Page 85 of A Baron's Scandalous Quill
Frederick closed the door of the chapel he had been peeking through, turning back to face her. He was dressed finely for the occasion, too, in a black tail suit and a dark blue waistcoat. He looked quite sprightly as he bounded back toward her, with joy on his face.
“They are all gathered. Charlotte, all your family is inside, including your brothers,” he nodded in her direction. “Mr. Brackley is there, too, with his mother in the front row, and Lord Longfellow is there as well.”
“Then, we are ready?” Becca said with excitement, sudden nerves making her hands tremble.
“They are, but are you?” her father asked with seriousness. “Remember what I said, love. At any point, you can change your mind.”
“I love you for your kindness, Father, but trust me, I will not change my mind.” She shook her head with vigor. “I love him.”
Frederick matched her own smile.
“I can see you do.” He took her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing the back. “I am delighted for you both.”
Warmed by his words, she allowed Frederick to loop her hand through the crook of his arm.
When she had first told her father of the betrothal, Frederick clearly didn’t know whether to trust it or not. As he had said countless times, thetonhad their own world, and he wasn’t convinced that William would step outside of those boundaries for anyone, but all had been settled once William and Lord Longfellow invited Frederick to the house.
They met over coffee and talked, and by the end of the afternoon, Becca was overjoyed to see Frederick liked the two men very much indeed.
Something that had also transpired in their discussions, that a former client of Frederick’s was George Dorset. Once Becca realized that the reason her father had formed such an ill opinion of thetonwas thanks to the deceit of George Dorset, she was furious.
Fortunately, William repaid Frederick all the money that had been lost to George Dorset in his work for him. Frederick had offered the money back as a dowry for Becca, explaining he had little else to offer, but William insisted he keep it.
“I do not need a dowry to marry the woman I love.”
These words from William had lasted with Becca ever since, bringing her comfort and the certainty that she was making the right decision.
“If you’re ready then,” Frederick said, “let us begin.” He moved toward the chapel doors and escorted her inside.
The organ music struck up, and their small congregation stood to greet her.
At first, Becca’s eyes darted around the room. She saw many of the staff from William’s two households had also gathered to wish them both well. Even Lord Longfellow’s butler, Horace, was there, and any former impression of pride he might have given was long melted away now as he dabbed at his eyes from where he stood behind Lord Longfellow in the pews.
The Earl of Longfellow turned and winked at Becca, a warm smile across his face as she walked past him.
The day before, he had gifted her and William their wedding gift. He had arranged and paid for a trip to the East of England. He called it a chance for them to get away and be just themselves, away from the tittering of theton,which would no doubt happen now they were wed.
They could also, too, have a break from the chatter around their book and be alone, just the two of them. Well, them and Henry, of course, who was to come along to help smooth over arrangements with their lodgings and carriages.
At this thought, Becca’s eyes turned to the front of the earl’s family chapel. By the altar stood the priest, and in the place of the best man was Henry. He wore a finer suit than she had ever seen him wear before, and he had such a soft smile on his face that those usually sharp features appeared almost gently.
He looked between Becca and William, so content with life it seemed that he was barely able to stand still and bobbed on his toes.
At last, Becca looked toward the one man she had been longing to see all morning. At the end of the aisle stood William.
Dressed in a dark blue suit, a simple tie at his throat, rather than a cravat, his smile was greater than any other man’s in the room. He didn’t blink as she walked toward him but appeared to be drinking in the sight of her.
As Becca and her father reached him, Frederick carefully passed Becca’s hand into William’s. Under the cover of the music, Frederick whispered to him.
“I’d say take good care of my daughter, my lord, but I already know you will do, if you’re prepared to cross such boundaries to be with her.”
“Sir.” William took a small step toward him. “She is the best thing that has happened to me. Rest assured that I will protect her no matter what comes in our lives together.”
Frederick looked quite overcome at hearing these words. He sniffed and nodded, then released Becca’s other hand and nodded at her encouragingly. He took his place in the pew at the front of the chapel and smiled happily next to Franny.
Becca faced William fully as he drew her toward the altar.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered in her ear as they came near to one another.
