Anthony Wyndham suddenly looked distinctly uncomfortable. He had not wanted this particular commission, but Edmund had insisted, and they were best friends.
“I cannot,” he had said, “leave RiversEdge now. I believe the worst to be over, but if I left our people at this point it would dishearten them. Go to Ashby Hall and bring back my bride, Tony. I know it may distress her to have our wedding plans changed so abruptly, but we need Blaze here at RiversEdge now!”
“Master Anthony, I present my daughter Blaze to you.” Robert Morgan’s voice pierced Anthony Wyndham’s thoughts.
Focusing his light blue eyes, he looked down upon the most exquisite creature he had ever beheld. A pair of violet-blue eyes set within a perfect heart of a face which was framed in a halo of golden-brown hair looked curiously back. It was all he could do to keep himself from reaching out and touching her. He felt tongue-tied as he struggled to speak, his own voice sounding hollow in his ears. “I bring you greetings from your betrothed husband, lady.”
“I welcome you to Ashby, Master Anthony.” Her voice was clear and musical in tone.
“Master Anthony has some exciting news for you, Blaze,” said Lady Morgan, gently prompting him. “Pray be seated, as it will take some telling. Your father and I, already being informed, will now return to our tasks.” Rosemary Morgan took her surprised husband by the hand and walked from the room.
Seating herself in a tapestry-backed chair, Blaze looked up at Anthony Wyndham, wondering if her betrothed husband were as handsome as this man. His coal-black hair and clear, light blue eyes with their thick sooty lashes were a startling contrast to his very fair skin.
No
. Papa had said that the earl had brown eyes.
“What is it you wish to tell me, sir?” she queried Anthony. “Has your uncle changed his mind about acquiring another wife?”
“Nay, lady! He is most eager for your arrival, which is why I have come. There has been a severe summer sickness amongst the children at RiversEdge. Several previously healthy younglings died. That tragedy was almost immediately followed by a freak storm with fierce lightning. It attacked the estate without warning. There was no time to bring the stock in from the pastures. One huge bolt of lightning struck in a field with such ferocity that it set the trees afire and killed an entire flock of sheep that had been grazing in that particular meadow. The terrible and hellish sound of it was heard for miles around.
“The people of RiversEdge are demoralized by these frightening events. The old goodwives are prattling about bad fortune visiting us because of my uncle’s lack of a wife and children. Then two nights ago Edmund gave an outdoor fete to cheer his people’s spirits and reassure them. Shortly after sunset a fireball was seen shooting across the heavens, thereby giving rise to more tidings of doom.
“My uncle has therefore decided that he cannot leave his estates at this time. Nonetheless he does not seek to postpone your nuptials. Rather he would use this marriage for a good omen. He has sent me to act as his proxy. We will wed immediately, and I will bring you back to RiversEdge, where Edmund hopes that a formal celebration of your marriage will encourage and cheer your people. As my uncle’s wife, it will be your duty to see to such matters.”
Surprised by this sudden change in her wedding plans, and outraged by his last words to her, Blaze stamped her foot. Then, standing up, she said angrily, “I am more aware than you, sir, of a wife’s duties! How dare you seek to preach them to me? I regret the trials that have been visited upon RiversEdge, but I find this change of plans unseemly. I will, however, abide by my lord’s wishes in this matter. When will the proxy ceremony take place?”
He was astounded by her anger, but decided it was but caused by her disappointment. “Tomorrow,” he answered her.
“Tomorrow?” she shrieked. Her head was beginning to throb.
“My uncle wants you at RiversEdge before the week’s end, lady.” He was not certain how to deal with this outraged child-woman who was about to be his aunt. Had she been his betrothed wife he would have found himself torn between kissing her and spanking her.
Blaze drew a deep breath to still her anger. She could not ever remember having been so furious. The earl was most considerate of his people, and very eager for himself, but what of her?
“You will like RiversEdge,” Anthony said in an attempt to placate her. “It is a fitting setting for such a beautiful jewel of a woman as you are.”
“I do not think you have the right to speak to me in such an intimate fashion, sir,” she said stiffly. “Remember that I am to be your uncle’s wife, and in future, address me with the respect due my station.” She almost gasped with surprise at her own words. Why on earth was she behaving this way?
