Punishing me for my reckless behavior, Mrs. Allerton reached for the door to close it, and the Silver Ghost drove away. Alex dragged me into the trees.
“You are indeed tiresome, sir,” I sputtered, once he released me. “I’ve nothing else to say to you.” I folded my arms and turned my back on him.
“But I have something to say to you.”
“I don’t want to hear it. We are done,” I answered stubbornly.
“If you don’t listen to me, I’ll leave you here. You’ll have to walk back to the manor.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” I turned to face him. “It would take me all day to get back—if I ever make it back…”
He chuckled. “Try me.” He whistled for his horse.
The animal came to him almost instantly. I saw the determination in Alex’s eyes; he would leave if I didn’t cooperate. He had done it in the past, he would do it again.
“All right, I’ll listen. But be quick, I haven’t got all day.” I spoke with bravado, but was not at all certain I dared call his bluff.
“You, lady, have a bad habit of mistreating people—”
“Me?” I laughed.
“But that’s beside the point. Now, keep your mouth shut and let me speak.”
“Look—”
“No, no, no—” he warned, reaching for the horse’s reins. I pursed my lips and sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree. He let go of the horse and stood in front of me.
“Florence, all I’ve done since the day I met you is think about you. Being in France, so far from you, was torture—I even asked to be sent home early but wasn’t allowed.
“Before I left, you said that we don’t know how much time we’ll have in life, and that’s why we need to enjoy our time together. I hadn’t been gone a minute before I realized you were right. Florence, if I’m ever going to have any joy in life, it will only be with you by my side.
“You have no idea how difficult it was to return on Wednesday and not rush to see you. But I wanted to wait until I got this.” He extracted a small box from his pocket. “I traveled to London yesterday to finalize the transaction. I bought it in France but I had them make a few adjustments to it, so it took longer than I had anticipated.”
I felt my heart throbbing.
“I was so worked-up last night, I stayed up all night thinking about you. I went riding this morning to organize my thoughts. I wanted to have a perfect plan to give you this.” His fingers pressed on the box in his hand. “But of course, you had to catch me off guard—you know, you are the only one that can do that.” Alex smiled, and the love I saw in his eyes left me numb. He knelt in front of me and opened the box, revealing a ring with a large ruby in the center, surrounded by many sparkling diamonds. “Florence, will you marry me?”
I was beyond any emotion I had ever encountered before. The joy of the moment, overcame the frustration, the loneliness, and the anger of the past. No longer could I play at being in a temper. His words filled me with light, and the smile I wanted to suppress came all the same.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” said Alex, placing the ring on my trembling finger.
I knelt in front of him. He took me into his arms and kissed me with a deep but gentle passion. When he was done, I begged for more.
After a long while Alex said, “Miss Contini, I better take you home.” He reached for his horse.
“If you must…”
“Yes, lady, I must.”
“I suppose you are right—as always,” I smiled. “Mrs. Allerton will be hysterical if we take any longer.”
“Ready?” Alex helped me mount.
Without thinking, as soon as I was on the horse, I dug my heels into the animal and he sprang into a gallop. Alex jumped back with a startled shout.
“Florence, what are you doing?” he called in astonishment.
“I’m giving you a choice,” I shouted back over my shoulder. “General, you can walk or crawl back to the manor—it’s your choice.” I laughed so hard that I thought I would fall off the horse.
I heard his fading voice in the distance. “You can’t be serious! Florence, come back!”
I did not intend to go back. He would walk all the way to Forte Radici, just as I had done when he left me in the forest many weeks ago.
Our wedding day arrived on a perfect summer day. Forte Radici’s gardens were flooded with flowers of all varieties. Ribbons with matching colors adorned the massive metal arches spread across the grounds. The secluded garden assigned to host the ceremony patiently waited—it wouldn’t be long now.
From the high window of my bedroom, I beheld the inviting path, carefully lined with rows of chairs on each side. Covered with a red carpet, the path ended at the base of a tiered fountain, where Alex and I would soon share our vows before the priest.
A warm breeze touched my face. I placed my hands on the window frame and inhaled deeply, reveling in the sweet anticipation of becoming one with the man I loved.
Soon, Mrs. Allerton came to fix my hair. I found myself relaxing under her careful attention. Her fingers were gentle but precise as she wove my hair into a lovely Grecian knot, leaving a few pieces to hang around my face. Aided by the maids, Mrs. Allerton helped me get into the ornate dress. Delicate bead and intricate lacework made me feel like a storybook princess. Even though I acknowledged that in my wedding gown I looked better than I have ever before, when I contemplated my image on the mirror, it didn’t do justice to the amazing way I felt inside.
When the slim crown holding the veil was finally secured on my head, Mrs. Allerton observed, “You look perfect,” her voice a little shaky. “I’ve never seen a more lovely bride.” She arranged the three-quarter sleeves of my dress one last time.
“Thank you. Thank you for everything.”
Full of emotion, Mrs. Allerton couldn’t speak. Her eyes filled with tears, and my own eyes misted up as I embraced this woman who had been like a mother to me.
Finally, it was time. I felt as if I floated down the grand staircase.
