The Bride Spy

by Piper Davenport

  “Gwen?” she whispered.

  Gwen turned when she heard her name. “Good morning, Hannah. Can I help?”

  “Yes, please. Would you find Emma for me?”

  “Of course,” Gwen said and went on her errand.

  Emma walked in ten minutes later. “You rang?”

  “I’m supposed to meet Christopher and I don’t know what to wear.”

  Emma closed the door with a quiet click. “He’s taking you riding, right?”

  Hannah nodded. “Yes.”

  “Wear your jeans, and I’ll find a skirt that will work over them. No hoops.”

  “Do I have to wear a corset?” Hannah asked.

  Emma wrinkled her nose. “Yes, babe. Sorry.”

  Hannah grumbled but started to get ready. Emma left her room and returned a few minutes later with a skirt and matching blouse. She helped Hannah finish dressing, then they went downstairs to grab a quick breakfast. Clayton and Christopher were in the dining room and stood when the ladies entered.

  “Good morning.” Christopher smiled tiredly at her as he held her chair for her.

  “Good morning.”

  Christopher and Hannah ate quickly and then made their way out to the stables. Hannah glanced up and frowned. “Are you up for this, Christopher? You look tired.”

  Tucking her hand into the crook of his arm, Christopher smiled. “I’m fine.”

  She didn’t ask any more questions and kept walking. They made their way into the barn and found Clayton, who’d picked a couple of horses for them to ride. “Good morning.”

  Hannah smiled. “Hi, Clayton.”

  Christopher gave a nod, but was oddly quiet.

  “I’m going to find a groom. I’ll be back shortly.” Clayton dragged his gloves on and made his way out of the barn.

  Hannah and Christopher were left alone, and she moved to stand in front of him. “How much sleep did you get last night?”

  “Hannah, I’m fine.”

  “Sir Knight. How long did you stay after I fell asleep?”

  “I left your bed about an hour after I was certain you wouldn’t wake up,” he whispered.

  “And then?”

  Christopher glanced at something over her head. “I fell asleep in the chair two hours after that.”

  Hannah gasped. “What time did you wake up?”

  “Six.”

  “Oh, Christopher.” She reached up and laid her hand on his cheek. “No wonder you’re tired.”

  He turned his head to kiss her palm. “I’m fine.”

  Hannah sighed. “Yes, you are, but that’s not the point. You didn’t need to stay with me that long.”

  Christopher raised an eyebrow. “Did you sleep?”

  “Perfectly.”

  He squeezed the hand he still held. “Did you have another nightmare?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Then I did need to stay with you that long.”

  “Thank you, Sir Knight,” she whispered.

  Clayton interrupted the exchange with a clearing of his throat, and Hannah wrinkled her nose in disappointment.

  “I have Gentle Ben saddled; he’ll probably be the best choice for Hannah.”

  Christopher smiled down at her and then looked over at Clayton. “Thank you, Clay.” He turned back to Hannah. “Are you ready?”

  She took a deep breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

  Christopher led her outside and over to Gentle Ben. She stroked his nose and let him smell her hand. “Okay, horsey, please be nice.”

  Christopher frowned. “Where’s the sidesaddle?”

  Hannah glanced at him with a horrified expression. “I have to ride sidesaddle?”

  “Sophie and Emma ride astride, and Emma requested Hannah learn that way,” Clayton interjected.

  Christopher raised an eyebrow. “Absolutely not.”

  Hannah stepped back. “I’m not riding sidesaddle.” She saw Emma walking toward them and rushed to her. “Tell Christopher I don’t have to ride sidesaddle.”

  Emma smiled gently. “Hannah doesn’t have to ride sidesaddle, Chris.”

  Christopher frowned. “It’s unseemly.”

  Hannah turned to face him... slowly. “Are you seriously using that tone right now?”

  Emma shrugged. “We ride astride where we’re from, and I think it’ll be easier for Hannah to learn that way.”

  “Hannah, you’re not going to ride like a man.”

  She crossed her arms in an effort not to hit him. “Then I won’t ride at all.”

