Chapter 34
Percy read his correspondence for the day after he ate dinner. He put down the letters and began to pace. He felt he was in the wrong place. He should be in London.
It was time to run. He would never sleep if he went to bed now. The letters would keep him up. He wanted to be there. He wanted to experience what his friends were experiencing. He wanted Louisa.
Percy now knew the property well. The only problem he might have if he ran at this time of night was hitting in an irregular patch or twisting his ankle on a rut in the ground.
But that didn’t stop him. He went out the front door and down the well-worn drive that led to Gordon Castle. Then he ran on the packed earth that was the road.
He liked this path. There were no bushes or trees in the way. He had tripped over a tree root more than once. It was two miles to town. Perfect. A four-mile run.
When he got home, he began to work on the honeymoon. He had gone on the Grand Tour after university, so he remembered what he did and didn’t want to do.
He and Louisa would take a boat from Dover to Calais. He thought they would go to Paris, Rome, and Marsala, Sicily.
The boat ride to Calais was only a couple of hours, but the carriage ride to Paris would be two and a half days. He figured they would spend about ten days there before moving on.
There was a quaint hotel in Paris Percy was fond of. He hoped it hadn’t lost its appeal since he last stayed there. They would walk around and have late dinners in the small cafés near the hotel. He thought Louisa would enjoy that.
Percy knew the ambassador to France. He thought they might dine at the embassy a few times.
The carriage trip to Nantes and the boat ride to Rome would be the worst part of the trip, but worth it once they got there. He planned to take her to the Coliseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Museums and the Pantheon, but he thought she might enjoy most the small squares with shops and outdoor cafés that served very strong coffee.
And there was a gelato shop around the corner from the Pantheon that Percy knew Louisa would like.
Percy didn’t know the ambassador to Italy, but he would be received at Percy’s request.
Percy remembered the carriage ride from the dock to the beautiful countryside and charming towns in Sicily. He remembered passing towns with the main square of shops, a church, and a meetinghouse surrounded by small cottages built from blonde coloured brick and topped with a slate roof.
The air was clean and smelled of the sea. A gentle breeze circulated keeping the air fresh. The sun shone brightly without a cloud in sight. During his previous trip, the villa had looked directly at the ocean with a beach between. Tall green vegetation grew around the villas for privacy. Percy laughed to himself. He hoped they would need plenty of privacy.
Percy remembered the colour of the water was nothing like he had ever seen. In England, the water matched the sky. A dark grey soup that stirred whitecaps but no colour.
In Marsala, the ocean was calm. More like a gentle lake than an ocean. The colour started as a light aquamarine blue that slowly brightened to a turquoise colour popular with hats worn on the streets of London in the summers. A bright blue as far as the eye could see followed. It too matched the sky.
Then they would take the cruel boat ride from Rome to Dover. Every moment on that boat would remind them that the honeymoon was over.
*****
Hobart wrote Percy a short letter to tell him Barton left London for Hamilton. It seemed since it came out that he was driving up the price of a horse through deception, his peers had abandoned him. Both he and Frederick believed Barton was no longer a threat to Louisa.
Frederick wrote about the wedding and how it was making his house unliveable. The women had become incapable of talking about anything else. He also wrote about his concern for his investment. It was going terribly wrong. As soon as the wedding was over, he needed to go to Manchester. Probably the next morning.
Percy also received a letter from Cecil letting him know he would wed a week before Percy and Louisa. He and Emma hoped he could come home a few days earlier than he planned so he could attend the wedding.
He also told Percy that he would be in Paris for a few weeks on his honeymoon with Emma and would love to get together if he planned to go there. Their honeymoons might overlap for a few days. Percy loved that idea and thought Louisa would too.
*****
Percy sat down with Winters to go over the progress of the castle’s renovation.
“I plan to leave three or four days earlier to go back to London. We should probably go over what’s been done and what needs to be done. Then I’ll know how much money to leave you and how long I can expect it to take. I won’t be able to return for at least six months. Let’s see if it can be done by then.”
Winters shook his head. “There is no way the project will be done in six months, Your Grace. I estimate ten to twelve months. I still recommend you return in six months to look at the progress. Hopefully, you’ll see a substantial difference by then.”
