“Clarence’s mother has stayed away. She did send me a trunk filled with clothing, and some jewels for me to wear.” She kept quiet about the parure that Clarence had given her. Somehow, she felt as if they should be kept between her and Clarence, until of course, she decided to debut them.
“She is the soul of generosity, she always has been,” Francesca said, nodding her head happily. “I had thought she would have already come here to see if you were up to snuff.”
“I suppose she didn’t see it necessary.”
“She probably thought it was a losing battle. Clarence is lost when it comes to you. His heart cannot be moved away from you. The poor boy loves you the way my husband loved me. Archibald was such a dear man, and such a good and devoted husband and father. I am quite certain Marietta and Valentine realize that no matter what they think of you, there is no way they can rid themselves of you.”
“I…” Ann didn’t know what to say in rebuttal. She knew the Deville Family thought poorly of her for using Clarence to get herself out of a marriage to Sir Wilfrid, and there was absolutely nothing she could say to defend her actions. She was despicable. She was using Clarence to maintain her freedom from a man she knew she could never abide. “I…I am unworthy of Clarence,” she confessed.
“On that, we can both agree,” Francesca said.
“And…I will be forever indebted to him—I shall be indebted to him for the rest of our lives. I shall worship the ground he walks on, Your Grace.”
“I wager he would rather have your love, dear. At least you know what you are gaining, I suppose that is a start. However, I do not like the fact that you do not return Clarence’s love. He is a lovesick, completely besotted fool. If I didn’t know better I would think that you were a witch capable of putting a spell on him—but I do know better. I do know that you are nothing of the kind, and that for whatever reason—it is quite a mystery to me—Clarence loves you with all of his heart. Come what may, you had better honour that love—if you do not…I shall make your life a living hell. Are we clear?”
“Aye,” she whispered, in a small voice.
She heard Clarence as he strode toward the Library, he was saying something she couldn’t quite catch all of. By the sounds of it, he walked with Tiny and Lucky, and she could have sworn she heard him saying something along the line of, bloody bastard. What happened while they had been out riding? Had they a run in with her father?
“Good,” Francesca said, as Clarence, Tiny and Lucky came into the room, with the butler carrying the sherry not too far behind them.
“Grandmamma, how good it is to see you,” Clarence said, giving Ann a questioning look before walking over to his grandmother’s side to bestow a kiss on her powdery cheek. “Lady Christopher,” he said solemnly, as he straightened up from bending to kiss Francesca.
Lady Christopher meekly nodded her head at Clarence. Ann wondered how Lady Christopher got along with the Dowager Duchess. She supposed that Lady Christopher and Francesca were great companions because Lady Christopher allowed the Dowager Duchess to have center stage all of the time.
“That’s a good boy, you’re such a dear. I would give you a guinea, but I heard you don’t need them anymore.”
“I would never turn away a guinea from you, Grandmamma,” he said softly.
“You are such a darling boy, so much like your papa. Ann and I were reflecting upon what a sweetheart you are. We both agree that you are one of the best men on Earth, didn’t we, dearest Ann?”
“Aye, that we did,” Ann said softly.
“You have made your family proud, Clarence. My own father would have been quite proud of you, as you were so enterprising to have gone into that venture with dear Edward. My own Papa loved making money—it was his favourite pastime, and he did have a gift for it.” She smiled dotingly at Clarence, and Ann, couldn’t help but smile herself. She liked the way Clarence’s family was so loving with each other—and she craved that kind of a family—once she married Clarence, maybe she would have it. “I should think the two of you ought to go and get ready for your wedding. As you see, I am quite ready, as is Lady Christopher—but you look a little dusty from riding, Clarence, and Ann, dear, you don’t exactly look like a blushing bride in that plain little frock.”
“Yes, Grandmamma, as ever, you are quite right,” he said.
“Ann, shall we?” he asked, holding his hand out for her.
She looked over at Francesca, who was eying them both in her sharp manner, and she didn’t look as if she approved.
