Sommersgate House (60 page)

At this
dramatic pronouncement, Douglas turned only his head in her
direction and she realised the Bishop had stopped talking
again.

“Darling,
would you care to be quiet long enough for us to get married?”
Douglas asked politely.

Julia could
have happily had the floor open up and engulf her at that
moment.

“
Yes,
yes,
definitely,
” she
turned to the Bishop and nodded at him encouragingly while giving
him a shaky smile.

The Bishop
looked at Douglas for a shade longer than was necessary, obviously
giving him time to run from the Cathedral, but Douglas stood
true.

When Julia
looked out the corners of her eyes at her intended to gauge just
how furious he was, she saw his lips twitching with humour and her
breath left her in relief. She leaned into him, resting her body
against his side and she let her head drop to his shoulder.

The Bishop
started talking faster, his eyes widening at this new affront to
tradition and decorum.

But
Julia was finished making a fool of herself and the only thing that
caused her to be anything but deliriously happy (and it was only to
cause her to be even
more
deliriously happy) was when Douglas’s deep voice rang out
in the cathedral when he said his vows
and
when he said, “I do.”

It might not
have been the near-shout Gavin had used but it was damned
close.

And although
Gavin had given Tamsin a mighty kiss when they were pronounced man
and wife, the entire congregation at Wells Cathedral shifted
uncomfortably in their seats when Douglas kissed Julia.

It was not
decorous and befitting a church.

It was long
and hungry with possession, branding her as his in the eyes of God
(literally) and everyone else and it left Julia swaying, dazed and
utterly, thrillingly, rapturously, ecstatically happy.

* * * * *

“I heard this
house was frightful and actually haunted but it seems lovely to
me.” A woman Julia didn’t know was speaking to her at the wedding
reception which was being held at Sommersgate.

Julia nodded
and stared in vague alarm out the French doors of the old entryway
at a ten foot tall ice sculpture of swans sitting in the middle of
the garden, their bills pressed together to form a heart.

She had heard
no discussion about ice sculptures.

“
If a
little…
ornate
.” The
woman was still talking.

With a smile,
Julia turned her attention to the woman and explained, “There are
no ghosts here…” she smiled and winked before she finished,
“anymore.”

Before there
was a chance for the woman to reply, there was a tinkling of
glasses indicating that a toast was soon to be made.

Julia and
Douglas had decided against a formal meal and traditional reception
with the traditional toasts. Heavy hors d’ouevres and an even
heavier open bar, good company and good conversation were all they
were to provide. Julia simply wanted a party, a joyous celebration
and nothing tired and staid.

Therefore she
was a bit surprised that the glasses were being tapped for a toast
and she looked to the stairs where Douglas stood on the sixth
step.

Once the
congregation quieted, Douglas said across the expanse, “Could I ask
my wife to join me, please?”

A thrill ran
down her spine at being referred to as his “wife” and she turned to
the lady and murmured, “If you’ll excuse me, my husband wants
me.”

“Of course,”
the woman replied, smiling brightly into Julia’s glittering
eyes.

Julia wended
her way through the crowd all the while her eyes on Douglas and his
on her. When she was close to the foot of the staircase, he came
down to meet her (complete with a brush of his lips against hers)
and then he helped her climb the steps to resume his position over
the crowd.

Nick quickly
approached holding three full glasses of champagne and Douglas took
two, handing one to her.

“What are you
doing?” she whispered. “I thought we agreed there would be no
toasts.”

“
We
agreed that no one
else
would make
any toasts but I can say what I want in my own house,” Douglas
returned, the warmth in his eyes showing he was teasing.

There was a
time when she would not have believed that Douglas Ashton could
tease.

But he could,
very well.

She beamed at
him, too happy to be cross, and then turned to the crowd and linked
her arm through his.

“Firstly,”
Douglas’s strong voice carried throughout the cavernous space,
“I’ll tell you that my wife is rather fond of lists so I’ve decided
to take my cue from her and recite a list of toasts. I ask you to
charge your glasses because there will be several before I reach
the end.”

