Page 36 of Devil at the Gates
“Good, good.” He patted his pocket nervously. It held the present he’d chosen for Harriet. “Oh, and Grindle.” He caught his butler before the man left.
“Yes, Your Grace?”
“You have my permission.” The confusion on Grindle’s face was almost comical. “To court Mrs. Breland. Should you choose to marry, you may retain your positions here with no qualms from me.”
Grindle only managed a respectful nod before rushing off to show a few straggling musicians where to set up. He was far too professional to let more than that slip past his reserve, but his thanks was clear.
A few hours later, Frostmore was full of people and music filled the house. He’d spent the hours before with Harriet as they’d talked of everything and nothing while having a late luncheon in his study. Then she’d gone back to her room to dress for the ball. Redmond greeted all his guests, including Millicent’s parents.
“Your Grace,” Millicent’s father, Henry, greeted solemnly.
“I’m glad you came, Mr. Hubert.”
Henry and his wife, Maria, both smiled a little sadly. “We’re glad to be here. It’s been too long.” Henry proceeded into the room, but Maria remained behind.
“I hope… I hope you find happiness again, Your Grace. It’s what my Millicent would’ve wanted.” She paused, her eyes misting. “We know the rumors weren’t true. We know you loved her, and we have no quarrel with you. The past is the past, and we’ve put it all behind us.” She squeezed his hand and offered a genuine smile.
Redmond’s eyes burned as he thanked Maria. He never thought that they would say that they believed him. When he’d told them of Millicent’s death all those years ago, they’d left his home heartbroken, just as he had been. But he had feared, as the years passed, that they might have believed the rumors that he’d killed her. But they hadn’t. They were here to celebrate Christmas, moving forward.
He cleared his throat and glanced toward the main stairs. His heart stopped. Harriet descended alone. Her satin gown was the color of ivy, and the hem and bodice were embroidered with gold ivy leaves. Her skirt split apart to reveal a red petticoat down the middle, and a thin layer of gold netting was draped over her outer skirts. Her blonde hair was pulled back, and a duchess’s coronet, one that had belonged to the women of Frostmore for two hundred years, was nestled in her artful coiffure. She hadn’t wanted to wear it, not until she was officially a duchess, but with a little help from Maisie, she’d been convinced to wear it. She moved as though she were in a dream. He went to her, catching her hand as she reached the last step.
“Happy Christmas, darling,” he whispered as he led her to the crowd of people gathered in the hall. Then he made an announcement for everyone to follow him into the long portrait gallery. There was no formal ballroom at Frostmore, but the gallery was long and wide. Musicians inside struck up a merry waltz, and couples began to form for the first dance. Redmond pulled Harriet into his arms.
“Harriet?” he said as they began to dance beneath the candlelight.
“Yes?” She gazed at him with luminous eyes that saw into his soul.
“Marry me. Tomorrow. I have a special license from London. Marry me and become my duchess.” They stopped dancing, and he pulled out the small box with his mother’s ring inside, inlaid with a large brilliant ruby, surrounded by small diamonds.
“Oh, Red,” she gasped. “Of course I will. Yes!”
He slipped the ring upon her finger, and the couples who had witnessed the proposal broke into applause. He held her close, wanting to kiss her, but he had caused enough of a scandal for one night.
They began to waltz again. As the couples around them joined back in, Redmond’s heart caught in his throat as he recognized two figures dancing in the crowd. Their pearly luminescent glow was otherworldly as they spun between the other guests, unseen by all but him. He swallowed hard as he watched them smile and twirl before they both looked his way. His heart stopped as he recognized quite clearly their pale faces, which were full of joy. A moment later their forms transcended time itself as they faded into shimmering stardust before his eyes.
“Red? What’s wrong?” Harriet asked, her worried eyes fixed on his face.
“Nothing. Everything is finally, truly fine.” He smiled as he focused on his future wife.
If love truly was a book, then he had turned the first page, and all he saw was Harriet’s face. Whatever spirits had haunted Frostmore were at peace now. And for the first time in seven years, Redmond looked toward the future instead of the past, with the love of his life dancing in his arms.
