Married By Midnight (Pembroke Palace Book 4)

by Julianne MacLean

  She walked slowly to the window and squinted in the bright sunlight that reflected off the snow. She glanced down at two servants shoveling snow off the steps below.

  The forest in the distance was cloaked in white. It was the most beautiful Christmas morning she had ever beheld, yet her heart ached with painful thoughts of what might have kept Garrett from her. Was he all right? What if something terrible had happened?

  She would give anything to know that he was unharmed. Anything. She would surrender her own happiness, return to her uncle’s house in Yorkshire if she must, if only she could see Garrett walk through this door one more time. Safe.

  Then suddenly a horse-drawn sleigh appeared in the distance, making its way slowly up the lane. Anne’s heart leapt to her throat, and she pressed both hands to the glass.

  Garrett. Please let it be you.

  She didn’t care if the contract was broken, or if there was no money, or even if their engagement charade was at an end forever. All that mattered was that he was alive and well.

  She would find her own way to survive.

  For a few more heart-pounding moments she watched the sleigh draw closer to the house. She was breathing quite heavily when it reached the steps.

  There were two men in the sleigh, but they wore fur hats and the frost on the lower part of the glass window obscured her view.

  Clutching the shawl about her shoulders, she dashed from the room and ran to the main staircase, flew down the red carpeted stairs like some sort of winged creature dressed in white, and hurried across the marble floor of the Great Hall.

  Suddenly she realized the rest of the family had appeared and followed her down the stairs as well‌—‌the duchess, then Devon, Blake, and Charlotte.

  The butler had already opened the double front doors. Anne darted out into the cold. She stopped under the wide portico as the two men stepped out of the sleigh, then breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized that incredibly handsome face.

  Garrett looked up at her and laid a hand over his heart.

  Her own heart melted, and she was so happy to see him! But what did it mean?

  Anne truly was an angel sent from heaven, Garrett thought as he watched her dash down the stairs in a flowing white wedding gown and sky-blue shawl. The sight of her, after all he’d been through, was like a hot sunburst that exploded in his chest.

  He did not wait for her to reach him at the sleigh. He took the steps two at a time to meet her half way. To his utter delight, she threw herself into his arms and hugged him so tight around the neck, he could barely breathe.

  “Thank God you’re safe,” she said.

  He drew back to look her in the eye, shocked and bewildered by her forgiveness, and then found himself admiring the gorgeous, tantalizing length of her body in that white dress.

  “My God, you look beautiful.” He forced his gaze back up to her face. “But you’re not angry with me? I thought you might be, but there was no way to send word.”

  “Angry!” she replied, then seemed to realize what he was referring to. “Oh, yes. Yes, I am very angry about that. What woman wouldn’t be?” She sighed. “Oh, Garrett. None of that matters. You’re here now.” She hugged him again. “Oh my word...I am so sorry.”

  “You’re sorry? Sorry for what?”

  “We missed the deadline,” she replied. “Your family’s fortune... The money you wanted...”

  He pulled her into his arms again. “I don’t care about that, Anne. All that matters is that you are here, and you are not angry with me.”

  He held her tight, buried his face into her neck, breathed in the sweet scent of her skin. He couldn’t seem to let go.

  “Why did you believe I would be angry?” she softly asked.

  He fought to gain control of his emotions. “Because it was money you wanted, too. For your freedom, Anne.”

  The others came rushing down the stairs just then, and his angel stepped out of his arms.

  He knew instantly that it had been the wrong thing to say.

  “Thank heavens you’re all right!” Charlotte cried as she, too, launched herself into Garrett’s arms.

  “We were so worried,” his mother said.

  “What happened to you?” Devon asked.

  Devon held out his hand to Dr. Thomas who had stayed back to give Garrett a moment alone with Anne. He was only just then reaching them on the steps. “Merry Christmas, Doctor. What a pleasure to see you. You are the reason for Garrett’s last-minute trip to London, I presume?”

