An Earl of her Own (Saints and Sinners 3)

“He was a good man.” Rebecca sighed.

“The same could not be said about Warner. He wasn’t evil, but he was weak and too used to having his own way in everything.”

Rebecca crossed her arms over her chest. So much for leaving the past in the past. She’d much rather think about the present. The future was too uncertain to be relied upon.

“What do you think, Mrs. Warner? Is she ready to be given away?” the duchess asked Rebecca as she stepped back from the bride.

Fanny rushed to Jessica and caught up her hands. “I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful bride.”

Rebecca shook her head. “Something is missing.”

She went to a nearby table and opened a drawer. She had thought of a surprise for Jessica days ago, and the duchess knew all about it. She removed a stunning hair comb from the drawer, one crusted with sapphires and diamonds. It had belonged to their mother but was now part of the new duchess’ collection of jewels. Each of them had worn it during their own wedding ceremonies.

Rebecca approached her sister with it, holding it flat on her palm. “Mother would have wanted you to wear this today.”

Jessica’s eyes filled with tears and she placed trembling fingers upon the heirloom. “I thought you had forgotten the tradition.”

“Never, my darling.”

Rebecca moved behind Jessica. She gently inserted the precious jewel into Jessica’s hair and then ti

lted her head a little so she could see it in the twin mirrors she stood before.

The duchess beamed. “Now you are the perfect bride! Your mother would be so proud of you today.” The duchess dabbed at the corner of her eye suddenly. “I’m certain she’d be crying like I am about to.”

“Our mother did love weddings,” Rebecca agreed.

Jessica worried her lip. “I’m afraid to move my head. The piece is not too formal, is it?”

“Absolutely not,” Fanny gushed. “You honor our mother by proudly wearing her jewels.”

Jessica’s lips trembled, and Rebecca rushed forward now before she burst into tears. Practicality had its uses. “Let me see you. All you need now is to pick up your flowers and to walk downstairs with Mother and Father by your side. After all, we can’t trust you not to sprint into Gideon’s arms.”

The duchess choked on a laugh. “That’s what I was afraid of, too.”

Jessica laughed along with them. “I wouldn’t embarrass him or any of you like that.” She smiled impishly. “But you can’t stop me running to him after I’m married.”

Rebecca laughed along with the duchess and Fanny. “Come along, Lady Rivers. We must leave so Papa can steal a few minutes alone with the bride.”

Rebecca opened the door and discovered Father pacing outside. “She’s ready.”

“At last,” he exclaimed with a grin. He went in, and Rebecca closed the door to give them privacy. Although Fanny tried to linger to listen in, Rebecca was having none of that and pulled her sister away firmly. “Neither of us need to hear or see our father burst into tears again.”

Fanny gaped. “Did he cry on your wedding day?”

Rebecca stopped in her tracks and nodded slowly. “Didn’t he with you, too?”

Fanny frowned now. “No! He told me he loved me and would miss me, and that was all he said.”

Fanny had always been close to Father. Closer than Rebecca had ever been. She glanced at the closed door they’d just left and her eyes stung. She had assumed she wasn’t his favorite child for so many years, it was disconcerting to realize she hadn’t missed anything of her father’s love. “He told me it wasn’t too late to reconsider.”

Fanny caught her arm. “You have to tell me all about it. Was it embarrassing? Did anyone else see him do it?”

Rebecca smiled quickly. “Some other time. I don’t want to miss a moment of the ceremony. We had better hurry along to join the guests.”

They slipped into the crowded room and separated. Fanny went right and Rebecca to the left. She had promised to stand with Lady Ava for the ceremony.

The girl seemed relieved to see her. “You look so beautiful.”