The Grayson Trilogy

by Georgia Rose

  Joining me upstairs, Greene helped me into my dress, smiling with satisfaction as she looked me up and down, clearly pleased with the job she’d done. Then she turned me around and allowed me to look at myself in the mirror. My eyes widened in surprise at the vision before me, and I met her smile as she looked over my shoulder. My dress was ivory, soft folds sweeping across my breasts, the material reaching up and over my shoulders where it was held at their widest point, elegantly leaving my shoulders and neck bare, and then fitting like a comfortable second skin it dropped to the floor, so I could just see the toes of my shoes. A small pool of material flowed on to the floor behind me like cream poured from a jug as I turned to see more soft sculpted folds mimicking those across my chest but lying lower on my back.

  I’d wondered if I’d needed to get such a dress. When I’d married Alex we hadn’t bothered. Young and impetuous, we’d barely even told his family, knowing they’d disapprove of me, and I’d had no one to tell, other than Amy, before arriving at the registry office in our best clothes but nothing special. It had seemed rebellious at the time; reckless, though still right.

  This time it was different; this time it was special. Having both been through so much to even get to this point, finding each other had been like a miracle, and we were now surrounded and supported by a family that felt closer to us than ours ever could be. It was an occasion that called for a dress such as this; even I believed I looked good.

  “Thank you, Clare,” I murmured, unable to tear my eyes away from the mirror.

  “No crying, you’re not ruining my artwork.” She frowned, and I blinked vigorously, smiling away the gathering tears as I turned to her.

  “Could you give me a minute?”

  “Of course, but the car will be here soon.”

  She left the room and I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I wrapped my hands around the ironwork at the foot of the bed. Glancing over at my bedside table, I looked at Eva as she gazed back at me, wondering what she would have made of all this, briefly imagining her in the dress that Sophia was wearing, sparkling and glittering with tiny crystals, my angel. I’d imagined her here today as my bridesmaid before realising that, of course, that would never have happened. If she were still here, Alex and I would no doubt still be together, a happy family. Then I smiled at the thought of what her reaction would have been on being presented with such a dress, seeing her arms crossing, her scowl. She’d have dug in her heels at any attempt to make her wear such an outfit. I tore my eyes away from her before I became maudlin.

  Attempting to make a grand entrance into my kitchen, I was delighted to see Sophia’s eyes widen when she saw me. “You look like a princess!”

  “Not half as much as you do,” I replied as she spun in a circle to show herself off, giggling. Looking at the others I had to admit we made a handsome group.

  Grace went to the back door as we heard a car pull in. Looking back at me, she said, “Wade is here with our lift, are you all right for us to go? We can hang on if you like, for a bit longer...Carlton will be here for you soon.”

  “You go...I’ll be fine. You all look fabulous. Thank you.” I was smiling, but my voice was shaky, my lip a little wobbly, and I could feel the tears building again. I wanted to let them know how much they meant to me – so much, but I knew I wouldn’t get through it with words. I hoped my hugs would convey all that I wanted them to.

  With a final warning from Greene not to cry they left, laughing and giggling down the path as Wade helped each of them into their seats and they set off, waving furiously at me.

  Going back into the house I took a few deep breaths and started pacing, not fast, just steady, up and down, up and down, across the kitchen into the living room to the front wall of the cottage, before turning and pacing to the back door, then repeating. Susie watched me in that cool, steady way of hers, so devoted to me that she accepted whatever I did, however weird I might appear to her, both of us knowing that as long as we were together we would be all right.

  I turned at the front wall to start my return journey to the kitchen, and stopped, abruptly. Carlton stood at the back door, silhouetted in the frame, his features becoming clearer as he moved towards me. I hadn’t heard his approach, so deep had I been in my thoughts. He held his hands out and took mine in his as he reached me. He gazed at me, and I tried not to feel self-conscious. I was clearly going to have to get used to this kind of attention today.

  “You look...stunning,” he murmured, and then he surprised me by leaning forward and kissing me gently on my lips. He stood away from me and let go of my hands as he held his up as if in defence. “I promise that is the first, last and only time that will ever happen. Sorry, but I couldn’t let today pass and know I’d missed the chance of ever doing that.” He grinned awkwardly, a little embarrassed as he waited for my reaction, which was slow in coming but actually I felt surprisingly all right about it.

  “That was...unexpected...but very sweet, Carlton. Thank you – as long as it’s a one-off,” I warned gently, then checked his watch as I wasn’t wearing one. “We’d better go.”

  I bent to stroke Susie, scrabbling her ears in the way she liked, then, taking Carlton’s arm, went out the back door.

  As we walked down the path, Carlton asked quietly, “Are you...er, going to tell Trent...about, you know, me kissing you back then?”

  “Of course not. What’s to tell? It was a gesture between friends, wasn’t it?”

  “Thank you,” he said, smiling over at me. It was good being this comfortable with him.

