Page 73 of Debtor’s Daughter

Chapter 21

Lord Bradley scowled at her and Georgette quailed inwardly but put up her chin. This vile libertine might be a peer of the realm, but she would not cower before him. Instead, she regarded him with the full measure of contempt she felt blazing in her eyes.

―Excerpt from ‘His Grace and Disfavour’, by an anonymous author.

16th November 1850, St Anne’s Church, Soho, London.

Larkin wondered if it was the most unusual wedding that St Anne’s Church in Soho had ever witnessed. If it was, he had to give the vicar credit, for the man didn’t bat an eyelid, even when Aunt Connie, resplendent in bright purple and glittering with the largest display of amethysts and diamonds Larkin had ever seen, floated down the aisle. She called out greetings as she went, waving to Lord and Lady Montagu and the Marquess of Blackstone—who, she had told Larkin in confidence, was a wicked darling—and even blowing a kiss to Ashton Anson.

Maggie, who had insisted Connie walk first up the aisle, appeared a moment later, and Larkin ceased to think of anything else. She wore her thick blonde hair in a simple chignon, and her ivory gown was trimmed with Brussels lace. However, despite his artistic eye and love of detail, he barely noticed the gown, the flowers, or the diamonds lent to her by Lady Montagu, for her face, serene behind the lace veil, was the single most stunning thing he’d ever seen in his life. His heart gave an erratic thud as he realised how terribly lucky he was.

“Mama! Mama!”

Gideon bounced up and down beside Caro, who tried to hush him, to no avail as he spotted his mother.

“Pretty Mama!” Gideon said, his tone approving, clapping as the congregation chuckled indulgently.

Maggie laughed and blew him a kiss before taking her place beside Larkin. Through the lace veil, he saw her beautiful blue-green eyes glittering with happiness and knew the same joy was reflected in his own.

He hardly heard a word of the service, making his replies in a daze, unable to look away from his bride as the rest of the world disappeared. It was just Maggie and him, making each other promises they would be sure to keep, no matter what.

When the vicar finally said the grooms could kiss their brides, the congregation erupted as Cecil swept his wife up into his arms and spun her around before planting a smacking kiss upon her lips. Larkin was barely aware of the furore, too consumed with the lifting of Maggie’s veil. The action made him feel strangely reverent, as if he were casting aside their old lives with the removal of the delicate lace, and letting in the future as the sun shone through the stained glass and fell like a blessing upon her lovely face.

She smiled up at him, and he suddenly saw everything he had ever wanted before him, as simple as breathing.

“Thank you,” he told her, with all the love and emotion he was feeling, and whilst she might not understand precisely what she was being thanked for, it did not matter, as he lowered his mouth to hers, and kissed his wife.

6th November 1850, Ridgeley House, Belgravia, London.

The wedding breakfast was lavish and, after being presented with a spread of food in both great quantity and exquisite quality, most of the guests had probably hoped for little more than a nice nap. However, the company had quickly come to understand that Mrs Connie Thompson was a force to be reckoned with, so whilst it was most unconventional when she insisted everyone must dance the moment everyone had finished eating, no one thought to deny her and, moreover, they all seemed delighted to join in.

Maggie watched her aunt, finally in her element, and felt almost as overwhelmed by Connie’s good fortune and happiness as she was by her own. Aunt Connie’s joy was infectious, her desire that everyone be as happy as she quite irresistible, and it had made the day so special it would live in everyone’s memory forevermore.

“Look,” Larkin said as he danced Maggie around the floor for a second time. He had refused to relinquish her hand to allow the Earl of Ashburton to dance with her, telling his friend in the most amicable of terms to ‘sling his hook.’

Far from taking offence, the earl had promised to try again later when her husband was feeling a touch less possessive. Now, however, she looked over to see Lord Montagu guiding Aunt Connie around the ballroom.

“Oh, my lord,” she said, suddenly panic struck by what her irrepressible aunt might do or say to the intimidating marquess. However, as Montagu lowered his head to listen to whatever it was Connie was whispering to him, his eyes twinkled with mirth, and he gave a sudden burst of laughter. Connie glanced across to see Maggie watching and smirked, well aware what a coup it was to have made the ice cold marquess laugh in public.

“May I?”

Larkin halted the dance the moment before he moved her into a turn, and Maggie looked around to see Baron Rothborn, her father-in-law, at their side, holding out his hand to her. She glanced at Larkin in surprise, for he had told her his father very rarely danced due to the injury he’d sustained in the war. Larkin sighed.

“I’ve just sent Ashburton off, must I do so to you too?” Larkin asked, quirking an eyebrow.

The Baron, whose ruggedly handsome features were echoed in his son, mirrored the expression. “You may try,” he replied dryly.

Larkin snorted. “No chance,” he said with amusement, and reluctantly handed her into his father’s care.

“I’m afraid I’m no dancer, but I could not resist stealing you away for a moment or two, which is all I will manage, I’m afraid,” the Baron said with a crooked smile.

“I’m honoured,” Maggie replied, for though she had only met Larkin’s parents briefly the previous day, they had both been so warm and kind she knew she was sincerely welcomed into their family.

“Gideon is a lovely fellow. You must be very proud of him.”

“I am, my lord,” Maggie said, touched by his kindness, for she had seen him take pains to introduce himself to Gideon, who was still sitting with Lady Rothborn, who seemed equally enchanted.

“Call me Solo. Everyone does,” he said. “If I may call you Maggie?”