by Dayna Quince
When she returned to the Parlor, Felton was waiting. He took her hand and led her out the front door and into the carriage. A thousand butterflies had taken flight in her stomach, but she managed to contain herself as they got on the road. She settled back against the squabs of the familiar carriage. She’d been inside it many times. She was snuggly wrapped in a blanket with a hot brick under her feet. She was almost comfortable, except Felton sat on the other side.
He looked so far away. She needed comfort and reassurance. She needed the peace she knew only his presence and touch could bring.
“Are you cold?” she asked.
He’d been staring out the window. “No.”
He did look warm in his great coat, but they would be warmer together.
“Are you nervous?”
He cracked a smile. “I’m not sure that’s something I’m supposed to admit to.”
“Well, I’m not afraid to admit I’m nervous. This is the wildest thing I’ve ever done, and the last wild thing I plan to do.”
“That is very reassuring.”
“I can only imagine what Lucy will say.” Thea giggled.
“I can only imagine what Winchester will say.” He snorted.
“Well, they wrote the book on wild, didn’t they?”
“As far as I care to know. We should see what Mrs. Hale packed for us and then try to sleep.”
“I won’t be able to sleep if you don’t sit beside me,” Thea said boldly.
He smiled and moved to her side, slipping under the blankets edge.
“We had very few rules before, and now there are none.”
He put his arm around her. “We aren’t married yet.”
“Close enough.” She lifted her lips in offering to him, and he didn’t disappoint her. She was perfectly warm now.
They opened the hamper and nibbled on a cold supper. After finishing, it wasn’t long before Thea dosed off in his arms.
Jonathan returned to the cottage just before sun up. He let himself in the front door and staggered up the stairs. He was halfway up when the knocker on the door reverberated through his skull.
“Bloody— Knock it off!” he yelled, wincing as he tripped back down the stairs and hauled open the door. “What in God’s name do you want at this hour?” He snarled at the man standing there.
The man presented a card. “Mr. Potter is my name. I am an Officer from Bow Street. I’ve been hired by—”
“I know who hired you,” Jonathan snapped.
“Then you know why I am here.”
Jonathan raised a brow. “Actually, no.”
Mr. Potter sighed. “Mr. Foster is sure that your family is aiding Miss Manton in her erroneous escapade. It is in her best interest to be returned to the safety of her family.”
“It is in Mr. Foster’s best interest to forget he has a cousin and to leave her alone.”
“Miss Manton is not well. Her judgement is not sound according to her parish priest and doctor.”
Jonathan scratched the stubble on his chin. “I wonder how much it costs to bribe a priest and a doctor.”
“I beg your pardon, my lord?”
“Well, Foster doesn’t have any money, so it was either blackmail or the promise of the money he is to gain from the land he will receive through his marriage to Miss Manton. Or did he leave that bit of information out of the investigation.” Jonathan grinned.
Mr. Potter remained silent.
“Well, there you have it. I’ve given you a fresh lead to follow. Good day, Mr. Potter.” Jonathan shut the door in his face and trudged back up the stairs, this time making it all the way to his bed.
Thea vaguely remembered their brief stop sometime in the middle of the night, but then couldn’t remember much else. She thought she’d slept, but she was always aware of the carriage. This time, when she opened her eyes, she hadn’t the faintest idea where she was, but she was in a bed. She stretched her toes, the sensation of bare skin sliding on the sheet a shock. She moved, relieved to feel she was still in her shift. But who had undressed her? Her mind cried in alarm.
Felton. It must have been Felton. She felt a warm flush come over her. She pushed herself up and looked around the small room. It looked like an Inn room. They must have stopped again.
She slipped off the bed and searched for her clothing. Her dress and stockings were draped over the single chair in the room. Taking care of necessary business, she dressed and ventured toward the window. Outside, a small village lay beyond, its inhabitants busily passing by. Judging by the suns position, it was almost mid-day.
The door opened behind her, and she turned expectantly. Felton entered and gave her a tentative smile.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning. Have we reached Gretna Green?”
“Not yet, I’m afraid. We haven’t crossed the border. We’re in Hedwig, a smaller village outside of Carlisle.”
“Oh.” Thea looked around the room.
“I thought it best to let Mr. Gregory rest a bit.”
“That’s very kind of you. How terrible to have driven all night.”
“Yes. He needed the rest. We all did.”
“An excellent idea.” Thea went to the small mirror above the basin and braided her hair. She rolled the braid into a bun and pinned it in place. She caught Felton watching her in the mirror. She blushed again.
There was a whole new world opening up for her, a new level of intimacy she hadn’t anticipated. From now on, he would be privy to her most private moments. It was strange to think about but also exhilarating.
“Are you ready to depart? The innkeeper said it’s only another five or so hours to Gretna as long as the roads and weather cooperate with us.”
Her stomach fluttered. “Then we best hurry.”
Outside, Mr. Gregory waited by the carriage, nodding as he held the door for her. Felton assisted her inside.
“Am I to drive, or is it your turn, Major.” Mr. Gregory said.
“You may drive,” Felton returned.
Thea took her seat, pleased that Felton chose to sit beside her and not across.