Julia felt a
blush creep in her cheeks at the fondness in his tone and leaned
into his side. Some of the hired staff (because all of the
Sommersgate regulars were guests this day) were wandering around
carrying two bottles of champagne each and filling glasses, others
were carrying heavy trays on which filled glasses rested for those
who had no drinks at all.

Finally,
Douglas started, “I would like to thank you all for coming and
celebrating this very special occasion.”

“A long time
coming,” Patricia grumbled loudly and people laughed.

Douglas wisely
decided to ignore her.

“
I would
also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. and Mrs. Roderick
Kilpatrick for their years of service to myself and my home. They
have been faithful to me and my family in more ways than we often
deserved. They have been exceedingly kind and welcoming to my wife
and my new family and I,” he turned to Julia, “
we
are lucky to have them. To Roddy and Margaret
Kilpatrick.”

He lifted his
glass and Julia watched his gorgeous throat as he drank down a sip.
She was already near tears, her hand clutching at her husband’s
arm. She swiftly took a drink and turned her eyes to the
Kilpatricks who were both visibly moved by his toast (indeed, Mrs.
K’s eyes shone with tears).

Before she
could respond further, Douglas began speaking again.

“I publicly
acknowledge the interference of Charlotte Forsythe, interference
which greatly hastened this day.” Julia watched Douglas’s chin dip
to look at Charlie and he finished. “Thank you, Charlie.”

The last three
words were said more quietly as Charlie was standing at the foot of
the stairs and they were directed warmly to her.

Julia noted,
as the tears pricking the backs of her eyes began to spill,
Charlie’s own tears were falling over. The congregation twittered
in curiosity but they took their cue from Douglas who lifted his
glass in a salute to Charlie and took a sip.

“To Charlie!”
Oliver shouted and everyone concurred.

Charlie’s
toast complete, Douglas carried on. “I must pay tribute to Patricia
Fairfax, a good woman, a fine mother and a wonderful grandmother
who has accepted me readily into her family, a position I hold with
great honour. To Patricia,” he toasted and Julia gave up the
pretence of attempting to control herself and, letting the tears
flow freely, she wrapped her arm around Douglas’s waist and went up
on tiptoe to put her mouth to his ear.

“I love you,”
she whispered, as he shifted his own arm around her waist to hold
her tightly.

His only
response was to kiss her temple then he looked back to the crowd
and continued. “And now, to Elizabeth, William and Ruby Fairfax,
who have, these last months, showed great courage and strength.
Could you three please join your aunt and me?” Without further
coaxing, the children melted out of the crowd and self-consciously
(except Ruby who barrelled up to the steps with great vigour)
joined them on the stairs. “I ask you all to lift your glasses to
the courage of my nieces and nephew.”

“Here, here!”
Roddy Kilpatrick sang out.

“To Lizzie,
Will and Ruby!” Nick shouted.

Mrs.
Kilpatrick and Ronnie burst into loud tears.

Everyone
toasted and took their sips and Douglas continued. “And lastly, I
should toast my beautiful wife but I will salute her in an
altogether different way later.” He turned to give her a sexy smile
and Julia’s cheeks, already pink with emotion, flamed. He turned
back to the crowd. “I will finish with a toast to two people who
could not be here today. To Gavin and Tamsin Fairfax who bestowed
on us the great honour of rearing their children in their absence
and, in so doing, led me to Julia. I cannot find words to express
my gratitude so I shall not try.” When everyone began to lift their
glasses to drink, Douglas went on. “But especially to my sister,
who always had faith in me, who was, in every way, a kind and
loving soul, the light in an often dreary life. To Tamsin Fairfax!”
His voice rang loud and Julia forced her face into his neck, too
overcome to join in the shouts to Tammy.

