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He nodded, but his eyes said that he was not as confident as she.
“Then finish your tea, and go up to bed – if we are to rise early and suffer the entire process of wedding planning compressed into a single day, then you will need as much sleep as you can get.”
Iris laughed, for the image of her Mother trying to do absolutely everything in a single day was indeed comic.
“I will sleep well – and tomorrow, I will simply let Mother arrange as she wishes, and if anyone chooses to argue with her, let it be Lady Greenleigh, not me.”
>>>
The minister regarded Iris sternly as she stepped into the large parlour, but she barely noticed – her eyes went straight to Lord Greenleigh where he waited for her. He was handsome as always, and his dark blue eyes lit with pleasure when he saw her. That expression sent heat through her entire body, reinforcing for her just how right this was, no matter how they had come to this point.
Her father led her forward, and the people in the room – just her extended family, and Lord Greenleigh’s – all watched her, most with broad smiles. She stopped beside Lord Greenleigh, and her father stepped away, the symbolism of that moment not lost on her.
There was silence, and then the minister began to speak, his words binding her to the man beside her, irrevocably. It was exhilarating, and yet also frightening, that so short a timespan and so few words could change so much, forever. Despite that, she was still sure, in her heart and soul, that this was the right thing, that he truly was the right man for her.
And then it was done. She was married. Lord Greenleigh – Leonard, she now knew his forename to be - gently tipped her chin up, and brushed a soft kiss over her lips. She shivered, wishing that they were alone. But then he drew back, and their family gathered around, offering congratulations. Her new husband’s grandmother said little – which seemed rather out of character, but Iris put that thought aside for later consideration.
The Duchess swept them all out of the parlour, and along to the ballroom, where tables had been laid out with food and drink. To Iris, it seemed strange – a disconcerting echo of her sister’s wedding breakfast, only three months before. A rather ghostly, faded echo, lacking a vast quantity of people and activity. She looked up at the man beside her, to find him looking at her, his eyes full of the same uncertainty she felt.
She smiled, and reached out to place her hand on his arm, suddenly needing to feel his warmth, to know that he was real. He covered her hand with his. She swallowed, emboldened by that touch, and spoke softly, so that only he might hear.
“I admit that I am not sure what we might do to pass the next few hours – with only family present, it is not as if the event will go on as most wedding breakfasts do…”
His lips twisted into a wry smile.
“That is true, although… your family seems vast, compared to mine.”
“We can be rather overwhelming, when we are all in the same place, especially now that all of my sisters have husbands too. But I promise you, as a family, we are universally prone to cheerfulness.”
Something flickered in his expression, something almost of sadness, and then was gone.
“If that is the case, then I am most grateful. But… rather than us simply standing here, looking uncertain, perhaps we should do something which we know we will both find pleasant?”
He lifted his hand from hers for a moment, and waved to the side, where the pianoforte stood, its golden timbers shining in the morning sun which came through the tall windows. Iris felt her heart beat harder, and her breath catch. Now, no one could disapprove, no one would interrupt them, or try to stop them.
“Yes. I believe that we began a duet at Lady Gillieston’s, which we were unfortunately prevented from completing. This seems a most appropriate time to remedy that issue.”
His eyes lit with pleasure at her words.
“Then let us waste no time in starting, for if we hesitate, I am quite sure that someone will feel it necessary to come and speak with us.”
He led her across the room, and they settled beside each other on the pianoforte bench, the heat of him so close beside her intense, and stimulating all of her senses. But, once they began to play, even that faded away, and there was only the music, and the effortless connection within it, to the man who seemed, when playing, the other half of her soul.
On the opposite side of the room, Lady Greenleigh stood with Lady Neelsham.
“I am so glad that he looks happy. I have worried, for years now, that my son would never have happiness…”
Lady Neelsham snorted almost derisively.
“Happiness? That’s not necessary for a successful marriage. But yes, he looks so now, doesn’t he? We’ll see just how long that lasts once she is told the truth, once she meets your mad daughter. But there’s no going back for her now – she’s married him, and she’ll have to live with it, whether she likes it or not.”
>>>
Iris released a huge sigh as they settled into the carriage. Opposite her, Lina scrunched into the corner of the carriage seat, eyeing Lord Greenleigh with deep uncertainty. Iris was glad to have her familiar maid with her, but it did mean that she could not yet speak privately with Lord Greenleigh.
His fingers twined with hers, offering silent reassurance, and she allowed herself to lean back, to rest against him, ever so slightly. There would be time enough for talking once they reached Greenleigh House – her new home.
That seemed a very strange concept, but it was now the truth. She would simply have to adapt. At least Lady Greenleigh – oh! The Dowager Lady Greenleigh, for Iris was now Lady Greenleigh! – had been kind enough to go to stay with Lady Neelsham tonight, and they would have the house to themselves, apart from the staff. Staff… staff she did not know, staff who were now hers to direct. It was another thing which felt very odd.
