The Brightest of Dreams

by Susan Anne Mason

  “Certainly.” The man turned to a woman near the side door. “Vivian, call Theresa in, please. We’ll need you both as witnesses.”

  As soon as the two women returned, the official took his spot and nodded to them. “If you’re ready, please join hands.”

  Julia inhaled and placed her hand in Quinn’s, hoping he wouldn’t notice its clamminess.

  The official opened a book and began to read. “We have come here today to join—” he peered at the certificate—“Julia Holloway and Quinten Aspinall in marriage. Quinten and Julia, do you solemnly declare that you do not know of any lawful impediment why you may not be joined in matrimony?”

  Quinn glanced at her and nodded. “We do,” they said in unison.

  The magistrate looked at Quinn. “Quinten, do you take Julia to be your wife, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep only unto her so long as you both shall live?”

  Quinn gazed deeply into her eyes. “I do.”

  Julia swallowed, her hands trembling.

  Quinn turned to the officiant. “I’d like to add something here, if I may.”

  The man’s eyebrows rose. “Go ahead.”

  Quinn turned back to Julia, his gray eyes darkened to pewter. “Julia, I know this is not exactly the wedding of your dreams. But I promise to be a good husband and give you the best possible life I can. For as long as you need me.”

  Her throat tightened with the threat of tears. How like Quinn to make sure she knew that he would include her in every decision regarding their future. Blinking, she forced her lips into a smile. “And I will do my best to never let you regret this moment.”

  Time seemed to stop as their gazes locked, and Julia wished that their circumstances could be different.

  Then the official cleared his throat. “Let’s continue, shall we?” He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and led them through the rest of the vows. When they finished, he looked up. “Is there a ring?”

  Julia opened her mouth to say no, when Quinn pulled one hand free and rifled in his jacket pocket. He pulled out a plain silver band.

  “I got this yesterday. I hope you like it.”

  Julia swallowed and nodded. She needed the visual proof that she was a married woman. It would go a long way to restoring her respectability in the eyes of society. How thoughtful of Quinn to think of it.

  The magistrate pointed. “Place the ring on her finger and repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”

  Quinn slid the ring onto Julia’s finger and repeated the line, his voice husky.

  The officiant closed his book and rocked back on his heels. “Quinten and Julia, insomuch as the two of you have agreed to live together in matrimony and have given each other these vows, I now pronounce you to be husband and wife.”

  The two witnesses murmured something inaudible.

  Sudden tears burned at the back of Julia’s eyes. Despite the fact that they weren’t saying vows in a church, the solemnity of the occasion sank into the hollow spaces inside her, ones that had been empty for so long. She was married now. She belonged to someone.

  That thought anchored her, steadied her, and gave a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

  Quinn’s heart jackhammered in his chest as he stared into Julia’s beautiful eyes. She’d worn her hair up, a few pink flowers woven through the blond strands.

  “If you wish to kiss your bride, you may do so.” The magistrate’s voice echoed in the room.

  Quinn’s chest filled with so much emotion he feared it would burst. Julia was his wife. She and her child belonged to him. He gave a light laugh, the tight muscles in his shoulders loosening. “I would indeed, sir.”

  He turned back to Julia and raised a brow, asking permission. Her cheeks reddened, but she nodded.

  Then he bent toward her and sealed their union with a tender kiss. Though he would have liked to linger, he held himself in check, not wishing to distress her.

  Once they had signed the register, the justice of the peace gathered the papers and smiled. “Congratulations. I wish you both the very best.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Quinn pressed a few dollars into the man’s hand. A bit extra for making the ceremony go so smoothly.

  Somewhat dazed, he took Julia by the hand and exited the courtroom. As they walked in silence down the wide corridor toward the main entrance, Julia seemed as unsettled as he felt. Perhaps she was struggling with their new status, trying to determine how they would go forward as a married couple. Even if it was in name only, they would have to give the pretense of being a legitimate couple.

