Historical Romance May 2017 Books 1 - 4. Bronwyn Scott
Читать онлайн книгу.
nothing compared to the affection in his smile.
‘Thank you.’ For everything. He’d always been a loving brother, doing his best to raise her. She’d miss his steady presence, despite all of their butting heads.
‘Are you ready?’
The day she never thought would come was here at last. She would finally be a bride. It was time to go and claim her life with Jasper. ‘I am.’
* * *
Jasper stood at the altar, Reverend Claire beside him, his younger brother Giles serving as Jasper’s best man while Jacob sulked in the pew at not having been chosen. A few years ago it would have been Milton beside him, but he was the only Charton not in attendance. He and his wife had elected to stay away from the church, but at his father’s insistence he’d grudgingly agreed to bring his wife to the wedding breakfast at the Rathbones’.
Jasper’s three elder sisters and their husbands and children sat in the first few pews. While his numerous nieces and nephews whispered and giggled with the Rathbone children, his sisters and his mother sniffed into their handkerchiefs. A few months ago they’d been worried he’d die in Savannah. They were overjoyed to see him now on his wedding day.
He rubbed the back of his neck and the slight perspiration beneath his collar. They cared for him and he was deceiving them all. They’d despise him if they ever found out about the hell and shun him just as surely as they embraced him today. He’d have no one to blame but himself if they did. If the day ever came, he hoped they showed Jane as much tolerance as they’d extended to Milton. He couldn’t bear to have her cast out of her family for his mistakes.
‘You’re not nervous, are you?’ Giles ribbed, pulling Jasper out of his worries.
‘No.’ He exchanged a hearty smile with his younger brother. ‘Just eager.’
And he was. The day he’d left London with Jane’s willingness to wait for him still fresh in his mind, he’d believed every hope he’d ever harboured of being with his closest friend was finished. He’d make sure she never suffered because of him, or viewed him with the same disgust he’d come to see his uncle with. She would remain innocent where he’d been corrupted and he would do everything he could to make sure she never wanted for anything.
The organ struck up, drawing Jasper and the entire church’s attention to the back. Jane appeared at the top of the aisle, resplendent in an ivory-silk dress with a train of lace, walking with dignity beside her brother in time to the organ music. Her cobalt-coloured eyes fixed on his, so alight with joy it took his breath away. He’d thought luck had deserted him in Savannah, then he’d come home and met her again. She knew more about him than anyone in this church and still she was willing to bind her life to his. He didn’t deserve her admiration, but he’d find a way to be worthy of her.
At last, Jane reached him and, after a few words from the Reverend Claire, Philip offered Jasper his sister’s hand and her future. Jasper couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his lips and Jane answered it with a playful one of her own. It echoed with the memories of them laughing together at his eldest sister Olivia’s wedding. At the reception, they’d played the game of what if, taking turns imagining who their future partner would be. Secretly, he’d hoped it would be her. Today, it was. It wasn’t desperation that had guided her up the aisle to him, but a connection they’d shared for years, one which hadn’t been broken by time or distance or all his sins.
At Reverend Claire’s instruction, they faced him. While the Reverend spoke, Jasper was aware of nothing but Jane beside him, her fingers solid against his and her light perfume brushing his senses. She was as gorgeous, trusting and innocent as he was dark, experienced and dishonest, but if she believed in him then it was time to start believing in himself.
When Reverend Claire asked if there was anyone who objected to the marriage, Jasper didn’t flinch or peer over his shoulder to see if someone came forward. No one, not even his previous doubts, spoke up.
* * *
Reverend Claire drew out the silence as though he expected some objection, if not from the audience then from the groom. Jane studied Jasper out of the corner of her eye, wondering if he held any of the second thoughts he’d expressed to her the other day. But they were nowhere to be seen as he drew his lips to one side in a playful grin she matched.
Hearing no objections, Reverend Claire continued until it was time to exchange vows. With a seriousness to put her brother to shame, she faced Jasper, delighted to see him bring the same gravity to the solemn words. He’d already made one promise to her in private—to always honour her. Today, he’d make a few more for everyone to hear.
Then it was her turn. So many times Jane had been selfish in her wants, but it was no longer about her any more. Jasper needed her as much as she needed him, not only to build his business but to rebuild the part of himself Savannah and the fever had damaged. She raised her eyes to his, determined he see how seriously she took her vows to him, too. He gently caressed one of her fingers with his as if hearing her silent promise.
Then Reverend Claire called for the rings. Giles handed Jasper a small box and Jane shifted on her feet, eager to see what he’d selected for her. She gasped when he opened it to reveal a diamond larger than the one in his cravat pin set in a thick gold band. He slipped it out of its case and on to her finger, the weight of it making her eye him with a sly smile.
He cocked a self-satisfied eyebrow at her and from the corner of her eyes she noticed all the women in the pews shifting to get a better look. She tried not to smile too wide in delight. Vanity was a sin, but she didn’t care. She was wearing the biggest diamond in the church. Without waiting for Reverend Claire to tell her, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him into their first married kiss.
* * *
Jasper escorted his new bride, who beamed like the morning sun, back to the Rathbone house and the wedding breakfast. A parade of revellers and well-wishers followed the new couple across the street and inside. Even Milton and his wife were there although they refrained from joining the receiving line.
Once the formalities were through, everyone went to the garden and the tables of food arranged among the rose bushes. A harpist played in the shade of the portico while hired footmen wove through the guests, offering champagne and headier spirits for the gentlemen. Jane was happily showing her ring to Justin and his wife Susanna when the clink of a spoon against a glass drew everyone’s attention.
‘To my son and his lovely wife.’ Jasper’s father’s deep voice carried over the garden from where he stood on the portico with Giles and Jacob. His nose was red, his eyes heavy. Despite it being the middle of the day, he’d indulged in a generous amount of Mr Rathbone’s fine Madeira. Jasper joined Jane as the entire crowd turned to admire them. ‘I can’t say I’m surprised to see you married, you two were as thick as thieves as children. One time, I caught them sneaking out of our house with a rope, threepence and a bottle of my best wine...’
‘Henry, I’m sure no one wants to hear such stories today,’ his wife gently reminded him, stopping him from finishing his tale of the morning he’d caught Jasper and Jane plotting to sell the wine and buy the pony Philip had refused to purchase for Jane.
‘I suppose you’re right.’ Jasper’s father rubbed his chin before he seemed to recall why he’d begun to speak. ‘What I mean to say is, you two were meant to be together and I can’t tell you how happy I am to see it happen at last. We worried about you, Jasper, when you were gone, feared you’d never make it home again, but you returned to us and to Jane.’ He raised his glass to them. ‘We love you both and wish you the greatest happiness.’
The guests raised their glasses in agreement. Jasper swept Jane’s lips with a sweet kiss and the guests applauded.
‘Well done, Jasper and Jane, well done.’ His father clapped before hurrying to chase down a footman with a full tray of wine.
Jane entwined her arm with Jasper’s. ‘He’s quite the orator, isn’t he?’
‘Indeed he