“I suppose we should,” she said, getting up.
“Someone tell Cooper to come and sit with us. I left her out in the hall sitting on one of your lovely little hall chairs, Clarence. If all of you are going off to bathe and dress for the wedding, she might as well be in here with us.”
“Aye, Grandmamma.”
Tiny and Lucky had sagely kept their mouths shut. They bowed to the Dowager Duchess and then followed Ann and Clarence out of the Library.
“She doesn’t approve of me,” Ann said, sighing forlornly, once they had reached their bedchambers.
*****
Clarence smiled at her. “Grandmamma, doesn’t approve of anyone until they have proven they should have her affection. She only took a fancy to Gideon because he reminded her of my grandfather. She still hasn’t gotten over my father marrying my mother—so do not worry, it isn’t as if she is favouring you with her dislike.”
“And yet—you don’t doubt your decision to marry me?” she asked softly.
“I do not,” he said forcefully. “How could I? You have my heart, Ann.” He wanted to wipe away that look of distress on her face. He wanted to kiss her until she couldn’t think of anyone else, lest of all his grandmother. He knew what his grandmother had done. She had put the fear of God into Ann, telling her what she would do to her, should Ann prove to be a poor wife to him. “No matter what anyone else thinks, I believe in you, Ann. I have always known that you would one day fall in love with me. I just have to work a little harder at making you fall.”
She smiled at him. “I think I might already be on that descent, my lord,” she mused, raising her hand to press it against his cheek. He reached for her hand, and looked at it. She didn’t wear gloves, and he turned her hand over. He raised it to his lips, and kissed it.
“I must…I must call for Hopkins, and have her assist me so I can be dressed on time. If the vicar arrives, and we are not ready…”
“I…” he sighed. “You are right. We mustn’t tarry. You call for your maid, and I will go and call for my valet, and then, before we know it, we shall be husband and wife.”
She smiled. “I look forward to that moment in time…” she turned to open her bedchamber door, and then, paused, and turned back to regard him. His stomach muscles clenched, as he took in her worried visage. She was chewing furiously on her lower lip.
“When you were out riding—did you meet up with my father?” she asked, in a small voice, and avoiding his gaze.
“We did. Lord Spaulding had a few choice words for him. I think they might have put the fear of God into him. Oh, aye, Tiny’s tongue was quite scathing. His wit was so sharp, he might have cut himself.” He smiled lovingly at her before continuing, “I don’t want you to worry about him, Ann. Put him out of your mind for the rest of today. Nothing he can do will disrupt our wedding. We shall be married, no matter what that man tries to do to the contrary.”
“I wish I could believe you.”
“The Devilles have closed ranks, Ann. Nothing can destroy this day.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “You don’t know my father.”
“And you obviously don’t know my family as well as you should. My family might squabble, we might poke fun at each other from time to time…but whenever an outside force threatens one of our own. We close ranks, and there is nothing that can defeat us.” He pulled out his gold pocket watch and looked at the time. “Alas, we mustn’t tarry. We really do have to dress for the cer
emony.”
“Aye,” she said, “And then, all we have to do is suffer through the next few hours whilst your family congratulates us, over and over.”
“I, uh…” He tugged at his cravat the way he did when he was nervous. “I sort of told everyone that they just had to come for the ceremony and then…well, then, I told them they could go home.”
She stared at him, with her eyes wide—while a myriad of emotions flickered through there lusciously dark depths. He tried to keep his composure. He wanted to see her face after they were married, and she realized that he had organized a wedding feast for them, and that there would be dancing, music, and so much merriment it would take her breath away.
They wouldn’t be having a wedding breakfast. Their meal would be later on in the day, and be considered more of a dinner than anything else. In his family, they had always called them wedding feasts, as they were a feast for the eyes and stomach, no matter the time of the day.
“I…I see,” she said slowly. “I suppose it is for the best, Clarence. We wanted to keep it a small and private affair, didn’t we? Yes, indeed, you certainly know best.” She feigned a smile for him, and opened her bedchamber door and quietly closed it.
