Page 37 of When I Fall in Love (De Piaget #4)

J ennifer stood in Gwen’s solar and allowed herself to be made over into a medieval Cinderella ready for the grand ball. It reminded her a little of the first time the women in Nicholas’s family had played fairy godmother. She’d had a bath, had her hair fixed by Anne and Isabelle, and had looked over her gowns with Joanna, Gwen, and Amanda to decide which one would suit. Only this time it was a little different. Victoria was there as well, watching with tears in her eyes, and her Prince Charming was, from all accounts, pacing in the chapel, worrying that she would change her mind.

That message had come by way of Isabelle who had gone to check, then returned to deliver her report in a tone that suggested that she very much wanted Jennifer to assure her that such a thing wouldn’t even have crossed her mind.

Jennifer had been happy to reassure her.

She looked down at her dress. It was the royal blue gown, encrusted with pearls and gems and embroidered with all manner of flowers and vines. It was simply stunning and Jennifer hoped she could do it justice.

Then Victoria came over to her with something behind her back.

“I thought you might need these,” she said with a smile.

“What?” Jennifer asked.

Victoria handed her her glass slippers. “For you.”

Jennifer looked quickly at her sister, then started to cry.

“Nay,” Joanna scolded, “no more of that. You’ll blotch the dress and ruin your face. Nicholas will think ’tis my doing and frown at me.”

Jennifer shook her head, but she also dried her eyes. She stood there in clothes truly fit for a princess, then smiled.

“Well?” she asked. “What do you think?”

“Beautiful,” Gwen said, coming to take her hands and kiss her cheek. “We’ll go downstairs and wait for you. I thought you might want a few minutes with your sister.”

Jennifer found herself hugged in turn by Nicholas’s grandmother, his mother, his sister-in-law, and both his sisters. She watched them shut the door behind them, then turned and looked at Victoria. “Well?”

“Well, you’ve had a brush with death, completely overwhelmed an entire clan of medieval nobles with your music, and now you’re going to marry a man who they still talk about reverently at Artane eight hundred years from now.” Victoria shrugged with a smile. “How can you top any of that?”

Jennifer hugged her sister. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Trust me, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” She pulled back and fussed with Jennifer’s hair. “I told myself I wouldn’t cry, but I don’t think I’ll manage not to. You look just gorgeous.” She smiled wistfully. “Are you happy?”

“Deliriously.”

“You look like it. And he’s wonderful.” She smiled. “I know what the annals say, but there’s nothing like getting to know the legend in person.”

“Genealogy doesn’t lie?” Jennifer teased.

“Not in Nicholas’s case,” Victoria said honestly. “He is, amazingly enough, everything he was reputed to be. And he plays a mean game of Go Fish.”

Jennifer laughed. “At least he has a sense of humor.”

Victoria hugged her again. “I think you’ll be blissfully happy with him. Now, we probably should get going before he wears out his boots pacing. Or will he be wearing those fancy medieval shoes with the pointy toes?”

“Would Connor?”

“Are you kidding?” Victoria said with a laugh. “No way.”

Jennifer smiled. “I can’t imagine Nicholas would, either, unless his grandmother has insisted. No, even then, I think it will be boots. You’ll have to tell me. I don’t think I’ll notice.”

“You’d notice those shoes.”

Jennifer laughed. “I probably would. I imagine he’s safe from that indignity.” She took a deep breath. “Will I suit?”

“Of course,” Victoria said. “But let me take a picture of you by yourself. Go stand over there by the fire.”

Jennifer did, ignoring the sensation of being pulled in two every time something from the future collided with the past. She supposed that in time that would cease. Even the Degani might start to feel normal.

She blinked away the spots in her eyes and made Victoria show her the picture.

“Wow,” she managed. “Is that me?”

“Miss Medieval,” Victoria said with a smile.

Jennifer could hardly believe it. Admittedly, it had been a while since she’d looked in a mirror, but she’d almost forgotten what she looked like. Her hair was piled on top of her head with a few tendrils curling down the back of her neck. Gwen had unearthed a tiara of sorts from some trunk or another and placed it lovingly on her head.

But the dress ... the dress was stunning.

“He has good taste,” Jennifer murmured.

“He does,” Victoria agreed. “He picked you, didn’t he?”

“I suppose he did,” Jennifer agreed.

“I’ll take a picture of you and Nicholas together later.”

“He’ll flip.”

“I think he’s flipping as it is,” Victoria smiled. “We’d better go save him from himself.”

Jennifer nodded, then linked arms with her sister and left Isabelle’s room.

She walked down the hallway, then down the stairs to the great hall. It was empty, which would have unnerved her, but it still had its medieval trappings and she was sure everyone was waiting in the chapel. She did have to take several deep breaths just the same.

“Are you okay?” Victoria asked.

Jennifer smiled weakly. “I’m not sure what century I’m in.”

Victoria laughed uneasily. “You know. I think I understand that. This is a little spooky. Let’s go outside. I’m sure the sight of the stables will reassure us.”

Jennifer nodded and continued with her sister across the hall. A servant bowed and opened the front door for her. Jennifer walked down the steps, then realized that the way had been strewn with flowers. She smiled at her sister.