“When did you drive the carriage?” she asked.
“I made him sit inside and rest for a couple hours last night. He won’t let it go.”
“You made him sleep in the carriage while you drove?” Thea couldn’t believe her ears. In all the years she’d known Lucy’s family and ridden in their Carriage, Mr. Gregory had never allowed anyone to drive the carriage but him.
“It was that or to risk him falling asleep at the helm.”
“But…” Thea was flabbergasted.
“My apologies if it offends you that I allowed him to rest in the carriage while you slept.”
Thea slapped his shoulder. “Don’t insult me. I don’t care about that. But I am surprised you could drive the carriage.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know why.” She frowned. “I’ve never seen a gentleman drive a carriage.”
“Well, I would assume most can, but as a soldier, I’ve driven many different types of vehicles. I’ve even ridden an elephant.”
“You have?” she said excitedly.
He nodded and put his arm around her. “I’ve done many things you don’t yet know about, but I have all the time to tell you.”
“I haven’t any exciting stories.”
“By tomorrow, you will have at least one exciting story.”
Thea smiled. “That is true.”
“I found the story of you wearing boy’s breeches very exciting.”
“Did you?” She leaned against his chest. They weren’t yet married, but being away from it all, with him by her side, made it feel like nothing else mattered. They had each other, and that was all they needed. Joy filled her. She was in love, she was marrying the man she loved, and nothing could tame her happy, wild heart now.
Chapter 17
Thea was amazed to find she’d fallen asleep yet again. She yawned and stretched, then looked out the window. They
were still moving, but the carriage was rolling into the courtyard of an Inn.
The Jolly Anvil.
They’d reached their destination at last.
A hand slid into hers, and Thea jumped.
“Nervous?”
“Yes. Will we be able to marry today?”
“I should think so. Many of the locals make extra income from hasty nuptials.”
“Oh, dear. What will they think of us?”
“That we are madly in love.”
That stunned her into silence. She knew how she felt, but did he feel the same? She bit her lip and looked out the window. Mr. Gregory appeared at the door, and Thea sat back as he opened it and kicked down the steps.
Felton handed her down, and together, they strolled toward the Inn.
Once inside, Felton secured a room for themselves and Mr. Gregory. He ordered them a dinner tray to be brought and then led her toward the stairs. No one looked twice at them. Thea was relieved. Her pulse was racing enough as it was.
Felton opened the door and waved her through. “We can eat and freshen up and then find our way to a smithy. Does that suit you?”
Thea nodded.
“I’ll give you a moment to yourself.” He closed the door.
Thea stood there and looked around the room. It was larger than the last. The innkeeper had called it a bridal suite. She’d spend her first evening as a bride here. She tried to feel excited, and she was certain a part of her was, but at the forefront of her mind was the fear of uncertainty.
Things had happened so fast. She hadn’t had time to think too much about it and get accustomed to it.
She was going to marry him. She wanted to. She loved him, and there was no other person she could picture in his place, which was odd because if she hadn’t found Felton on the road almost two weeks ago, she could very well be standing here waiting to marry Jonathan.
Poor Jonathan. As much as she’d wanted to deny it, he was affected by her marrying Felton. She didn’t know what to think about that. He’d tried to show her, tried to convince her he was more than a friend and figurative brother, but she hadn’t wanted to see it.
Things would be different between them now. She felt sad about it. She wandered to the basin and poured fresh water. She washed her face and neck, and then redressed her hair.
Felton returned shortly with her small trunk. He set it down, and Thea opened it to shake out her dress. Her wedding dress.
It was simple and pretty. It was one of her favorite dresses, one that Lucy had bought her for her last birthday. It was a deep purple with three quarter length sleeves, with ivory lace covering the bodice and edging the cuffs. Thea loved lace. It was so delicate and beautiful. It made her feel beautiful when she wore it.
“The innkeeper can perform the ceremony. He has a special room.”
“Oh. Good.” Thea tried to hide the fact that her hands were shaking. There was a dressing screen, so she went behind it to change. Slipping the dress over her head, she buttoned the bodice and straightened the skirts. She took a deep breath, so many emotions filling her. She was excited, she reminded herself. Although this was not how she pictured getting married, this was how it simply was, and she needed to embrace the moment.
Part of her, a very large part, wished it wasn’t so, now that it was close at hand. She’d pictured having what Lucy had had—her friends surrounding her, perhaps a motherly talk from Lady Heath. Lord knew her aunts wouldn’t have cared one whit. Lucy would have filled in the details Lady Heath had kept out, Thea was certain. She wished she could know what her friends thought of Felton if they would find him as wonderful as she did.
She pinched her eyes closed and fought the press of tears. She didn’t want to mar this day with sadness. She shouldn’t dwell on these things. It wouldn’t change the fact that today she would marry the man she loved. It was funny really. Fate had been hard at work the day she found him on the road.
She took another deep breath and came out from behind the screen. He’d changed into a fresh shirt, a grey waistcoat and a hunter green jacket. She smiled and walked up to him. She smoothed his ruffled hair. She considered it a very wifely duty.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“I think I am.”
“Think?”
