A Lady's Prerogative

by Annabelle Anders

  Finally, finally, he could turn to Natalie. Although beautiful, as always, she looked pale and drawn. Not exactly the blushing bride, Garrett thought, feeling his heart drop slightly. Oh, but she did look lovely. He took her hand and raised it to his lips. He could not take his eyes off her. It had been too long. Emotions he’d denied for several weeks came roaring to life.

  Dear God, for but a moment he could pretend they had a future! He would spend his life loving her and society could hang!

  “Good afternoon, my lady.”

  She smiled and curtsied prettily. “My lord.” Her smile was shy, but holding her hand in his, he watched as the sparkle he loved appeared in her eyes.

  As the two of them gazed longingly at each other, he realized the room had become awkward and quiet.

  Lady Ravensdale saved the moment. “Are we ready to depart then?”

  Three carriages waited outside. Garrett had brought his own and led his betrothed and her parents toward it. After handing his future mother-in-law, and then Natalie in, he waited for Lord Ravensdale to board before climbing in himself. Ah, Natalie sat facing the back of the carriage. Alone. He was to be allowed to sit beside her then.

  A vision in a cream-colored dress with a lace overlay of gold and light blue threads, she looked stunning. Everything looked beautiful on her, even that pink confection she’d worn the day she fell in the lake.

  Her hair, twisted and braided, was tucked under a tiny hat which matched the lace perfectly. A few escaping curls invited him to caress the soft skin of her neck and shoulders—with his eyes, of course. When he took his seat on the leather bench, he allowed his hand to rest alongside his leg. Her own hand was hidden, lost in the folds of her dress. Until it wasn’t.

  She wrapped cold fingers around his.

  He squeezed them lightly.

  Lady Ravensdale spoke, piercing the clanging silence. “The duke has hired a steam-powered yacht for this party. I understand it’s one of the largest of its kind, all very modern. Everyone in town will be in attendance.” Eyeing Garrett, she added, “Should be quite a squeeze.”

  Garrett nodded. “Yes, I have considered this possibility.” Natalie’s hand took on some of his warmth.

  “Lilly looked so happy when she visited,” Natalie spoke up. With a wicked smile, she added, “True love apparently.”

  Garrett knew Lord Ravensdale would not wish to hear of this. He wondered that the relationship between the two men was not strained.

  Lady Ravensdale smoothed the moment by taking her husband’s hand. “True love has its benefits.” She smiled over at the earl. Garrett allowed himself a glance at Natalie. Her gaze caught his, and she blushed prettily. He would enjoy the time he could spend with her now. For he’d no idea how long, or short, a time they would have before she put a halt to everything. Or if they did go through with the wedding, how long it would be before she began to resent being tied to him.

  He needed to speak with her alone but not today. Well, perhaps afterward. Perhaps everything would have revealed itself then.

  A long line of phaetons and open barouches inched their way toward the end of the dock. It was crowded, both with other vehicles and mingling guests waiting to board the yacht. Several partygoers, holding flutes of champagne in their hands, had already stepped onto the vessel and lined the rails.

  Arriving at the cordoned off entrance, they pulled to a halt, and the coach bounced as the outriders and drivers jumped off.

  It was then that Garrett felt a tremor run through the lady beside him. She was not so confident as she’d like him to believe. She was simply being brave.

  Knowing he would do whatever necessary to protect her, he squeezed her hand one more time but was then forced to release it. The footmen put down the step and the four of them climbed out.

  The earl and countess would lead the way to the entrance. Behind them were all of Natalie’s brothers and young Spencer’s wife. Feeling as though they were going into a battle of sorts, Garrett tucked Natalie’s hand around his sleeve and escorted her toward the throng of invitees.

  She held her chin high and met the eyes of several ladies and gentlemen as they edged forward. Fearlessly clutching Garrett’s arm, she ought to have instead removed herself from his side for her own self-preservation. Not Natalie, though. She made polite conversation and smiled brightly at everybody they met. Garrett nodded and added his own greetings.

