Nathaniel frowned, and he took off his hat. “We should send Lord Mortimer a note that he plans to flee. He should not shirk his duty.”
“A sound plan. What are you doing?”
He nodded toward the door he had been about to enter. “I was going to see an old friend who has quite a close relationship with the Archbishop of Canterbury.” He reached out for her waist and pulled her close, making her blush. “I wish to marry you as soon as possible, my love, and so a special license is in order, I think.”
Her heart leapt with joy. “Very romantic, Nathaniel,” she said.
“As romantic as kissing you in front of everyone on the street?” he asked, leaning close.
“We will cause quite the scandal, you know.”
“That’s no trouble. We are already old hat at that,” he replied, and then he kissed her, and she cared nothing for what anyone else had to say about it.
Epilogue
Three weeks later
Worwood Estate
Jane was waiting for the small ceremony to begin. She was dressed and prepared; and her uncle was going to walk her down the ‘aisle’ in the sitting room. Her hand moved to the star pendant around her neck, and she closed her eyes, imagining both her father and mother there with her, happy about her future.
“It is a beautiful pendant,” her uncle said at her side, and she nodded. “I will treasure it forever.”
That very morning, Mr. Beaumont, the solicitor, had arrived with a small package. “It was to be delivered on the morning of your nuptials,” he told her, and Jane had eagerly opened it in the private sitting room. Inside was the star pendant, as well as a letter, a letter she would also treasure forever.
It had read,
Dearest Jane,
You were the star of our lives, my dear. Forgive an old man for his wrongdoings. I found it hard to look at you when you looked so like your dear departed mother. But that was not your fault, and I should not have treated you thusly. I love you dearly, and I wish you every happiness in your new life as a married woman. This pendant was to be your mother’s, but she never had a chance to wear it. It is yours now.
Love,
Father
Jane had cried and cried until her aunt had arrived to tell her she must preserve her complexion for the wedding, and now she was there, right on the cusp of the happiest future she could have ever envisioned. No longer was there anger in her heart at her father; all had been forgiven. When they were given word, the doors opened, and Jane passed down the aisle towards Nathaniel, her heart fluttering madly.
He was so handsome it hurt, in his dark coat, golden waistcoat and bright white cravat. She couldn’t help but feel the anticipation of the wedding night like nothing else. Since their official engagement, her aunt and his mother had done their best to keep them apart.
She barely heard the minister’s words until it was time to share the vows.
“And do you, Lady Jane Caldwell take Lord Nathaniel Balwood to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” she said, savoring the words like a sweet.
“And do you, Lord Nathaniel Balwood take Lady Jane Caldwell to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love her, to honor her, and to comfort her, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” he said, his eyes only on her.
“Then, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Nathaniel leaned down to kiss her, lingering a little longer, making her insides heat. When he pulled away, their friends and family clapped with joy, and Nathaniel whispered into Jane’s ear, “You look beautiful.”
“And you, very handsome,” she said, smiling, unable to stop smiling as she looked out over the happy group.
They had decided to marry at Worwood Estate with only a small group of people, for the sake of Nathaniel’s father. But he was there, in a chair with a blanket over his legs, clapping just like the rest of them.
As they walked back down the aisle, smiling and nodding to everyone, Nathaniel said, “When can we be alone, my love? It has been an age.”