“No disrespect was meant, madam,” he said coolly, thinking that though she be beautiful she was prudish. He pitied his uncle now, for gentle Cathy had been a warm and vibrant woman.
“Is there anything else you would tell me, sir?” Blaze demanded. When he shook his head in the negative, she curtsied, saying as she left the room, “Then I shall bid you a good day, sir.”
It took every ounce of self-control she possessed to walk from the room with what she hoped was a regal stance. Her heart was hammering violently within her chest. She was angry, and excited, and afraid all at once. She was certain that her legs were wobbling even if her backbone was stiff and straight. As she closed the door behind her she broke into a run, fleeing up the staircase to her bedchamber so she might have a few moments to regain her composure before she must face her family. It was not to be. All her sisters, but for baby Glenna, were crowded into the room awaiting her.
“
Well?
” demanded Bliss. “Who is he? He’s got a full dozen men-at-arms wearing the Langford livery with him. There’s even a female servant who came with them, and is closeted with Old Ada now. They are unpacking the most gorgeous clothing I have ever seen!”
“Am I allowed no privacy in my own chamber?” Blaze grumbled.
“Not until you tell!” replied Delight mischievously.
“We’re all dying of curiosity,” said Blythe in her sweet, soft voice.
“Oh, very well,” muttered Blaze. “There are no secrets in this house anyway. You’ll all know soon enough. He is Master Anthony Wyndham, the earl’s nephew.”
“
He
is gorgeous,” remarked thirteen-year-old Delight with an exaggerated sigh that caused her younger siblings to giggle.
“No future,” said the practical Bliss. “Blaze is bound to have a dozen sons if the earl does his duty by her.”
“It won’t change the fact that he’s gorgeous, as Delight says, even if he is poor,” said Blythe with a twinkle. “Besides, he cannot be too poor.”
“Time enough for gorgeous men after we’ve all married rich men,” Bliss replied, dismissing Anthony Wyndham’s prospects. “Why is he here? Your wedding is not for another fortnight.”
“My wedding is tomorrow,” Blaze said irritably, plumping herself into the middle of their big bed, and going on to explain to her astounded sisters the whys and wherefores of the change.
“Why, ’tis outrageous!” sputtered Bliss when her elder sister had finished with her explanations. “A woman may have more than one wedding in her lifetime if she is widowed, but there is only one
first
wedding. It is like only being able to lose your virginity once! It is special!”
“ ’Twas to be no great affair, Bliss,” Blaze offered logically, trying to reason away her own disappointment. “The most important thing for me was that my family would be there, and you all will be.”
“But we have not yet met Lord Wyndham!” wailed Blythe. “You will marry a man that none of us even knows! It frightens me to even think on it.”
“Don’t be such a goose,” Bliss scolded her twin. “The only one who has to know the earl is Blaze, and she will soon enough. Perhaps your wedding was not to be a great affair, sister, but there was to have been a small celebration. Now you must be wed first thing tomorrow morning. Then be bundled off to RiversEdge without so much as a bridescake and wine. A girl’s wedding day is important to her, but I suppose the earl would not have stopped to consider that. How dreary of him!”
“I was angry too when I first learned of these changes in our plans,” admitted Blaze, “but as I reconsider Master Anthony’s words I realize that it is rather flattering that the earl should feel my presence can cheer his people. No one has ever before thought me useful for anything.”
“I think it very romantic that the earl cannot live another day without his bride.” Delight sighed. “I would love a man to feel that way about me.” Her deep blue eyes grew dreamy with the thought.
Bliss opened her mouth to make a scathing retort, but instead shrieked, “Ouch!” as a frowning Blythe with uncharacteristic spirit pinched her arm.
“Will we ever see you again, Blaze?” asked Vanora, her baby-round face with its almost black eyes worried.
Blaze leaned forward, brushing a lock of Vanora’s pale silvery-gold hair back from her forehead. “Of course you will see me, Vana. As soon as I am settled you may come for a visit to RiversEdge. I am certain that my husband will permit it.”
Vanora smiled with relief.
“We will miss you,” Larke and Linnette chorused. They often spoke in unison. Although frequently scolded about it, they could not seem to break the habit.
