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Chapter 72
It was springtime in the country. Silas and Michael left Thornbridge Manor, arriving at the small church in Shere. It was built out of stone with a red tile roof. The steeple rose upward, the highest point in the whole village.
Behind it, there were the green fields and rolling hills. Not far in the distance, there were the woods. On the other side of the woods, there was Thornbridge Manor. The two brothers entered through the large wooden door.
Silas wore his very best dark blue jacket, with breeches and knee-high black boots. He handed his top hat to the usher, and then he and Michael walked to the front of the church, where they greeted the village pastor.
They both stood by the altar, looking out over those who sat in the rows of wooden pews. Silas saw all of his and Lucy’s friends and loved ones there. Dinah and Lord Browning were there, as were Levi, Lady Rosemary, and Lady Violet, as well as Lucy’s good friend, Susan.
The organ began, and everyone stood up. Silas’ eyes went to the back of the church, where he could see Lucy standing there with her Aunt Joan, who was going to give her away.
Lucy was a vision in a simple cream-colored muslin. A blue ribbon was tied at the empire waist and her hair was arranged in a bun, with neat ringlets framing her cheeks. She held a bouquet of orange blossoms in her hands, as well as a garland of gardenias and lilacs in her hair. She was almost exactly as he had envisioned.
Silas hadn’t known that he could be even happier than he had been over the past few months. But the moment that Joan put Lucy’s hand in his, he could feel it. This was where he was meant to be—at Lucy’s side.
“I love you,” he mouthed to Lucy.
“I love you,” she mouthed back, squeezing his hands in hers.
The pastor began the ceremony. Silas’ heart felt like it was swelling up with pride and joy. With every word, he kept his eyes on Lucy’s.
“Do you, Silas, take Lucy to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do.” He had never meant two words more than he meant those.
“Do you, Lucy, take Silas to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.” She grinned at him, her voice going shaky at the end.
“Then I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss.”
Silas leaned in, capturing her lips with his own as the entire church erupted into cheers. They left the church hand in hand, heading for the landau, which was to take them to their house.
It was pulled by two white horses, which Silas had recently purchased for their use. He helped Lucy up and into the carriage, then climbed in. As the carriage travelled through the village, children threw flowers into the air. Lining the road, the villagers gathered to see the bride. They both waved to everyone as they passed by.
The carriage drove all of the way to their new home, where there would be breakfast for their friends and family to celebrate. Everyone else would follow not long after.
Miss Joan and Susan and Levi were staying with them at Oak Ridge for a few weeks. Michael and Dinah and Reginald and Rosemary and Violet were staying at Thornbridge Manor. Between the two households, they had all been spending time together.
The manor at Oak Ridge was a large, newly-built sandstone house. It had four large Doric columns on the front porch, which was at the end of a circular drive with cypress trees lining the front. It was three stories, with many tall windows.
There were wide-open fields, which Silas planned to fill with horses and cows, and there were the brand-new stables that Silas had built himself to match the house that his father had built for him.
In the back, Lucy was in the process of creating the gardens. She was doing an admirable job, choosing with her artist’s eye. Very soon, they would rival the gardens at Thornbridge Manor.
“Here we are,” he said, glancing around. This was even better, because his father had built the house with Silas in mind. It was a reminder that his father had loved him dearly, despite their differences. He wanted to make his father proud.
He climbed down, holding out his hand to help Lucy down. She placed her hand in his.
“Welcome home, Lady Thornbridge,” he said.
She beamed at him as she stepped down. “Why, thank you, Lord Thornbridge.”
“If only we had more time before we are beset by guests for the breakfast,” he said, looking forward to having time alone with her. He had so many plans for them—all involving being locked away in their bedchamber.
“But then, you’ll have me to yourself,” she pointed out. “All to yourself.”
“I like the sound of that.”
Together, they walked up the steps to the front door of their home.