  “Where to now?” he asked. “Would you care to go out for dinner?” Quinn glanced at Julia, prepared to let her take the lead on this. He’d hoped she might enjoy some sort of celebration to mark the occasion and had made note of a nearby restaurant within walking distance in case she agreed.

  “Mrs. Middleton gave me the rest of the day off, so I’m not needed there.” She smiled. “I’d love to have dinner with you.”

  Satisfaction spread through Quinn’s system. For now, he would pretend that Julia actually loved him and that theirs was a real marriage with their whole lives ahead of them. Because if Quinn had his way, this marriage would one day turn into the real thing. In the meantime, he would be patient, show Julia the kind of man he was, and pray that God would allow her feelings to grow to match Quinn’s.

  When they arrived at the restaurant around the corner, a rather fancy place with white tablecloths and candles, the savory aroma of beef and potatoes mingling with a hint of apple and cinnamon made Quinn’s mouth water. He realized in all the excitement over the wedding, he hadn’t eaten, and now his stomach complained rather loudly.

  The maître d’ greeted them and escorted them inside.

  Quinn ushered Julia to the table, which was fit for a feast with china plates, crystal goblets, and silverware. A vase of fresh flowers adorned the middle of the table, giving the room a lovely scent.

  Quinn seated Julia and took a chair beside her. Since it was still fairly early for the dinner crowd, they had the dining room to themselves. A brief sojourn of privacy.

  The waiter arrived with a bottle of sparkling cider, compliments of the maître d’, who had insisted on gifting them with the beverage once he learned of their marriage. With a flourish, the waiter poured two glasses and set the bottle on the table.

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes to take your order.” He bowed and scurried off to the kitchen.

  Quinn lifted his glass. “To my lovely bride. May today be the beginning of a wonderful life ahead.”

  Julia raised her glass to his, then took a sip, but didn’t return his smile as he’d hoped. Instead, shadows lurked in her eyes. “You don’t have to pretend this is real, Quinn.”

  He set down his glass. “It’s as real as it gets, love. You and I are husband and wife. I think that deserves a celebration.” He boldly brushed a quick kiss over her lips, wishing that simple act could convince her that everything would be fine.

  She stared at him, the hint of a smile softening her features.

  “Now, let’s try to relax and enjoy our dinner. And not worry about anything else.”

  She laughed then and nodded. “You’re right. This is our wedding day after all.”

  With that, Quinn’s tense muscles loosened. Julia was nothing if not resilient. She just needed a little time to adjust to this new phase of her life. And Quinn would do everything in his power to ease the transition.

  The meal passed in pleasant conversation. As if by mutual consent, they avoided any contentious subjects and spoke only of the good times they remembered from back home. Quinn did his best to regale her with humorous stories from his life as a valet, which kept her laughing through most of the meal. Several times he caught himself about to reach for her hand or kiss her but thought the better of it and held back. He didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable, constantly wearing his heart on his sl
eeve.

  The engaging company and the good food soon had Quinn feeling lighter than he had in weeks. The daylight started to fade and the flicker of candles cast a homey glow around them. If only he could remain in this moment, he would be a very happy man.

  Once the waiter had cleared the table, Julia rose from her seat. A grimace wrinkled her brow.

  “Are you feeling all right?” Quinn asked.

  She gave a slight shrug. “I get a wee bit uncomfortable sitting in the same position for too long. Would you mind if we head back to Mrs. Middleton’s?”

  Though he hated to put an end to their evening, he nodded. “Of course. I’ll get us a taxi.” While Julia visited the ladies’ room, he paid the bill and asked to use the telephone.

  Only then did he realize that it was his wedding night and he had no idea where he’d be sleeping.

  CHAPTER 27

  Seated beside Quinn in the back of the taxi, Julia twisted the new band on her finger, unable to fully grasp the fact that she was now a married woman. A few simple words, a ring, and a signature, and her life had changed forever. For better or worse, she couldn’t know.