She nodded.
“Are you having reservations?”
She could see the fear in his eyes. Oddly, it was comforting. She wasn’t the only one at odds.
“Do you want to marry me?” she asked suddenly.
“Yes,” he said vehemently, “but I feel like we’ve been thrown into a river and its surging us towards a future we hadn’t anticipated arriving at so soon.”
“That is an excellent metaphor. I feel the exact same way.”
“I wish it could be different, Thea.” He brushed his knuckles against her cheek.
“So do I. I was just thinking how much I wished my friends could be here. They are more like family than my actual family.”
“But you wouldn’t change the groom?” He raised a brow.
“Never.” She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him. His arms came around her. Even with their shared fear, nothing felt more right than when his arms were around her. The kiss was long and deep. All the feelings that had terrified her, the doubt and the worry, vanished. She was filled with warmth now, and her body grew heavy and soft against him. He pulled away, and Thea mewed in protest.
“Darling, we haven’t the time for this. After the ceremony, we will have all the time in the world to become married in truth.”
Thea sighed. She nodded and eased herself away. He tucked her hand in his elbow, and they went downstairs.
Mr. Travis showed them to the special room where there was indeed an anvil. Draped around its base was a wreath of flowers. Mr. Travis introduced his wife and two sons who would stand as witnesses. Mr. Gregory was there, as well.
Mr. Travis smiled down at Thea. He seemed pleased to see her. “Why have ye come tae Gretna, lass? Do ye have yer parents blessing tae wed?”
“My parents are deceased, and my guardian wishes I marry her son. I don’t want to marry him.” She turned and smiled at Felton. “I wish to marry Major Felton.”
“Aye, many have come here for the same reason. The heart will have what it desires most.” Mrs. Travis beamed.
Thea shared her smile and then Mr. Travis began the ceremony.
“Do ye have a ring for the lass?” he asked Felton.
Much to Thea’s surprise, Felton fished something from his coat pocket. It was a small pouch. He opened it and dumped the contents in Mr. Travis’s hand. It was a gold ring, with intricate filigree and at the center, a flower with tiny petals of stones Thea had never seen before. She was awestruck.
Mr. Travis and his wife awed over the ring.
“My God, son. Where did ye find such a thing?”
“I bought it in India. The stones are called tiger eye. It has significance to me,” Felton answered sheepishly.
Mrs. Travis looked closely at the ring and then handed it back to him. Thea tried not to gawk at it as it passed before her.
Mr. Travis cleared his throat, pulling away her attention.
“Place it on the lass’s finger, an’ match yer hand to hers.”
Thea felt light headed as Felton slid the ring on. Her eyes felt painfully wide as she stared down at the ring. Their hands flattened together, the heat of his soothing and exciting. She fervently hoped her palms would not grow sweaty, but her nerves were singing an aria of exhilaration.
Mr. Travis wrapped a white ribbon around their wrists. “Now repeat after me, lass…I do take thee to be my husband.”
“I do take thee to be my husband,” Thea said breathily.
Mr. Travis gestured to Felton.
“I do take thee to be my wife.”
Thea bit her lip, she had the strange urge to giggle or perhaps even squeal with delight. She tramped it down.
“Before God an’ these witnesses, I declare ye to be marri
ed persons. Whom God hath joined, let no man put asunder.”
Mrs. Travis clapped. Thea felt a peculiar thrill blast through her insides. She was married. She particularly liked the last part, let no man put asunder.
“Ye must not untie the ribbon till the marriage is consummated or ill luck will follow ye from Gretna.” Mr. Travis warned with an’ air of severity.
She looked at Felton, his eyes bright with mirth. Biting her lip, she turned away and was caught in a surprise hug by Mrs. Travis.
“Oh, how I wish I had me own daughter to give away, but ye young lovely lass’s will have tae do. Do ye need a mother’s talk?”
“No, thank you,” Thea hurried to say, but she did feel a pang of loss. She smiled her thanks and turned towards Felton. They reversed their steps back up to their room. It was so sudden.
“What of the marriage certificate? How will we prove this happened?” Thea worried. She didn’t know what she expected to feel except perhaps different, but she felt exactly as she did before.
“Mr. Travis said it would be ready tomorrow morning.”
Thea looked down at their bound hands. The ring glittered in the light. Thea remembered all the questions she wanted to ask. He saw her focus on the ring.
“Ah, I’d almost forgotten.” They slowly climbed the stairs toward their room.
“You said it was of significance.”
“The woman who nursed me through the infection. I don’t think I would have lived if it hadn’t been for her. She gave it to me.”
“She did?”
“She said something strange to me. She said the tiger and I were now brothers. We now shared something of each other. I didn’t know what to do with such a bauble at the time. I was delirious with fever. It wasn’t until I was heading home, and I found it in my belongings that I remembered it. I thought about getting rid of it, but something always stopped me. Now I know why.” He squeezed her hand.
They reached the room.
“Would you like to eat dinner first or have a bath?”
“Oh, a bath sounds lovely, but…” She wiggled their hands.
He looked down, a look of surprise passing over his features. “Oh…uh…I suppose we’ll have to…”