Wickhurst was in total ruckus when the Town Herald finally announced the wedding of Nicholas Charles Everard, the Lord of Whiston.
Lady Alice expertly perfected the timing of accompanying her future daughter-in-law to gown fittings and shopping, displaying Sophia for everyone else to see and gawk on.
"You simply ignore them, dear," she said to Sophia. "Imagine the shadows on their face as smiles if that helps," she suggested. "But also be wary for their souls can be as dark as their shadows. Not all of them, of course, but still... simply smile. If I squeeze your hand, it is a sign that we are talking to a friend. If I softly clear my throat, we are facing someone who believes we like them but in reality we do notâor should I say we cannot. If I push you to keep walking, you keep walking."
"Why?" she laughingly asked, amused by Lady Alice's instructions.
"Why what dear?"
"What does a push means?"
"Oh, well," her future mother-in-law said with a wicked tone, whispering, "If I push you, it means we are facing a monster. But we are graceful. We do not wish to clash with monsters, do we?"
Sophia chuckled.
"But should it happen, you step back, dear, while I give them a fair amount of graceful verbal lashes."
Sophia shook her head. "You are proving to be just as how Nick said you will be."
"Mother," the woman insisted. "You call me mother."
Her face flushed as she muttered, "Mother."
Lady Alice sighed beside her. "You will get used to it, dear. Now, come along. We must hurry. Benedict and Agatha are due to arrive in an hour."
Sophia swallowed nervously. She was not ecstatic to meet the eldest Everard brother although she was eager to meet his wife who owned a school for servants near their Devonshire estate. She already had the pleasure of meeting Levi and his wife, Lady Victoria, merely three days after they arrived in Wickhurst. The Everard estate had never been quiet ever since with the children running about and with their aunts and uncles joining the fray most afternoons.
As to Sophia, she was overwhelmed. She was already in love with the Everards.
But she was longing for Marcus as well.
Her brother had not reached out, but she hoped he would make his presence known soon. He did not have to attend her wedding, but she would appreciate if he could spare some time for a short meeting.
But it seemed impossible at the moment for Marcus could not be chummy with the Everards if he wished to be accepted by the Trilbys. The two families were like water and oil.
"Now, dear, I am about to give you a push," Lady Alice whispered in her ear as they walked down the street, snapping Sophia back to reality. "We are walking right through a crowd of monsters."
"We can simply walk through them," she suggested.
"Ah, it is best we practice," her future mother-in-law said, giving her a gentle push to the side.
*****
The scandal and gossips were not new. Some were true, some were too farfetched to even be considered gossips. But no article was released that spoke grave ill of Sophia.
Nicholas could not help but believe Durley had something to do with it, but the man was too driven by his own goals that Nicholas would not be surprised if he allowed worse articles to be printed just to stray away from suspicion.
If Durley was not responsible for the lack of harsher articles, then perhaps the credit ought to go to Samuel Theobald. The man once more caused a sensation by writing another article that warned the entire town of Wickhurst of its tendency to judge harshly. Many were awed by his courage to reveal the ugly truth behind everyone's façade. As for the Everards, they knew they found a great ally.
Scandals and gossips aside, Nicholas tried his best to get word to Durley for the two months the wedding was being planned. There was no indication that his secret notes were received by Durley and no reply was ever delivered.
He would not have tried if he was not aware of Sophia's longing for her brother. She was also worried and he fretted over it as well. They could never truly be happy unless Durley showed himself.
The bastard had disappeared. His name was still being mentioned on the Herald, but the circle he associated himself with was not the same as the Everard's. Sophia had gone to countless operas with Nicholas and Lady Alice in hope that her brother would take advantage of the dark environment to come up to her. Every time she left disappointed.
Lady Alice once noted of Sophia's sadness but Nicholas explained that there were parts in Sophia's life that were not yet ready to be revealed due to important reasons. Their mother graciously accepted it and never mentioned it again.
Nicholas could not bring himself to sleep when the night before the wedding finally came. He would soon be a married man. He knew he would not miss his rakehell days. But why was he restless?
He escaped his bedchamber when he thought sleep was not coming and crept into Sophia's room where he found her awake, sitting in bed with Aabha beside her.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed as he closed the door and locked it.
Nicholas grinned and climbed on the bed, slipping under the covers beside her. Aabha jumped off with a whine. "I cannot sleep, Sophie," he whispered, leaning over to kiss her neck. "I cannot wait to bring you home to Whiston. We shall spend the rest of our days in our bedchamber."
She muffled a laugh as she playfully pushed him away. "Mother will not like it. We did promise to live a few months in your estate in Vinge and Dosette before settling in Whiston. And I promised to accompany her to Devonshire two months from now."
