‘Oh, Hal, I was afraid...’ she said and now she was laughing and crying at the same time. ‘But you have been so sweet to me, so loving that you have banished what he did...the shame he made me feel...’
‘You should never feel shame,’ Hal murmured and stroked her hair as she buried her face in his shoulder. ‘You were innocent and sweet when he forced marriage on you. I vow that I will never force or hurt you, my love. You have only to ask me to stop and I would let you go.’
The tears were trickling down her cheeks so that she tasted their salt. ‘I feared I could not be a proper wife to you and I did not want you to give up everything you cared for, for my sake. I thought you would become bitter and hate me if I could not...but I can,’ she said and gulped back her tears as he wiped them from her cheeks with his fingertips. ‘I love you, Hal. I do want to be your wife so very much.’
‘Then we shall be married as soon as I can arrange it,’ he said and smiled. ‘Be damned to the gossips and those who censure us may do so. We shall have friends who accept us and I dare say we shall not often come to town, for my estate is small and I fear we must live the life of a country gentleman and his wife.’
‘It is all I want,’ Madeline told him, smiling through the tears. ‘I shall let Mr Symonds save what he can from Lethbridge’s estate and it shall be put aside for our children. If amongst the jewels I left at Ravenscar there are any worth selling, they may be sold for I shall need only the pearls that came from my grandmother.’
‘I have some pieces that my grandmother left to me,’ Hal told her. ‘All I have is yours and I own I would rather not keep anything that belonged to your husband.’
‘We shall not,’ Madeline promised. ‘Our children may inherit what there is, but we shall do very well on your estate. To be your wife is all that I care for, my love.’
‘If I have you, I am richer than any man deserves to be,’ Hal said and bent his head to kiss her once more. ‘I can hardly wait for our wedding day, my love.’
‘It was so good of you to give us the reception here,’ Madeline said as Jenny entered the bedchamber where she was dressing for her wedding. ‘I do not think I deserve it after I ran away and caused you all so much distress.’
‘Adam told me it was his fault. You heard him question Hal’s wisdom in giving up his estate to go abroad, and he should not have doubted you—as I soon told him. You are my friend, Maddie, and I am glad that everything has turned out well for you after all.’
‘I never thought I could be so happy. Lethbridge was not a kind man. I believed I could never give myself to anyone, not even Hal—but I saw how happy you were, Jenny, and Hal was so tender and gentle. I did not know it, but my stay here helped me to recover my pride and forget my shame, and now I cannot wait to be Hal’s wife.’
‘There can be no shame where love is,’ Jenny said and smiled. ‘To love and be loved is more pleasure than I could ever describe in mere words. Trust Hal for he is a good man and would never willingly hurt you—and if you fear anything tell him.’
‘Yes, I shall, though I do not think I shall fear anything in his arms. We have not stopped at kisses.’ She blushed as her friend laughed. ‘I did not wish to wait for I wanted to be sure that I was not a shrinking violet on my wedding night, though we have not...lain together. Yet from his touch and the way I felt, I know now that there is much happiness to be found with the man you love.’
‘Yes, there is. You look beautiful,’ Jenny said. ‘Hal will think himself lucky to have you, Maddie. I hope you will both visit us whenever you can spare the time.’
‘We shall, you may depend on it—and you must come to us.’
Sally entered the room then, bearing Madeline’s bouquet of lilies and roses dressed with lace and ribbons. Her wedding to Thomas had been a simple one before they left London, but although she would return to her husband’s inn after the wedding reception, she had wanted to dress her former mistress one last time. She was to be a maid of honour and carry the train of Madeline’s shimmering ivory gown.
‘You do look lovely, my lady,’ Sally said and handed her the flowers. ‘I am so glad I have seen you—you look so happy.’
‘I am. Thank you both for helping me. I am ready and we should go down now, because I do not wish to keep Hal waiting.’
* * *
Hal turned his head to watch as his bride approached down the long nave of the ancient church. She looked so regal and beautiful in her gown of satin and lace and he caught his breath. Was she truly here or was it just another of the dreams that had haunted him for years?
She came to stand by his side, then turned her head to smile at him. His breath caught and he felt a surge of love and joy. Her bonnet of blue satin was trimmed with ribbons of ivory with silk roses stitched under the brim, the colour of the satin setting off the greener shade of her eyes. She looked pale and he wondered, but then she smiled up at him and his heart sang, because he saw the joy in her eyes. She had longed for this day as much as he had and she had overcome her fears, trusting in him to love her and cherish her for the rest of their lives. He smiled at her, feeling the love flow between them. She was truly his at last and he knew that happiness awaited them.
As the vicar began to intone the marriage ceremony, Hal reached for his bride’s hand and held it firmly. She was his and he would care for her and protect her for the rest of his life.
The sun was shining through a high window, sending showers of colour through the stained glass on to the flagstones. A surge of happiness went through Hal as he glanced sideways at his bride. He wanted her, desired her, but most of all he wanted to make her happy.
* * *
Lord Ravenscar had made the dower house available to them for their first night together. Everywhere had been polished, fires lit and vases of flowers placed in every room. The chef at Ravenscar had sent down some delicious food for them and it was laid out in the small breakfast parlour, the candles arranged to give an intimate atmosphere. Maddie’s new maid had fussed around her, arranging her skirts in the carriage so that they would not crease and making sure that she had all she needed. She was even now upstairs in the bedchamber they would share, laying out her nightgown and making sure it was perfect.
Hal smiled at Maddie as she touched the silver horseshoes tied with ribbons, the small gifts that awaited them and the pretty flower arrangements on the table that held the tempting buffet.
‘Is everything as you would wish, my love?’
She turned to him, lifting her eyes to his with a shy smile. ‘Everyone has done so much. This is perfect, Hal—but I should not have cared if it had been a modest room in an inn. I have you and that is all I want.’
‘Will you have some wine, my love?’
‘I believe I’ve had enough,’ she murmured and moved towards him, lifting her face for his kiss. ‘I am ready to go up, Hal. I want to be completely alone with you—sure that no one will intrude.’
‘Go up, then, and send your maid away when you are ready. I shall come to you as soon as I’ve seen that the house is locked for the night.’
‘Yes...’ She gave a little gurgle of laughter. ‘That sounds as if we have been married for ever.’
‘Do not imagine I am not as impatient as you,’ he said and the fire leaped in his eyes. ‘But I want to give you time to be ready.’
Maddie nodded, leaned forwards and kissed him lightly on the mouth, then turned and left the room. She went slowly up the stairs, her mind reviewing the reception with her friends; more of them had come to wish her well than she would ever have expected. So many lovely gifts had been sent to them that Madeline thought it would take her many days to reply