“I will miss you also,” Blaze replied, “but RiversEdge is only twelve miles from Ashby as the crow flies.”
“As none of us will be flying crows, however,” said Bliss sharply, “it will be a half-day’s ride across the fields, or almost a full day going around on proper roads.”
“Mistress Blaze,” quavered the voice of Old Ada as she hobbled into the room. “There is someone here from yer betrothed to meet ye.” She glowered at the other girls. “Get ye gone, ye chattering group of flibbertigibbets!” she scolded them. “ ’Tis the bride’s business I’ve come about. There’s no room here for all ye! Shoo!”
Giggling at the old woman’s pretended ferocity, the Morgan sisters trooped out, leaving their eldest sibling with Ada. Behind the nursemaid stood a small, plump woman with a merry countenance, whose bright eyes twinkled at the girls as they passed her.
“This be Heartha,” said Old Ada. “She be sent to wait on ye, and she has brought ye beautiful things.”
“My lord has sent you a gown that you may wear tomorrow, and clothing for travel, my lady. He hopes it will please you. May I show you?” Heartha asked.
“Please,” replied Blaze. “My younger sisters said the items you were showing Ada were beautiful.”
“Curiosity killed the cat,” muttered the old lady.
Heartha smiled broadly, showing large horse teeth. “Those garments was for them, my lady. The earl knew that your sisters would want to look especially nice even for a proxy wedding. He understood that the suddenness would perhaps leave them without proper garments ready. Ada”—Heartha turned to the old nursemaid—“would you have the young ladies try on their gowns? If any alterations be needed, they had best start now if they are to be ready tomorrow.”
“Aye, aye, and yer right,” Old Ada agreed, and without another word to Blaze she hobbled off to find her other charges.
Heartha laid the garments she carried upon Blaze’s bed. With quick movements she separated them, placing matching pieces together so that her new mistress might see everything. “His lordship thought you might wear this tomorrow, my lady.” Heartha pointed to an exquisite skirt and matching bodice of cream-colored velvet with a matching silk underskirt. The underskirt and the bodice were both embroidered in gold-thread daisies with delicate long stems and fernlike leaves. The wide bell sleeves were turned back at their lower edge to show their silken lining. It was a simple but totally beautiful gown.
“There’s stockings, and velvet shoes to go with the gown, my lady, and the earl sent you these trinkets to wear with it.” She handed Blaze a flat black leather box.
Stunned by the most beautiful dress she had ever seen in her entire life, Blaze automatically opened the box and looked down. “Blessed Mother!” she gasped. “These are for me?” Nestled within the box upon a bed of black velvet was a double strand of perfectly matched pink pearls from which hung a heart carved from a single piece of rose coral and set within a frame of white gold studded with tiny diamonds. The necklace was so lovely that Blaze almost missed the fat round pink pearls hanging from diamond studs that were meant for her ears. Tears welled up within her violet-blue eyes. She had never possessed anything like these jewels in her entire life. Even her mother had nothing as fine. She felt almost guilty.
Seeing her tears, Heartha nodded to herself. “The earl will be pleased to know that he has made you happy, my lady,” she said.
Blaze looked up. “These are surely the finest jewels in the world,” she said.
“Nay, my lady! Wait until you see what belongs to a Countess of Langford. There are chests of glittering stones and pearls that would buy a kingdom. They will all be yours!”
“I wouldn’t know what to do with them,” said Blaze honestly.
Heartha chuckled. “You’ll learn quick enough, my lady. The earl’s sister will see to that. She’s a proud one, Lady Dorothy, but she’s got a good heart.”
“Did you know Lady Catherine?” Blaze asked curiously.
“Aye, I was her tiring woman the last five years of her life after her old Nan passed on. She was a kind lady, but driven in her desire to give the earl a child. Not that he ever reproached her with it.”
“Does it disturb you to now serve me?” Blaze wondered.
“Lord bless me, child,” said Heartha, momentarily forgetting her place,
“life is a constant cycle of life and death. One just naturally follows the other. You weren’t responsible for Lady Catherine’s death. The good folk at RiversEdge are happy with this new marriage of the earl’s. They await your coming eagerly. Now that I’ve seen your fine family I know that you’ll give us the heir we so desperately want for RiversEdge.”