Percy and Winters went down the list they developed before they started the project. They crossed off completed projects and put a star next to the projects they were working on now.
Then they estimated when they could do each remaining project and how long each one would take.
“The kitchen is taking a long time. A wall needed to be moved to make more space. That project won’t be complete for a few months.”
Percy and Winters went down every item on their list. They estimated the cost and the schedule.
“I’ll put the money for the total project in the bank up here. Once I’ve received your invoice, I’ll notify the bank to release the funds to you.
“I’ll come up in six months and again in twelve months.
*****
“I’ve got to go,” Frederick said.
He and Hobart were sitting in the warehouse office. Frederick looked crushed. He slumped in his chair rubbing his forehead over and over again.
“Well, if you must, go now, tomorrow morning so you can get back in time.”
“Hobart, it takes close to three days to get there and three days to get back. I can’t miss the wedding. And, at this late date, it can’t be postponed.
“If it wasn’t so much money, and the project wasn’t at complete standstill, I’d go two weeks from now. But I can’t. A shipment is coming in, the biggest of the project, and the investment can’t afford to lose it. Or, as the foreman says, ‘misplace’ it.”
Hobart sat up. “Let me go for you. I’ll take care of everything you need.”
“Thank you, but I don’t know what I’m looking for until I get there and poke around. If it were something I could pass along to you, I would do it in a heartbeat. You know that.
“I will, however, take one of your men if you can spare one. I’d like to install someone to keep an eye on the place. There seems to be no oversight if the foreman is in on it.
“If I don’t make it back in time . . .”
“Your wife will kill you.”
“If I don’t make it back in time, walk my daughter down the aisle.”
“No.”
“What do you mean no?”
“You better make it back in time.”
*****
Percy directed his carriage to go straight to Louisa’s then move on to his townhouse and help unpack the trunks from the other carriage.
He knocked, and Mendon answered. Mendon bowed, “Your Grace.”
Percy stood in the door of the parlour and cleared his throat. Louisa looked up and screamed. She rose at the speed of fireworks at Vauxhall and looked just as beautiful. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him hard.
Amelia said, “Louisa, please remember yourself.”
Percy gently took her arms from around him and stepped back to look at her.
“You are so beautiful. I’ve missed you. Every minute I was gone.”
He pulled her to him and put his forehead against hers. “I came home early for Cecil and Emma’s wedding. I wanted to surprise you.”
“You did. Sit down and have tea?”
“I’d love to.” Percy turned to Amelia and bowed. Duchess, you look much better. How are you feeling?”
“I’m well, thank you. But Frederick’s not back. He’s making us all so nervous. So much has happened since you’ve been gone. We are ready for the wedding. The invitations went out last week and . . .”
Percy put his hand up. “Don’t tell me. I want to be surprised. Just like the honeymoon I planned. I want Louisa to be surprised. Tell me only what I need to know. Where. When.”
Percy hoped the ladies believed him. He did not want to hear about the wedding. He loved Louisa deep down in his bones, but he didn’t want to hear about the wedding.
“I forgot. You will be surprised, and you will love it.”
“Louisa, if we married in a dirty horse stall in our worst clothes, I would be happy. I just want you to be my wife.”
Louisa smiled brightly. “I’ll surprise you. Mother and I have had so much fun. I hope you enjoy our wedding.”
“I know I will. I hope you enjoy our honeymoon.”
“I know I will. After I got your letter, I told our modiste I needed clothes for very warm weather. She had to order fabric from India. Can’t get any warmer than that.”
“Will your gowns be ready?” Percy asked
“Yes.”
“I’m excited. Are you?”
Amelia jumped in, “Are you joking? She has been crazy. Wait until you talk to Frederick. He has threatened to move out. In a way, I think he liked the idea of leaving us to this craziness.”
Louisa laughed. “I don’t care. Percy, this has been so much fun.”
Amelia laughed. “We have had fun. And I understand she will redecorate your townhouse? What a lucky girl. Plan a wedding, go on a honeymoon with her wonderful husband, and then come home and redecorate their townhouse.”