“My dear daughter.” My father took me in his arms when I reached the bottom. “I now understand the hefty price tag of the dress.” He smiled happily.
“It was Mrs. Allerton’s doing.” I beamed back.
“Florence, there are no words to describe either the way you look or the feelings in my heart. I can only say that my joy is complete. You will be very happy with Alexander.”
“Thank you, Papa.” I found it extremely difficult to say much—my father knew me well, he understood. He would be my support to keep my actions balanced, my emotions properly channeled. This would be the best day of my life.
“Are you ready for this?” my father asked, his eyes full of love. I nodded. I wondered if he had looked so radiant in his dark-brown uniform when he married my mother. “Mrs. Allerton, are you composed enough to proceed?”
“Of course, general,” she answered, dabbing the tears from her eyes with an already moist handkerchief.
“When you reach the red carpet on the path, carefully lower the veil,” instructed Mrs. Allerton to the maids holding the lengthy fabric which trailed behind me.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Mrs. Allerton vanished through the front doors out to the grounds—a clear excitement accompanied her swift steps. Only a few minutes later, my father and I followed in her footsteps.
We approached the assembled crowd. They arose from their seats. I held on tighter to my father’s arm and looked straight ahead towards the tall, handsome soldier, dressed in his blue military uniform, awaiting me.
“Florence, relax, breathe, smile,” my father whispered. He smiled brightly, reminding me how to do it.
“I’m trying,” I answered under my breath.
“Keep your focus on the priest.”
The small, old priest, dressed in a deep-golden alb and a matching cope and mitre, stood at the end of the path. Holy book in hand, he looked like a radiant dove ready to take flight.
I saw the many familiar, smil
ing faces as we passed by. I acknowledged them, but they were instantly forgotten.
My father gracefully extended my hand to Alex and retreated to stand by Mrs. Allerton. Captain Thomas Frankfort, a serious expression on his face, stood next to Alex as best man.
Most of the priest’s speech was a blur to me. The only clear sounds were Mrs. Allerton’s soft sobbing. Faintly, I thought I heard sobbing also coming from some of the young females. I couldn’t help but wonder how many hearts Alex had broken on his way to the altar.
“Alexander Sterling, do you take Florence Contini to be your wife?” the priest asked. Alex’s deep blue eyes fell upon mine and seared my soul with joy. “Do you promise to be true to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and honor her all the days of your life, until death do you part?”
Alex placed the ring on my finger and answered, “I do.”
The priest repeated the question to me. I placed a ring on Alex’s finger and answered, “I do.”
“I pronounce you husband and wife, legally and lawfully wedded,” the priest announced. There was a small pause when Alex and I contemplated each other.
“You may kiss the bride,” the priest concluded. Alex raised the veil covering my face and our lips met. The loud clapping and cheering increased in the background, bringing us to reality. We turned to face the crowd but our eyes didn’t break contact. Alex smiled and, wrapping his arms around me, kissed me again.
“Let me be the first to embrace the happy couple,” said my father, smoothly helping us to move on.
We made our way inside the house ever so slowly while eager guests detained us to congratulate and wish us the best.
At last we reached the ballroom, where a quartet began to play the first strains of “Roses from the South.” Alex swept me into his arms, and for the next several minutes, the world faded away. There was only the man I loved with all my heart and the assurance that we would be together forever. When I came back down to earth, we reluctantly parted for the traditional parents’ dance.
My father waited with a bright smile.
“Would Mrs. Sterling give me the honor of this dance?” he asked.
“It would be my pleasure.”
“Florence, I’m really proud of you.”
“Thank you, Papa. Thank you for everything you have done. Especially for inviting Alex to Forte Radici so I could meet him.”
“I knew he was the perfect match for you. If anyone would stand up to your stubbornness and wouldn’t flinch at your haughtiness, I knew it would be him.” My father grinned.
“Your honesty is most humbling,” I teased. “But let me assure you that General Sterling has suffered much in his conquest.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” He laughed.
A new waltz started, and this time, the room was immediately flooded with couples merrily dancing.
“May I steal the beautiful bride?” Alex asked.
“I think Florence would step on my foot if I refused.” My father chuckled as he kissed my cheek. “She is all yours.”
“Thank you, General Contini.”
“This is a dream,” I said to Alex.
“One which I hope will never end,” he replied.
In complete bliss, we continued to dance and laugh. If our feelings of joy were of any monetary value, the whole universe belonged to us.
“I didn’t expect Thomas to be the best man.”
“A contained enemy is no enemy at all,” Alex said jokingly, but I feared he was serious.
“Arianna and George are moving this way.”
“I hope they won’t bump into us,” Alex teased.
“You won’t ever forget. Will you, general?”
“No, I will use it to my advantage,” he whispered in my ear, hiding his face from the rapidly approaching couple.
“Well, General Sterling, I must say, I never thought you would get serious with a girl, or marry one, for that matter,” said Arianna, in a sarcastic tone.
“Well, Miss Whitley, I must say that life is full of surprises,” Alex replied with an irresistible smile.
