Page 80 of A Lady's Heart Deceived
Lord Hugh Radley mouthed‘thank you’to Maggie as she turned away from him and went to walk back down the long aisle of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Her father didn’t need to explain his words of appreciation. She had married Piers in a traditional Church of England ceremony in the right church, at the right time of day, and in front of many of London’s elite—all without a hint of scandal.
With luck, it would put many of the rumors about the Bishop of London’s children quietly to bed. Not wishing their own scandal to overshadow Maggie and Piers’s big day, James and Leah Radley had made the wise decision not to come up to town for the service. A beautifully wrapped gift, one of James’s stunning landscapes, had arrived earlier in the week. Maggie couldn’t wait to hang the painting in the downstairs foyer of Denford House.
Piers glanced at her and grinned. “Happy, Lady Woodford?”
Maggie swallowed a lump of emotion and whispered, “Deliriously so, Lord Woodford. I can’t believe that this day has come, and we are man and wife.”
Upon his marriage, Piers had officially taken back one of his father’s courtesy titles and was once again known as Baron Woodford. But as far as Maggie was concerned, he would always be just Piers. Her Piers.
And while she would have been quite content with a small wedding, her family had convinced her otherwise. A grandtonnuptial service was as much about making a statement of both Piers’s innocence and her reentry into society as it was about them celebrating their marriage.
The only concession to her desire for a simple celebration was the wedding breakfast. It was being held at Denford House rather than in one of the grand ballrooms of Strathmore House. Her parents would have to pin their hopes on Claire and the notion she would marry someone who was happy to endure a ball for a thousand people.
Just as long as she doesn’t go sailing off into the sunset.
As Maggie and Piers made their way toward the sweeping stairs of the cathedral’s west front, Maggie searched the gathering. Her eyes sought out one person in particular.
Tradition dictated that Sir William Saunders sit with the family of the bride toward the front of the cathedral, but Maggie had long ago accepted that for her cousin, the rules did not apply.
At the end of the aisle, just before the doors, she caught sight of him. Will was standing alongside his wife, Hattie. She was yet another member of the Radley clan who was heavy with child. Hattie grinned at her husband, then gave him a gentle shove. He stepped out in front of the bride and groom. “My wife suggested that I come and offer my congratulations. I don’t think we will make the wedding breakfast. Hattie needs her rest.”
Piers slipped his fingers from Maggie’s and shook his hand. “Sir William, how can we ever repay you? So much of today is as a result of your efforts.”
“As long as you are both happy, that is all the payment I shall ever need. Justice has been served. And my lovely cousin is finally happily married to the man of her dreams. Well, something like that.”
An emotional Maggie mouthed her own ‘thank you’as Piers took her hand once more. They continued on their way out into the chilly London morning as the bells of the cathedral chimed.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Toasts and speeches took up the better part of the wedding breakfast. First up was Lord Denford, who welcomed Maggie into the family. She cried all the way through the speech. Then came her father, regaling everyone with tales of his daughter’s childhood, including all the things she thought she had gotten away with long ago. A highly amused Piers was wiping tears from his eyes by the end of it.
By the time the groom rose to make his speech, Maggie was hoping her new husband would make it a short one. Piers cleared his throat and the gathering fell silent.
“Friends, family, and new family, Maggie and I would like to thank you for joining us on this most joyous of days. When she stormed into my office barely a month ago—my apologies. When she walked with purpose into my office . . .”
The ripple of chuckles eventually died down and he continued.
“Who would have thought but a short time later she would be my wife. But in all seriousness, Maggie and I have been blessed. Without every one of you, we wouldn’t be here today.” Piers raised his glass in salute. “To you all.” He turned and faced a now blubbering Maggie. “And especially to my darling wife. I love you.”
It was another hour before they finally managed to steal away from their guests. Maggie had assumed they were headed upstairs, but as Piers led her from the ballroom, they went straight out the front door and into a waiting carriage.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise. A special place that I think you will love.”
They curled up together in the carriage under the same warm blanket Piers had wrapped Maggie in after their trip to Kenilworth Castle. It was also the same one they had used in the barn. He was more than likely just being practical, but to her, it was supremely romantic.
“Do you remember when you looked after me when I had that anxiety attack on the way back from Kenilworth to Coventry? You were so attentive. I wasn’t sure if my light-headedness was because I was over-tired or because I realized that you had come to mean more to me than just a friend. That you genuinely cared,” she said.
Piers dropped a kiss on the top of her hair. “I was worried, but I knew you were strong. All you needed was someone to believe in you. To listen.”
Maggie lay her head against his chest and closed her eyes. Without the many buttons of his military waistcoat and the heavy work on the front of his dress coat, cuddling with Piers was a more comfortable prospect these days. If she never saw him in uniform ever again, she would be happy.
The streets of central London slowly disappeared as the carriage continued on its way. They passed by Fulham Palace, her old family home, and she leaned forward in the seat. Last night had been the final time she had slept under her father’s roof.
She was a married woman. Lady Woodford. Piers believed in her. His love and strength were all she would ever need.
“Where exactly are we going?” she asked, sitting back, and snuggling in once more.
