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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“ T hey look rather dashing, don’t they?”

Anna, whose eyes had not strayed from the altar since she had taken her seat had no reason not to agree with Margaret.

Finally, after nearly two weeks of meticulous and quick planning Seth and Marjorie’s wedding day had arrived. It was thrilling, for Anna to see her brother-in-law with whom she sympathized with greatly prepare himself to take a bold step towards his future.

Even more so, though, she was quite charmed by the sight of Seth flanked by his brother Julian and his friend, Lysander.

“I want to stand by him, as the only part of our family he has left. He talks about his wedding and marriage as though all he feels about is excitement, but I know him well enough to know that he’s terrified, beneath it all.” Julian had told her a few days to the wedding.

“He’s quite fortunate to have a wonderful brother like you, and I am sure is well aware of that fact. Nevertheless, I am certain he’ll be just fine afterwards.” Anna had said, trying to reassure her husband as much as she could.

And now, seeing how proud Julian was of his brother as he stood by Seth’s side, Anna couldn’t help but think that his decision to stay with the groom also served as a balm over the old wounds that had bothered him for so long.

They made a dashing picture, and Anna felt herself grow emotional as she recalled her own wedding.

It was remarkable, how different she felt now, how much freer and happier she was. How loved she was. She and Julian had come a long way to get to where they were and she would not trade the peace in her heart for anything else.

The ceremony finally started and Marjorie began to walk down the aisle with her father by her side.

The man’s face was a picture of indifference as he led his daughter to her future husband and Anna said a silent prayer of gratitude to God for making it so the old man wouldn’t stand between Seth and Marjorie.

Seth, eager to meet his bride tried to step down from his place, but Julian held him back by the collar of his jacket, hissing swiftly in a hushed tone that most of the people in the front rows caught.

“Where are you going, you nitwit? Stay right here!”

Anna had hoped Seth would simply listen without a fuss, immediately feeling foolish for expecting so much, when Seth slapped Julian’s hand away.

“Why? I just want to be with her sooner!” he whispered back fiercely.

“Oh, my,” Margaret sighed, massaging her temples with the tips of her fingers.

Lysander took a look at the brothers and swiftly decided that no reward was great enough to warrant his involvement in that mess, shifting his gaze back to the guests.

Marjorie increased her pace, leaving her father behind as she quickly arrived at the altar before Seth could start a fight, holding her hand out between them.

“I’m here. Seth, I’m here, so you don’t need to worry.”

It was as though all the annoyance had been stripped from Seth’s veins. He immediately smiled, eagerly reaching for his bride’s hand.

“There you are.” He beamed, the affection he felt for his wife-to-be obvious in the way he looked at her.

Marjorie took her place and Anna saw Julian mumble what she guessed was an apology, smiling in encouragement when he looked in her direction.

With the chaos seemingly over and done with, the rest of the ceremony went on without a hitch. Both of them had written out vows they wished to recite and Seth’s had brought Anna to tears. His words were earnest and genuine, not asking for a pardon for his sins, but a chance to atone for them.

“Our love has kept us together, even while we were apart. I give you my word that I will work to ensure that our love sustains us and our family, for the rest our days. Thank you for choosing to love me, more than I can say,” he said finally.

Anna brought her handkerchief to her eyes, startled by the sniffling she could hear coming from her side. Margaret was clutching her handkerchief and her neck, looking as though she had been though a devastating life experience.

“That was lovely,” she whispered to Anna who nodded in agreement.

“It truly was. I hope those two are happy together for a long time.”

The ceremony ended with the pronouncement of Seth and Marjorie as husband and wife. While the guests cheered and clapped for them, Anna’s eyes drifted to her husband again, smiling when she noticed him watching his brother leave the area with his bride in tow.

She kept her eyes on him, waiting for him to gather himself, trying not to laugh at the way he blinked and glanced around, searching for something.

Anna paused, letting him find her before she raised a hand to wave at him shyly.

Julian smiled at her before making his way off the altar, taking his rightful place by her side.

“It was a lovely ceremony,” she told him as he led her out of the greenhouse they had decorated for the wedding.

