Elise

by Jackie Ivie

  “Why, my husband hasn’t taken me on a moonlit drive in ... well, never.”

  Again, the women giggled, and Elise closed her eyes.

  So she was going on a moonlit drive. A drive that would include a preacher, a pulpit, and a real wedding ceremony! Her palms were wet with worry, and she didn’t have anything to wipe them on. She wondered what Colin would say if she feigned an illness and returned to her chamber.

  The choice was taken from her as the men arrived. Colin wasn’t the first through the door, so she scanned for him. The Quorns had filled their banquet hall with guests. There must have been forty, but there could have been four times that number and Elise wouldn’t have noticed.

  Colin’s eyes went directly to hers the moment he entered. He didn’t move at first; he simply stood there with his eyebrows raised and one hand on the back of a settee. Elise felt her heart jumping and was powerless to stop it. She couldn’t tear her gaze away.

  He smiled slightly and started walking toward her. Elise froze.

  “It’s truly romantic, my dear. You’re to be congratulated, you really are. Oh . . . for the good old days when my Herbert...”

  Lady Norwich was whispering right beside her, but Elise couldn’t hear it over the humming sound.

  “Elise?”

  Colin had reached her; he bent a bit to assist her up. The entire room seemed to be watching. Elise put every effort into controlling her trembling as she put her hand in his.

  Colin closed his fingers about hers and lifted her hand to his lips. She shut her eyes, but that made it worse. The sensation of warmth was radiating the exact same way from him. Elise’s trembling increased.

  “Would you be caring to drive with me? I understand the moon will be full over Crewe tonight. The view is considered by many to be extraordinary.”

  He was giving the entire decision over to her. Elise understood it the moment she opened her eyes. He hadn’t moved at all. He was still holding her hand beside his lips and looking at her down the length of her arm.

  Elise wasn’t one for smelling salts. She didn’t even know what they smelled like. But the longer she looked at him, the closer she came to knowing, she was sure. She hadn’t known that a ring of green encircled the brown of his eyes, or that he could look so intense and yet so unsure at the same time.

  All she had to do was say that she was tired, or that the night air would chill her, or any number of things. He wouldn’t force it, of that she was certain. It was all her decision.

  “Aye,” she answered, then stood.

  The night was cold, just as had been predicted. Elise pulled the fur-trimmed blankets closer to her neck and wondered at her sanity. In one moment of impulse, she’d agreed to be his wife and to everything that stood for.

  She glanced up at him. Colin was wearing a greatcoat and hat; his breath fogged about his head each time he exhaled. He had great hands when it came to handling horses, but she would have guessed that already. She wondered if that was the only thing he had great hands for, gasped, and looked away.

  Beside her, Colin chuckled, as if he’d known what she’d been thinking.

  With her nose outside the fur, the cold instantly frosted each indrawn breath. She wondered how Colin could sit and embrace it as if it was nothing. He didn’t look a bit cold.

  “Having second thoughts?” he asked.

  Elise glanced up at him again. “If I am?”

  “We’re na’ there yet. You’ve still time. The reverend is expecting us, but he said he’d wait all night, if need be. The Abbey at Crewe is very well-known about these parts. It has a thirteenth century vestry. It even survived the Cromwellian uprising. It’s very old and has a verra sanctified air about it.”

  “You’re a font of information. How do you know all this?”

  “I was na’ grouse hunting all day.”

  “Oh.” On the last word she pushed her nose back under the edge of the fur blanket.

  “We do this, and there’s nae chance I’ll retire to my own chamber tonight. You do ken that, doona’ you?”

  She groaned and twisted her hands together. He was putting into words what she didn’t dare imagine.

  “You’ll be my duchess in every sense of the word, and unlike that Easton fellow, I’m na’ one to be trifled with. You do understand what I’m saying?”

  She was choking too much to answer.

  “I’ll most likely survive the night, too, unlike your first husband. I’m a trifle younger, and you already ken I’m in better shape. I also doona’ care how much you scream. I intend to make certain of it. You do ken what I’m talking about? Or were all your lovers inept?”