  Christopher frowned. “You need to learn to ride.”

  “Then what’s the big deal if I learn my own way?” Hannah lowered her voice and whispered, “No one’s here but us chickens.”

  “I have no idea what any of that means.”

  “Sorry. Family sayings.” Hannah squeezed his elbow. “Look, I’m not comfortable with horses, and there’s no way I’m going to ride sideways. I’ll break my neck. The fact that I’m standing here... next to this gigantic beast... shows that you have influence over me, but don’t make the mistake of thinking you can dictate how I learn. So, you either accept that I’m going to ride the way Emma does, or you can just forget it.”

  He stared down the length of his nose at her and raised an eyebrow.

  “Yeah, that doesn’t intimidate me.” She grinned up at him. “Nice try, though.”

  Christopher took a moment to look around and must have approved of whatever he saw, because he gifted her with a curt nod.

  “Oh, thank you, Sir Knight,” she droned sarcastically.

  Emma stood ready to assist as Hannah walked to the mounting block. “Han-Han, you’ll need to raise your skirts up and then kind of step over the horse, so you’re straddling him.”

  Hannah’s legs shook.

  “You’re doing fine,” Emma said.

  “I’ll catch you if you fall.” Christopher stood on the opposite side of the horse, one hand on the saddle and the other ready to catch her.

  “Oh, ha, ha.” Hannah slipped her right leg over, thankful the horse didn’t move.

  “Good job!” Emma fixed her skirts and positioned her feet in the stirrups. “Remember, heels down. Hold one rein in the left hand and one in the right.”

  Once Hannah did as Emma instructed, Christopher led Gentle Ben into the arena and spent the next two hours giving Hannah in-depth instruction on the art of riding.

  Christopher smiled. “I’m impressed, Hannah.”

  “Good for you. Can I be done now?” Hannah asked.

  “Yes. You’ve done very well.”

  “Thank you, Sir Knight.” Hannah beamed. “Now, how do I get off?”

  “Pull your right foot from your stirrup, swing your leg over. That’s it.” He grasped her calf to steady her. “Pull your left foot out, now. Good girl. All right, now just slide down, I’ve got you.” She did just as he instructed, but stumbled slightly as her feet hit the ground. Christopher caught her and kept an arm around her waist. “Careful.”

  “My legs feel like jelly.” She grasped his biceps and giggled quietly.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I’m perfect, Christopher. Thank you.”

  “Han-Han, we need to get ready,” Emma called from the other side of the arena.

  “Be right there.” Hannah looked up at Christopher. “You can let me go now.”

  He smiled slowly. “What if I don’t want to?”

  “That might be a problem.” Hannah grasped the lapels on his jacket. “But if I promise a kiss later, will you let me go?”

  “Just one?”

  “Two?”

  “Hannah!” Emma called again.

  “Go,” he said.

  She smiled and walked, well-jiggled, over to her friend, laughing. “My legs are like Jell-O.”

  Emma started to sing the Jell-O theme song and Hannah laughed. Emma took her hand as Hannah grasped the railing to steady herself. “You would think dancing would prepare you, but it so does
n’t.”

  Hannah nodded. “I know, right?”

  “Let’s have a warm bath and then we’ll get ready for dinner. I guess they’ll be serving in two hours.”

  “Sounds good.” Hannah’s hips started to ache. “Ouch. This riding thing’s hard work.”

  “A hot bath, good food, and Dr. Wade’s secret stash of single malt will make you feel better.”

  “A hot bath solves everything.”

  “Well, whiskey does anyway,” Emma said.

  * * *

  The first annual Thanksgiving celebration at the Wades’ was festive at the highest level. Nona’s entire family was in attendance, children included. Also invited to the celebration were the Butlers, Fords, and Maddens.

  Clayton and Christopher waited in the foyer as the girls descended the stairs and Christopher let out a low whistle at the beauty walking down to him. Hannah’s deep green velvet gown highlighted the green in her hazel eyes, and Christopher nearly lost his composure. “Hannah.” He held his hand out for her. “You are exquisite.”

