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Epilogue
One Month Later
As Luke stepped out of the church, he looked down at the lady gripping tightly to his arm, seeing the same happiness he felt mirrored in her own smile. Those standing outside of the church that had been waiting for their appearance tossed petals into the air in celebration of their nuptials now being complete.
“To Lord and Lady Yeatman!” one voice in the crowd called. Luke half thought it to be Adam and turned in his direction as the rest of their congregation, now leaving the church, cheered. He found Adam through the crowd, smiling, with another lady on his own arm. Luke nodded his head in their direction, looking down at Annie once again.
“I feel as if I have missed something,” he said pointedly. “Since when do Adam and Miss Grove go everywhere arm in arm?”
“Ah! So much conversation has been about the wedding of late. You have missed the latest gossip, I see,” she said with a giggle. “Mr Barton proposed to my friend, for what I understand was the second time yesterday. On this occasion, she said yes. I think it had something to do with Mr Barton declaring his love for her in front of her cousin. From experience, a love declaration in front of family is certainly a persuasive thing.”
Luke laughed warmly as he passed Annie’s arm through his a little more so that their palms slid together. She seemed to feel the same heat he felt at such a touch, for her cheeks turned pink, and she bit her lip.
Luke let his gaze wander over her dress as they walked down the church path, with their guests following behind them, each one talking happily to another. He could hear his parents talking at length with Lady Maybury; and Jemima and Noah predicting how long they would be on their honeymoon, yet Luke did not focus on their conversation. He kept his attention on his bride instead.
Her wedding gown was a thing of beauty. Pure ivory white and cinched high on the waist, the skirt fell elegantly to the ground, skimming softy past her hips. The bejewelled brocade of the bust drew his eyes to the deep neckline. The silver beads and pearls inlaid around the sleeves and bust complimented her perfectly, for they shimmered in the bright light of the day, making her fair curls seem somehow brighter.
“You’d best look where you are going, Luke, or you are certain to trip before we reach the carriage,” she teased him, bringing a soft chuckle from him.
“Can you blame me?” he said, whispering in her ear. “It makes me wish my father had not planned such an elaborate wedding breakfast at our new home. Did you see the maids working this morning? You would have thought the Prince Regent himself was marrying!”
“Ha! Are you afraid the celebrations will last too long?”
“Perhaps a little,” he confessed. She elbowed him in pretend reprimand, but he saw her smile. Like him, he knew she was looking forward to all that could pass after their guests had left.
When they reached the bottom of the church path, a phaeton carriage awaited them, dressed in white ribbon with white roses across the front. Luke smiled as he helped his bride up into the carriage.
He was about to follow himself when he felt a hand clasp his shoulder. He turned back round to see Noah had reached his side and was offering his hand to shake. Luke eagerly shook his hand, before the two seemed to change their minds and went for an embrace instead.
“You have done well, Luke,” Noah said in his ear. “It may not have been a smooth courtship.”
“Ha! That I fear is an understatement,” Luke said as he stepped back again, with Noah still holding onto him.
“You have still done the right thing. By that, I do not mean rescuing reputations.” Noah added the latter sentence quietly, so only Luke could reach him. “You have married for love. Believe me,thatis not an easy thing to find.”
“You are kind to me.” Luke clapped Noah another time on the shoulder before turning to Jemima at his side. She reached up and embraced him.
“Take good care of her, Luke,” she warned him in the ear.
“I will because I wish to. Not just because I fear if I did not, I would come to find you torturing that harp again.” His words made Noah laugh as Jemima stepped back with a horrified expression.
“I am not that bad!”
“I appeal to your husband to answer that one for me.” Luke gestured in Noah’s direction as he hastily followed Annie into the carriage. He glanced back long enough to see Jemima tap Noah around the arm in reprimand as he winced.
“Well, it is not your finest skill, love,” Noah was saying, even as she tapped him again.
“Are you causing trouble?” Annie asked as Luke sat down beside her, loving the way her hand reached out to slide across his own, entwining their fingers together.
“Me? Never!” he declared innocently, making her guffaw with laughter.
At last! A full laugh.
As the carriage pulled away, he waved at their guests along with Annie, calling to them to tell them to hurry to the breakfast. Deep down, though, Luke was indeed still looking forward to the more private celebrations. It had been a long time since he and Annie had had the chance to be alone together, and he intended to show her how much he loved her in those moments.
***
Annie sipped the last swallow of champagne as Luke practically chased their last guest out of the house. She giggled, trying not to laugh too loudly as he shooed Noah and Jemima away like they were troublesome dogs, yapping at his heels.