Percy laughed. “And I am the beneficiary of her hard work. By the way, if Louisa needs any help on the townhouse, I encourage you to assist her. I don’t want to give my wife too much to do. I don’t want her nervous. I want to come home to her running to me, wrapping her arms around my neck and hugging me, just like today.”
“Thank you, Percy. Mother and I have talked about doing it together. I’ve never decorated before.”
*****
“You look beautiful, Louisa. You are going to upstage the bride.”
“I’m sure Emma will be beaming. She’s looking forward to today. Cecil is so excited too. I can tell just by looking at him.”
“When Kent and I met him last night at the dinner, he was jumping out of his skin. He is looking forward to their honeymoon.”
The church had more guests than Louisa thought they planned to have at their wedding. She didn’t recognize them, but Louisa thought it must be Emma’s family from out of town. She and Percy sat with Kent and Gertie.
Louisa and Gertie whispered until the clap came from the back of the church. Emma came down the aisle with her hand wrapped around her father’s arm. She was radiant.
Her gown was lilac with beading that reflected off the candlelight. She wore a flower arrangement of lilacs in her hair.
Louisa turned to find Cecil near the altar. He smiled broadly and didn’t take his eyes off her. Louisa reached over and squeezed Percy’s hand. He looked her in the eyes and squeezed back.
“He’ll make it back in time,” he said.
The wedding breakfast was delicious and fun. Percy and Louisa sat next to Kent and Gertie. When any of them referred to something that happened over the past two months, Louisa had to lean over and whisper in Percy’s ear and explain what Kent or Gertie said.
He turned to her and tipped his head near her ear. “I love when you whisper in my ear. I look forward to Kent or Gertie saying something I missed. It will bring more whispering.”
Louisa looked up at him and laughed. It rang through the small area they occupied, but the sound was so sweet, Percy felt sorry for those who couldn’t hear it. My God, he was getting corny. He needed to get Frederick back and for them to be married so his life could get back to a state of normalcy.
*****
The day before the wedding was a tense time for Amelia and Louisa. Amelia knew in her heart that Frederick wasn’t going to make it in time when late afternoon was upon them.
Louisa kept holding out hope. Amelia tried to bring her down gently, but it didn’t work. She was in a state of denial, and she didn’t hear a word Amelia said.
Amelia knew why Frederick went to Manchester when he did; she just couldn’t figure out why he didn’t get in a carriage and come back in time for the wedding. What could possibly hold him up from making his way home?
He knew how important this wedding was to Louisa. He saw how happy she was while she planned it. It was such a joyous time for them all. Whatever was happening in Manchester must have been dire indeed. His normal business wouldn’t keep him away like this.
Again, Amelia worried that he was injured and all alone up there without his family to help. She would never tell Louisa her fear, but the closer the wedding day came, the more concerned she became. She hadn’t had any correspondence from him in the last three days.
*****
Louisa told Percy he couldn’t come over the day before the wedding. She was far too busy to see him.
He thought, ‘I’m only the groom. Not very important at all. Pushed aside for wedding plans.’
He shook his head. ‘It’s a good thing she’s coming home to a new project. This has taken so much of her time she will have to find something to occupy her. Hopefully, by the time the townhouse is done, she will be expecting, and that will occupy her time.’
Kent and Cecil weren’t around. Frederick was away still. They were all beginning to worry he wouldn’t make it. He was certainly cutting it close. That left Hobart.
“Hi, Hobart. Did you miss me?” Percy said.
“Hey, stranger. Sit down. I’ll get you a drink.”
“Frederick’s still gone, and I’ve been banned from the house. I can’t imagine the tension over there. I think it’s a good thing I’m banned from the house. I’d say or do the wrong thing. I don’t know what they are doing.” Percy shrugged. “I will never understand women. I’ll leave it at that.”
Hobart handed Percy a drink. “Join the rest of mankind. A little advice? Stop trying.”
Hobart watched Percy to read him for nervousness or fear. He found boredom instead. “Did you run today?”
“I thought I’d wait until tonight. That way, my energy drain will be closer to the wedding.”
“Are you feeling good about all of this?”