  The car was Trent’s loaned Jaguar and not the easiest thing to get into, even with Carlton’s help. Managing not to shut my dress in the door, Carlton leapt into his side and, back to his usual ebullient self, set off, engine roaring as we approached the Manor. I was glad I had short, easily managed hair and not some fancy styled affair that would by now look like I’d been pulled through a hedge backwards. We pulled up in front of the door which opened immediately, and Carlton ushered me into the hall to join Grace, Greene and Sophia. I was checked over, probably for bits of dead fly stuck to me, and my hair was smoothed as Greene growled at Carlton for delivering me in this condition. I wasn’t listening. Behind the double doors that led to the drawing room I could hear a low, level hum of whispered conversation. I stared at the doors, knowing I was going to have to walk out in front of all those people, knowing that they would all be staring.

  This day had come so quickly I’d barely had time to think about it, so crowded was my head with afterthoughts of “the incident”. That had probably been Trent’s plan, I thought a little uncharitably. My initial concerns hadn’t exactly gone away, more been drowned out, and though I’d faced my fair share of fears over the last few weeks, here was another waiting to test me. And now I was here, I wasn’t sure I’d given this one enough thought.

  Greene stood back and I knew we were ready. Carlton was going to go ahead with Grace and Greene. Sophia was going to stay with me and follow me in; she had told me that was the correct thing for a bridesmaid to do, and who was I to deny her? She carried a matching, though smaller, bouquet to mine, and stood ready for her big moment as I mustered all the courage I could for what I had to do, and tried to relax and smile at her. I could feel my heart beating fast as I slowed my breathing, remembering Trent’s words “Control your breathing and you will control your fear”, and I realised everyone was looking at me anxiously.

  Grace put her hand on my arm. “Are you sure you want to do this alone, Emma? One of us could walk in with you...Carlton could...”

  I shook my head. I was alone; that was the point, wasn’t it? I told them to go, join the others, before my nerves got the better of me and I changed my mind. Carlton opened the door wide enough to allow them all to pass through then, giving me one of his grins, they were gone. The door closed.

  With Sophia behind me I stood in front of the doors. I heard music start up. The noise level dropped and my heart pounded in my chest. I was alone. This wa
s how it should be, with no one to give me away. I was alone, but after this I wouldn’t be again – and that was a good thing – wasn’t it? I knew his level of commitment, his need to be bound to me, and I wanted that too...didn’t I? Doubt crept in, along with my growing desire to run from those doors and the crowd behind them.

  And then the handles turned and the doors opened. I saw only him, his eyes, the crowd melting away until it was just him. I took a step forward.

  Standing at the far end of the room, he looked confident as always, drawing me towards him with that smile of his. I felt myself relax, my breathing calm, and when I reached him our lips met, soft and gentle, safe at last. A giggle came from behind, a murmur, a polite cough to our side with the whispered words “I think you might have jumped ahead”. A ripple of laughter made its way to us as we pulled apart, grinning through our embarrassment. Pausing to give an apology to the registrar, who was smiling, I turned, trying not to meet anyone’s eyes. Feeling a little flustered I handed my bouquet to Sophia who, proudly carrying it before her, went to sit next to Grace.

  I turned back towards the registrar. Trent took my hand in his and asked quietly, “Are you okay?” I nodded, took a deep breath and, letting it out slowly, tried to appear a little more composed.

  We’d met the registrar before. Her name was Maggie Kean; she wore a dark green suit that fitted snugly around her ample curves; her hair, which appeared to have been frozen in place, was blonde, but not naturally; she was probably in her late forties and she giggled a lot. I’d noticed this when we’d met. Trent hadn’t, or said he hadn’t. Maggie giggled at everything he said, and I suspected that she was more than a little bit taken with him. The most interesting part of the meeting, though, was the point when I’d found out what Trent’s first name was. He’d had the ridiculous notion of keeping it as a surprise for the big day, but when I’d pointed out that it wouldn’t look great if I burst out laughing on the big day he’d looked hurt, grumpily telling me it wasn’t that funny a name. Let me be the judge of that, I’d responded, and I was now hoping that it didn’t cause any sort of reaction in the room.

  Maggie was wearing glasses, and made a point of looking sternly at us over the top of them as if to warn us against stepping out of line again. Then, smiling warmly, she began.

  “I am delighted to join all of you here at Melton Manor, which has been duly sanctioned according to law for the celebration of marriages, to join together Ezekiel Trent and Emma Grayson.”

  I met Trent’s eyes and he smiled back, though his eyes then narrowed at the smattering of noise that broke out behind us. A stifled guffaw that I was sure was Carlton’s. Trent’s jaw clenched, but he gave no further indication that he had noticed as silence resumed and Maggie continued.

  “If any person present knows of any lawful impediment to this marriage they should declare it now.” Silence. Maggie paused for a long moment as if she willed someone somewhere to leap up and halt the proceedings, but the silence remained.

  “Before you are joined in matrimony I have to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows of marriage. Marriage, according to the law of this country, is the union of one man with one woman, voluntarily entered into for life to the exclusion of all others.”

  Concentrating on Trent, she asked, “Are you, Ezekiel, free lawfully to marry Emma?”

  “I am.”

  Then changing her attention to me, she smiled reassuringly. “Are you, Emma, free lawfully to marry Ezekiel?”

