Page 59 of A Gifted Earl

Epilogue

“Is everything right? Are the pins falling out of my hair again?”

“Everything is just perfect, Venetia – stop fussing. You are a beautiful bride, and you are about to marry a wonderful man. Now come downstairs – the carriage is waiting to take us to the church.”

Venetia forced herself to step away from the mirror, to accept that she was as ready as she could be, and to follow her mother from the room.

The day was fine, the thin dusting of snow which still lay on the ground looked perfect, clean of any stain, as if the whole world was crisp and clean, just for her. The weak winter sunlight drew sparks of light from the snow, and from the icicles on some of the trees. All in all, it seemed magical.

The carriage wound down the hill and along the valley to near the village, where the small church stood, picture perfect in the landscape. When she had imagined marrying, she had always thought of London, or the church at Hard Abbey, never of something like this!

They drew up before the door, and she stepped carefully down from the carriage, the delicate skirts of her gown lifted up until she stood on the top of the church steps.

“Are you ready?”

Venetia nodded.

“Nervous, but ready – are you?”

Against all convention, they had decided that Venetia’s mother would walk her down the aisle to Lord Templewick. She had no male relative she would wish to have there.

“I am, although this is something which I never once in my life imagined that I might find myself doing!”

“Then let us go in, for I am so happy to be marrying a man I love, not some old lecher. I can’t wait.”

They stepped into the church, and the small congregation turned as one to see her. But after that first moment, Venetia was not aware of them at all – her eyes were only for Lord Templewick, waiting for her. His eyes met hers, and it was as if she floated down the aisle, buoyed by their shared happiness.

*****

It felt like he’d been waiting forever. But, finally, the moment came when he knew, by the whispers which ran around the church behind him, that she had arrived. He turned, and met her eyes.

For a moment, there was nothing but that, her beautiful face, the scar clear to see, not hidden by her hair, or by face powder. Then, after a moment, she began to walk to him, her mother by her side, and he took in everything about her – the magnificent gown she wore, in a green like the first spring leaves, with an outer layer of near transparent fine silver mesh, embroidered at the bodice in leaf patterns done in tiny emeralds, and at the hem in the same leaf patterns, but done in shades of amber, gold, red and brown, as if all the leaves of autumn clung to her at her feet. They matched the look of her scar perfectly.

He was enchanted by it, by her, in every way.

She reached him, and took his hand. They turned to face the Vicar, who was a cheerful man, full of kindness, and happily married himself. He smiled at them, indulgently, as if he could see their love for each other at a glance.

The ceremony began, and passed, in somewhat of a blur for Morgan, as they each gave their responses where required. It was only when the Vicar finally pronounced them man and wife that it all became real to him. As they left the church after signing the papers, he was happy that they had asked such a small select group of people to join them – for the well-wishes of even that small number felt overwhelming.

He was very glad to step up into the carriage for the journey back to Templewick Grange, where the Wedding Breakfast awaited them. But the first thing he did upon the door closing, and the carriage moving off, was to pull Venetia into his arms, and kiss her. When they finally drew apart a little, he settled her against his side on the seat, his arm around her.

“I would be very happy to simply continue to kiss you… but if I am to manage to get through the day, I must harbour my strength…”

She laughed softly.

“I would be very happy for you to continue to kiss me too, but I suppose that we must behave until this evening, at a time when we might reasonably retire. We must allow our mothers their enjoyment of all of the fuss too. Although… I will permit myself just one small indulgence, before I try to behave for the rest of the day.” And with that, she pulled his head down to her, and kissed him. It was a tentative kiss which became certain, a kiss which promised much for the future, and set his blood aflame. Then she pulled back with a smile. “And that will have to sustain me until later.”

“No rash impetuous actions today?”

“No more – I am sure that marrying you is quite enough rashness for now.”

He shook his head, amused, and then they arrived, for the distance from the church to Templewick Grange was short, and they both turned their attention to dealing with the rest of the day.

*****

It was early afternoon, and everyone was relaxing in the parlour, after the Wedding Breakfast, replete with food and drink, and happiness. Venetia settled on the couch beside her mother, who smiled.

“I have some news for you. When we returned from the church, there was a letter waiting for me, from Brightwood Chase. Our estate manager wrote to tell me of his progress with all of the repairs to the tenants cottages, and to the House, using the funds which your wonderful husband has provided. You will be pleased to know that everything is well under way, and none of our tenants will suffer, going forward. He has also set about buying replacements for many of the items which we sold – so when you visit, it will be as it originally was. He has arranged to send your two horses here, next week, and asks what you would like the Housekeeper to pack up of your belongings and send. I know that you will want to come to Brightwood Chase soon, and arrange most of your things yourself, but you must ask now for at least enough to see you through the next few weeks.”