  “Yes, he came to extend an invitation to the wedding. I do apologize for this very late arrival, but something urgent came up. I hope you will allow Garrett a chance to explain.”

  “Of course we will,” Devon replied. “Please, everyone, come inside.”

  As they made their way to the door, Charlotte turned to Dr. Thomas and held out her hand. “I am so happy to see you, sir.”

  He cupped her hand inside both of his, and his eyes glimmered with warmth. “I am happy to see you, too, my dear. Merry Christmas.”

  “I have a present for you,” Charlotte said with a grin.

  “And I have something for you as well.”

  Garrett realized he would have to catch up on the familiarity that existed between these two. He was not sorry, for it, however. It was something he would anticipate with great joy.

  Then he turned to Anne and hoped she would be willing to hear him out.

  “You saved his life?” Anne said from clear across the drawing room.

  Standing with his brothers around the Christmas tree, Garrett gestured toward Dr. Thomas, who stood in front of the mantel. “It was mostly the good doctor who did the saving.”

  “That is pure rubbish,” Dr. Thomas replied. “I couldn’t possibly have pulled that boy out of the water and carried him all the way back to the coach through the deep snow as you did. You were the hero of the day long before I withdrew my stethoscope.”

  “Sounds like it was a shared effort,” Devon said, raising his cup of hot cider for an informal toast. Blake raised his cup as well.

  Anne smiled at Garrett, for she, more than anyone else in the room, understood what it must have meant for him to save that boy’s life. He had come home to Pembroke seeking to atone for quite another tragedy, and perhaps this unexpected Christmas Eve ordeal had provided him some relief and validation for what he had not been able to accomplish in the past.

  Everyone gathered around the tree, except for Anne, who remained at the sofa. They all raised their cups and toasted the boy’s recovery, as well as Garrett’s safe return.

  But there was another glaring issue to which no one had yet alluded. The will... The family fortune...

  Garrett finished his cider and set down his cup. “What happened with Father last night? Was he very distraught when the wedding did not take place?”

  “We were all distraught,” Adelaide replied, “but mostly because we were worried about you. But your father...” She paused. “He didn’t seem to realize that it was Christmas Eve, or that your wedding was scheduled to take place. Of course none of us said anything. He fell asleep early and slept through most of the storm. I checked on him this morning and he ate a small breakfast, then ordered a hot bath.”

  Garrett regarded his mother with relief. “Thank heavens for that. I was very concerned last night. I know how anxious he can be.”

  “Some days are worse than others,” his mother replied. “Yesterday was a good day.”

  Everyone stood quietly for a moment until Garrett finally broached the subject of the will, and the wedding that did not take place. “Will you fight the terms?” he asked Devon. “Try to keep our family fortune intact?”

  “I’ve had lawyers working on it for months,” Devon replied, “and I will continue to do what I can. Now that the deadline has passed, however, I am not sure what hope there will be. We must all prepare ourselves for reduced circumstances.”

  Charlotte sighed heavily. “Then I suppose it will be up to me
to refill the family coffers. Perhaps I will run off to America and marry a rich railroad tycoon who wants to purchase our family name for his business interests.”

  The duchess slid an arm around her waist. “Only if he’s handsome, dear.”

  Everyone chuckled, except for Anne, who was not sure what role she would play in this family’s new future. She had not been able to fulfill her contract with Garrett and secure the Pembroke fortune. She would therefore not receive the compensation that had been promised to her‌—‌the compensation that would have ensured her independence.

  But what would Garrett want? she wondered as she listened to him describe how grateful Marcus and Joshua’s parents had been when they arrived to collect the boys that morning. They had wept tears of joy as they thanked Garrett and Dr. Thomas.

  Anne was so happy for him, and so thankful that everything had worked out.

