prussian-blue velvet cloth was a necklace with pearls and rubies interspersed on three strands, matching earrings, and a bracelet. On closer inspection, the bracelet appeared to be new, but the other pieces were quite old. “Where did he find them?”
“I have no idea. They are not part of the Beresford jewels,” Vivian said prosaically. “I brought you one of my blue handkerchiefs to borrow for today. I think Beresford has taken care of the old and the new.”
Although Silvia knew it was customary for a gentleman to give his bride something on their wedding day, she hadn’t given it any thought. The sense of a pleasant dream deserted her, leaving in its place an excitement she hadn’t experienced since before Nick had left to return to the army. She wanted to jump up and down and skip as she had as a child. “Someone put them on me, please.”
Clara chuckled. “Give me a moment.” She made Silvia sit at the dressing table before fastening the necklace.
All Silvia could do was gaze in the mirror. “I feel different, as if I’m no longer a single lady.”
“If you’re going to wear the rest, don them.” Clara’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Beresford will be waiting.”
Silvia quickly inserted the gold wires through her ears and slid the bracelet on her wrist. “I’m ready.”
Even though Cousin Clara had offered the use of her house for the wedding, and Mr. Trevor had agreed to off iciate, in the end Silvia and Nick had decided to have the service performed at St. George’s. She might still be angry at her father, but she had been raised a rector’s daughter and church was where she wanted to be for her wedding.
Nick, his friend Lord Hawksworth, and Lord Stanstead were already at St. George’s when she, Clara, and Vivian arrived. Nick glanced up as they entered through a side door, and gave her a crooked grin. Dressed in black and snowy white, he’d never looked so handsome.
He held out his hand. “Shall we begin?”
“Yes, I’m more than ready.”
Silvia was radiant and exquisite, and Nick was going to have one hell of a time being civil to her father when they returned to Beresford. The old man had made them wait years for this moment. But right now, Nick was simply happy she was going to be his. Everything else could wait.
In typical Silvia fashion, she had wasted no time joining him. Her grip on his hand was sure and firm. She would make an excellent wife and countess. Most importantly, she would be his lover and the mother of his children.
“Who gives this woman to this man?”
Silvia seemed to grow taller as she gave the clergyman a look and said, “I give myself to him.”
“Umm, most unusual.” The man coughed. “My lord?”
Stanstead raised a brow, ready to step in if needed.
