Page 29 of Duchess By Accident (The Matchmaker’s Scheme #5)
“ N o, do not even think about it. No!” Adrian’s yell filled the hall. “Do not do it! No!”
Natalie turned in the direction of her husband’s yell, a frown on her face. She glanced at herself in the mirror, and adjusted an earring before she turned to her sister Olivia, who was holding her newest baby in her arms.
Marie was there with her youngest child, her husband Rodger at her side. They were also looking in the direction of the yelling.
“I suppose I should go and see what trouble my husband has gotten himself into.” She stood and walked towards the door. “Would you and Marie mind checking on the boys and making sure everyone is ready. I know the nannies are with them, but when the nephews are all out in force…”
“Oh trust me little sister, I know just what a handful they are.” Marie laughed and pulled her husband with her. “I may see if I can recruit Blake and Jane to wrangle them all as well.”
“That is an excellent idea.” Natalie nodded. “They will all need to be at the church in an hour.”
“And you need to be there in half an hour.” Olivia gestured to the door. “After all, you are Peter’s best man.”
“His best woman, you mean.” Natalie laughed.
“Exactly. And he will need you to calm his nerves. I am told that grooms regularly fall to pieces on their wedding day.” Olivia glanced at her husband, Nigel, who had just popped his head through the open door.
“It is true. Especially if they are marrying someone as wonderful as you, my darling.” Nigel winked at his wife. “I have been sent to inform you that Daphne cannot find her favourite necklace, Marigold does not like her dress and –”
Natalie watched as her sister cut her husband off with a sigh. “I am sure there is a whole host of problems the girls are facing. And if I listen to you tell me them we will be here all day and nothing will be done about them.”
“Stop that at once!” Adrian yelled again, jerking Natalie back into action.
Olivia made a shooing motion, and Natalie raced in the direction of her husband’s yells. As she emerged into the hall of Emberly castle, she was met with a scene of utter chaos and farce.
A black spaniel puppy hurtled towards her, proudly holding a top hat in its mouth. Adrian dove for the puppy, but it avoided him, its whole body wriggling with excitement.
Natalie took advantage of the puppy’s distraction, and hastily scooped it into her arms. She held it away from her as it dropped the hat and tried to lick her face excitedly.
“Sooty, what exactly are you doing here?” Natalie asked while Adrian pulled himself off the floor, scowling at the small creature.
“Being a nuisance. Your daughter –”
“- my daughter?” Natalie teased.
“She is your daughter when she is in trouble.” Adrian shook his head, some of the frustration ebbing from his face as he looked at the wriggling puppy in her arms.
“I see.” Natalie handed Adrian the spaniel and carefully placed his top hat in his free hand. “And what exactly did our daughter do?”
“She wanted Stormy to be a flower dog.” Adrian sighed. “And I had to explain that he simply could not. And as if he wished to illustrate my point, he stole my hat and fled the scene.”
Natalie giggled. Adrian shook his head. “Between you, Melody and the dog, I shall never know a moment’s peace.”
“And you love it.” Natalie reached up to him, carefully adjusting his collar and cravat.
His muscles tightened at her touch, his eyes igniting as she brushed his skin with the tips of her fingers. “Careful Little thief, you have a wedding to get to.”
“Natalie, there you are!” Emily’s voice rang out as she sprinted down the hallway, Melody beside her.
“Stormy!” Melody yelled at the same time. “That was really naughty! You cannot steal people’s hats!”
They drew level with them, Emily clutching at her side and breathing heavily. Her husband, Luke appeared a moment later, and moved to hold her while she recovered.
The spaniel whimpered softly and then wriggled to get to Melody. Adrian kept a firm, but gentle grip on him. Natalie was pleased to see that Melody was at least dressed for the wedding.
“You look lovely.” Natalie said, gesturing to Melody while she waited for Emily to catch her breath.
“Thank you!” Melody spun around. “So do you.”
“Thank you.” Natalie smiled at her daughter. “Will you help your father put Stormy back in the kennels? And make sure he gets to the church on time. You know how easily distracted he is.”
“I will.” Melody tugged on Adrian’s sleeve. “Honestly, Stormy, I am really rather disappointed in you.”
Natalie watched as her husband and daughter disappeared out of sight, a smile on her face.
“Peter needs you.” Emily managed to gasp. “He is an absolute wreck. He is convinced his fiancée will leave him.”
“I tried to talk to him, but I think he needs his best man.” Emily’s husband shook his head.
Natalie sighed. “He was always too dramatic for his own good.”
“As though you are the height of sophistication and poise.” Emily teased.