"Two months from now you shall be carrying our child," Nicholas said, wrapping an arm around her as he nipped her ear. "Travel will then prove to wear you out."
"And you plan to wear me out," she dryly said, snuggling closer. "We cannot make love tonight, Nicholas."
His hand slipped under the hem of her nightgown. "Why ever not?"
"Because I say so and I want to wait until after the wedding," she said, pushing his hand away. "Simply hold me. I wish to sleep."
He groaned against her neck. "I will suffer through the wedding, Sophie."
Sophia just chuckled, closing her eyes. Silence fell between them. "Nick," she murmured later.
"Yes?"
"I am afraid."
He pulled her closer against his length. "Need not, darling. Do you worry about the gossip not settling down? That everyone will never come to accept you?" She kept quiet. "There is always a first for everything and we, the Everards, have always started a vogue the entire Wickhurst would follow." He planted a kiss on her temple. "Just you wait a few more years, Sophie, and you will no longer be the only colored woman with a title."
"You truly believe it?"
"I claim it to be true," he said, giving her a squeeze. When she smiled, he cleared his throat. "I received a letter from my former lover, Carmel."
Sophia's snort was muffled by his nightshirt. "If you intend to make me jealous, my lord, you are miserably failing."
His chin bent to his chest as he narrowed his eyes at her solemn face, her eyes still closed. "You do not wish to know what she wrote?" he prodded.
She feigned to be asleep, not answering.
Nicholas rolled his eyes. "Carmel wishes me happiness."
Sophia leaned away and with her eyes open, she blindly looked up at him with a tender smile. She tipped her head to plant a soft kiss on his lips. Nicholas reveled at the sweet taste of her lips.
Sophia pulled away before he could even start to deepen the kiss and said, "Nick, should you ever lose me, you must find someone like Carmelâsomeone who wishes for your happiness."
Nicholas shook his head and buried his face in her dark curls, inhaling her scent, feeding his very soul. "There is no one who shall ever be at par, Sophie. There never will be anyone and you must believe me for I have seen them all."
Her chuckle vibrated through him. "You rake!" she said, slapping his arm.
Nicholas closed his eyes. "A rake who loves one woman. Now, that is something you must be very proud of."
He felt her lips against his chest where his heart was. "I do love you too, Nicholas Charles Everard." And she added, "The Lord of Whiston who cannot whistle."
He growled. "Do not provoke me, Sophie. I am just starting to fall asleep."
Sophia laughed and snuggled closer. With a sigh, she said, "Sleep tight, my lord. Tomorrow shall be a sweet one."
*****
Nicholas was surprised when Ralph broke the ruckus in his bedchamber in his apartment in the junction of Vinge Road and Dosett Street and announced to his brothers, "Everyone, please leave Nicholas alone for a moment."
Maxwell wryly asked from where he was comfortably sitting. "Why?"
Ralph smiled. "He is to experience his own rite of passage."
It took a moment for everyone to realize what Ralph meant. The brothers, including Margaret, were aware of Sophia's relationship with Lord Durley.
Ralph did not have to elaborate further for Benedict, Levi and Maxwell readily jumped to their feet and filed out of the room in less than a minute.
Ralph chuckled. He looked at Nicholas' astounded face and winked. "He told me we should find him. He finds us."
When his brother finally left, the connecting door that led to another bedchamber opened and Durley came out.
Nicholas frowned. "How long had you been there?"
Durley sighed. "Enough to hear every bloody thing your brothers had to say about you. Although I must admit that Devonshire and Kenward are growing on me. They are not ones who talk too much like the lot of you."
"You ought to have gone to Sophia first," he said. "She is in my mother's estate at the moment."
Durley shook his head. "Everyone's eyes are on the bride, Whiston. I cannot risk it."
"Are you here to give me a good beating?"
Durley scoffed. "I do not have the time to do it thoroughly." He walked to the nearest chair. "I cannot walk my sister down the aisle, Whiston, but I will be there to see her do so."
"And risk being seen?"
"As I said, everyone's eyes are always on the bride."
"And you came here to tell me so?"
Durley allowed a smile and a look of warning. "Take care of her."
"That is already a given."
"Make her happy."
"Already being done."
"Then keep her happy."
"With pride."
"Tell her to be patient."
Nicholas sighed with frustration. "She would appreciate it if you tell her so yourself. She is dying with worry."
Durley stood up. He reached inside his coat pocket and handed Nicholas a sealed letter. "This is for her. Give it to her."
Nicholas shook his head. "No, you give it to her."
Durley narrowed his eyes. "Do not make me throttle your bloody neck, Whiston."
"I cannot properly tie a cravat, Durley. Throttling me shall cause a problem later."