  At last, Garrett told his family about his boating accident in the spring, and how he had not been able to save the passengers on board. “I came home seeking some form of atonement, but what I’ve learned is that nothing will ever erase what happened on the water that day. Nothing will take away the grief of those who were left behind. All I can do is try to remember that I did my best to save them, and that in the future, I will find ways to be useful and helpful in this life. Yesterday, it took all of us to bring that boy back from disaster. Not one of us could have done it alone. It was a shared effort.” He paused. “I do not believe I am meant to be alone.”

  “No, you are not.” The duchess took hold of his hand and kissed it with all the love and compassion Anne knew she would provide, if only Garrett would open up to her and the rest of his family.

  Garrett met Anne’s eyes just then and gazed at her for a tortuous moment while she tried to read his thoughts about their future together, but it was no use. She was lost in a haze of longing and desire.

  “Anne.” he said in front of everyone. “You, more than anyone, deserve my most heartfelt apologies for keeping you waiting last night. How can I ever make it up to you?”

  She looked down at the floor. “That is not necessary, Garrett. You and Dr. Thomas have explained why you could not be here. It could not be helped and I am so happy you were able to help those boys. I certainly bear no ill will.”

  Before she realized what was happening, Garrett had crossed the room and was down on one knee before her. She blinked down at him with surprise.

  “This is something I must do in front of witnesses, Anne, and please listen carefully.” He took hold of her hand. “I came home to Pembroke Palace a broken man, but in a very short time, you helped make me whole again‌—‌with your kindness, your understanding, and your beauty, inside and out. If I am not mistaken, my entire family has fallen in love with you, and I more than any of them cannot imagine a life without you here with all of us at Pembroke. I kneel down before you now, not to fulfill the terms of any contract or to act out a charade, but to satisfy my own heart, because I love you with every breath in my body.”

  She laid a hand over her own heart, fearing that it might stop beating.

  But there was more. He still had more beautiful things to say.

  “I want you for the rest of my life, Anne. I want you as my bride, and as the mother of my children. And there will be children, I guarantee it‌—‌a whole houseful of them‌—‌if you would but honor me with your hand.”

  Anne sucked in a breath and struggled to find her voice. Was this really happening?

  Garrett smiled up at her with those dazzling blue eyes and said, “Will you marry me, Anne? For real? Never to be apart? Will you make me the happiest man alive?”

  Overcome by a dizzying mixture of joy and disbelief, feeling as if she were caught in a glorious, heavenly dream, she reached out to run her hand over his thick, golden hair.

  “You haven’t answered me,” he said with a confident, seductive smile.

  She responded by tugging at the shoulders of his jacket to pull him to his feet. “You know I love you, Garrett, so how can there be any answer but yes?”

  She was vaguely aware of the others cheering and applauding as he pulled her into his arms and pressed his mouth to hers for a passionate kiss that sent the whole world spinning.

  His hands settled on the curve of her hips as he drew back and looked down at her dress. “You are already dressed for our wedding. Can we not do it now?”

  Anne couldn’t help herself. She laughed out loud and glanced at Charlotte, who was watching with wide, hopeful eyes.

  “Say yes!” Charlotte shouted. “The vicar is still here. He couldn’t leave in the storm last night. He is probably in the breakfast room by now. He already has all the papers prepared.”

  Anne’s heart beat fast with excitement. “Am I dreaming?” she asked.

  “No, by God, you are fully awake,” Garrett replied, as he kissed her again with fierce, relentless passion. The touch of his lips seared her blood. Then he swept her into his arms like an eager groom about to cross the threshold on the wedding night.

  It was the morning after, of course, but Anne was not about to split hairs. Better late than never, her mother always used to say.

  She laughed out loud as her soon-to-be husband carried her out of the room to hunt down the vicar.

  Chapter Eighteen

  LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Anne threw her head back in ecstasy as Garrett made love to her for the third time in the wedding chamber that had been prepared for them the day before.