Natalie stuck her tongue out. “You will get everyone to the church.”
“This is hardly our first wedding, Natalie.” Emily hugged her. “Now go.”
Natalie did as she was told, and headed to the church. The cool air was welcome as she half walked, half ran to meet her brother. When she arrived, she was out of breath, but thankfully not sweating.
She found her twin pacing in the tiny room off to the side of the altar. He looked up when she entered, his face white as a sheet.
“What if she does not come?” he asked, his voice strangled.
“Then I will hunt her down and beat some sense into her.” Natalie replied, and poured her brother a cup of water. “Have a drink.”
“This is just water.” Peter wrinkled his nose.
“Water is a drink.” Natalie arched an eyebrow at him.
He looked sullenly into the full cup. “What if this is a mistake?”
“The water?” She canted her head towards him.
“The wedding!” he exclaimed.
“Why would it be a mistake?” she asked.
“It is the rest of our lives. What if I am wrong?” Peter’s eyes were wide.
Natalie sighed “Peter, you love her do you not?”
“Of course I do.” Peter touched his chest. “I love her with all my heart.”
“And she loves you. There can be no other reason she would wish to marry into our madhouse.” Natalie smiled. “She will be here. I promise.”
“I think I am going to be sick.” Peter clutched his head in his hands.
Natalie stood behind him, sweeping her dress to one side as she rubbed his back. “If you are, make sure you do not get any on your clothes. No bride wants to be wedded to a man covered in his own vomit.”
“That is not helping.” Peter groaned.
“Just breathe. Think of it this way, your wedding can hardly be more disastrous than the one I almost had at this very same church.” Natalie wrinkled her nose.
“That is a remarkably low bar.” Peter retorted, but some of the colour returned to his face. “I am glad that it was such a disaster. You and the Duke suit each other.”
“I like to think that we do.” Natalie looped an arm through her brother’s. “You and Isabelle are made for each other. I have no doubt you will have a long and glorious life together.”
“Do you promise?” He looked so young in that moment, almost like the boy she had known all her life.
“That is not in my power to promise, Peter. It is up to you to make that future a reality.” She smiled at him. “But I for one, believe you can do it.”
He nodded. The sound of chattering began, and the familiar face of Alexander popped his head into the chamber. “It is time.”
Peter nodded, and together they walked towards the altar.
Later that night, as couples filled the ballroom of Emberly castle, Natalie stood watching them from the veranda, leaning against Adrian.
He kissed her forehead gently. She took in all the familiar faces. Alexander and Rose. Jane and her husband. Marie and Lord Baine, their daughter dancing between them. Olivia was laughing with her head bent close to Nigel. Emily and her husband were playing with Arthur and a few of the other children.
“I did not know chaos could be so beautiful.” Adrian murmured.
“I am glad you think so.” Natalie smiled as she watched Melody and Daphne weaving between the dancing couples, chasing a suspiciously spaniel-shaped table cloth.
“Do you miss it?” he asked.
“Sometimes. But I would not give up our life for the world.” She rested a hand on her belly, absently.
“Nor would I.” Adrian brushed his lips against her cheek. “Besides, you, Melody and Stormy are more than enough chaos for me.”
Her breath caught and she turned to face him, draping her arms around his neck. “Is that so, Fox?”
“It is, Little thief.” His eyes glinted in the moonlight. “Though when I see Melody and her cousins, I cannot help but feel a little guilty. It is hard to be the only child of a home.”
Natalie’s heart skittered. “Then you would not be opposed to her having a brother or even a sister?”
“No.” Adrian remarked absently and then his eyes widened.
He looked down at her belly, then back to her eyes, his jaw slack. Her cheeks flushed and she bit back a laugh at how wide his eyes were.
“Are you… Are you… Are you with child?” Adrian’s voice was so soft she almost could not hear it.
Natalie nodded. “Yes.”
Something in him seemed to twist and he looked away. She followed his gaze and saw him looking at Melody. Gently, she reached up, touched his cheek and drew his eyes back to her.
“But what if it raises questions?” Adrian’s eyes were full of concern. “The child will look nothing like her.”
“My darling, everyone knows that I did not give birth to Melody. The ton will assume the child takes after its mother.” She kissed him softly. “Melody will be safe.”
“But what about you?” Adrian whispered.
“I have you.” She answered simply. “You will keep me safe.”
“Always.” He leaned his head against hers. “We are going to have a baby.”
“We are.” Natalie answered.
The music swelled. Laughter surrounded them. The door to the future was open, and they stepped through it together.
The End?