When Seth had stated that he wished to have his wedding at Morland estate, Julian had been immensely confused as to why.

“I want to show mother that we are doing fine, you and I. You are happily married and I am about to make my way down that same route. I know that she was worried about us, when she passed away. She probably feared that we would’ve met the same fate she did – living out her days lonely and unloved – if we did not end up like our father.

And none of that happens. I want to share it with her, like I get to share it with you. ” Seth explained hopefully.

Julian had been silent for a moment, then he sighed.

“You have become disconcertingly mature, as of late. But all right. If you really wish to have it done here, then I will help you make the necessary preparations to accomplish that. You are right, mother deserves to witness this. Perhaps it will give her some peace of mind.”

The greenhouse had been the most ideal location to host the few guests that were to be in attendance to the wedding, and Anna’s maids worked tirelessly to put things in order for the occasion.

Now that the ceremony had ended, all that was left was the wedding breakfast, which was to take place in the ballroom within the house.

Anna hoped that everyone involved would feel satisfied with the course of things so far.

“You are right. It was lovely, although I nearly ruined it for him.” Julian sighed.

“You were only trying to protect him, as you have done, countless times before. He understands that, and everything was fine in the end. Do not worry, dearest.” Anna reassured, soothingly rubbing his arm.

As they entered the house, Ellen rushed past them with a tray, only to stop when she realized who she had walked past. Slowly, she walked backwards until she was in front of her duke and duchess, bowing deeply.

“My apologies, Your Graces. I was merely in a hurry and I failed to notice you immediately.” She apologized.

“Where were you going to in such a hurry?” Anna enquired, concerned.

“The nursery, Your Grace. It seems Nicholas has awoken from his nap and is a bit fussy. I was just bringing him some food, in case he is hungry, Your Grace.” Ellen explained.

Anna had suggested that since the wedding would take place within their property, Nicholas should be kept in the nursey to be taken care of by the maids, while the events took place. Since the maids have looked after him properly before, she believed it would raise no issues.

Marjorie had done her best to be trusting, but she then insisted on being with her son until she was absolutely certain he was in good hands – which was a little over five minutes after the wedding ceremony was to have started.

But clearly, she seemed to have gained some trust in Ellen and the other maids sometime during the ceremony, because when Anna and Julian accompanied Ellen back to the nursery, the bride greeted them with a bright smile.

“How on earth did you get him to sleep so well? I was worried he would cry the entire time I was gone.” She asked the maid, gently patting Nicholas on the back.

“He likes it when Regina sings to him quietly, my lady. It never fails to lull the little one to sleep.” Ellen explained, setting the tray of food for the child on a table.

“Thank you. I cannot express just how thankful I am, honestly, but please know I am truly grateful. I shouldn’t have held any doubts, knowing that you were the ones who looked after him when I left him here.

But I still worried, because I felt like I had committed an unforgiveable sin leaving him behind. And I’m trying to do better –”

“Marjorie,” Anna shushed her quickly, gently stroking her arms. “Do not harbor such thoughts on such a lovely day. You just married the love of your life! Seth is in the ball room, waiting to dance with you and Nicholas is doing fine. Leave the past where it is meant to be and enjoy the present.”

Marjorie nodded, smiling as Nicholas turned his head, seemingly searching for something or someone.

“I think he’s looking for you, Your Grace,” she laughed, holding Nicholas out to Anna. “He grew even more fussy than he had been the moment he heard your voice. Would you like to hold him?”

Anna looked down at Nicholas, her heart fluttering when he reached out of her with both arms, his face alight with joy.

“Y-Yes, I’d love to,” Anna mumbled, lifting the boy into her arms.

Nicholas blinked as he was moved into the embrace of someone other than his mother and when he looked up, the babble of glee that left his lips told Anna that he definitely recognized who was holding him.

With a watery laugh of delight, Anna held him closer, not surprised to realize that her adoration for the boy had not waned in the slightest.

“Aren’t you just the loveliest darling?” she muttered, bouncing him slightly in her arms.