A Countess in Her Own Right

by Fanny Walsh

  Beatrice moved across the room, took both of Mary’s hands in hers, and sat gingerly on the edge of her bed. Startled and confused, Mary looked into her friend’s eyes.

  “Oh, darling,” Beatrice said, her voice soothing and kind. “Do you mean that you thought I blamed you for what happened?”

  Mary could not will herself to speak. She simply nodded.

  “Oh, Mary,” Beatrice said. She scooted closer and gently wrapped her arms around Mary. “And I was sure that you would be upset with me.”

  Mary pushed back from her friend to look at her, bewildered.

  “Why on earth would I be upset with you?” she asked.

  Beatrice smiled kindly.

  “Because it was your uncle’s crime against my father that took him away from you and will have him locked away, likely for the rest of his days. That means that you would never see him again.”

  Mary shook her head vigorously.

  “Don’t be silly. I would never blame you for something that someone who was obviously just a genuinely awful person did. And I certainly would not blame you because they are being punished for their crimes.”

  Beatrice took Mary’s hands again and smiled knowingly. It took Mary a moment to understand her friend’s expression. When she did, however, she laughed.

  “Oh, it was silly of me for thinking that you would be upset with me, as well, wasn’t it?” she said, still laughing.

  “Quite silly, darling,” Beatrice said, joining in the laughter.

  Mary drew Beatrice into another, firmer embrace.

  “Silly or not, it terrified to think that I might lose you as a dear friend,” Mary said, her voice trembling with relief.

  “Mary, darling, you will never lose me,” Beatrice said.

  ***

  Mary said nothing to Duncan, but the weeks following her procedure were the most physically painful of her entire life.

  She knew that Duncan noticed her suffering, but she did not want to risk making him feel guilty or regret doing the surgery. Also, she felt certain that, once she had fully recovered, it would be well worth all the discomfort.

  She was right. While the first few weeks were indeed difficult, things began rapidly improving after that. Seemingly overnight, the pain began to subside, and she noticed a drastic improvement in her ability to walk.

  However, she was still concerned about the way she would appear at her wedding. While the pain and her limp had greatly improved, it was still somewhat noticeable. She still felt awkward and unattractive, but the last thing she wanted was to postpone the wedding.

  “I do not want a grand affair,” Mary told Duncan as they sat in her drawing room having tea one afternoon.

  “Our wedding can be as big or as small as you wish,” Duncan said, smiling lovingly at her.

  “I would like to invite my cousins, however,” Mary said tentatively.

  Duncan frowned.

  “Are you sure?” he asked, looking skeptical.

  Mary nodded.

  “They were completely unaware of my uncle’s doings,” Mary said. “They have apologized profusely on his behalf and begged me to not be angry with them.”

  Duncan thought for a moment. Then, he smiled.

  “If you believe in their innocence, then so do I,” Duncan said.

  Mary beamed at him.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  Things happened very quickly over the next couple of weeks. Even with a small wedding, there were many details to oversee and finalize. Fortunately, Beatrice was thrilled to help.

  A week before the wedding, Beatrice sat in Mary’s bedroom while the tailor put the finishing touches on her wedding gown.

  “Oh, Mary,” Beatrice gushed. “You look absolutely beautiful.

  Mary blushed.

  “I can hardly believe this is happening,” Mary said, grinning widely.

  Beatrice clasped her hands to her chest.

  “It is so romantic,” she said, tears of happiness in her eyes.

  “Speaking of romantic, how have you and Mr. Langdon been getting on?” Mary asked, her eyes twinkling.

  It was Beatrice’s turn to blush.

  “We are going for a ride through the park tomorrow,” she said.

  Mary gasped and smiled.

  “It sounds like this might be quite serious,” Mary teased.

  “Oh Mary, it is just a carriage ride,” Beatrice said. Mary noticed how dreamy Beatrice’s eyes became, however, and she laughed.

  “If you are not married before next Season, I will die of shock,” Mary said to her friend.

  Beatrice covered her cheeks with her hands, trying to hide the deepening of her crimson blush.

  “For the moment, let us concentrate on getting you married,” Beatrice said, trying to change the subject.

  Mary’s smile faded a little.

  “I had always imagined that my father would walk me down the aisle,” she said. “Then, when he died, I never considered walking with anyone but my uncle.”

  Beatrice rose from Mary’s bed and gently took her friend’s hand.

  “Do not think of such things now,” Beatrice said kindly. “You are to be wed to a wonderful man who loves you dearly. Let this time be a happy one.”

  Mary smiled as she thought of the affection she saw in Duncan’s eyes each time he looked at her.

