Weddings of the Century: A Pair of Wedding Novellas(27)

As the key turned in the lock, Sunny collapsed, shaking, on the bed. She had never dreamed how painful defiance could be. Yet she could not surrender, not when her whole life’s happiness was at stake.

She must see Paul; he would know what to do.

The thought steadied her churning emotions, and she began to consider what to do. Her bedroom opened onto the roof of one of the porches, and her older brother Charlie had showed her how to climb to the ground. Her mother had never dreamed that her well-bred daughter would behave in such a hoydenish fashion.

Paul was staying at Windfall, which was only a mile away. Would he be there this evening? Yes, he'd mentioned that the Astors were giving a dinner party. She would wait until her mother retired, then escape and walk to Windfall.

With a veil over her face, no one would recognize her even if she was seen. She’d go to the servants’ entrance and ask for the butler. He knew her, and she thought that for a suitable consideration he would summon Paul and let them have a few minutes of privacy.

Once they were together, everything would be all right.



*

Sunny’s plan went smoothly and by ten o’clock that evening she was pacing nervously around the Windfall servants’ sitting room. She hoped Paul would be able to slip away quietly when the butler delivered her message. But what if the butler betrayed her to Mrs. Astor? Or if Mrs. Astor suspected that something was amiss and decided to investigate?

The door opened and she whirled around, ready to jump from her skin. With a wave of relief, she saw that it was Paul, devastatingly attractive in his evening dress. Coming toward her with concern on his face, he said, “Darling, you shouldn’t risk your reputation like this. But it’s wonderful to see you unexpectedly!"

He opened his arms and she went into them eagerly. She loved his height, which made her feel small and feminine. It was the first time they had real privacy, and his kiss far surpassed what they had shared before. Her resolve strengthened. She would never give up his love for the dubious pleasure of marrying a nondescript duke. Never!

Remembering the reason for her visit, she reluctantly ended the kiss. “Oh, Paul, something dreadful has happened!” she said miserably. “Today my mother told me that she has arranged for me to marry someone else. I told her about our betrothal, but she won’t hear of it. She locked me in my room and swore I’d stay there on bread and water until I changed my mind.”

“How dare she treat you in such a way!” Paul exclaimed. “I won’t permit it!”

“I refused to agree to her wishes, of course, but it was so difficult. I...I think we should elope. Tonight.”

“Right now?” he said, startled. “That’s not what I want for you, darling. You deserve the grandest wedding of the century, not a furtive, hole-in-corner affair.”

“What does that matter?” she said impatiently. “I’m trying to be strong, but my mother is...is not easy to resist.”

“Who does she want you to marry?”

“The new Duke of Thornborough, Justin Aubrey. His brother, Gavin, just died, and Justin needs a rich wife.”

Before she could say more, Paul said in a stunned voice, “The Duke of Thornborough! You would be one of the most influential women in England.”

“And one of the unhappiest.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked them back angrily. “I need to be with you, Paul.”

“We must reason this out.” He stroked her back soothingly. “Your mother flatly refused to consider me as a suitor?”

“She said that it was unthinkable that I should marry a nobody.” Sunny relaxed again, comforted by his touch. “Such nonsense! Titles mean nothing. What matters is being a gentleman, and no one is more gentlemanly than you.”

After a long pause, Paul said gravely, “Sunny, I can’t marry you against your mother’s wishes. Though I knew that she would not be enthusiastic about my suit, I thought I would be able to persuade her. But to be Duchess of Thornborough! With that in prospect, she will never accept me."

A tendril of fear curled through Sunny. “It is not my mother’s place to choose my husband,” she said sharply. “It’s mine, and you are my choice. That’s all that matters.”

“If only it were that simple!” He sighed. “But it’s not, my dear. You are not simply my own sweet love, but a national treasure, one of America’s princesses. What kind of cad would I be to take advantage of your innocence to keep you from a glorious future?”

Sunny stared at him, thinking that this scene couldn’t be real. Perhaps she had fallen off her bicycle and injured her head and everything that had happened since was only a bad dream. “You’re saying you don’t want to marry me?”

“Of course I do, but clearly that is impossible. If you marry me, you will become estranged from your family. I don’t want to be the cause of that.” He gazed lovingly into her eyes. “This won’t be so bad, darling. In fact, one could see it as a piece of good fortune. With your influence to further my career, I’ll be in the Cabinet in no time.”

“Is that what matters most? Your career?” she said in a brittle voice.

“Of course not!” He pulled her close again. “The most important thing is our love, and your mother can’t take that away from us. After you’ve given Thornborough an heir and a spare, we’ll be free to love each other as we were meant to.”