Percy nodded. “Yes, I feel great. No doubts. I want her to be my wife. I would have preferred a priest and two witnesses, but it will be over soon enough. I’m more worried about Frederick. You know me; I like to worry. I don’t think he’s going to make it.”
“Then I’ll walk her down the aisle. I’ve survived a lot in life. We will all survive this,” Hobart said.
“You will enjoy this story, Hobart. I told Louisa I didn’t want to hear any wedding plans because I wanted to be surprised. She was about to launch into something about the invitations.”
Hobart laughed. “I see your problem. Like you said, it will be over soon.”
“Tell me about you. What have you been doing the last two months?”
“Frederick has been a frequent visitor. His wife and his daughter have been driving him out of the house almost daily. He’s mumbled a couple of times about you taking off and leaving him alone.
“He’s looking forward to the quiet when you are on your honeymoon, and then when his daughter and his wife are redecorating at your townhouse he’ll have the house to himself for a couple of hours a day.
Hobart shook his head. “He should have gone to Manchester months ago when the problem first came up. At that time, Louisa then Amelia were sick.” He shrugged. “Weddings are a woman thing.
“He’s lucky he has only one daughter.”
Percy rose. “I’m going home to eat. Then before bed, I’ll run.”
Hobart said, “That’s a good idea. Go for the run then you’ll sleep better. And you won’t be as fidgety in the morning.”
*****
Percy stood next to the priest. They were waiting for Louisa to walk down the aisle. She was beyond upset that her father didn’t make it back for the ceremony. Her eyes were red-rimmed, as were Amelia’s, and her smile was not bright. It was forced. She held out hope until the last minute – until now that he would come.
Louisa and Hobart stood in the church entrance. Percy couldn’t help noticing how grief-stricken Louisa was. He looked around. There were a lot of guests here. It looked like he would have to glad-hand with every member of the House of Lords.
She wore a beautiful cornflower blue dress. The dress flattered her figure and made the colour of her eyes shine. Or, it should have. They would have shone had her father been there.
Hobart had Louisa’s hand in the crook of his arm and was halfway down the aisle when someone yelled the word ‘stop.’
He turned to see Frederick running toward them, out of breath and in his travelling clothes.
Louisa didn’t care. She put out her arms.
“Oh, Father, you came.”
“I did. Did I miss anything?”
“You almost missed walking her down the aisle. Now get to the back, and we’ll start this over,” Hobart said.
Louisa beamed, and Frederick nodded. They went to the entrance of the church and stood until they heard the clap.
Her hand was in the crook of his arm. She looked up at him with a radiant smile.
“You made it.”
“Barely,” Frederick said.” “I’m sorry I’m not dressed. And I probably smell like horses. I travelled through the night.”
“You look handsome to me,” she said.
“Frederick.” Percy nodded.
“Hi there.” he grinned as Louisa joined him, and they turned towards the priest.
“Hi,” she said taking deep breaths. She was nervous. For once, he didn’t think it was because of him. Frederick and this big, fancy wedding caused it. She wanted everything to be perfect. It was already far from perfect, and the priest had yet to say a word.
And memorable. He would probably forget most of it within the year. He would never forget Frederick’s dramatic entrance, and he knew he would never forget Louisa lifting her skirts to wade up to her ankles in the warm ocean water in Sicily.
The priest jarred him out of his thoughts, starting the ceremony. His lovely bride and best friend was breathing normally now. A good sign.
He and the reluctant priest had agreed that Percy could speak after the exchange of vows. Percy had been frustrated by the priest’s unwillingness to go against the church protocol, but Percy had finally persuaded him with a generous donation to the church.
While they were facing each other after their vows had been spoken, Percy shocked Louisa and the rest of the guests by speaking directly to her.
“Louisa. You are my love, the only person who has ever given me unconditional love. Since the day we met, our souls knew we belonged together. Our brains needed to catch up.”
There was laughter from the guests, something Percy had expected.
“I want to thank you for allowing me to be your husband. It is a great privilege, and I will never take it or you for granted. I love you.”
With tears in her eyes, Louisa said, “And I love you.”
THE END
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