  “Colin!” The first syllable of his name was an octave higher than the last. Elise was a lot warmer all of a sudden, too.

  “You want me to stop? Will na’ happen. I’m making certain you ken exactly what you’re doing. I doona’ want the recriminations later over too much wine, lack of sleep, you felt beholden to me, or some other nonsense excuse. I want you as I’ve never wanted anyone. Ever. I’ve had too many sleepless nights for wanting you. I’ll na’ be put off by screams, or tears, or pleas, or any other feminine wile.”

  “Are you trying to make me rethink this, Colin?”

  “Nae.”

  “Then shut up.”

  His grin answered her. The star-filled sky was beautiful above them, and Elise watched it. She was no longer the slightest bit cold.

  “We’ve arrived. Do I hitch the horses, or drive around some more to convince you?”

  “You’ll need a lighter manner, if that’s the case.”

  “I dinna’ frighten you?”

  “I didn’t say that. You frighten me just fine. I may find that I like it. I may even tell you of it.”

  “You are a minx.” He tossed the reins to one of his men and jumped from the curricle. He didn’t allow her time to get down. He didn’t wait while she stood, so he could escort her down, either. Instead, he folded her into the blankets and carried her into the church.

  He’d been right about everything. Elise looked about her in awe once Colin set her on her feet. The wrapping about her fell to her ankles, but she ignored it. In some long-ago, almost-forgotten time, she’d imagined just such a setting for her wedding.

  Candles glowed from the first-floor joists, the end of each pew, and all about the altar. The worn wood of the aisle looked thirteenth century, easily. Colin tossed his greatcoat to another of his men before turning to her. He held out his hand, and Elise gave him hers.

  “As God is my witness, you’ll na’ regret this.”

  He pulled her toward him and leaned down to touch his lips to her temple. Elise’s eyes filled with tears. She had to wait for them to subside. She didn’t dare blink.

  She hadn’t known love felt like this.

  Colin’s man Mick stood beside the altar stone. The reverend behind it looked official and very kind. Beyond that instant glance, Elise couldn’t tell. She didn’t even think she was walking, yet they were there. Two pillows were at the base of the altar, and she knelt beside Colin on one.

  Elise ran her free hand across her lashes but stopped short of wiping it on her dress. Such silk was the stuff memories were made of. Every time she looked at it, she wanted to recall every moment.

  When it came time to answer, she spoke in a voice that trembled. Colin didn’t seem to have that problem. His vows were even, deep, and in a humbling tone. Despite her every effort, as he spoke, the tears filled her eyes again.

  Colin didn’t let go of her hand until he had to. She watched him take the signet ring from his little finger and place it on hers. He didn’t let go when he’d finished, although now his thumb and middle finger twirled the ring where it sagged on hers.

  I’ve just married the Duke of MacGowan! Elise had to close her eyes at the thought. There would be no chance for an annulment after tonight, either. Of that, she was certain.

  When it came time for the kiss, Elise felt so lightheaded that she leaned into him f
or that reason. Colin caught her against him easily, although he had to let go of her hand to do so. Elise tipped her face up to his. He narrowed his eyes. She watched the shadows lengthen on his cheeks as he did so. Then she shut her eyes as well.

  Colin’s kiss barely grazed her lips, and then it was done. He was standing and taking her with him.

  “Congratulations to you both.”

  The reverend was all smiles, and so were Colin’s men. Elise didn’t have the choice as her new husband picked her up and walked back down the aisle with her. He set her on a high stool beside the registry book and handed her the quill.

  “I’ll na’ be long.”

  He whispered it in her ear, then he left her. She felt the loss immediately. The church wasn’t as warm as she’d thought.

  Elise looked across at the entry and saw that Colin had already signed his name. When did he do that? she wondered. His penmanship was still atrocious. Elise’s lips twisted as she lifted the pen. The signet ring was heavy and kept sliding about. She moved it to her middle finger, where it fit better. The clerk smiled.

  She signed beneath Colin’s name with a flourish and more elaborate loops at the end than were necessary. That made the clerk’s smile broaden. Elise returned it.