Durley pushed the note into his palm. "Give this to her and tell her to be patient. I shall come and find her soon."
Nicholas' jaw tightened but he nodded. He pocketed the note.
Durley started to leave but Nicholas stopped him. "Please tell me you are all right."
When the man gave him an incredulous look, Nicholas rolled his eyes. "I do not care of your well-being, but your sister does. She would want to know if you are all right."
"I am being careful," Durley snapped. "That is all she needs to know."
"Are you being cared for? Fed with good meals? Who takes care of you? Are you well-guarded?" Nicholas could not help but add with mockery as Durley walked to the door.
"Bloody get lost, you bastard," the man said over his shoulder before he disappeared.
Nicholas shook his head with a smile. Durley might just be the best brother-in-law.
*****
Nicholas was already in the cathedral waiting inside a chamber while the rest of his family were outside, probably facing the most unwanted tasks.
He, on the other hand, was growing impatient.
The wedding ought to have started by now but the hundreds of guests had made it impossible to start on time.
He paced around the room, deep in thought, looking at the note he meant to give to Sophia. She would be thoroughly happy to receive one from her brother.
He tucked it inside his jacket once again and checked the time.
"Bloody tarnation," he hissed, whirling around to exit the room.
He was met by Benedict and Maxwell. "Where are you going?"
"Wait for my bride. Or fetch her if I must," he snapped, storming down the corridor.
"Mother and Sophia had already left the estate, Nick," Maxwell reassured. His brothers followed him down the corridor, past the hundreds of guests.
"Nick! Nick!" Emma said, walking toward him. "The carriage is coming. Go to your post at once."
Nicholas rolled his eyes and sighed. "Bloody finally."
His sister narrowed her eyes and murmured, "Please lower your voice. We are inside a bleedin' church."
Nicholas scoffed and shook his head. "Nick!" Emma called out and gave him a reassuring smile. "She is very beautiful."
He grinned proudly. "I know."
Ignoring the stares of the guests, Nicholas walked to the altar to wait for Sophia.
His heart began to beat faster as he heard the sound of the carriage approach outside. He shifted in anticipation and then he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and saw Benedict standing beside him. "I took the liberty of assigning myself as the groomsman," his older brother murmured.
Nicholas shook his head. "How did you decide?"
"Chess, of course." He scoffed. "Levi was the first to give up. Ralph lost in under an hour and he whined all night. Maxwell simply claimed to be sleepy and left in the middle of the game."
"You lucky bastard," he said to his brother.
Benedict chuckled and they both stood in silence as the carriage drew to a stop outside the church.
Everyone turned in their seats to see the bride.
When Benedict stepped forward with a frown, Nicholas did the same. Something was awry. The line for the entourage had broken and people were crowding around the large entrance of the cathedral.
When Margaret emerged and signaled for Nicholas and Benedict, Nicholas ran down the aisle, his heart hammering against his chest, fear surging up his spine.
The panic on his siblings' faces merely worsened the moment and Nicholas asked, "What is the matter?" Wide-eyed, he glanced around and found that the carriage was parked outside the church. "What is it!" he demanded.
Nicholas could hear Ysabella's voice from inside the carriage calling for help. He saw Ralph pushing the crowd away, shouting, "Call the Guards!"
Nicholas felt as though the ground was moving under his feet as he stumbled forward, pushing his way through the growing crowd.
"Get out of the way!" he vaguely heard Maxwell shouting.
"Mother!" Emma was shouting.
"Step aside!" Nicholas shouted at the top of his lungs until he was finally facing the open carriage door.
His eyes widened even further when he saw his mother looking white as paper, shaking in Ysabella's arms, tears streaming down her face.
He looked around and found no sign of Sophia. He was beginning to feel the ground crumble under his feet. He could barely hear his mother as his ears began to ring.
"Where is she?" he asked. He could not hear his own voice.
His mother was wailing. Everyone else was shouting.
"Where is she!" Nicholas shouted to hear his own voice. Was anyone hearing him?
His mother was saying something through her tears. She was holding out a piece of paper to him.
Benedict took the note from their mother's outstretched hand and read.
Nicholas whirled around. He had to find her. Where was she?
Hands grabbed him by the shoulders and he found himself facing Benedict's fretful look. Benedict rarely allowed worry on his face. And panic.
Nicholas shook his head as his brother showed him the note.
He closed his eyes to keep the ringing at bay but it persisted. Fear and an impending sense of desolation were gnawing at the pit of his stomach.
He opened his eyes again to read the note with shaky hands.
The sweetest vengeance is given to the patient one. You take mine, I take yours. Felicitations to a wedding that never was, dear Everards.