Page 108 of Snapdragons
Niles’s soon-to-be mother-in-law proved to be preciselythe person Penelope had described in Yorkshire: elegant, commanding, and utterly exhausting. While Penelope wasn’t cowed by her mother, Mrs. Seymour noticeably dampened her daughter’s spirits.
“I am beginning to understand even better your attachment to Fairfield,” Niles had said after one particularly exasperating meal at the family home.
“It wasn’t entirely about escape,” Penelope had said, “but I will confessthis”—she’d spread her arms out, indicated the entirety of their home and all who lived in it—“has certainly played a role.”
Niles suspected, watching her the night before the wedding, that Penelope was as weary as she was excited. He was attempting to formulate an argument that would convince her family to allow her to remain home for the night, where she could be herself and not be required to scrape and bow to her brother and mother.
As if to prove no one strategized as naturally and effortlessly as the General, Aldric arrived at the Seymours’ Dublin home just in time to be the excuse they needed. As Niles claimed the closer connection to Aldric, he ought to have been the one to undertake the introductions, but Liam jumped so quickly at the opportunity that there was no chance.
“Mother,” Liam said, “this is Lord Aldric Benick, younger son of the Duke of Hartley. Lord Aldric, this is my mother, Mrs. Seymour.”
“It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Seymour.” Aldric offered a bow that deferred to the lady of the house while still acknowledging his far higher standing. He always managed that and did so without offering the least offense. He was a marvel in many ways. “And a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Seymour.” Then he turned to Penelope, and his very formal expression turned far more familial, the sort of brotherlyaffection Liam ought to have displayed every time he was with his sister. “Miss Seymour. Tomorrow is the happy day, I believe.”
Penelope hooked her arm through Niles’s. “It is. And all the happier now, knowing you will be here with us.”
“We can have Mr. Greenberry moved to another guest chamber,” Mrs. Seymour insisted. “The one he is in now is the finest we have. You would be happiest in that room.”
“Mother.” Penelope sounded appropriately horrified.
“I have obtained lodgings elsewhere, Mrs. Seymour,” Aldric said. “No need to displace the groom.”
As regal and self-assured as ever, Mrs. Seymour said, “We are to attend a soiree this evening at the home of a very well-respected family, Lord Aldric. They would be most honored if you were to grace them with your attendance as well.”
One glance at Penelope and Niles must have told the weeks-long story. Without needing to be asked to save them from more misery, Aldric said, “I look forward to spending the evening here in your lovely home with my good friends.” He indicated Niles and Penelope with the smallest movement of his head.
Aldric managed to evade all attempts to change his mind and, within the hour, Mrs. Seymour and Liam were both gone, and there was peace in the house at last.
“Thank you for this,” Niles said. “I suspect Penny was at the end of her endurance.”
From his seat across from them, Aldric said, “The Gents would do absolutely anything for Mag.”
Penelope curled into Niles, and he set his arm around her. “We didn’t think any of the Gents would be able to come to Ireland for the wedding.”
“The others wanted to be here,” Aldric said. “They truly did.”
Borrowing a page from Penelope’s book, Niles answered, “I know.”
“And I haven’t the words to express how much Stanley would have wanted to be here.” Aldric allowed a small nostalgic smile. “This is what he always wanted for you, Puppy.”
Penelope wrapped her arms around Niles.
“He was the most remarkable person I’ve ever known,” Niles said. “He changed my life.”
“Mine as well,” Aldric said quietly.
“If he were—” Niles swallowed. “If he were here, I would ask him to stand up with me tomorrow. Would you be willing to do so in his place?”
A rare show of emotion entered his eyes. “It would be my very real honor.”
?
January 1788
Fairfield was beautiful in the winter. Niles looked forward to seeing it in all the other seasons. But more than that, he looked ahead with eagerness to spending those seasons with Penelope. They’d been married a month, and he found himself amazed at how much his love for her grew every single day.
“Everyone has a dream,” Stanley had often said, “but only the truly fortunate ones get to live theirs.”
I’m living mine, Stanley. And I think you’d be happy for me.
