I daresay that you have missed the most exciting Christmas, and I can barely contain my excitement as I write this letter. I have succeeded! Colin and Arabella finally set aside their differences and are to be married today. Can you believe that?
But their journey was not an easy one. Do you remember how Lord Eastwood and Arabella were previously engaged? He traveled to Langdon Hall to try to persuade her to marry him… again. Fortunately, my granddaughter rejected his proposal and sent him on his way. I do not care for that man. He aggravated me from the moment he stepped foot into the drawing room.
It wasn’t long before Arabella’s father, Lord Clavering, showed up to try to convince her to marry Lord Eastwood. I was proud of Arabella because she stood her ground against her father. During this time, Colin arrived at Langdon Hall and declared his love for Arabella.
It was a sweet moment, one that I eavesdropped on. I know you would be terribly disappointed in me, but I couldn’t resist.
This Christmas was anything but ordinary, and I didn’t even tell you about the poacher that was found on Colin’s land. That is a story that will need to be told in person, which I hope will be soon. I can’t wait to hear about your matchmaking attempts, and I am hoping you were successful, as well.
Now that I have set out what I intended to do, I find that I need a holiday. It is exhausting being a matchmaker.
Yours fondly,
Esther
Chapter Eighteen
Colin stared out the window of his bedchamber, not quite believing that this day had finally arrived. It had been three days since he had secured the special license, and he had hardly seen Arabella during that time. But that was about to change, because today was his wedding day. In a few hours, he would never have to be apart from her again.
His valet spoke up from behind him. “White or ivory?”
Colin turned to face him. “White.”
“You are being rather decisive today, milord,” Simon joked as he extended the white cravat towards him. “That bodes well for the future Lady Barrett.”
Colin accepted the cravat and walked over to the mirror. As he was tying the intricate knot, he said, “Today is going to be a marvelous day.”
“Yes, it is,” Simon agreed.
“I can’t help but wonder how radically different my life would have been had my brother not passed away.”
“That is a most distasteful thought.”
“It is, but I doubt I would have ever won Arabella’s hand in marriage if I was still serving in the army.”
“You do not know that,” Simon replied. “Fate has a peculiar way of intervening in people’s lives.”
“That it does,” Colin agreed, walking over to the door.
“I wish you luck, milord,” Simon said.
“Will you be at the wedding?”
Simon smiled. “I would not miss it.”
Colin departed out of his room and started walking down the hall. As he reached the top of the stairs, he saw his brother coming from the other direction.
John held his arms out wide. “There he is,” he remarked enthusiastically. “The bridegroom.”
“It is only a few weeks until you are to be wed yourself.”
“Who would have thought that you would beat me to the altar?” John asked.
Colin shook his head. “Not me.”
“But I am glad that you did so.”
With a smile, Colin said, “I do appreciate you coming to my wedding, especially since it was such short notice.”