  Although a few eyes looked past him coldly, most, surprisingly, met his gaze. And then as they stepped on board, Garrett recognized the petite platinum-haired lady who’d visited him two days before. Her husband, the Duke of Cortland, stood beside her protectively as they greeted each of their guests. When Garrett stepped forward, the duchess introduced him to her husband as her long-lost cousin. Although the duke seemed to size him up critically, the couple’s welcome seemed genuine.

  “Welcome to the family, Hawthorne.” The clean-cut elegantly attired gentleman shook Garrett’s hand. “My wife speaks highly of you. Felicitations on your engagement.” With a glance at Natalie, his eyes twinkled a bit. “My compliments on your choice of fiancée.”

  Garrett placed a possessive hand over Natalie’s. Natalie smiled and laughed at the duke’s comment. “This one shall not get off as easily as you did, Your Grace,” she said fondly. A few nearby onlookers looked shocked at her reference to her own broken engagement.

  The duke laughed and winked at Garrett. “I should hope not,” was all he said.

  Garrett and Natalie moved on so as not to hold up the reception line. “That wasn’t so bad, now, was it?” Natalie whispered.

  He tilted his head to hear her and let a smile play about his mouth.

  He didn’t answer as they worked their way through the crowd to an open section of the railing. They stood together in an odd sort of silence until the engines roared to life, propelling the vessel away from shore. Vibrant scenery rolled past them as they picked up speed. Trees and shrubs blazed a myriad of colors, ranging from greens to golds to bright reds. The lawns spread out like a giant carpet, and autumn flowers bloomed, mostly chrysanthemums. Several mansions backed up to the river along this section. A slight breeze kept the sunshine from being overly warm.

  The two of them stood alone, together, watching the passing landscape quietly, until Natalie broke the silence. “Are you so very, terribly angry with me then?”

  But he was! He had been. Where was his anger now? Had he completely forgotten it after spending a few moments in her presence? He turned his back on the passing scenery and faced her fully. She looked sheepish and yet pleased with herself. How had the duchess described Natalie to him? Intrepid. That was the word she’d used. It fitted the minx perfectly.

  “Would it do any good?” he asked. She opened her eyes in feigned innocence, and so he changed the subject. “I have been by your father’s house several times to wait upon you, but you have been away each time. I was beginning to think you might be avoiding me…”

  Natalie didn’t take his bait. Appearing contrite, she bit her lip and then looked into his eyes. “I know you did not want any of this.”

  Garrett shrugged. In that moment, he found her stubbornness and manipulation not so very problematic after all. In fact, if not for her willfulness, he would not now be standing beside her, floating along on a beautiful day with a glass of champagne in his hand. Ignoring the somber nature of their conversation, he grinned. “You look lovelier than ever today.” His gaze fell upon her lips. “It seems you must be getting on well with Sissy, your new maid.”

  Natalie touched her hair in a self-conscious motion. Tilting her head, she laughed. “Oh, we are.” With that, she launched into a rush of words as to how Tinsdale was managing as sole guardian of Baby Bear and how delighted she’d been to see Lilly again. Garrett enjoyed listening. She glowed with warmth and sunshine after a lifetime of weighted darkness. It would be dark again when this was all over. Perhaps not forever, but for a long time. He did not anticipate it.

  He was
yet to believe they did not have insurmountable impediments in their path. But he pushed these thoughts away.

  He informed her of Marcus’s progress, of his plans to rebuild Maple Hall, and even a few bills he was considering that were to be presented in Parliament. Her questions showed keen intelligence. When a chime rang, signifying a toast, Garrett was surprised at how much he’d been talking. Their absorption in each other was scandalous, really. Not what they needed, but he had missed her.

  He’d yearned just to be with her.

  They both paused and turned to listen to the duke as he commanded his guests’ attention. Natalie’s hand found his own, hidden again by the folds of her gown. Unexpected warmth filled his heart at the connection.