  She smiled back as she took his hand and he kissed her fingers. “Thank you.”

  Christopher’s parents and sister were already next door, so the couples made their way to the party and when they arrived, were ushered into a very full parlor.

  Sophie pushed her way through the crowd. “Hi, isn’t this crazy?”

  Emma giggled. “It is.”

  “Come and meet everyone.” Sophie took Hannah’s hand and started to move through the crowd, stopping when she reached people she wanted Hannah to meet. Christine stood with a handsome man who had light blond hair and eyes only for her.

  “Hannah, this is Dr. Stephen Paxton, Christine’s—” Sophie seemed to stall.

  “Close friend,” Christine answered.

  “Soon to be husband,” Stephen added and when Christine gasped, he gave her a warning look. “Don’t start with me.”

  Sophie giggled. Christine glared at her friend, but Sophie shrugged. “What? He’s right and you know it.”

  Stephen leaned over and kissed Sophie on the cheek. “Thank you,” he said and turned to Hannah. “It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Nelson.”

  “I’m not going to marry you, Stephen,” Christine grumbled from behind him.

  Stephen grinned without looking at her. “Yes you are.”

  Hannah heard the argument continue as they walked away. She’d been surprised to hear his name. Stephen Paxton was the name of the medical student who disappeared back in the nineties. It couldn’t possibly be the same person, could it?

  “Come and meet Andrew. He’s an absolute doll.” Sophie lowered her voice. “He’s also madly in love with Gwendolyn.”

  Sophie distracted Hannah, continuing the barrage of introductions, managing to introduce Hannah to everyone and find her way back to Jamie in less than thirty minutes.

  “Where’s Christopher?” Hannah raised an eyebrow. “I thought he was with you.”

  She felt a soft touch on her back. “I’m right behind you,” he whispered in her ear.

  Oh, hello elephants. I thought we were done for the moment. I guess not.

  A shiver went through her body as she turned to face him. “Hi.” She smiled up at him and he handed her a glass of wine. “Thank you.”

  “Did you meet everyone?”

  Hannah nodded. “Yes. I highly doubt I’ll remember everyone’s name, though.”

  He bowed and held his hand out to her. “I’ll help you, just stay close to me all night.”

  “That won’t be difficult, Sir Knight.”

  “Oh, really?”

  Hannah grinned. “Yes, I quite like you.”

  Christopher laughed. “The feeling is mutual.”

  Sophie chuckled, drawing Hannah’s attention. “Have you noticed Andrew and Gwen? He hasn’t left her side since he got here.”

  Christopher glanced across the crowd. “Hmm.”

  “Do they know each other well?” Hannah squeezed Christopher’s arm when he didn’t answer her question. “Knight?”

  He glanced at her. “Hm?”

  “Do they know each other well?”

  “They haven’t seen each other for a while.”

  “That doesn’t actually answer my question.” Hannah smiled. “So, they do know each other well.”

  “They make a beautiful couple, don’t you think?” Sophie sipped her water.

  Hannah tipped her drink towards the couple. “She doesn’t seem overly impressed.”

  Emma grinned. “Oh, she is. She loves him.”

  Christopher shook his head. “No, I don’t believe she does. She’s currently being courted.”

  Hannah glanced up at him. “Really? By whom?”

  Christopher sipped his drink. “Samuel Powell.”

  “Who is he?”

  “A colleague,” he said distractedly.

  “Dinner is served.”

  The butler made the announcement and everyone moved toward the ballroom. A collective gasp could be heard from the guests as they walked inside.

  “Sophie must have had a hand in this,” Emma whispered.

  Sophie, nicknamed ‘the hostess with the mostest’ in the future, could throw a party like no one else. It would appear as though Sophie and Nona were an incredible team. One long table, set up along the back of the room, held platters of food, and Hannah’s stomach rumbled as the aroma of the turkey wafted through the room.

  The guest table was positioned off to one side, which left plenty of space for dancing later if desired. The centerpieces were natural maize, pumpkins, and squash, garnished with the leaves that were turning on the trees outside. Ivory tablecloths were artfully placed to best showcase the centerpieces.

