Page 45 of An Accidental Elopement

“Do your tastes differ very greatly from that of Lady Winterbottom?” Cecilia asked. Her own certainly did.

“Well, no, I suppose not. I could just never give over that kind of power to anyone. When I married Bernard, I had planned the whole thing down to every last detail.”

“Yes, we remember. It was excruciating. She could not shut up about organza for an entire month.” Archie confided the last part in Cecilia in a mock whisper. Cecilia looked at him stone-faced for a moment, then remembered that it was a joke and tried to smile. At least she felt fairly certain that the corners of her mouth curled upwards. She caught a glimpse of Archie’s frown before she turned her attention back to Rosie.

“It was a very nice service, Rosie,” Gregory told her gently, leaned forward and patted her gloved hand for a moment. For just a fraction of a second, pain was visible in Rosie’s dark brown eyes, then she batted Gregory’s hand away and straightened in her seat. A blank mask descended on her face almost as clearly as if she had pulled one on.

They arrived at the church not long after and were shown to a pew at the front, the four of them sharing a bench. Cecilia and Archie were sitting in the middle with Rosie on Cecilia’s left side and Gregory on Archie’s right. Rosie was chatting animatedly about how this was the first time that she attended a Montagu wedding in this church. The first time one of the Montagu siblings had been married here had been Archie’s eldest sister Charlotte, but at that time Rosie had been too young to be allowed to participate, which she had been sorely put out over.

It took at least half an hour for the church to fill and for Hester and her father to arrive. Cecilia felt a smile tug at her lips as she saw Hester’s wide eyes. She did in fact look like an owl. Although not scowling, merely one that was a bit confused about what was going on around her. Cecilia turned to look at Rosie to see if the other woman had noticed and perhaps share a knowing smile but found that Rosie was staring fixedly at the front of the church, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Cecilia quickly found her handkerchief in her reticule and handed it to Rosie without a word. As far as Cecilia knew, Rosie had been widowed for four years. By all accounts, it had been a very happy union although much too short. And if Rosie’s reaction to seeing another bride was any indication, she certainly still missed her husband.

Rosie took the handkerchief without saying anything and quickly dabbed her eyes. Cecilia returned her attention to the front of the church again, where Hester and her father had reached Flint. The love and devotion shone through both of their eyes. They would have a happy marriage, Cecilia thought as she sat down again, and the vicar began speaking.

As to what would happen to her own marriage, Cecilia could only guess. It might be that after this day she and Archie would come to live apart. She certainly could not give herself to him while he had other women as well. She shuddered at the thought. Her movement made Archie turn and give her a questioning look.

“Is something the matter?” he whispered.

Cecilia could not bring herself to meet his gaze. But just shook her head and folded her hands in her lap. Archie reached out and took one, which was so surprising that she just let him.

“Everything that has happened between us has happened so quickly. It would only be natural if it is strange for you, seeing Flint marrying someone else,” he murmured close to her ear. His breath was hot on her neck and sent shivers down her spine. How was it possible that she wanted him yet hated him all at the same time?

“It’s not that,” she muttered, which was clearly a mistake because Archie’s natural follow-up of course was:

“Then what is the matter?”

“I’m just cold,” Cecilia whispered in a rushed voice. It was not a complete lie. She had underestimated how long they would be sitting in the small, drafty stone church and her feet were starting to feel cold.

“I would warm you if I could,” Archie purred close to her ear, and his words made Cecilia heat all over. She swatted his arm and looked pointedly ahead as she tried to concentrate on the vicar’s words and Hester and Flint’s vows.

Twenty-One

Archie did not have a chance to read the missive from Lavinia until they arrived back at Great Farleigh Hall. The letter had been burning in his pocket all through the carriage ride, the ceremony, and back again. He excused himself in a way that indicated to Cecilia and the others that he needed to use the gentlemen’s retiring room and left her with Gregory and Rosie, whom she seemed to get along with quite nicely.

In fact, he had no intention of taking care of such business at that moment. Instead, he hurried up the stairs to his room. It had been spotlessly cleaned since they had left this morning. He looked fondly at the bed, where they had made love this morning, then eaten buttered toast as they had chatted amiably. When would he be able to steal Cecilia away from the crush down there? Probably not until well into the evening, which was a shame.

He pried his eyes away from the bed and quickly tore open the letter. It was brief, to say the least.

“Archie, I need to see you today. Urgent change of plans. I have reserved the private parlor where we usually meet. Lavinia.”

But then again, she had never been one for writing long letters of love. Which was just as well since he had no interest in reading those.

He cursed as he strode to the window to look at the gray day outside. What was she thinking? She had to know that Hester’s wedding was today and that he could not simply leave in the middle of it. Yet, if she wanted to meet him today, perhaps it was something important. Perhaps she had lost the child.

A sour taste entered his mouth at the thought. He did not like that her miscarrying would be the solution to his problems, even though it was. Could it be another matter then that was important enough that he left his sister’s wedding for it? Could she have found a family on her own somehow? Or have contacted her parents despite his understanding that she would not? Perhaps her parents had agreed to take in the child, and she wanted to leave for – wherever they lived – today and only needed some money from him.

Archie rubbed a hand over his lower face as he tried to think of a time when it would be possible to leave. The wedding breakfast would soon be served, Flint and Hester would be seen off at some point, and then there would be a large dinner and party tonight. He would probably be able to leave without being missed by his parents or Hester after the wedding breakfast, but not Cecilia. What could he possibly say to her that warranted that he left?

He would have to claim some kind of urgent estate matter again and then have Gregory watch over her. He did not feel proud of lying to her, but what else could he do? If she knew, he would certainly lose her, and he had only just started having an idea of what it meant to have her. In his life. To be with her in every sense. When Cecilia had finally let him in, she had truly let him. She was not holding anything back from him anymore and he enjoyed her confidence and small outbursts of delight over the most random topics just as much as their lovemaking and their friendship.

With quick paces, he hurried down the stairs to join Cecilia again. He was determined now that if he could end this whole thing with Lavinia once and for all today, it was worth it to sneak away for an hour.

***

“I have to return to London tomorrow. Mr. Perkins, you know, the theater manager, has sent a message: my understudy is sick. Besides I need to make the most of my time on stage before the pregnancy starts to show and I have to go into hiding,” Lavinia told him.

Archie had to fight not to hide his face in his hands as Lavinia delivered this speech upon his entering the room. Had he left his sister’s wedding for this?