Married By Twelfth Night (Regency Christmas Brides)

30. Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Before calling hours officially began, Richard stopped by Callis Hall with his family’s old sleigh. With a little sharpening and grease, it would last another few winters, but without the proper storage at their new cottage, it was on the list of items to remain behind at Belside. Even though there was hardly enough snow to warrant using it, he had been unable to resist one last ride. He patted the trusty conveyance before striding inside the house, ready to meet with Grace’s father and request his permission for her hand in marriage.

Mr. Steele met him at his office door and invited him inside. The familiar room eased Richard’s mounting nerves. The night his aunt had come to dine at Callis Hall with him he had previously relayed to Mr. Steele specific details of his financial situation, many of which Mr. Steele had guessed at.

Once they sat down, he added the tale of his aunt’s will, his rejection of it in favor of marrying Grace, and the cottage he had secured for his family.

“I know it is not the ideal setting to marry,” Richard hedged, “but I hope the friendship between our families will carry some weight in your decision. Indeed, I will endeavor to do all I can to see Grace is given every comfort.”

Mr. Steele clasped his hands on his desk and leaned forward in his seat. “I trust you will. This past year or more, you have proven yourself to be a responsible man. If you had come to me with the details of your aunt’s will and asked for Ruth’s hand, I would have said no. Money is important, but your choice to sacrifice it for my daughter’s happiness shows true character. Granted, I fully expect you to work hard at returning to Belside as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, sir.”

When he left Mr. Steele’s office, he heaved a sigh. Grace appeared in the corridor like an apparition inspired by his desire to see her. She wore her cloak and mittens and an excited smile.

“Are you going somewhere?” he asked.

“On a sleigh ride with you, of course.”

He laughed and extended his hand. “Then by all means, let’s be on our way.”

Once they were bundled beneath a heavy wool blanket inside the sleigh, and being pulled just beyond Callis Hall’s drive, he was ready to answer the set of questioning eyes next to him.

“Yes, I met with your father to ask for your hand.”

She feigned innocence. “Oh? Is that what you were doing? And did he happen to give you an answer?”

“He did.”

“And?”

He shrugged.

A swift elbow met his ribs. He chuckled, putting both the reins in one hand so he could put his other around her. “He gave his permission.”

She squealed and kissed his cheek.

“It will take time to get settled at the cottage, find tenants for Belside, and make certain our finances are stable.” He hesitated before he said the hardest part. “It could be a year or more before we can wed. ”

She did not say anything, and a quick glance did not reveal her feelings. The horses were already walking at a slow pace, but he pulled them to a stop and turned to her.

“What do you think?” he asked. “I want your complete honesty.” As for him, after the ache of not knowing if they could be together, it felt like a lifetime to wait any longer. He caught a glimpse of the same longing, but she hid it behind a smile.

Grace set her hand on his arm. “Let’s wed one year from now, on Twelfth Night.”

There was energy in her statement—excitement—and it relieved his worries.

“Why not? All month the idea of Twelfth Night and weddings have been tied together in my mind. The only part missing was the image of you by my side.”

She leaned into his shoulder and he tucked the fur blanket more securely around her. “I might be by your side forever now, but don’t let my complete devotion go to your head.”

He set the horses to walking again. “It’s too late. My hat is already feeling tight from the swelling.”

She nudged him. “It is a good thing I love more than just your appearance.”

“Indeed? Then what is it about me that finally won you over?”

“Your kiss.”

“Is that all?” he laughed.

“Your aunt was not all wrong. Holidays are romantic. A mistletoe kiss can be very convincing.”

“Are you suggesting that your regard for me is entirely unrelated to my own merits? ”

One brow lifted. “Kissing is an important quality. Had I not learned of your skill, you might not have succeeded in winning my heart.”

“I suppose I will have to keep doing so to remind you to care for me.”

“You had better get started. This path is too short to waste any more time.”