  “My dear friends.” The duke’s voice rang out clearly. All eyes focused on him. The man possessed a very strong presence. “My duchess and I, first and foremost, would like to thank all of you for joining us in celebration.” The duke paused and looked around at the now-curious onlookers. “For, yes, celebrations are in order. You see, my lovely duchess, her aunt, Lady Sheffield, and our niece, now Mrs. Joseph Spencer, have been reunited with a relation who until recently was unknown to them. They are delighted to have discovered their cousin and nephew, Garrett Castleton, the Earl of Hawthorne.”

  All eyes swung toward Garrett and Natalie.

  “My duchess wished to celebrate the occasion by bringing our dearest friends together to join us in welcoming him to our family. Join us,” he commanded, “in welcoming Lord Hawthorne and his lovely fiancée, Lady Natalie Spencer. For a cousin of my wife’s is a cousin of mine.” This last, the duke said almost threateningly. “And so I propose, as the summer season comes to an end, a toast to new connections, be it by marriage or be it by blood.” He lifted his glass toward Natalie and Garrett with a martial gleam in his eyes.

  “New connections,” several of the guests repeated with raised glasses. The duke did not lift the glass to his lips until all other glasses were raised. It seemed a line had been drawn. Watching Natalie from behind the rim of his own, Garrett raised one eyebrow questioningly at his fiancée.

  What have you done?

  Taking a sip of the sparkling drink, the corners of her lips tilted upwards.

  It seemed they had more support than he’d realized.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Throughout the next few weeks, Natalie and Garrett endured the diligent eyes of the ton, watching them, everywhere they went. The high sticklers of society, it seemed, were holding their breath, waiting for Natalie or Garrett to step out of line and give them full right to rain down their judgment upon the couple. But until then, no one dared censure the earl and his flighty fiancée. For some reason, London’s most disgraceful pair had been warmly embraced by a few of the ton’s most powerful members. It was difficult to understand how the Duke of Cortland could act so kindly toward her. She’d jilted him, after all, had she not?

  With mixed feelings of excitement and sheer terror, Natalie, her mother, and Aunt Eleanor whirled about from one event to another. On a few occasions, they were escorted by Lord Hawthorne and her father. But it would be unseemly to appear to be living in his pocket. It was best that she remain close to her chaperones. And although worse than her punishment last spring, she dared not take any missteps. This time she had everything to lose.

  Natalie celebrated one happy event amidst it all. For one of the events they all attended was the wedding of Miss Abigail Wright to the Duke of Monfort, no less! Taking full credit for their courtship, she wished another duchess well and assumed she’d learn of that story another time, perhaps.

  And all the while, like a storm on the horizon, her own nuptials loomed nearer and nearer.

  What was Garrett thinking? What was he feeling? At the water party, he’d denied being angry with her. He’d also told her it didn’t matter either way. She wished she could feel as certain of his love now as she had this summer. She had felt certain then, but only after they’d been alone together a great deal. Everything felt different now. They’d not talked, really talked, since she’d left Maple Hall with her parents.

  And she was to marry him.

  In one week.

  In five days.

  Tomorrow.

  This morning.

  Oh, Lord, the day was finally here. Her wedding day. God willing, Garrett would present himself at the church on time.

  God willing, he would present himself, period.

  She’d die if he abandoned her at the altar.

  She’d rather undergo physical torture than for him to be late.

  Hundreds of guests had RSVP’d, and a large wedding breakfast awaited at Burtis Hall. Natalie’s parents had decided that, after spending the wedding night in town, the bride and groom would remove themselves for a few weeks to London Hills, Natalie’s dower property. It was assumed they would return to Maple Hall for the winter. There was also some discussion of a Christmas house party at Summers Park, the Duke of Cortland’s principal seat. It would be a family gathering. Yes, Garrett was family now.

  Wedding day nerves attacked her with a vengeance. One moment, tearful sentimentality engulfed her, and the next, nausea-inducing terror. She would do well to make it down the aisle without shattering into a million pieces. She wished she could act with the same confidence she’d had when originally undertaking this plan.