  She watched him sand the ink and moved her feet to the upper rung. That way, she could wrap her arms about her knees. Now, she really was the bride of The MacGowan, and by her own words, too. Nothing was ever going to change that.

  “Oh, Elise, darling, you look such a child. Here.”

  Colin had crept up behind her and started wrapping the blankets about her again. Elise couldn’t meet his eyes.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “Nothing.”

  “You expect me to believe that? Come on, you can tell me.” Colin was hoisting her as he spoke, and Elise fought the urge to burrow into him. Then she simply did it. “Well?”

  “You left me.” Elise kept her nose against his neck while she spoke; it made her feel braver.

  “I was gone only a moment or two.”

  “You didn’t kiss me, either.”

  His laugh was so low, she barely heard it. “I doona’ dare. We are in a church and on consecrated ground, Elise. I’m just hoping I can get you back to Storth Hall without ravishing you. It’s a mite cold out yet.”

  He climbed aboard the carriage and kept her in his lap. Elise pulled her nose from the comfort of his neck to see why. Colin’s man Mick was holding the reins; he tipped his hat to her. Elise hid back against Colin.

  “Mick’s driving. Better that way. Oh, Lord, doona’ sit there. Na’ there, either.” His words were getting more blunt and spoken at a higher pitch as she settled against him. It wasn’t her fault that it was a precarious seat atop his lap; but she did wriggle a bit more than she had to. The way he was sucking in breath was gratifying, too. “Elise?”

  “Yes?”

  “How do you expect to rejoin the others if we—stop that!”

  Elise’s fingers stilled against his chest. “Do we have to rejoin them? Now?”

  “We’ve been on a drive, remember? There’s still dancing and such to do tonight. Bother that. We’re na’ dancing. We’ve got to stop in and let them know that we returned unharmed, though.”

  “Must we?”

  “For the sake of gossip? Yes. For my sake? Nae. For our host’s sake? Yes. For God’s sake, stop that!”

  Beside them, Elise heard Mick snorting through his laughter.

  “I didn’t do anything,” she complained.

  “Get us to the hall, Mick, and stop laughing.”

  “Yes, Your Grace. Oh, immediately, Your Grace. Anything you say, Your Grace,” the servant answered.

  “I’m going to remember this, Mick.”

  Colin was probably trying to sound threatening. Elise looked over at Mick. He looked like he was turning red with withheld laughter.

  “Nae doubt,” the man replied, and that’s when she started giggling.

  The lights were bright, the music seemed especially loud, and there were too many people waiting about the entryway to greet them. Colin swore so rapidly and vehemently that Elise didn’t have to.

  She didn’t dare look at her husband when she entered the ballroom in front of him. She didn’t dare dance with him, either. That would require too much contact. He was too intense for his own good, she decided . . . and he was all hers.

  The thought was absolutely thrilling. She was afraid he’d guess at it, too, and that would make the wait more unbearable.

  Since he’d called on all the saints’ wrath to fall on everyone’s head, it was surprising that the wine was still flowing and the conversation was just as mindless as always. Elise dropped into a high-backed chair on the dowager’s dais and studied her new ring. Colin’s initials were engraved along the side, and what had to be his family crest adorned the top. It was quite heavy.

  From across the room, she felt him. She raised her eyes and caught his stare. Although he leaned nonchalantly against a pillar and held a glass of wine in his fingers, she felt the emotion. When he narrowed his eyes and nodded at her, she was sure of it.

  “Your Grace?”

  A manservant stood beside her. Elise had to tear her eyes from Colin to attend to him. “Yes?” she replied.

  “Your maid has returned. You left a message to be informed immediately should that happen.”

  Reality intruded like a slammed door. Elise didn’t think she’d be able to stand, at first. “Of course, thank you. Can you tell me where she is?”

  “I’ll take you. If you’ll follow me?”

  Elise wasn’t surprised when she was led to the third floor, or when she was shown into the nursery, but she stood at the door, waiting for her mind to function before she could act.

  “Oh, Daisy. Thank the Lord you’ve arrived in time! How was the trip?” Elise rushed to Daisy’s side.