  Now, the closer they got to Mrs. Middleton’s, the more nervous Julia became as her new reality set in. She’d never found the courage to broach the topic of the wedding night . . . and beyond . . . with Quinn, and she had no idea what he was thinking. How did he intend for them to act until he was ready to leave Toronto? For all intents and purposes, they should at least appear to live as a true married couple so there could be no question as to the validity of their union, should anyone have cause to question them.

  When the taxi stopped in front of the house, Quinn pulled out money to pay the fare. Then he helped her out and walked her to the door.

  Julia’s feet had swollen over the course of the day, and now her shoes pinched the sides of her feet. In addition, the dress that had fit fine earlier now cut off her circulation at her middle. She couldn’t wait to get upstairs and change.

  “May I come inside for a minute?” Quinn asked as she opened the door. “I’d like to discuss something with you.” His expression seemed tense, a contrast to the ease of the rest of the evening.

  Julia held back a sigh. The comfort of her nightclothes would have to wait. “Certainly. Why don’t we sit in the parlor? Mrs. Middleton is likely in bed by now.”

  Julia removed her hat and gloves while Quinn set his hat on a hook by the door. Then, without a word, they entered the parlor, lit only by the remnants of a fire in the hearth. Julia snapped on one of the table lamps and sank onto the sofa.

  Quinn hesitated for a moment, then came to sit beside her.

  She turned to him. “What is it you wish to discuss?”

  His gray eyes appeared almost the color of charcoal in the dim room. A slight furrow appeared between his brows. “I wondered if you’d given any thought to our living arrangements while I’m still in Toronto. More specifically, where you thought I should sleep tonight?”

  Instant heat flooded her cheeks. “I assumed we’d go back to our respective rooms . . . but since it’s our wedding night, that wouldn’t seem right, would it?”

  “Not really. People will expect us to live under the same roof.” Even in the shadows, his complexion grew ruddier.

  “I see your point.” She bit her lip. “I did think of asking Mrs. Middleton if you could stay in one of the guest rooms, but I lost my nerve.” Seeing how adamant the woman was about no romance under her roof, she feared the question might put her off keeping Julia as an employee.

  Quinn frowned. “I should have planned this more carefully and booked a room at an inn. I’m sorry I didn’t do a better job.”

  She looked down at her hand and fingered the silver ring, then raised her eyes to his with a soft smile. “From where I stand, I think you did just fine.”

  He took her hand, running his thumb over the metal band. “If I’d had the funds, I would have done a lot more.”

  “I don’t need anything more, Quinn. This ring is beautiful. Thank you for thinking of it.”

  “You’re welcome.” He raised her hand to his lips, then sighed. “That still doesn’t resolve the issue at hand though.”

  Footsteps, punctuated by the loud tap of a cane, echoed in the hall.

  Julia tugged her hand back and rose. “Mrs. Middleton? Can I get you something?”

  Dressed in her bathrobe and a frilly white nightcap, the elderly woman came toward them. “Couldn’t sleep. Came down for some hot milk.” She pointed a bony finger at Quinn. “It occurred to me as I lay awake up there that you two might need somewhere to spend your wedding night.”

  “We were just discussing that very topic.” Quinn moved forward and put his arm around Julia. “I confess I forgot to book a room for the evening.”

  “No point in spending your money if you don’t have to. I have a perfectly good wing not being used at present. You’re more than welcome to stay here.”

  Julia reached out to lay a hand on the woman’s arm. “Mrs. Middleton, will you be all right alone on your floor?”

  “I’ll be fine.” She winked at Julia. “A bride must think of her husband at a time like this.”

  Julia’s mouth fell open, her face heating. What was her employer thinking? She knew Julia’s situation and the reason for accepting Quinn’s marriage proposal. Why would she assume—?

  “Thank you for your kind offer, ma’am,” Quinn said. “If Julia is in agreement, we will gladly accept.”

  “Very well. It’s settled. I’ll have Allison make up one of the rooms.” Mrs. Middleton squinted at Quinn. “Are you still planning on traveling to England in the near future?”