He grinned from ear to ear, and walked to his own bedchamber door with a skip in his step. She was going to be so surprised—and hopefully completely delighted. Ringing for his valet, he sat on the edge of his bed, and thought about the rest of his life. He finally had everything he had ever wanted.
Chapter Seven
Ann looked at her reflection in the cheval mirror.
She wore a beautiful gown that Ginny had given her, deciding not to wear the pink concoction that Clarence’s mother had gifted to her. This dress was red and white, and with the emeralds and diamonds, she hoped she would look every bit the part of a Christmas Bride.
The under gown was made of white silk dupioni and trimmed with organza rosettes on the sleeves and neckline. The trained over gown was made of wine coloured silk dupioni and white lace, and the sleeveless coat was tied in the front with a matching satin ribbon. She felt like a bride in this dress.
Her maid had dressed her hair in a Grecian inspired coiffure and the beautiful braids and tightly twisted bun at the back were dressed with a crimson bandeaux that matched the colour of the over gown she wore. She might be a bit chilly in it once she left her warm bedchamber but it would be worth it. She had never had such an exquisite frock before.
“Oh, my lady,” Hopkins breathed. “You are quite lovely. Her Grace knows just what suits you.”
Ginny was a good friend, and Ann had always cherished her. She sighed, taking a step back away from the mirror. “Let us dazzle it up with some jewels, and then, I think it will be time for me to go down and be married.”
They had decided to hold the ceremony in the rather elegant ballroom. It wouldn’t be as nice as having it in a church, but she had to make do with the hand she had dealt herself. Clarence had suggested they be married at St. George’s Church, but her father could interrupt the ceremony there. This way there would be no way for him to interrupt it and cause a scene that would become the talk of the ton. There would be no church bells ringing, as they left the church, and oh, how she loved that blessed sound.
Hopkins had just assisted her with putting on the emerald and diamond necklace when a knock sounded at the door. Not the door that connected her bedchamber to Clarence’s, but the one that led out into the hallway.
She sighed, her stomach swarming with butterflies. “Answer it, would you, Hopkins?” she asked, sinking weakly onto the chair that went with her dressing table. Hopkins nodded primly at her, and went to open the door. If it was Clarence’s mother or grandmother come to warn her off again, she would faint.
“Oh, Ann, you look positively radiant. I don’t think I have seen such a pretty bride this year,” Ginny breathed, she turned in time to see Hopkins giving Ginny a deep curtsy.
“It is the Duchess of Kenilworth, my lady,” Hopkins said quickly. Ginny smiled at her maid, and walked past Hopkins in her breezy way. “I brought a little beautiful something for you to wear with the dress, but I see you don’t need it. I take it that is Clarence’s doing?” she asked, coming to stand behind her chair. Ginny rested her hands on Ann’s shoulders, and Ann reached up to take her one hand.
“Yes, it is, Ginny. Your brother is such a considerate man. He gave me a parure. I was going to wear the tiara, but I think I shall just keep it simple with the necklace and bracelets. He thinks of everything. Thank you, for being here. You have always been a tried and true friend to me,” she said softly, her eyes growing misty with tears.
“Other than Val, you are the closest chum I have,” Ginny mused. “And now that I have my happiness, I can’t wait to see you capture yours with Clarence. I…I just wanted to make sure you won’t…you won’t break his heart,” Ginny’s voice almost broke, and Ann looked in the mirror to gaze upon the strained expression on her face. It pained Ginny to say that to Ann, but she was doing it out of sisterly devotion, and Ann could understand that.
“I wouldn’t break Clarence’s heart for anything in the world, Ginny. I don’t know if I can live up to his expectations of me, but I shall try,” Ann said softly.