Eager to please her, he bent forward and kissed her cold lips. And then he had to do so again, for a gentleman could not let a lady freeze.

By the time they returned home, they discovered his mother and sister had come to visit Callis Hall in the carriage. It was good to see Mother paying calls on friends, and it was the perfect opportunity to share their plan with everyone.

“We’re getting married,” he said, lifting Grace’s hand in the air with a flourish.

Cheers erupted and they were hugged at least twice by everyone, though Tobias settled for a single handshake. The news of their move came afterward, which invoked a few tears from Mrs. Steele, but their families rallied around them and accepted their proposed wedding date.

“We will have plenty of time to find the right wedding clothes,” Mrs. Steele told his mother.

Tobias grimaced. “Of all the reasons to be excited about a wedding date. By that time, you can have a suit of clothes fitted to the horse.”

Tobias’s comments were ignored in the enthusiastic discussion of a wedding breakfast menu that came next.

Amused, Richard watched more than participated. Seeing their families together—his and Grace’s mothers chattering excitedly side-by-side, his sister and Ruth teasing Tobias about how it would be his turn soon enough, and Mr. Steele nodding proudly at him from his relaxed position in the chair by the fire—filled him with inexpressible joy. He’d never felt closer to them than he did at this moment. There was something about coming together during times of trials and blessings that bonded family as nothing else could.

“I nearly forgot,” Mother said, retrieving something from her reticule. “I received a reply from Aunt Edith today.”

“What did it say?” he asked.

Mother winced. “I was too afraid to open it. Despite how you cautioned me, I might have been a tad too direct in my correspondence to her. I greatly fear I upset a sick woman.”

Richard took the letter and broke the seal, bracing himself for the contents. Disappointing his aunt was not something he wanted to do at any time in his life. He cared for her opinion of him, and he believed she offered him money because she cared deeply for him too. His eyes scanned the words. “She writes that her health has not worsened with her travels.”

“Thank goodness,” Bridget breathed.

He read on, his eyes widening. He tapped the letter, not once but thrice. “You will not believe this!” he cried.

“What is it?” Grace leaned toward him.

He lowered the paper for her to see. “She has agreed to give me half the inheritance money if I disregard the stipulations for the bride but still manage to marry by Twelfth Night.”

Amazement filled Grace’s eyes. “Then we can marry sooner?”

He grinned. “Indeed, if you desire it.”

Her eyes sparkled. “I do.” She squeezed his arm; though he would have preferred a kiss, it was far more appropriate with their current company. “Does this mean Bridget will have a dowry again too?”

“Yes.” His gaze lifted to his sister. “Bridget can have a dowry. ”

Bridget smiled at them. “I was never worried. I trust the two of you will see right by me.”

“We will, I promise,” he said.

“This is very good of your aunt,” Mother said, before turning to Mrs. Steele. “She is famously stubborn.”

He read further. “She writes that her family disapproved of her lowering herself to marry a merchant for love, albeit a wealthy one, and she did not want to repeat history. She said that the last riddle Grace left her, combined with your letter, Mother, and her long-standing love for Belside, convinced her to alter her decision.”

“Riddle?” Ruth asked. “What riddle could that be?”

Tobias snorted. “Not the one about the mistletoe.”

“Mistletoe? I would like to hear that one,” Mother said.

Mrs. Steele chuckled. “Your son is a poet.”

“My Richard?” she asked.

For heaven’s sake. Had he really delivered that riddle over the dinner table while making moon-eyes at Grace? He smiled sheepishly. “She said specifically it was Grace’s riddle, not mine.”

Grace shrank under all the eyes that immediately turned her way. “I might have delivered her a few lines that implied she was toying with hearts.”

He reached over and stole her hand. “A brave feat that paid off rather nicely for us all.”

“I should say. She clearly dislikes me.” Grace shook her head. “But after this letter, my opinion of her is altering. She is undoubtedly a most generous woman.”