“Wow.”

“I’ll say,” Victoria said with a smile. “I don’t think I had anything this fancy.”

Jennifer blinked. “You were married at Artane, weren’t you? I’d forgotten.”

“Thanks,” Victoria said dryly.

“It looks different in the future.”

“Not much,” Victoria said. “So, if I get a little misty, that’s why. Now, come on and hurry. Someone’s opening the chapel door.”

Jennifer watched her feet as she crossed the courtyard. It had been a while since she’d worn heels and the last thing she wanted to do was fall on her face five minutes before she was supposed to get married. She made it to the chapel steps, then looked up.

Her father stood there.

Jennifer had to clutch Victoria’s hand. “Dad?” she said, more surprised than she’d ever been in her life.

He smiled and held open his arms. She threw herself into them and hugged him tightly.

“Oh, Dad,” she said, starting to cry. “You came.”

“Do you think I’d miss this?” he asked gruffly. “Damn it, Jen, this makes a trip across the Pond look like a jaunt down the street to the Mini Mart.”

“Oh, Dad,” she said, pulling back and sniffing hard to keep from ruining her dress. “I can’t believe you came. And I’m sorry—”

He shook his head and kissed her cheek. “No, don’t start that. We’ll have a good long talk later. Right now you need to go marry that poor man at the front of the church who looks like he’d like to throw up. But first go give your mother a hug. Then you can come back and I’ll walk you down the aisle.”

She hugged him for a few more minutes in silence, then let him dry her eyes. She smiled, then went inside. Her mother and grandmother were standing just inside the door, waiting for her.

She hugged her mother tightly. “When did you get here?” she whispered in amazement.

“About an hour ago,” Helen said. “Long enough to meet your groom and have your father attempt to terrify him.” She pulled away and smiled. “Granny and I translated for him.”

Jennifer turned to her grandmother and hugged her. “Granny, you came, too.”

“I’m a veteran time traveler,” Mary said, looking fabulous in a medieval ensemble that rivaled anything in the chapel. “I thought I’d better figure out how to get here so I can come visit now and then.”

Jennifer laughed. “I certainly hope so.” She smiled at her grandmother, then turned and held on to her mother for quite a long time. She pulled back finally.

“Thanks, Mom,” she said quietly.

Helen kissed her on both cheeks. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Now, go rescue your future husband from his nerves.”

Jennifer nodded, then went back to stand next to her father. He held out his arm. Jennifer took it and smiled up at him.

“Thank you.”

He cleared his throat roughly. “Children leave home. Some go farther away than others. If he’s who you want, I’m happy.”

“Dad, he’s wonderful.”

“Damn well better be.”

“Have you really frightened him?”

“Yes. Repeatedly. I’ll frighten him some more after the ceremony. But now, let’s get this show on the road. I don’t think your Nicholas really wants the memory of his wedding day to include his having puked on the priest.”

Jennifer laughed. “I imagine not.” She turned and walked down the very short aisle. She smiled at Nicholas, who was indeed looking much worse for the wear.

Her father put her hand in his with a growl. Nicholas smiled weakly, then heaved a small sigh of relief. He made her father a small bow, then looked at Jennifer.

“You’re here.”

“Of course,” she said with a smile. She squeezed his hand. “I love you,” she whispered.

“The saints be praised,” he murmured, with feeling. Then he smiled at her. “And I you.”

The priest cleared his throat pointedly. Jennifer winked at Nicholas, then did her best to put on a more serious expression.

It was hard, when all that joy was threatening to burst out of her.

She tried to listen to the ceremony but it was hard to concentrate on mass in Latin, which she understood very little of, and it was hard to concentrate when she was so overwhelmed by the fact that she was marrying the man she loved and her parents had come to witness it. So she held Nicholas’s hand, said what she was supposed to say when she was told to say it, and hoped she was marrying him.

“Translate for me later,” she whispered.

“I will,” he promised.

The priest called for a recounting of what the parties would bring to the marriage. Jennifer supposed hers wouldn’t take long and she wondered if she should mention her violin. The priest looked at a sheaf of paper in his hands.

“A trunk full of valuables from her sire,” he muttered, “and Wyckham keep.” He looked up. “Wyckham?”

Jennifer looked up at Nicholas. “Wyckham?”

He shrugged with a smile. “I made it part of your dowry a fortnight ago. I thought that even if you changed your mind, it would be yours. Finished, of course. Petter is building you a gallery for musicians to play in. The music will waft down to the great hall in a pleasing fashion.” He paused. “The roof won’t leak this time.”

“Oh, Nicholas,” she said, stunned. “That’s too much.”

“That roof isn’t finished yet,” Robin put in from where he was standing on the other side of his brother. “I wouldn’t praise him overmuch for it. Besides, wed him and he has it back again, so—”

Nicholas elbowed Robin in the ribs so hard, Robin doubled over with a grunt. Robin straightened, clapped a hand on Nicholas’s shoulder, and pointed at the priest.

“Write this down, though he doesn’t need it and doesn’t deserve it. Garrison knights, a squire or two, and I’ve even found him a page willing to brave his sour self. Father is sending him a decent steward.”

