Chapter 26
Ruark arose from the couch and straightened his clothes. Then he lit all the candles in the room. Under the blazing light Summer felt the need to rearrange her gown and smooth her wildly cascading curls.
Ruark went to the door and summoned Mr. Burke. Summer’s cheeks were flushed, and her breath caught in her throat as she heard Ruark say, “I’m sorry to put you to the trouble, Mr. Burke, but would you be good enough to go down to Helston and fetch the parson?” As he turned back to her, he saw that her eyes were like stars and he knew he had made her happy. He plucked the hibiscus from her breasts and bore it away with him. “Wait just where you are, darling, I have something that will go much better with your lovely wedding gown.”
She sat entranced, thinking surely her heart would burst with happiness. Lord Helford had actually asked her to marry him. She wasn’t dreaming. He’d sent for the parson!
Ruark came back downstairs with a set of velvet jewel cases. He held out his hand and drew her to the tall mirror set above the mantel of the fireplace. The large case held a high necklace with six strands of rubies. Summer gasped as he clasped them about her neck and bent to place a kiss upon her exposed nape.
“These aren’t for me?” she asked in disbelief.
He took out matching bracelets and slipped them over her wrists. “I heard a rumor that Lady Helford was particularly partial to rubies.” He picked up the matching ring and slipped it into his pocket.
“Lady Helford,” she breathed, wondering if she would faint dead away before the parson could be brought.
Ruark bade a servant fetch two cases of wine from the cellars and another to carry in a couple of hogsheads from the alehouse, while Summer, womanlike, admired her reflection in the mirror and held up her arms to catch the reflection of the bloodred rubies.
It was a half hour before Mr. Burke returned with the agitated parson. He was a large man with a shaggy, gray head and an air of authority.
“Welcome to Helford Hall; I have asked you here to perform a wedding ceremony, Mr. Rashleigh,” said Ruark, offering his hand.
The clergyman ignored the hand and drew heavy gray brows together. “I’ve already explained to your man that will be impossible; however, the fool insisted I explain matters to you myself.”
Ruark’s eyebrows rose slightly at his tone. Summer glanced apprehensively at the men, clearly recognizing that both liked to be in control of all situations, and a small battle of wills was inevitable.
“In order for a marriage to take place, banns must be posted,” he explained with exaggerated patience. “When your proclamation of marriage has been read out three times from my church, I shall be happy to consecrate your union, Lord Helford.”
Ruark smiled blandly. “I am the head magistrate in Cornwall. I have the power to waive the banns, and I do so, Mr. Rashleigh.”
The parson opened his mouth to speak and closed it again firmly as he thought better of it.
Summer and Mr. Burke exchanged a significant look—one that said, had there ever been any doubt whose will would prevail?
Ruark told Mr. Burke to assemble all the servants in the hall. He held the door for the clergyman and said quietly, “Fifteen minutes, Mr. Rashleigh.”
When they were alone, Ruark closed the distance between them and gathered her close.
“Do you always get your own way so easily, milord?”
“Always,” he said, his eyes playing with hers.
“With women, too, milord?” she pressed.
“Especially with women,” he teased.
“Perhaps I shall prove the exception,” she said boldly, and withdrew from the circle of his arms. He slanted an eyebrow at her, but she turned to the mirror to adjust her curls. Let him wait and wonder. She was not going to let this wealthy, arrogant young lord think she was easy. She had been the first to declare her love, and yet, she told herself, it had definitely been that passionate declaration which had made him propose.
She watched his image behind her deep in the mirror and hated with a passion all the women he’d known. She couldn’t bear the thought of his mouth tasting another. He was hers and she’d never, ever share him! The thought of kissing brought her eyes to Ruark’s mouth and she began to tremble.
He was beside her in an instant. “Love, what is it? Are you unsure about doing this?”
She turned from the mirror and looked into his eyes. “I want to do it with all my heart,” she told him truthfully.
“That is indeed fortunate, for I cannot give you up. I want you and I want you tonight.” She thought his eyes were like emerald fire as he took her hand and led her to the great hall.
Panic took hold of her for a moment when she saw the vast assembly of servants. She was living a lie, one which would be revealed any moment. She had lived like an urchin, running wild, catching meals whenever the opportunity presented itself. How could she masquerade as a great lady and run a household of fifty servants? Then she saw Mr. Burke eyeing her with approval and suddenly it was all right. Somehow she would pull it off.
She was the center of attention and somehow it had been inevitable that she wear the white gown tonight. With Ruark’s strong arm at her back she stood proudly beside him, allowing the servants to satisfy their curiosity about her.
He held up his hand and the hum of low voices was stilled. “This is Lady Summer St. Catherine, who is to become my bride tonight. She is the first bride to come to Helford Hall since my mother came over thirty years ago.” The servants applauded in unison. “I want you to be part of our wedding. I want you to open your hearts to her and take her inside, as I have. It is some sort of miracle that I found she has lived just next door her whole life. I like to think she has been waiting for me her whole life.”
I have, thought Summer. It was like a revelation. What strange thoughts flitted through her head as large, craggy-faced Mr. Rashleigh helped them exchange vows. First she noticed that the parson had tobacco stains on his fingers and knew with a certainty he was not averse to a bit of honest smuggling. Then she noticed that most of the servants were fat with the exception of those who worked in the stables. They had gorged themselves on the bounty of Helford Hall while she and Spider had almost starved. Then she heard the clergyman admonish Ruark, “Husband, love thy wife as you would your own body. A man shall be joined unto his wife and they shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery.”
Very soon Ruark would indeed join his body to hers, and she cast him a swift apprehensive glance. She thought with alarm, He is so solemn, so controlled. His dark hair was clubbed back severely, his brooding thoughts unreadable. Suddenly she had the urge to see him disheveled and wildly out of control. She knew the need to shatter his composure into a million pieces and a small wicked voice inside her taunted, Will you be the one to do it?
“I will, I will!” she vowed, and the assembled servants murmured their approval that the lady had put her whole heart into her response. Now the bloodred ruby ring was pushed on her finger and he was bending to give her the matrimonial kiss, and instead of closing her eyes, she looked into his to see them darken with desire. She was aware of how her loveliness affected him by the way his avid eyed devoured her.
“You look happy,” she murmured.
“I have very simple tastes; I am always satisfied with the best.” He hugged her to him quickly before he turned her to face the staff. Mr. Burke stepped forward to present her with a great ring of chatelaine keys and one by one the scullery maids, the kitchen maids, the cooks, the upstairs maids, the parlor maids, and the housekeeper came forward to give their curtsy to the new mistress. There was a strict pecking order and Summer learned it for the first time.