But with this terrible news about Lucinda, suddenly they all felt the insecurity that had held them prior to the attack on Simon.
“What’s to be done?” Phillip asked, once the three had arrived back at the farmhouse. “They believe Lucinda was the one who administered the poison, and we know she was the one who attacked you and your brother with a knife, but was she the one who tried to smother Sarah?”
“I have no idea,” Alan said helplessly. “I do not know whether the real culprit is within the house or not. I cannot bring Sarah back there... ”
“Alan!” Sarah clearly showed her disappointment.
“I cannot risk your life,” he cried in response. “I will not!”
“Yes, but does that mean that we shall have to postpone the wedding yet again?” she asked in all seriousness.
Surprisingly, Alan smiled. Obviously she had the hope of being married still working in her mind and it had overshadowed even her fear. “I do not wish to,” he confessed. “But what else can I do?”
“Well, it was going to be the society event of the year,” Claire said, revealing her hopes and dreams for her daughter’s wedding. “I hate to give that up, but if you do not wish to delay the wedding, perhaps we can arrange something smaller.”
Phillip seemed to think this was sensible. “And you can live here with us until they have finally cleared up this nonsense!”
Only Alan and Claire really understood the ramifications of doing it this way. If they were to have a small family reception at the farmhouse, and the couple were to live there, the community would immediately whisper that the wedding had to be hurried, adding to the slander that had already been spread. And Alan’s noble family and friends would consider it a huge disgrace.
“Let me think about it,” Alan said calmly. “I need to think about our safety first.”
“Then I trust you will be bringing yourself back here, and staying with us,” Phillip said pragmatically. “It would seem that you do not know who to trust at the hall.”
Alan nodded.
Sarah walked with him when he went back to his horse to ride home.
“I’m sorry, Sarah,” Alan said, as he put his arm around her waist and drew her closer. “I had thought it was all over and that we could just be married and be happy.”
“I don’t wish to wait any more,” Sarah said longingly. “I don’t wish to live intimidated by whoever has plotted these things against you. I love you, and want to be with you!”
Alan closed his arms about her, resting his cheek against her hair. He had no wish to wait either, but he had faced death three times, and nearly lost twice.
“I don’t want you to go back to Mellington Hall alone,” Sarah said, as he began to turn from her to mount his horse. “I’m afraid for you, Alan. Stay here with us.”
“You haven’t the room,” Alan said easily. “It is only four more days, and then... ”
“But what about you?”
“I have been thinking that I shall ride over to my cousin’s and stay with them for a little while.”
“Lord Lydbury?”
“I shall be perfectly all right there, and they might be able to help me sort out what I should do!”
“Do you trust them?” Sarah asked.
“I have no reason not to,” Alan answered, a little annoyed at her question.
Sarah sensed the annoyance, and decided to say nothing else.
“Will you come back early, so I know that you are all right?”
“Sarah, you need to calm yourself,” he said firmly. “We shall get to the bottom of this very soon, and then it will be all right.”
h, Alan!” Lady Felicity Lydbury was all sympathy. “What a terrible shame, and such a nuisance too!”
“Nuisance is rather understating it, my dear,” Leighton Lydbury said evenly. “Have you no idea, old boy, who could be behind these terrible attacks?”
“We had thought it was all resolved when they took Lucinda into custody, but it is almost certain that she was not the one who took the shot at me in the first place.”
“But it is only the ravings of criminals, dear,” Felicity said.
“Lucinda did not kill herself,” Alan answered. “The doctor is very sure about that.”
“Well, you must stay here as long as you like,” Felicity said happily, putting the melancholy discussion aside. “You shall have your reception here, and bring your bride here too. Stay with us until it is all cleared up!”
“Yes, old man!” Leighton agreed. “We should be happy to help you!”
Alan thought about their offer for a few moments, and then answered.
“Thank you, both. That is very generous. I will speak with Lady Claire about it, but I think that transferring the organisation from Mellington Hall to here should not prove too difficult.”
“So she goes by her title then?” Felicity asked of Claire.
“No, she does not. But she is every inch a lady, Felicity, and she was born to it. Now that her daughter is to be my wife, and in so doing, is allowed her mother’s inheritance and title from her grandfather, I feel as if Mrs Montgomery should be recognised as Lady Claire Pennerly.”
“So you thought you were marrying beneath you, and really you are marrying an equal. That was good work, old man!” Leighton commented, as he puffed on his pipe.
“Not my equal,” Alan said with a smile.
“Oh?” Felicity said, her face showing her disappointment.
“No, it would appear, having seen the papers and what she is due, that her status is higher.”
“Good show, old chap!” Leighton laughed. “Very well done!”
“Yes, indeed!” Felicity added. “That was a very fortunate turn of events!”
“I would have married her even if she was merely the daughter of Phillip Montgomery, my estate game-keeper. I love her very much!”
“Yes, we saw that when we visited, remember!” Leighton reminded him of his comments some time before.