  Just as Sissy finished pinning a charming little bonnet into Natalie’s hair, Lady Ravensdale entered the room. She’d visited Natalie the night before to reveal to her only daughter the details of the physical act that would be expected on her wedding night. Natalie had nodded and acted as though it was all new information, but in truth her mother’s words were much less informative than her experiences with Garrett.

  Natalie had no dread of her wedding night. She simply dreaded the wedding itself.

  This morning, her mother was tearful yet happy.

  “Oh, my darling,” she said with a sigh, catching her daughter’s eyes in the mirror. “You are going to be the most beautiful bride ever to marry at St. George’s!”

  With that Natalie scrunched her nose, marring the effect of serene beauty the veil on her bonnet helped to create. “Mama, I am terrified. What if I was wrong? What if he does not love me? He will hate me forever knowing I’ve trapped him. For that’s what I did, Mama, I trapped him.”

  Her mother turned Natalie away from the mirror and took her hands between her own. “A man such as your fiancé would not allow himself to be trapped. Lord Hawthorne is marrying you because he wants to.” She tilted her head and gave Natalie a watery smile. “I’ve seen how he looks at you, my darling. He loves you. You are the best thing that man has ever known, and he knows it. He is not a fool.” Seeing her tears form, her mother moved Natalie’s veil aside and with a handkerchief, dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “Now, we don’t want to be late. I will see you at the church.” With that, she kissed her on the cheek and then left Natalie alone with her thoughts.

  And then her father appeared to escort her downstairs and out to the carriage. Everything was moving along as planned. With lightning speed.

  ****

  Considering the events of the past several weeks, Garrett ought not to have been surprised when he stepped out of the vestibule near the altar to see the church bursting at the seams. There were, even, several guests left standing near the back. Garrett pulled at his cravat. Marcus had tied it much tighter today than usual. Ah, yes, Marcus took his job very seriously.

  His dedicated valet, in fact, had insisted Garrett dress in the latest formal wedding attire, with white breeches, a silver waistcoat, and a silver and blue jacket. Garrett felt conspicuous. He would have been much more at ease in his normal black attire and a pair of riding boots.

  When he went to tug at his cravat once again, Stone, his best man, leaned in and whispered, “You’re going to ruin the knot.” His friends voice rumbled with more than a hint of laughter.

  Garrett suppressed a growl. “There will come
a day when we trade places, my friend, and then you shall know the feeling.”

  Stone chuckled.

  And then a murmur rose at the back of the church.

  She was here. A hush fell over the sanctuary, and then the music trumpeted, signifying the beginning of the ceremony. The vision at the end of the aisle glowed. Carrying yellow roses, she wore a dress made up of golds and white.

  His breath caught. Natalie was going through with it. His bride. She was beautiful, courageous, the light of his life, and it seemed that all would be well after all. The sky wasn’t falling, and the earth had not collapsed upon itself. A warmth unlike anything he’d known blossomed inside him at the stunning epiphany.

  Everything was going to be all right.

  He was in love and marrying the woman of his dreams. How had this happened? When had everything fallen into place so perfectly? And how was it he was only just now realizing this?

  His eyes caught hers as she drew nearer to the front of the large cathedral on her father’s arm. She appeared a little pale, more delicate than usual. Her cornflower blue eyes were large in her face. They looked uncertain as she met his gaze.

  Until Garrett smiled at her.

  In that smile, he allowed all the love he felt at that moment to overflow from his heart. Watching him, she stumbled slightly. Her father caught her so that it was hardly noticeable. Garrett loved her. He loved her.

  Ah, yes. I love her.

  The bishop began speaking, and all Garrett managed to think of was how very lucky he was to have been saved by Lady Natalie Spencer. He would spend his life doing all he could to bring her happiness. He would take her abroad, on the travels she’d missed out on this summer. While the manor was rebuilt, he would show her some of the most beautiful places in England and on the continent. He would take her to Italy, to Spain, hell, even to India. He would show her the world! And then when the construction and furnishing at Maple Hall were all completed, they would return, and they would begin a family. And he would cherish her.