“Happiness may take time,” Gerard said with the wisdom of a man far beyond his years. “Can ye be patient, me friend?”
“Of course, I can.” At his words though, Stephen scoffed. “What was that for?”
“No offence intended, but you are not the most patient of men.”
“Saying ‘no offence intended’ does not take away from an insult, Stephen.”
“Well, I tried.” Stephen shrugged. “Look, all is well with the world now. Already the scandal sheets published this morning are talking of another scandal. You and Frederica marrying today was an afterthought, mentioned in the back of the sheet. Maybe once no one talks of you two at all, your new wife will be much more at ease.”
“Hmm.” Allan tipped his champagne glass up to his lips. He couldn’t help thinking there was more to this.
All through the ceremony, he had examined carefully just where Frederica was looking. Repeatedly, she had stared at the church door. He wondered if she had considered running, escaping to the very place where she had been this last year. Other times, she had snuck glances at her parents.
She fears them. Despite everything they’ve been through, despite arguing back with them, she still fears them.
Allan downed the last of his champagne.
“Ye’ll be legless by the time it comes to the weddin’ night,” Gerard pointed out.
Allan abruptly put down the glass as Stephen snickered. Allan had no intention of asking Frederica to consummate this marriage at the moment. All he could think about was seeing her smile with him as she smiled with Dorothy and Charlotte.
That would be enough.
“If you’d excuse me, I need to talk to my other guests. You two are hardly helping to raise my spirits.”
“Daenae drink any spirits, too,” Gerard called after him as he walked away with Stephen still laughing beside him.
Allan cursed under his breath at his friends before quickly deciding that they had probably drunk as much as he had and weren’t thinking straight either.
Allan tried to reach his wife. He moved towards her across the room, hoping she would look at him, but before he could reach her, two people he had no wish to see stepped in the way.
“Ah, Lord Padleigh.” Frederica’s father stepped in the way, offering another one of those ridiculously deep bows which were so low, they could have broken his back. Beside him, his wife curtsied in a similarly comical way. “What a joyous occasion this is.”
“Yes, joyous,” Allan said woodenly, tempted to ask if that was the case, why had Lord and Lady Campbell not looked a little happier and prouder of their daughter.
“We must thank you for joining our two families together,” Lady Campbell said gushingly, raising her own glass of champagne to her lips. “I am sure we will be a merry family together now.”
“Merry indeed,” Allan muttered drily, something that went unnoticed by her parents. “May I ask you, why did Frederica not have bridesmaids today?”
“Oh, that,” Lord Campbell said, waving a hand dismissively. “We thought it best that she stood alone today beside you. It’s time she stood alone and bore the consequences of her actions.”
Allan’s jaw dropped.
Frederica needed support, not another act of condescension.
“I think the wedding breakfast is at an end now, wouldn’t you agree?” Allan said. He barely caught sight of Lord and Lady Campbell’s smiles slipping out of place as he swept away.
* * *
Frederica repeatedly wrung her hands together as she stood on the front step of the house, waving off her guests. Her parents had long since departed, being the first two to leave. The very last to go were Charlotte and Dorothy, who were still standing on the driveway, not climbing into their carriages in any hurry.
“Charlotte, come on, lass,” Gerard said, waiting inside the carriage.
“Write to me,” Charlotte called to Frederica, waving animatedly as she waved back.
“Dorothy,” Stephen looked quite ready to pick up his wife and carry her into their carriage. “Do you intend to move back in with your brother and his new wife, or can we go home?”
“Don’t be impatient,” Dorothy said. “I’m saying goodbye to my friend.” She turned back to call up to Frederica as Stephen took her hand and practically dragged her back to the carriage, “I’ll come and see you soon.”