“A wise choice, Grace,” Mr. Steele chipped in. “With the added money and your dowry, Mr. Graham will have room to invest and pay off his creditors all the sooner. You’ll be back at Belside in no time. ”

Mrs. Steele frowned. “But Twelfth Night is in three days. What about wedding clothes?”

No one said anything for a moment.

“I think we can manage, can we not Mrs. Steele?” Mr. Steele asked. “After all, Mr. Graham will be happy to marry Grace no matter what she wears to her wedding.”

“I suppose,” Mrs. Steele said, “but it will not be easy to overlook it.”

It was quiet again for a moment until Bridget announced, “We should have some of Aunt Edith’s famous shortbread to celebrate.”

Ruth nodded her agreement. “And some of Gracie’s famous hot chocolate.”

“Gracie’s hot chocolate?” Mrs. Steele asked. “What sort of concoction is this?”

Grace laughed. “I stole the recipe from cook and altered it slightly to my taste.”

Richard squeezed her hand. “I have a hankering for it myself. Let’s go tell your cook ourselves about the alterations.” He subtly winked at her, hoping she would catch on.

“What a splendid idea,” she said, letting him help her to her feet.

Once they were in the corridor, she leaned close. “Cook already knows my recipe.”

“I had to get you alone somehow.”

“You charmer.”

He ducked around a corner, pulling her with him. Sweeping his arms around Grace’s middle, he gently placed her against the wall and out of sight.

“Are we hiding from someone?” she asked, her alluring giggle nearly undoing him.

“Everyone. It might be until after the wedding before we are alone again, and I wanted to celebrate Aunt’s news properly. I was afraid God wouldn’t bless me because I had been self-absorbed for too long. Now I am at a loss for words.”

“Let me guess. You celebrate by kissing?”

He chuckled, resting his forehead against hers. “I don’t care what we do, so long as we are together.”

“You know I don’t need the walls of Belside to wake up to every morning. Your smile will be enough for me.”

He smoothed her hair back in slow, smooth strokes. “There will be no removing Society’s judgements when we return, but in time, we will build a strong future for our posterity. I promise you.”

She slid her hands around his waist. “I trust you, Richard. No one can believe you are self-absorbed, not after all you have given up. From now on, the only time I will list your horrible qualities is to chase away unwanted company.”

He put a hand to his heart. “You would do that for me?”

She reeled him back to her. “You’re not the only one who likes to be alone together.”

He laughed and pressed a kiss to her mouth. When he released her, he said, “I came up with another riddle for your collection.”

Her eyes were heady and her smile encouraging. “Go ahead, let’s hear it.”

He cleared his throat and recited the words that had kept him up late into the night, hoping not to forget a single word:

At Belside manor, a maiden fair,

Frowned at a lad with light-brown hair.

He puffed his chest, strutted with pride,

And teased the girl, who cast him aside.

When death’s sorrow stripped him bare,

The pretty maiden, in kindness rare,

Softened his heart, and dispelled his gloom ,

Staying by his side, until joy did bloom.

As in stories of old with a twist,

She became the friend he liked to kiss.

Love emerged, and his heart’s embrace,

Became his wife, his darling Grace.

Her eyes glistened with tears. “That isn’t a riddle. It’s poetry. The best poetry I have ever heard.”

“I am an amateur, and you well know it.”

“I am always honest with you, Richard, and it was perfection itself.”

“It’s clear you’re the inspiration behind every word. You hold my happiness. I thought I had lost it after Father’s death, but you brought it back to me with your witty insults, charming smiles, and loving heart. Have I told you how much I love you, Gracie?”

“Not today,” Grace replied, her hand finding the hair at the back of his neck and running her fingers through it. “But I have been negligent too. You also hold my happiness. I tried to thwart the feeling for many years, but my soul knew its match even before I did. No one has ever cared for me like you do. I love you with my whole heart, Richie Graham.”

Such a statement deserved rewarding. He pressed her into the wall and kissed her soundly.