“We have one more proposal for you both,” Vincent began, glancing between Mildred and Sophia.“If you don’t like the idea, simply say so, and we’ll never mention it again.”
“You didn’t have any say in our betrothal,” Matthew said after dropping a quick kiss on Mildred’s hand, “and I absolutely want your input on this.It is entirely up to you two ladies.”
Sophia and Mildred exchanged bewildered looks before turning back to the men.
“At the inn this morning, we were thinking—”
“Always a dangerous thing,” Matthew muttered with a grin.Vincent elbowed him in the ribs.
“—which of us should get married first.”Vincent gestured between himself and Matthew.“And then we thought…” this time his gesture took in all four of them.He looked at Sophia with a hopeful expression, as though she could interpret for him.
It took a moment for her to understand what he was having trouble saying.“You’re proposing a double wedding?”
Vincent and Matthew nodded in unison.
“You mean Matthew and I marry, and you and Sophia marry, at the same ceremony, at the same time?”Mildred paused.“On the beach?”
They all nodded.“I intend to dig my bare toes in the sand when we exchange vows,” Sophia declared, having just thought of the idea.
“Oh!That’s bloody brilliant!”Mildred threw her arms around everyone she could reach.
Given the heated look from Vincent, Sophia could only surmise that he agreed.
Mildred suddenly looked worried.“But that means we can’t stand up for each other.Who will be our bridesmaids?”
Vincent and Matthew tilted their heads at Ashley and Theo.“Just a suggestion,” Vincent said with a shrug.“And I’d like to include my brothers in the ceremony,” he added.
Sophia squeezed his hand.“I think that’s a lovely idea.”
Oblivious to the years of estrangement between the siblings that had only recently been addressed, the rift they’d barely begun to heal, Mildred smiled.“I have no objection.”
The matter settled, Matthew talked Mildred and Sophia into singing and playing with him while everyone waited for Ravencroft to return with his sheet music.Vincent found his brothers at the refreshment tray and beckoned them to follow him to the chess table by the window for a modicum of privacy.
“Matthew and I are going to marry in a double ceremony,” he said without preamble.“I’d like you to officiate.”
Xavier choked on his tea cake.Wallace thumped him on the back.Xavier sputtered, his blue eyes watering, and took a sip of tea.“You’re sure?All four of you are in agreement?”
Vincent nodded.“We’re going to hold the ceremony on the beach.”
He tipped his brother’s jaw closed, then turned to Wallace, who was about to pop a rout cake into his mouth.Vincent rested his hand on Wallace’s forearm, preventing him from eating.
Memories flooded back of the hurtful things Wallace had said to him growing up.Things Wallace had said from the place of a hurting child, confused and bewildered by the adults in his life, taking out his anger on his eldest brother.And how Vincent had retaliated in kind, punishing his brother with his words and fists until Father had sent him away to cool off in a remote village at the seaside.He took in a fortifying breath.“I’d like you to stand up with me as my best man.”
Wallace dropped the cake onto his plate and stared at Vincent, stunned.Xavier caught the plate as it tipped from Wallace’s lax hand.“I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.”Vincent plastered a smile on his face and held perfectly still, not breathing, as he waited for his brother’s response.
A flurry of emotions crossed Wallace’s face, each so swift Vincent could not interpret any of them.He began to think he’d miscalculated, that there were too many years and too much animosity between them to overcome this quickly.They’d said too many hurtful things to each other.It had only been a few days since the last time Vincent knocked Wallace on his arse, after he’d made a crude comment about Sophia that Vincent was now certain Wallace had said only to rile him.
Wallace threw his arms around Vincent in a suffocating hug, nearly sending them both tumbling to the floor.“Yes,” he whispered against Vincent’s neck.
Vincent’s shoulders sagged in relief.This leap of faith had been the right choice.
After a moment, Xavier threw his arms around them both.
Vincent felt cracks within him healing, rifts he’d been aware of but considered unimportant.Until Sophia had asked a not-so-innocent question, popping a decades-old blister in the process, painfully making them all aware of how deep their wounds actually were.
Mother would not want her sons to be estranged.She’d have wanted them to resolve their differences, to at least be civil to one another if they couldn’t be the friends and playmates they’d been in the nursery.