  “He is quite wonderful, is he not?” Mary asked.

  “I should say so,” Beatrice said, and the two women laughed.

  The tailor left shortly after, promising to have the dress delivered in two days’ time with the final touches added. Beatrice followed behind moments later.

  “Do not worry yourself about the flowers,” Beatrice said as she was leaving. “After my carriage ride with Mr. Langdon, I shall see to those myself.”

  “You are a dear,” Mary said gratefully.

  She hugged her friend, then went into her study. She had decided to write up the wedding announcement that was to be printed in the paper, and she wanted to have it finished in time for it to print the day before the wedding.

  With that done, she went into the kitchen, and spent the rest of the afternoon discussing the wedding cake and reception feast, which she had decided to have at her home immediately following the wedding.

  She and Duncan had decided to have a brief honeymoon, but she wanted to celebrate the happy occasion with her friends and the family she had remaining before they departed. With Susan’s guidance, she chose a delectable beef dish with some seasonal vegetables and a simple but delicious two-tier cake with white, rich frosting.

  The day of her wedding arrived much more quickly than she expected. Mary was quite thrilled to be marrying Duncan, but she still felt self-conscious about her leg.

  While it had mostly healed, she felt that her limp was still blatantly obvious, and she prayed that, with the width of her gown’s skirt, no one would notice.

  Beatrice arrived early that morning to help oversee last-minute details while Susan helped Mary dress and weave the white flowers in her hair.

  The whirlwind of events was almost overwhelming to Mary, but for the first time in her life, that overwhelmed feeling brought with it immense joy. By the time she and Beatrice arrived at the church, her entire body was humming with happiness.

  Beatrice quickly hugged her and then prepared to take her place in the wedding processional.

  Just then, Mary’s cousin, Samuel walked up to her. He offered his arm, a sheepish but warm smile on his face.

  “You look wonderful, Mary,” he said.

  Mary returned his smile.

  “You look rather dashing yourself,” she said.

  Samuel nodded his head toward the altar, where John stood alongside Duncan and Julius as a groomsman.

  “Thank you for allowing John and me to be a part of such a happy occasion,” he said.

  Mary understood that he was also thanking her for not hating or blaming them after her uncle’s arrest.

  Mary squeezed his arm.

/>   “I cannot imagine anyone whom I would rather have here more than the two of you,” she said.

  Samuel’s timid smile became a wide grin. He patted the hand with which she had taken his arm. Just then, the cue to begin the processional began. Mary took a deep breath and began walking toward her beloved Duncan.

  The ceremony went by in a blur, but Mary would remember the kiss proclaiming them as husband and wife forever.

  She could not remember when she had felt so overjoyed in her life, and as she and Duncan walked down the aisle and out of the church, with the small group of their friends and family congratulating them and smiling at them, she had never felt more like she belonged in her entire life.

  In those moments, she said a silent prayer to God, thanking him with her whole heart for bringing Duncan into her life. Or, more specifically, for God literally dropping her into Duncan’s life.

  Despite all the pain and horrible things that had happened in between, the time between the day that she crashed through his clinic’s doors and her blessed wedding day has been the best period in her life.

  She could not imagine any man on Earth who could be more perfect for her than Duncan, and tears of joy filled her eyes as she thought of the life that she would get to share with him, forever.

  The small wedding party and audience was anxious to get to the reception to congratulate the newlywed couple. As soon as the ceremony ended, everyone rushed to Mary’s home to join in the post-wedding festivities. Mary briefly thanked everyone for attending and accepted the kind words and support from everyone.

  However, she was especially anxious to speak with two guests in particular.

  Once the reception meal was concluded, she took Duncan’s arm and led him to where her cousins were standing. She herself poured four glasses of wine and, with Duncan’s assistance, served the drinks to both her cousins and to Duncan and herself.

  The other wedding guests were buzzing with their own conversations, so she felt that that was the perfect time to discuss the matter that was on her mind.

  “Thank you both for coming,” Mary said. Despite her earlier conversation with Samuel, she felt that her cousins deserved to be acknowledged for their presence at her wedding.

  John stepped forward and embraced Mary.

  “Thank you for having us,” he said. “Despite everything that has happened.”

  “I know that neither of you knew anything of what your father was doing,” Mary said. “I am just terribly sorry that you are suffering as a result.”

  Samuel took her hand and smiled, but his eyes were sad and burdened.

  “We would not have missed this day for anything in the world,” he said.

  Mary’s heart broke for her cousins. She knew what her uncle’s recklessness had created for them, and it pained her. That is why she and Duncan had had a long discussion about what they could do to help them once she and Duncan were married.