“I knew you would say that. I told Gideon as much. I said that all of the worries my parents and grandmother had were completely unfounded. Grumps and Granny Ma have arrived. They look quite tired, but they are here, and they managed to drag Cyril along with them, as he is off for Christmastide. So, we are all here, including the Lovett side of the family. Clarence looked particularly ecstatic to have Cyril back—although they are always such a handful when they are together. It is double the trouble now. You will find that out soon enough. Oh, and I was supposed to tell you that the vicar has arrived. Don’t worry about Grumps and Granny Ma. Grumps’ bark is worse than his bite, and Granny Ma is a sweetheart. She shan’t give you any trouble about joining the family.”
“I confess, Ginny. I am a little overwhelmed. Clarence and I…we thought this would be a quiet affair. I thought it would be a small intimate assembly of guests.”
“Hardly possible—not with my family, anyway. Our family is quite a large one. You shan’t lack for having people to support you and Julia has brought her new husband along as well as they were in London, so I sent them an invitation, and the rest of the Lovetts have been invited as well, not to mention Mama’s side of the family, those that were in Town, anyway. Cousin Rufus shall be here. I hope you do not mind. The Devilles, Lovetts and the Pratts are all under one roof for this wedding.”
“I do not mind at all. When you say Julia, do you refer to Lady Knightwick? Isn’t she the one who married the long lost son of the Duke of Bowdon and Lydney?”
“Yes, that is her, and if you recall, she is a cousin of ours on the Lovett side, so she is still considered family. She is lovely, and you have met her. You must remember her.”
“It must have been an awfully long time ago.”
“Oh, I think so. I think you two met right after I had married Howard,” she sighed wistfully. “So much as happened since then. I have gone from heartbreak, to happiness. I fear I am so happy some days, I think I just might explode from it all. And, now, Ann, now you shall have a taste of my happiness. That’s the thing about the members of my family—we are always there for each other. Whether you like it or not.”
Ann had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that had completely crushed the butterflies flying through her gut.
“I hope you don’t mind, Ann.”
“No. As long as my father is not amongst the guests, I don’t mind at all,” she sighed. The only person she missed not having at the ceremony was her mother. “I…I suppose I will walk myself into the ballroom.”
“Oh, well, I have taken care of that as well. Do not fret. I have looked after you. I asked Papa to do the honours. He looked absolutely delighted.”
The Duke probably looked a little shocked, not delighted, but she would
take Ginny’s spin on the story.
“Now, I will take my leave,” Ginny said smiling. “I shall give you time to collect your thoughts, and you can follow me in about five minutes. Chin up, Ann. All will be well after today, and I can finally call you my sister!”
Ann smiled. “I think…I think I am closer to you, Ginny, than I have ever been to any of my sisters. They probably don’t even realize I am getting married today—and if they do—I can’t imagine they would care.”
Ginny sighed. “Cast aside all thoughts of your family. They never did right by you, and while I can say I will miss seeing Lady Broadway, I won’t miss any of the other members of your family. After today, you won’t be a Hardwicke. You will be a Deville, and you shall be all the better for it. Of course, you will never have to worry about being alone again—and sometimes that can be a double edged sword,” Ginny laughed.
“I do believe you are quite right,” Ann said, standing up. “You go ahead of me, and I shall follow you. I confess I have never been so nervous in all of my life.”
“You will do fine,” Ginny said encouragingly. “Cast your doubts aside, and enjoy the day.”
She watched Ginny leave. “Hopkins, I shall need your assistance. I know…I know what I must do.” She had to act swiftly before her resolve crumbled.
*****
“My lord.”
Clarence looked over at his butler. He stood with his family chatting away while they waited for Ann to make her appearance.
“Yes?”
“I think you should come with me, sir. It concerns Lady Ann.” He turned on his heel, and left the Ballroom. Cyril gave him a look that plainly asked what the hell was going on. Clarence shrugged his shoulders, and abandoned the rest of his family to follow the butler out into the Entrance Hall. Where was Ann? Shouldn’t she be coming down the staircase to meet him by now? The vicar was going to grow restless. They couldn’t keep him here waiting all day long.
His Christmas Angel (A Regency Holiday Romance Book 8) Page 7