“Thank you
all,” Douglas, finally, (and thankfully, Julia could take no more)
was finished. “Please continue to enjoy –”

“Hold on a
blasted minute.”

Douglas
quieted and Julia peaked out from her hiding place to see Patricia
shouldering her way through the crowd. Luckily she’d divested
herself of her hat or she might have caused injury.

“I have
something to say,” she announced upon arrival at the step.

The children
were shifting uncomfortably and Julia stiffened at whatever
dramatic pronouncement might come out of her mother’s mouth.
Douglas, however, was the soul of amiability and he smiled,
actually smiled (and warmly too) at his new mother-in-law.

Patricia
smiled back and turned to the crowd.

“
I’ve
been waiting fifteen years to do this, as long as it took him to
figure out he was in love with my daughter. He may have a head for
business and a reputation for quick decisions but I’m here to tell
you, there are some ways he can be
very
slow
.”

The
crowd laughed but if Julia was stiff before, she was rock solid
now. She would
not
allow her
mother to badmouth her husband in front of hundreds of guests. She
was about to interrupt when her mother continued.

“But, the
longer we wait, the sweeter our victory, eh, Douglas?” Patty
grinned, any sting in her earlier words taken out by the dancing
light in her eyes.

Douglas merely
inclined his head.

“
I, for
one,” she told the crowd, “feel damned lucky to call Douglas Ashton
my son. He’s a good man, has taken care of my grandchildren during
a very trying time and has, finally, after I fretted for years that
it would ever happen, made my daughter unbelievably happy. I mean,
look at the girl, she’s
glowing!
” There was more laughter and Douglas’s other arm wrapped
around Julia.

“So please,”
Patricia continued, “join me in raising your glasses to Douglas
Ashton, my daughter’s husband, my grandchildren’s uncle, my new son
and a very fine man. To Douglas!”

“Oh Mom!”
Julia cried, reached across Douglas to embrace her mother and after
she did so, Patricia gave Douglas a loud kiss on his cheek.

“You should
know, my boy, I’ve put you in my will,” she informed him
grandly.

He nodded
gravely, as if he needed to be put in her will and didn’t have
enough money to buy a small country. Patricia winked at Julia then
hustled the children down the stairs.

Douglas kept
hold of his wife, his arms loosely wrapped around her.

“That was well
done of you,” Julia praised him.

“Let’s go,” he
answered, completely ignoring her compliment.

Julia laughed,
light-hearted and carefree, the music of her laughter sounding
through Sommersgate.

When she
sobered enough to speak, she realised he was serious and therefore
protested, “We can’t leave our own wedding reception.”

“We can,” he
insisted.

And Douglas
was correct.

Because,
without delay, they did.

Sommersgate
House

Julia Ashton,
Baroness Blackbourne, finally bested Douglas in the present giving
stakes.

That evening
they arrived at The Ritz (several hours earlier than expected) for
their wedding night.

Their
honeymoon flight to Fiji would leave early the next morning.

Sometime deep
into the night, when the room was dark and they lay naked and
replete in each other’s arms, in a low voice, Douglas explained his
arrival during her wedding preparations. He expected her to have
cold feet and was going to warn her that if she left him, he’d find
her and drag her home. Upon her announcement that he should buy
them a small island where they could live in sin, he realised she
wasn’t going to leave him.

Julia rewarded
him for this admission by giving him his wedding present.

She shared her
secret with him and informed him she was pregnant.

He was, for
Douglas Ashton, beside himself with delight.

They named
their daughter Margaret Tamsin Fairfax Ashton.

* * * * *

A great number
of happy years later, Douglas insisted to Roddy Kilpatrick that
they lay his wife to rest in the family plot on the grounds of
Sommersgate House.

No one,
really, could think of anywhere more appropriate for Mrs. K to
spend eternity.

Roddy joined
his wife there shortly after.

Flowers were
delivered to their graves, as well as the graves of Tamsin and
Gavin Fairfax, on a weekly basis for as long as Douglas was
alive.