“It is indeed. But I must also say, you have done extremely well marrying Florence. I’m not sure I can say the same to her about you.” Arianna laughed loudly. I doubted she was joking.
“We agree on that much. Florence is the most beautiful girl in all of England,” Alex responded. “You may have to leave the country to find someone to marry,” he said to George, successfully annoying Arianna.
“Good luck, Florence! You’ll need it.” Arianna rolled her eyes, taking the harsh blow rather well. “Come, George, let’s dance.” She tugged George by the arm and disappeared into the crowd.
“She doesn’t like you very much,” I noted.
“Do you know why?”
“No. Why?” I had a pretty good idea but asked anyway.
“She cornered me once in her father’s factory.”
“She did?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, tell me, what happened?”
“Do you really want to know?” Like always, he enjoyed my obvious jealousy.
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to know. So out with it, tell me.” I saw the hesitation on his face. I had to be more demanding. “I won’t kiss you again until you tell me.”
Another waltz started, he pressed me against his body tightly and said, “We’ll see about that.”
“Don’t tempt me. I mean it,” I threatened.
“All right, all right.” He laughed. “She said she could get me a discount—on the arms’ order I was placing for the army.” A mischievous expression ran across his eyes. “But she required to be kissed in exchange.”
“And your response was?”
“I told her I would gladly pay full price for the order.” He laughed again. “She left the office in a rage.”
The image formed in my mind: Alex sitting on the edge of Arianna’s father’s desk, looking at her mockingly, his amused eyes staring her down—poor girl. She must’ve been furious. “You know, I do wonder sometimes how you’ve managed to stay alive this long. But, I do have to ask, why? She is a very attractive woman. Any other soldier would’ve been honored to fulfill her terms.”
“I’m not any other soldier. I dislike girls that throw themselves at me. It’s not proper.”
“Proper?” I let out a startled laugh. “You of all people, general, chased me in a very improper manner, especially considering that I’m your superior’s daughter.”
“That’s different, my lady. Men are always chasing, and an easy catch is not worth keeping.”
His frankness was shocking. “Thank goodness I didn’t chase you, then.”
“Thank goodness you didn’t, but instead you did something worse. Mrs. Sterling, you tortured me.” He kissed my cheek. “Although I rather like being tortured at your hands.”
The evening wore on. The dream continued. Soon we would be on our way to Alex’s flat in London for an undetermined amount of time.
Only a few guests remained at the manor when a very distressed, out-of-breath Colonel Swinger, my father’s aide-de-camp, burst through the front doors. Simultaneously, all eyes turned to him inquiringly. He was late for the wedding, late for the party—I wasn’t sure he had even been invited, for that matter. Swinger was a large, bearded man who always presented an unflustered exterior, so his state of panic spoke volumes.
Addressing my father and my husband of a few hours, Colonel Swinger said, “Gentlemen, we have problems.”
19
~ The Hunt in the Forest ~
In a matter of minutes, Forte Radici had radically changed. Just a few hours ago, it had been filled with music, smiling wedding guests, and excitement. But at the sudden appearance of Colonel Swinger, the atmosphere had turned grim. Guests and servants had been ordered to leave at once and were soon replaced by soldiers and guns.
Hastily, Mrs. Allerton had helped me out of my wedding dress and into riding clothes. Before rush
ing out of my room, I glanced at the beautiful dress one final time. Seeing the white heap of fabric, so carelessly spread on the floor, I hoped it wasn’t a portent of what was to come.
An air of tension and urgency reigned in my father’s office. Alex and my father, along with Colonel Swinger, hovered over a large map spread on the rectangular desk. Alex was now wearing combat clothes, and a pistol was securely attached to his side. I joined their circle. Any remaining hopes of departing to the flat in London were now gone.
“Florence, we are under attack,” my father said. “You and Alex will leave the manor at once.”
“Under attack?”
My father ran his fingers through his mustache. “I want you and Alex out of the country.”
“Father, what are you saying?” I hadn’t even processed his first command to leave Forte Radici, and now I was to leave the country.
From the back of the room, the telephone came to life, startling all of us.
“I must answer. Colonel Swinger, go ahead.” My father signaled for him to explain the situation to me.
“Yes, sir. Earlier this evening a Belgian cargo ship arrived at the Southampton port. The ship arrived much later than scheduled, so they sent a request to stay in the port overnight.” He pointed to the port on the map. “When the Belgian vessel did not answer to the Royal Navy’s request to board for a routine check, the ship was searched. We found that the Belgian crew had been neutralized by German soldiers. A few of them, who were still aboard were arrested, but they aren’t cooperating with us. The good news is that we discovered them. My troop is here, and reinforcements are on the way.” Colonel Swinger made an effort to produce a fake smile underneath his thick beard.
“What is the bad news?” I asked, not quite understanding why he was here and why reinforcements were needed.
“The bad news is that a group of soldiers disembarked before the ship was searched, and our efforts to track them down suggest that they are headed this way.”
The shocking news, coupled with my father’s voice echoing from the far wall as he continued to argue on the phone, sent my head spinning—this wasn’t happening, it was surreal.
Awaken, Shadows of a Forgotten Past Page 27