“That is very generous of your cousin,” Claire said to Alan, once he had relayed the invitation to them. “It should not be too hard to transfer everything, but we will have to send out quite a few notes today to let everyone know that we have changed the location of the reception.”
“You could just make an announcement at the church,” Sarah said, happily.
“I’m sorry to say, my dear, that not all of those invited will attend the church ceremony,” her mother said.
“Why not, mother?” Sarah sounded hurt.
“Well, to begin with, it is not a proper church,” Phillip said, revealing that he still was not convinced that the New Church was legitimate.
“Father!” Sarah objected, with a frown.
“Not only that, there are a number of my friends and acquaintances who will come to the reception and eat our food, but will not pay any respects to the holy sacrament we will partake in.”
“That is... ”
“That is the way of the world, dear,” Claire cut in before her daughter could finish.
“So long as you will be there,” Sarah looked at Alan. “I suppose I’ll not care who else comes!”
Alan laughed. “I shall be there, you may be certain of that!”
It was the eve of the wedding, and Sarah had chosen to spend her last night at her home, with her parents. The beautiful wedding clothes that had been bought, and now hung in the humble farmhouse seemed not to belong in their surroundings. Sarah and Alan had talked about where she would dress and from where she would leave to go to the church. Mellington Hall was out of the question, with the mystery still unsolved. Lady Lydbury had offered her home for the days prior as well as after the wedding, but Sarah had politely refused.
“You do not mind, do you?” she had asked Alan. “I know my Grandfather was a very important man, and that my mother would love to have all the pomp and circumstance due that station, but I was brought up in my father’s simple home. I’m not ashamed of it. I love him, and everything he has tried
to do in bringing me up properly.”
“You are very forgiving,” Alan said.
Sarah knew he was referring to the period of time when her father had followed the vicar’s advice and cast her out of her home. But she was resolved not to dwell on it again.
“After tomorrow, I shall enter into my Grandfather’s world, and I shall not belong to my father’s world anymore. I would like to give father the privilege of bringing me to the church himself. Please, Alan?”
He hugged her close. “Of course. Besides, that is the home where we first met and fell in love. Is it not?”
She pulled back and looked up at him, unable to prevent herself from smiling. “You fell in love way back then?”
“Utterly and completely!”
“Well, why did it take you so long... ”
“To act?” He anticipated her. She nodded in return. “I can only plead stupidity,” he said. “I have no other excuse.”
Sarah smiled as she remembered this exchange, and she shivered with excitement as she looked at the beautiful gown that had been made for her. It was like no other that she had ever seen.
“Are you happy, dear?” Claire came over to her, and saw her looking at her wedding gown.
“I am,” she smiled at her mother. “But please do not think that I am sorry for the years I spent here as a child. For the most part, we had love and happiness, and the style and cost of what we wore had no bearing on how we lived.”
“But you do like your dress, don’t you?” Claire sounded a little worried.
“Oh, it is beautiful. It really is, but it’s not the dress that has made me happy. It’s the love of a good man. He is a good man, mother, despite what anyone says. He has always done right by me, and right by you too.”
“I know,” Claire said softly. “And your father knows it too. We are very happy that he is to be our son-in-law.”
Mother and daughter hugged tightly. “You will make a beautiful bride, Sarah,” Claire whispered to her. “I am so proud of you.”
Sarah tried not to worry about what some of the village folk were thinking as she passed by in the magnificent carriage. Her father sat with her, escorting her to the New Church, and in her mind it was all beautiful and respectable, but she saw several people in little groups, including Mrs Allyson, looking as if they were expecting the wedding procession and they were casting glances at her and turning to talk behind their hands. It was easy to imagine what they might be saying.
Sarah had been so cosseted of late with her newfound position both in her family home and at Mellington Hall, that she had had no occasion to hear any more of the vicious slander, but as she drove by, dressed in her magnificent wedding gown, she realised that the effects of slander were far reaching, destructive and cruel. She had to breathe deeply and consciously decide to ignore what she saw to prevent herself from sinking again into despair.
When she arrived at the humble chapel that served the New Church, she was filled with ambiguous feelings. She was excited and eager to make her way to her groom to be joined in holy matrimony, but she was deeply disappointed to see very few carriages outside. She had hoped that her mother and Alan would have been wrong, and that there would be many friends and family who would come to bless them.
Once again, she took a deep breath and determined that she would focus on the joy of what was before her, and not on the things that were a disappointment.
Claire felt all the disappointment her daughter was feeling, but she wished that she could just throw it off, and pretend that all would now go well with them. She did not want Phillip to know, but she had often wished she’d had the means to provide for Sarah in the way she was accustomed. To see her daughter now, dressed in the manner befitting a lady of her class, meeting with a respectable gentleman at the altar, she felt an inner gladness.
But then she saw two people enter the church behind her husband and daughter, and her blood chilled. She could not think for a moment that they had come to offer their congratulations, and suddenly she was afraid of what they might do to try and destroy this beautiful day.