“And a cook,” Rhys put in. “As well as a seamstress or two. His mother thinks it important that he continue to dress his lady as she deserves.”

Jennifer smiled up at Nicholas and heard nothing else. Whether or not Wyckham was his again was immaterial. He had given her security when he hadn’t had to, he had clothed her when it would have been easier to let her carry on with a hem that didn’t match, and he had put his life on the line to spare hers.

It was so much more than she’d ever expected.

The priest cleared his throat. Jennifer looked at him.

“What?”

“You must sign the marriage contracts, my lady,” he said.

Jennifer signed. Nicholas signed. Then he turned her to him, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her.

Quite chastely, actually.

She looked up at him. “Is that it?”

“Your father’s standing not ten paces away.”

“But we’re married.”

He frowned. “You’re taller.”

“It’s the shoes and you’re digressing.”

He smiled, though he still looked a little queasy. “I’ve never had a father-in-law before. I’m doing my best.”

She put her arms around his neck, leaned up and kissed him instead. But not for too long. Her father was watching, after all.

“What now?” she asked.

“Supper,” Joanna announced. “A fine feast has been prepared. Jackson, come translate for Jennifer’s father. I can hear that her mother and grandmother speak Scots, which I find very pleasing, so perhaps Jennifer and Nicholas will translate for me.”

Jennifer watched Nicholas’s family gather up hers and escort them out of the chapel. She realized only then how many people had come. Jake had taken her father in hand and was leading him, rather wide-eyed, out of the chapel as he chatted with him in English. Montgomery had made her mother and grandmother low bows and offered his services to translate for them with Joanna. Amanda and Victoria were leaving arm in arm, chatting happily in a bewildering mixture of Gaelic and English with Connor trailing along, holding Amanda’s daughter and trying not to wince as she alternately tugged on his hair and tried to chew on the enormous brooch that pinned his plaid to his shoulder. Robin collected Anne and his sons and escorted them and his younger brothers out into the sunshine.

Jennifer stood with Nicholas until they’d all gone out, including the priest, then looked at him.

“Weren’t we supposed to go first?” she asked.

“They were distracted by the thought of lunch,” he said solemnly.

“I suppose so.” She turned to him and took his hands. “Privacy at last.”

“Jennifer,” he said, sounding shocked, “ ’tis the chapel.”

She laughed. “I wasn’t suggesting anything untoward, my lord. But you could kiss me properly.”

He let out a long breath. “Are we wed? In truth?”

“I think I signed something that said we were. You were supposed to be understanding the Latin bits.”

“I didn’t listen. I was too busy wondering if your father would plunge a blade into my back at an inopportune moment.”

“You were not,” she said with a laugh.

“Actually, I was,” he said honestly. “He had stem words for me about the care and keeping of his youngest child.”

“And what did you tell him, my lord?”

“I used the first English word I learned.”

“And that was?”

“Whatever.”

She laughed and clasped her hands behind his neck. “You didn’t.”

“I didn’t,” he said with a smile, putting his arms around her waist. “I told him, through Jake whom I thanked profusely for his aid, that I loved you beyond reason, that I would spend every day making certain that you felt cherished, and that you would lack for nothing that I could possibly provide you in the way of luxuries. Then I showed him my sword.”

She smiled. “Was he impressed?”

“It seemed to satisfy him.”

“He’s not watching now, you know.”

“Jennifer,” he said with a laugh. Then he paused and shrugged. “I suppose I’m within my rights to kiss my wife, aren’t I?”

“I suppose so. But don’t mess up my hair.”

“I won’t. I hate to think of what my grandmother would do to me if I did.”

She smiled as he drew her closer and kissed her properly. He kissed her until she thought perhaps that he should stop. He lifted his head and looked down at her.

“Food?”

“Why?”

He laughed and kissed her again. “Because, my love, it is a reason to sit with our families as long as is polite. And it will save your father a trip out here to look for us.”

She nodded, took his hand, and walked with him from the chapel. “I can’t believe they came.”

“They love you,” he said gently. “How could they not?”

“My father doesn’t even like to fly,” she said. “This was really something for him.”

“Fly?”

She smiled. “We have several things to discuss, my lord.”

“Later.”

“Much later.”

He smiled and held open the hall door for her.

Jennifer walked in and paused to take in the sight. The high table was empty. Instead, one of the lower tables had been placed in front of the fire and everyone was gathered around it. She saw Jake sitting next to her father, chatting amicably. Her mother and grandmother were sitting with Joanna and they were smiling and nodding as Montgomery translated for them. Victoria and Connor were sitting with Rhys and Amanda, who seemed to be translating for Robin and the rest of the lads. Jennifer smiled to herself. Though she missed Thomas and Megan, it was enough for the day.

“Nicholas! Jennifer!”

“We’re being summoned,” Nicholas said, smiling down at her. “I think Grandmère wants more translation than Montgomery can provide.”

She followed, smiling, grateful, and happy beyond belief.

Nicholas and her family, in a hall that was firmly grounded in the thirteenth century.

It was bliss.