  Michael and Jamie sat at each end of the long table, their wives to their right. For the most part, couples sat across from each other, but Sophie had organized it so that Christopher and Hannah were seated next to each other. Somehow Andrew and Gwen had also been seated next to each other, with Charity to her right, Jacob to his left.

  Christopher assisted Hannah into her seat and then took his. She placed her hand gently and briefly on his thigh, which made him raise an eyebrow. She just smiled and waited for everyone else to get settled.

  Michael welcomed everyone and said a prayer. Jamie suggested they go around the table so that each person could say what they were thankful for. Hannah hated being put on the spot.

  What could she really say? I’m super thankful I was sent back in time to meet and fall in love with the hottest man alive.

  She would look like an idiot. She wrung her hands under the table.

  Suddenly, it was her turn, and although she felt a blush coming on, she took a deep breath. “I’m thankful that I have been reunited with old friends, and for the promise of new ones.”

  Purposely avoiding a look in Christopher’s direction, she almost choked on the words. She didn’t want everyone to know her emotional state, but then his hand settled on hers, prying them apart, and wrapping his fingers around one.

  Nona outdid herself with the food. It was certain that everyone would eat enough to go into a pleasant turkey coma and when dessert was wheeled out, Hannah knew she would need to be rolled out of the ballroom. “I don’t think I can eat another bite, but then, I also don’t know that I can resist this cheesecake,” she whispered.

  Christopher smiled at her and squeezed the hand he’d managed to steal. His hand rarely left her knee during the meal and Hannah placed her hand over his several times. They both relished the intimate and secret touch.

  HANNAH TRIED NOT to audibly sigh as she took a bite of cheesecake. Apparently, she failed. Christopher chuckled, eliciting a blush from her. She lowered her fork. “I have a minor weakness for cheesecake.”

  “I’ll be sure to remember that.” He leaned closer and whispered, “Would you join me for a walk?”

  Hannah nodded. “Yes, I’d love to.”

  As the group separated for dancing and other activities, Christopher
and Hannah gathered their coats and stepped outside. The crispness of the evening covered them as they walked away from the house, and the snowfall during the night seemed to make the stars even more luminescent. The moon was a full one and it shed light across the vastness of the property in front of them. Hannah gasped as she stared up at the sky. “How beautiful.”

  “Yes, how beautiful.”

  Hannah glanced at Christopher, to find that he wasn’t looking at the sky. “You’re entirely too charming, Sir Knight.”

  Christopher gently cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. “I love you, Hannah.”

  “Eh?” She pulled her face away. “You can’t.”

  He shrugged. “Well, I do.”

  She placed her hands on his chest and looked at him. “No, you can’t. It’s too soon.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, it’s just that... that... I have no idea.” She took a moment to study him and it struck her. She knew she was staring at her future. “I love you, too.”

  He kissed her again, and as the kiss intensified, Hannah felt his hands slide down her back and rest on her hips. She knew he wanted to go further, but also knew he wouldn’t. Her hands found their way under his heavy coat. Christopher broke the kiss but pulled her closer. “When would you like to get married?”

  Hannah playfully slapped his chest. “You’re a dag.”

  “Is that another strange family saying?” he asked.

  “Sorry, yes.” Hannah chewed her lower lip. “I have a lot of them.”

  “I hope to learn them all intimately when we’re married.” Christopher took her hand and kissed the place where her gloves separated from her cuff.

  Her skin tingled as she looked up at him in confusion. “You can’t be serious! We’ve barely known each other a week.”

  “I know we haven’t known each other very long, Hannah, but I feel as though I’ve known you forever.”

  Hannah frowned.

  Christopher smiled. “I’m sorry, your knight is not doing this very well.” He knelt on one knee in the snow and took her left hand in his. “Hannah Nelson, would you do me the honor of being my wife?”

  She pulled at the shoulders of his jacket. “Christopher, stand up.”

  “Not until you say yes.” He pulled her glove from her hand and slipped a ring on her hand, turning it upside down so she couldn’t see any of the detail.