  As if on cue, Samuel spoke.

  “I do not wish to spoil your happy day, but I often worry about what John and I will do now that father is gone,” he said.

  Mary smiled and took her cousins’ hands in her own.

  “You will come into my father’s business and help me,” she said.

  Her cousins exchanged a look of hopeful confusion.

  “Mary, I do not understand,” Samuel said.

  “Duncan, as my husband, will oversee all operations and ventures,” Mary said. “But he will need some assistance, since he has his medical practice. And I thought that there would be no one better suited for the job than the two of you. If, that is, you are both willing.”

  Again, her cousins exchanged looks, this time smiling at one another. Almost in unison, they nodded at one another.

  “We would love nothing more, Mary,” John said. “If, that is, you are certain.”

  “Oh my, yes,” Mary laughed. “I have never had a head for that whole business thing. I could use the help of the three men I trust more than anyone in the world to keep things in order.”

  Samuel looked at Duncan sheepishly.

  “It looks as if we will be working quite closely together,” he said.

  Duncan smiled warmly at Samuel and John.

  “I very much look forward to it,” he said, shaking both men’s hands in turn.

  John stepped toward Mary and embraced her fiercely.

  “Thank you,” he said, his voice quivering.

  “You are welcome, Cousin,” Mary said.

  Just then, Beatrice rushed up with Mr. Langdon following just behind her. She embraced Mary in a firm hug.

  “Congratulations to the both of you,” Beatrice said, her voice overflowing with joy and excitement.

  “Thank you, darling,” Mary said, her own voice trembling with the happiness she felt.

  Mr. Langdon extended his hand to Duncan, who took it and shook it vigorously.

  “Congratulations, Lord Tornight,” Mr. Langdon said.

  “Thank you, Mr. Langdon,” Duncan said heartily. “And thank you for everything you did to help solve the case.”

  “Not at all,” Mr. Langdon said. “It was all in a day’s work.”

  The group shared a look and laughed.

  Epilogue

  The honeymoon was better than Duncan could have ever imagined. He and Mary spend several days exploring the countryside and picnicking and sightseeing.

  He could not imagine himself being happier, and he relished the glow he saw in Mary’s face. He knew that he would never tire of seeing her beautiful face or of hearing her musical voice. He thanked God every day for bringing such a wonderful woman into his life.

  Just a year prior, he would have never thought such bliss possible, but now he could not imagine life without her. Nor could he imagine how life could possibly be any better.

  That is, until he noticed that Mary was getting sick in the mornings, and that her face seemed to be a little plumper than when they first met.

  “Would you allow me to perform a minor exam on you?” Duncan asked one day while he and Mary were having tea in the drawing room of their home.

  “Of course,” Mary said, smiling. “But I believe I can tell you now what it is that you wish to know.”

  Duncan looked at her, full of hope and fear.

  “Are you…?” Duncan asked, daring not to finish his question.

  “With child?” Mary finished for him, laughing. “Yes, Duncan, I am.”

  Duncan took Mary into his arms, sweeping her off her feet. The couple laughed, both crying tears of joy.

  “I did not think that I could be happier than I am,” Duncan said.

  Nor did I,” Mary said. “And now we will have a sweet child to bless our lives.”

  Overwhelmed with emotion, Duncan cupped Mary’s face in his hands and kissed her.

  ***

  Almost nine months to the day after their wedding day, Mary woke Duncan early one morning.

  “Darling, I believe it is time,” Mary said.

  Duncan stirred, his mind foggy from his sleep state.

  “Time?” he asked sleepily.

  Mary caressed his face.

  “I believe the baby will be here soon,” she said.

  Duncan sat up straight in bed, his sleepy state dissolving in an instant.

  “Should we summon the midwife?” he asked, jumping from the bed and dressing quickly.

  “Yes, I believe so,” Mary said, wincing as a pain overcame her.

  Duncan rushed about the house, alerting the staff and sending word for the midwife to assist with the birth.

  To his frustration, when the midwife arrived, she would not allow Duncan into the room. As a doctor, he knew he could help his wife through the delivery, but the midwife insisted that he stay outside. So, Duncan paced restlessly outside of the bedroom door, with Mary’s cousins and Beatrice waiting anxiously alongside him.

  “Thank you all for coming,” Duncan said, feeling awkward and unsure of himself.

  “I would not miss this for t
he world,” Beatrice said, with tears in her eyes.

  “Nor would we,” Samuel said. Duncan did not miss how concerned Mary’s cousins looked and, since he could do nothing for Mary just then, he did his best to reassure the small group.