portraits.
Susan pulled James closer to the doorway to greet her parents. “You’re not old, father,” she said.
“Well I feel it. And this confounded weather’s not helping much, I can tell you. And what the blazes has happened to your brother and sister? I’ve not seen them since we left the church.”
Susan was almost laughing with her mother. “Jane is no doubt surrounded by boys somewhere, wondering which one to dance with first, and Charles is undoubtedly trying to fight them all off!”
Susan’s mother could not take her eyes off her daughter any more than she could rest the smile that told her what a picture she looked. The wedding gown was gold silk dupion with just a hint of pink that shone through like an aura. The fabric poured from the pleats at Susan’s tiny waist, splashing to the floor like liquid gold. The boned bodice accentuated her proportions and was decorated with rosettes diminishing down the centre, and full sleeves, just covering her shoulders, dropped to further gold pleats and white lace flounces. The top of her chest was bare; a frame for the black velvet choker that ringed her neck, studded with a single, attention grabbing diamond.
“Beautiful,” her mother said as she leant in and kissed Susan’s cheek.
“I’ve never been more proud!” her father added. He took James’s hand and pumped it vigorously, and his strong grip was well met.
James beckoned to a servant standing by the doorway, who instantly arrived with a light skip and an almost worried look on his face. James liberated four glasses of champagne from an engraved silver tray as another servant joined the first with a freshly loaded tray to take his place. Their guests continued to stream into the room, everyone gazing at the happy couple and adding their remarks to the cacophony of words that circled the room.
It seemed that James Fairborne had no family there at the church to witness the union, and none now at the reception, but it was not a matter for remark or supposition. The guests were almost exclusively from Susan’s side of the family, related in some way to the Devonshire Forbes, and word of James’s situation soon circulated. Other guests were prominent figures of the local community, such as the church warden and the parish constable.
“Today I am made a happy man,” James said. He served the wide-rimmed, coupe glasses, spilling champagne over his hands in his eagerness. He laughed and raised his glass. “And your daughter, Sir...” He bowed his head to Howard Forbes. “Your daughter has made me so!”
Glasses tinkled and the confusion of words circling the room fell silent to the ground. Everyone with a glass raised it to James and Susan Fairborne, and those without one quickly rushed to remedy the situation.
“To the happy couple!” someone shouted, and the room erupted with congratulations.
James put an arm around Susan’s waist and gazed intently into her eyes. The strength of his voice was only for their group now. “And before this year is out we shall be celebrating again,” he said. He looked back to Susan’s parents and smiled. “And we shall be the happier for it.”
“And so you deserve to be.” Howard said. “Every man must have an heir.” He came closer to James and reached a fatherly hand up to his shoulder. “You’ve not had it good of late.”
“No indeed,” James said. “Not good at all.”
But it was getting better - much better. Now James Fairborne was breathing again, deeper breaths than he had ever taken, sucking it all in and enjoying every moment. His personal darkness was at last ended, and the light that replaced it was already far brighter than he had ever imagined.
Chapter Ten
A my Fallon continued to stare at the clock above the mantle, watching each painful minute tick away until she drifted into a state of unsettled half-sleep. She
Susan pulled James closer to the doorway to greet her parents. “You’re not old, father,” she said.
“Well I feel it. And this confounded weather’s not helping much, I can tell you. And what the blazes has happened to your brother and sister? I’ve not seen them since we left the church.”
Susan was almost laughing with her mother. “Jane is no doubt surrounded by boys somewhere, wondering which one to dance with first, and Charles is undoubtedly trying to fight them all off!”
Susan’s mother could not take her eyes off her daughter any more than she could rest the smile that told her what a picture she looked. The wedding gown was gold silk dupion with just a hint of pink that shone through like an aura. The fabric poured from the pleats at Susan’s tiny waist, splashing to the floor like liquid gold. The boned bodice accentuated her proportions and was decorated with rosettes diminishing down the centre, and full sleeves, just covering her shoulders, dropped to further gold pleats and white lace flounces. The top of her chest was bare; a frame for the black velvet choker that ringed her neck, studded with a single, attention grabbing diamond.
“Beautiful,” her mother said as she leant in and kissed Susan’s cheek.
“I’ve never been more proud!” her father added. He took James’s hand and pumped it vigorously, and his strong grip was well met.
James beckoned to a servant standing by the doorway, who instantly arrived with a light skip and an almost worried look on his face. James liberated four glasses of champagne from an engraved silver tray as another servant joined the first with a freshly loaded tray to take his place. Their guests continued to stream into the room, everyone gazing at the happy couple and adding their remarks to the cacophony of words that circled the room.
It seemed that James Fairborne had no family there at the church to witness the union, and none now at the reception, but it was not a matter for remark or supposition. The guests were almost exclusively from Susan’s side of the family, related in some way to the Devonshire Forbes, and word of James’s situation soon circulated. Other guests were prominent figures of the local community, such as the church warden and the parish constable.
“Today I am made a happy man,” James said. He served the wide-rimmed, coupe glasses, spilling champagne over his hands in his eagerness. He laughed and raised his glass. “And your daughter, Sir...” He bowed his head to Howard Forbes. “Your daughter has made me so!”
Glasses tinkled and the confusion of words circling the room fell silent to the ground. Everyone with a glass raised it to James and Susan Fairborne, and those without one quickly rushed to remedy the situation.
“To the happy couple!” someone shouted, and the room erupted with congratulations.
James put an arm around Susan’s waist and gazed intently into her eyes. The strength of his voice was only for their group now. “And before this year is out we shall be celebrating again,” he said. He looked back to Susan’s parents and smiled. “And we shall be the happier for it.”
“And so you deserve to be.” Howard said. “Every man must have an heir.” He came closer to James and reached a fatherly hand up to his shoulder. “You’ve not had it good of late.”
“No indeed,” James said. “Not good at all.”
But it was getting better - much better. Now James Fairborne was breathing again, deeper breaths than he had ever taken, sucking it all in and enjoying every moment. His personal darkness was at last ended, and the light that replaced it was already far brighter than he had ever imagined.
Chapter Ten
A my Fallon continued to stare at the clock above the mantle, watching each painful minute tick away until she drifted into a state of unsettled half-sleep. She
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