  “I am.”

  Maggie looked back to Trent, encouraging him in his next words with the merest raising of her eyebrows. Her head bobbed, though not a hair moved out of place. He turned to me, taking my hands in his.

  “I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Ezekiel Trent, do take thee, Emma Grayson, to be my lawful wedded wife. For the privilege of having you take me as your husband, Emma, I promise to love, cherish and protect you, when you allow me to” and he grinned, “to encourage and support you in everything you want to do, and to be open and honest with you, as long as we both shall live.”

  I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. My turn had come. Maggie gently prompted me again, and I spoke.

  “I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Emma Grayson, do take thee, Ezekiel Trent, to be my lawful wedded husband. I have chosen you to spend my life with, Trent. I promise to care for you and to cherish you and to be loyal, loving and true to you as long as we both shall live.”

  Letting one of my hands go, Trent turned away slightly and I saw Cavendish and Reuben standing behind him. Reuben was patting down his suit in a dramatic display of searching for something, and right at the point when I could feel Trent’s patience reaching its limit he fished into his breast pocket and his fingers came out, the ring brandished with a flourish, much to the enjoyment of those around us. Trent took it from him and slid it on to my finger.

  “I give you this ring as a token of my love and a symbol of our future together.”

  Maggie beamed at us both before pronouncing us husband and wife, adding, “And now it is time for the kiss.” And his lips met mine amid a crescendo of applause and laughter swelling around us, then separating he held my gaze, his eyes warm, glowing and triumphant as, both smiling, we turned to our audience which was on its feet.

  As the room settled we had a brief moment before we were called over to sign the register. The room was buzzing with hushed conversations, and I took the opportunity to look at Trent in a way I hadn’t managed on first entering the room. In his impeccable charcoal-grey suit, crisp white shirt and silver-grey tie he looked gloriously handsome, and leaning in to him, I murmured, “You scrub up well.”

  His hand, already in the small of my back, pulled me closer, his other tipping my chin up to his face as he replied, “Not half as well as you do.” His lips brushed mine, and he paused before adding, “You look beautiful, Mrs Trent.” And the way he looked at me made me feel it.

  Chapter 14

  Once all the formalities were over we led the way back down the aisle, confetti showering down on us, and headed to the ballroom where the celebrations were to continue, as informally as possible, we hoped. Caterers had been brought in so everyone on the estate was able to celebrate with us, and they were ready with champagne and canapés as we were hugged and kissed by all while classical music played softly in the background.

  There were other children around of all ages, so Sophia and Reuben had company, and there were so many more people to meet. There had been an open invitation to everyone, their families, partners, girlfriends and boyfriends, and all had come. Once the drink was flowing and the conversation and laughter was rising in volume, we took the opportunity to wander out through the doors that stood open, leaving the terrace and taking to the grass as we walked round the garden, our fingers laced together, happy in the silence and peace between us.

  At the far end of the garden, and alone for the first time, Trent turned to me, pulling me close as he kissed me longingly. Making me wish we didn’t have to return to the party. The moment was broken as a group of shrieking children ran past us with Reuben and another boy, Porter’s son James, brandishing water guns, more like cannons from the size of them, in hot pursuit. We looked over to the direction they’d come from to see Hayes and Wade laughing, and suspected that they’d instigated the interruption. Laughing, we walked slowly back to join the party now spilling out of the ballroom.

  Dinner was relaxed and sumptuous. A few glasses were raised in toasts, but no speeches, as promised. The band started to warm up and Trent and I separated, mingling and chatting with our friends, but every now and then I found myself looking up, seeking him out, and as if I’d physically touched him his gaze would come to meet mine. I was reminded of the barbecue we’d attended here only a few months ago on the evening before our first night together. So much had happened since, so much that had threatened to change us, yet here we were and nothing had changed at all.

  The b
and began to play, and as dancers took to the floor Trent made his way back, a glass of wine in each hand as he sat on the chair next to me.

  “You okay?” He handed me a glass.

  “Absolutely fine, thank you, it’s been great, Trent. Thanks for arranging all of this.”

  “I can’t take the credit for it all, you know that.” From the toast he’d made, thanking everyone who had been involved, I did know how much help he’d had, but still I wanted him to know I didn’t take it for granted.

  He took a sip of wine, putting the glass gently down on the table before turning to me. “It’s nearly time for our first dance together as husband and wife.”

  “You’re joking?” My eyes widened in disbelief at what he was suggesting, remembering back to our first dance together at the May Ball. Neither of us being able to dance, we’d shuffled round in a circle, and I thought that sort of display was hardly something to show off in front of everyone.

  He was smiling his confident, knowing smile. Suddenly it clicked into place. “Ah...” I said slowly, “you can dance.”

  “Of course.”

  “So why did you say you couldn’t?”

  “We didn’t know each other so well then and it suited my purpose at the time, which was to be able to hold you as close to me as I could. However, I have made vows to you today to be open and honest, so I’m coming clean...also I wanted to give you a few surprises.” He grinned, looking very pleased with himself, which was infuriating.