  Charlotte had placed rose petals between the sheets‌—‌clipped and stolen from the duke’s prized conservatory. It was a briefly distracting but pleasant surprise when they slipped naked into bed.

  Now they lay together in the fading light, talking about the private ceremony in the chapel.

  “The duke seemed well,” Anne said. “He was so happy for you, Garrett. How proud he looked when he shook your hand after the vicar pronounced us man and wife.”

  “That was all I ever wanted from him,” Garrett replied. “Just a sign that he cared.”

  “I saw it very clearly today,” she assured him, while she ran the tip of her finger across the smooth muscles of her husband’s chest and reveled in the wonderful notion that she was no longer a social outcast. She had been accepted into this powerful aristocratic family, and had spoken vows before God in their beautiful chapel.

  “And he didn’t mention the curse,” she added. “Not once. Do you think he has forgotten about it, or will he imagine it again the next time it rains or snows?”

  “I’m not sure.” Garrett gently stroked her shoulder and was quiet for a long time. “Do you ever wonder if he really is talking to ghosts?”

  She sat up. “Why do you ask?”

  He felt foolish bringing it up, but something his father said to him would not leave his mind. “After we found him in the catacombs last week, he told me that Brother Salvador said there was a reason I was not lost, and that it wasn’t time for me to leave. I cannot help but wonder what Brother Salvador knows about my future.”

  Anne smiled tenderly at him. “I am sure time will tell all.”

  Garrett sighed and continued to stroke her shoulder. “Yes. We simply have to live. Seek out our destinies. In the meantime, I feel very blessed. And inspired.”

  She lifted her head and rested her chin on her hands. “About the future?”

  “Yes. I know now that I want to enrol in Kings College to study medicine, if they will have me. I know it is not quite the proper thing for the son of a duke, but we must remember that I am actually the son of a doctor, and I feel compelled to follow in his footsteps. Perhaps that is my true destiny. I respect Dr. Thomas a great deal, Anne. He is a brilliant man.”

  “And your mother loved him once, didn’t she.”

  “I suspect she loves him still,” he replied, “but she will never again be unfaithful. I didn’t tell you every detail of our conversation that day, but I wish to tell you now. She said that marriage is sacred, and she prayed th
at none of her children would ever feel a need to stray from their spouses‌—‌that we would marry the true mates of our souls and love each other until the end of time.”

  Anne thought about the duchess. “How sad that she did not marry the true mate of her soul.”

  Garrett pulled her closer into the warmth of his embrace. “I believe she has come to accept that sometimes, things happen for a reason‌—‌even difficult things. I also believe that despite everything, she loves her husband, and he loves her very much in return. Time has tempered the turmoil of their early years, and after almost losing her, he did become a better husband. But first and foremost, she is devoted to this family, each and every one of us.”

  “But poor Dr. Thomas,” Anne said.

  Garrett was quiet for a moment. “There is no doubt in my mind that he still loves my mother and always will. I believe he would walk through fire for her. He is a very honorable gentleman, selfless in every way.”

  Anne gazed lovingly into Garrett’s eyes. “I would walk through fire for you as well. And I will have no problem living up to your mother’s expectations of loving you selflessly, until the end of time. I will be very proud if you become a medical man. I cannot imagine a higher calling.”

  “Higher callings aside,” he said with a flirtatious smile as he leaned up on an elbow, rolled her over onto her back, and kissed her collarbone. “We will no doubt need the money.”

  A knock sounded at the door. They both lifted their heads.

  “Who in the world would be interrupting us now?” Garrett said.

  “It must be important,” Anne suggested.

  Garrett laid a quick kiss on her breast. “Don’t move. Do not leave this bed. I will be back in an instant.”

  “I assure you,” she replied as she watched him shrug into his robe, “I have no desire to go anywhere.”

  He crossed the room, opened the door a crack, and peered out. Anne heard him say, “This better be important. We’re rather busy at the moment.”