“If anyone knows of any reason why this man should not be joined to this woman in the holy state of matrimony, speak now, or forever hold your peace.” The Reverend Mr Edwards spoke the obligatory words in a manner that indicated he expected no reply, and was surprised when a disruption broke out at the back of the church.
“I have an objection!” The Reverend Nigel Snead was standing at the back as if he had authority.
The interruption was one that Mr Edwards had not encountered before, and he was momentarily taken aback.
“This woman has been denounced as a fornicator, and has been cast out of the church. She is not a decent woman, and this marriage should not take place!” Mr Snead sounded self-satisfied.
There was a shocked silence as the small congregation waited to see what Mr Edwards would do. Finally the kindly minister at the front took charge of the situation.
“I beg your pardon vicar, but you are mistaken. The details of what occurred between Lord Mellington and Miss Montgomery have been made known to me in full detail. That one of your parishioners made an assumption on very little evidence, and did not take the trouble to learn the full and correct story before spreading malicious rumours is a very unfortunate thing. But I cannot condone your coming in here and causing these dear people more distress by this vicious attack. I wish that you would quietly withdraw and allow these good people the opportunity to come honestly before the Lord.”
“Then let it be known sir, that I denounce you, and this travesty you call a church, if you will not stand up for righteousness.” He waved his hand over the congregation for dramatic effect, and then turned and stalked out.
Alan was relieved that this horrible self-righteous man had finally left the building, and he turned his attention back to his bride, but was alarmed to see her on the point of collapse. Sarah was unsteady on her feet, her face was pale, and she looked as if she might even faint. He stepped closer to her immediately, putting his arm around her waist, at the same time as signalling her mother to assist.
Claire immediately stepped forward and helped her daughter to sit down on the front pew.
“Are you all right, Sarah?” Claire asked.
“I thought they had finished persecuting us!” she said, her eyes full of tears. “Why today? What have I ever done to him that he should attack my character so viciously?”
“I am sorry, darling,” Claire soothed. “I am so sorry.”
Phillip sat down on the other side next to his daughter. Taking her hand, he began to speak to her. “Sarah, you need to know that I do not believe anything that Mr Snead has said. I trust you and Lord Mellington, and believe that you have always done what was right. Mr Snead had no business interfering in that way today, of all days.”
Sarah turned tear-bright eyes toward her father. “Do you really believe that?” she asked, very encouraged by her father’s words.
“Yes I do. Now come along.” He took her hand and helped her to stand, then walked with her back to her groom’s side. “I am waiting to greet my new son-in-law, so let us not keep the minister waiting.”
Sarah nodded, and took another deep breath. She gave Alan a shaky smile. “I’m sorry, Alan, and you sir,” she said to each in turn. “It is silly of me to feel so intimidated.”
Alan gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile, then took Sarah’s hand protectively in his own, and turned back to face the minister.
“Today is a day of celebration,” Mr Edwards addressed the congregation, speaking spontaneously and leaving the wedding service to one side for the moment. “I know these two young people very well, and can vouch for their character and integrity. Please join with me and rejoice in this happy day, and please let me assure you that the allegations of the past have no foundation, and I shall continue to stand with Lord Mellington and his bride.”
Claire squeezed her husband’s hand as they witnessed the marriage. “Thank
you,” she whispered to him as they sat down. She knew just how much it had cost Phillip to take that stand against the vicar – a man whom he had trusted unreservedly, and who had betrayed them completely.
As Sarah walked arm in arm with Alan beneath the floral arch, she gradually began to allow the joy of what this day meant to flow in her heart and mind. It seemed now that they were away from the village and had arrived at Lord and Lady Lydbury’s magnificent estate that most of the invited guests were there, and ready to offer their felicitations. Now that her smile had become confident, she felt as if she were smiling the whole time, kissing many well-wishers, and very aware that her new husband was very close. He was very obviously enjoying their day, and enjoying having the formal right to be as close to her side as he wished.
“Congratulations, my dear,” a strange lady approached the couple, and kissed Sarah in a way that seemed very familiar. “I am so pleased for you, and very proud.”
Sarah’s confusion was evident.
“Your aunt, Lady Elizabeth Mainstone,” Alan whispered to her.
Sarah was unprepared for the introduction, and looked surprised, then curious, then apologetic.
“I’m sorry not to have recognised you,” she said to her aunt.
“Never mind!” Lady Elizabeth seemed not in the least bit put out. “I am utterly delighted to meet you at last.”
There were so many guests that there was not more time to spend with Lady Elizabeth, but Sarah was quietly relieved. She had not expected to meet her aunt so suddenly, and she was not sure that she knew how to speak to her, given the past. She moved away, greeting the next couple, and the next, until her head was quite dizzy with the number of people she was meeting, most of whom she did not know. But she knew without a doubt that she now had a role to play, that of Lady Mellington.
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