  “Passable, Elise. Only I don’t think his wee lordship had as good a time as we did, eh, Nanny? He’s been fussing most of the time. It looks like he’ll keep us up again tonight.”

  “Oh, Nanny, I’m so pleased you could come, too. I don’t know what I would have done.” Elise turned to the older woman.

  “Now, don’t go and upset yourself, Your Grace. I’ve been on worse trips than a little jaunt north. It will do me good, it will.”

  The baby in Nanny’s arms had stirred at Elise’s voice and raised his chubby arms to her.

  “Oh, Rory, darling!” Elise cried.

  “Now, don’t take it amiss if he doesn’t take to you right off. Babies are a bit like that, they are,” Nanny warned her.

  Daisy stopped Elise from lifting the baby until there was a linen secured on her shoulder. Despite Nanny’s warning, Rory settled easily into Elise’s arms. She felt the same heated pull on her heart that she’d felt when she first saw him. “Such a little love you are,” she told him.

  He lifted his head to give a toothless grin.

  “He’s grown stronger, hasn’t he?” she asked.

  Reddish brown curls covered the baby’s head. At eight months old, he was a very strong and healthy babe. Elise was very proud of that. Watching over Rory was the only thing she’d done right for Evangeline. She listened to Nanny as she commented on Rory’s advances.

  “You little darling.” Elise was still crooning to the babe. It felt like all her prayers were being answered, and the weight lifting from her made her feel buoyant. She hadn’t dared to hope that Nanny would be willing to accompany Rory, but she’d forgotten the woman’s love for Evangeline. It hadn’t been easy to locate her when Evangeline had died, leaving Elise with an infant nephew, but it had been done.

  The Quorn’s nursery boasted cream walls that reflected the fire’s light warmly about them. It turned Rory’s hair more red than before. She could see that he wasn’t the least bit sleepy, either. Elise gave her condolences of that to Nanny.

  “I’m sure I can find me a young housemaid or two that will spell me. It was all we could d
o to make it to these rooms without half the staff holding him. Makes him more spoiled than you already do.”

  Elise grinned and ignored the barb. “Was it difficult, Daisy?” She swiveled with the baby to ask the question.

  “Shutting the place down? Well, you’d think that I had orders to sack everyone by stealing the baby away. Isn’t that right, Nanny?”

  “I have to admit that Rory has brought new life to the old manor. That’s a fact.”

  “Did you provide for everyone, then? The signed vouchers were enough?”

  “Now, Elise, you should know me by now. I followed all your instructions to the letter. Everything will be fine. The place will be kept homey for you. Caretaking isn’t their normal line of work, but you gave them plenty of funds.”

  Rory cooed in Elise’s arms, and she hugged him. He had grown and she tested his weight.

  “Forgive me, Daisy. It was stupid of me to doubt you. I was so afraid that something would happen to prevent this. Life sure turns out strange, doesn’t it? You’ve both done a wonderful job. He looks even healthier.”

  “When that boy’s walking, I’ll need help to catch him.”

  Elise chuckled at the image of Nanny chasing anything; then the amusement died in her throat.

  “Oh my, Your Grace.” Daisy’s voice sounded strangled as she curtsied toward the door.

  Oh no! Dear God, no! In less time than it took to turn around, Elise said the words in her heart and in her mind. God wasn’t listening, though.

  Colin stood in the doorway; his eyes were as hard as agates, and his entire body stiffened in disgust. Elise interpreted the sudden graying of his features and knew she was correct.

  “Oh, dear God, no. Colin! Wait!” She shifted Rory to hand him back to Nanny. It took too long to hand him over. Elise silenced the cry when she reached the stairs; Colin was nowhere in sight.

  “Oh no...no! God, no!”

  Elise was pleading the words aloud as she ran down the stairs. There was no sign of Colin. He wasn’t in their rooms, the ballroom, or the banqueting hall. She hadn’t hidden it on purpose. She was going to tell Colin. She was always going to tell him. He had to know. It was his secret as much as it was hers. She should have told him before. Now, she was too late.