  Quinn hesitated only a moment. “I am. I’ll be leaving in a week’s time.”

  “In that case, why don’t you stay here until then? Then you’ll at least have a few days together, and you can save money in the meantime.” She pointed her cane at him. “As long as you don’t mind your bride helping me during the day.”

  Julia blinked, her mouth opening and closing. A whole week with Quinn? The idea both thrilled her and sent shivers of terror down her spine.

  “That’s most generous of you, ma’am,” he said, his lips twitching. “I believe I shall enjoy my stay with you.”

  Julia hung her wedding dress in the wardrobe of the room she and Quinn had chosen and closed the door. Quinn might be moving into the house, but she planned on returning to her regular room across from Mrs. Middleton tomorrow. One night sharing a room with Quinn would be unnerving enough. Besides, part of her job was to be close at hand, should Mrs. Middleton need her at any time, day or night. Staying on the opposite side of the house, in another wing entirely, was out of the question.

  She took a seat on the tufted ottoman before the vanity table and picked up her brush. As she combed out her long hair, she gazed at herself in the mirror. This was not how she’d imagined looking on her wedding night. Brow furrowed. Eyes anxious. Pale. Pregnant.

  She brushed her hair harder until all the tangles were out, then she purposely twisted it into a thick braid, as she did every night. No need to invite any thoughts of romance. Her simple cotton nightgown and plaid bath robe would also dissuade Quinn of any such notion. Not that he gave any indication of that.

  She rose from the seat, pulling her lapels more tightly around her neck. Despite the fire in the hearth, a lingering chill made her shiver. This part of the house was shaded by large maple trees in the yard, and even in the warm weather, the air felt damp.

  Julia eyed the large bed in the center of the room, and nerves jumped in her belly. Soon Quinn would return with his belongings, prepared to stay here for the duration. Even though they’d agreed to a marriage in name only, doubts swirled in Julia’s head. What would he expect to happen tonight?

  She walked to a door on the far side of the room and tried the handle. It opened into a connecting room. Perhaps this had been the suite Mrs. Middleton had shared with her husband years ago when they were first married.
She peeked in and looked around. The space looked entirely more feminine and had probably once belonged to her mistress. It was fairly common, especially back then, for each spouse to have their own quarters.

  It was obvious, however, that although the main bedroom had been hastily cleaned, made up with fresh linens, and a fire set to burning in the hearth, the connecting room had not. Thick layers of dust coated the furniture, and there was no fire to warm the space.

  Julia sighed and closed the door. Somehow she would have to share this room with her new husband. Maybe she could make him a pallet on the floor. The area rug looked thick enough to provide some comfort. All she needed were some extra blankets.

  Heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway, and seconds later, a knock sounded on the door.

  Julia whirled around. Her hand flew to her throat. “Come in,” she called.

  The door creaked open, and Quinn stepped inside, carrying a brown carpetbag. “I see you’ve gotten comfortable.” He smiled as he set the bag on the floor. Then he took off his hat and laid it on the dresser. “This looks very cozy. Quite an improvement from my cot at the Y.”

  Julia’s stomach dipped. The poor man. How could she ask him to sleep on the floor after all he was doing for her? She glanced at the small divan near the window. She could fit on it without too much trouble. For one night, it would have to do.

  “Is anything wrong?” Quinn had come over to stand in front of her.

  “No. Nothing.” She moved a step backward.

  “Then why do you look like you want to jump out the window behind you?”

  Julia’s gaze darted from his face to the bedpost, and she forced a laugh. “Don’t be daft. I’m a little . . . unsettled. That’s all.” She wrapped her arms in front of her. “Anyone would be in a similar situation.”

  “Do you mean newlyweds on their wedding night?”

  Heat flared in her cheeks. Was he making fun of her?

  “I’m only teasing, Julia. A poor attempt to lighten the mood.” He reached for her hand. “It’s really not that bad, you know. We have a pleasant room with a lovely fire and a bed that looks very comfortable. I do believe I’ll have a good night’s sleep for the first time in ages.”