Chapter 20: A Wedding and a Miracle

August 1830

Two weeks after Marjorie Binnings’s trial, on a warm day in early August, the tenants of Matcham and Woodbridge and their dependants assembled in and in front of the village church. The front pews were taken up by a large group of visitors, noble and rich people, who had come to celebrate with Richard and Ellen. Before their friends and relatives and the assembled gentry, the new squire of Woodbridge Manor, Lord Richard Lambert and his lovely bride, Ellen Trilby Wilkes, exchanged their marriage vows. The Hon. James Palmer, the eldest son of Lord Brougham, served as Richard’s best man, whilst Eleanor Carter had difficulties maintaining a facade of happiness serving as bridesmaid for her friend Ellen.

The ensuing celebration lasted well into the next morning. For most of the evening, Richard and Ellen danced together, save for a few occasions when close relatives danced with the bride. When it was time for the newlyweds to retire, Richard felt anything but tired, having foregone wine and spirits for days and drinking sparsely over the day. He could barely believe that finally, finally Ellen was his. During the coach ride back to Woodbridge Manor, he dared not let go of her hands, lest some quirk of fate may snatch her away at the last moment.

Ellen, for her part, felt Richard’s emotions, and they echoed her own sentiments. Nothing would go wrong this night, she promised herself. When they arrived, she felt the elation as her husband lifted her from the coach. In spite of the late hour, the house staff lined the stairs as Richard led her to the first floor bedroom. She squealed in appreciation when she saw the flower arrangements around the room that filled the air with a sweet scent. A cool bottle of wine and small snacks were waiting, too. She remembered the adoring look of Millicent Wade and she envisioned the girl slaving away to prepare the bedroom for them.

Richard opened the bottle and poured wine into the long-stemmed glasses. He handed her one glass and then saluted her.

“To the lovely Lady Lambert!” he smiled, and they sipped of the wine. Ellen knew that this night would include one little barrier for them to overcome. She was slightly apprehensive, and the wine quelled her fears. With quick determination, she took the covers off their bed and started to remove her jewellery. She needed Richard’s help to undo the clasps that held her dress in the back, and she felt his fingers tremble slightly. When she let her dress slip down her body, she heard Richard’s admiring intake of breath. Stepping out of the puddle of silk, she dropped her undergarments in quick succession until she stood nude in front of her mesmerised husband.

Richard felt short of breath watching as Ellen dropped her clothes. The flickering light of the candles cast a golden hue over her skin. When she reached up to unfasten her hair, he could not resist his urges anymore. Stepping forward, he crushed her against his chest, pressing his lips against hers and kissing her with all the pent-up passion of over two years.

“Won’t you undress, Richard?” she asked breathlessly.

Quickly, he shed his clothes, sending buttons flying all over the room as he ripped open his shirt. Ellen giggled happily until she saw her husband’s state of arousal. Briefly, the apprehension returned, but then she dismissed it. They were finally together, regardless of what it had taken.

When they lay exhausted and sated a good half hour later, side by side on top of the blankets, their hands still tightly entwined, Ellen studied Richard’s profile, saw the beads of perspiration on his forehead, and the heaving of his chest.

‘Shared joy is twice the joy.’ The old saying popped into her mind, and she giggled softly.

Richard propped himself up with some effort and looked into her face questioningly.

Instead of answering the implied question, Ellen wanted to get something off her chest.

“Richard, there is something I have to tell you right now: I just had the most wonderful moments of my life,” she said earnestly. “I want to thank you for the care and patience you showed. You have made this a memory to behold and cherish. I love you with all my heart.”

“You have no idea what this moment means for me, Ellen. It is the fulfilment of a dream. We are truly joined now.”

They kissed tenderly for a while.

“Are you comfortable, Ellen? Would you rather freshen up?”

“No, let’s stay a little!” she whispered back. “How soon can we do this again?”

Looking at him, she giggled again. “So soon?”

He smiled back at her. “Have you any idea how desirable you are, Ellen?”

In truth, he was astonished himself. Holding Ellen tightly, he pulled her on top of him.

“Your turn, darling.”

Comprehension showed on Ellen’s face, and she giggled again, but then grimaced.

“Please don’t be disappointed. I’m too sore.”

He nodded his understanding. “Small wonder. This is your first time. Tomorrow will be another day.”

Ellen nodded and stretched out at his side. Then they untangled the linens and blankets and covered themselves for the night. Lying in a tight embrace, they talked about their day a little while longer, until sleep gained the upper hand.

They skipped breakfast in the next morning, opting instead for another love making session. Ellen was still a little sore, and Richard was careful and solicitous to her. They finished in time to dress for the planned luncheon. The family came over from High Matcham, and it was obvious from the beaming smiles of Ellen and Richard that the wedding night had gone well. Aunt Lydia’s smile was a bit wistful when she saw the happiness of the couple, but Eleanor was clearly hurting. Antonio was gone for over two years, and ten months had gone by since the shipwreck. Her hopes were dwindling although she would never admit to it. She asked herself whether she would ever know the happiness that friend Ellen and Richard felt.

Of course, Ellen noticed her friend’s mood, and her heart went out for her, but she felt unable to give her new hope. She knew that Doña Maria had begun to wear black, and that this had been a major blow for Eleanor. Ellen asked herself how long Eleanor would continue to hope against all probability.

Some time during the afternoon, Lady Carter asked her daughter-in-law for a private moment. She led the unsuspecting Ellen to a room on the second floor, a room Ellen which had not seen yet. When Harriet opened the door, Ellen gasped in surprise. Memories came rushing back to her when she looked at the furniture, some pictures, and a small harpsichord. She knew that instrument, she knew the pictures and the small table with the elegant chairs.

“Where did you get those?” she whispered.

Harriet cleared her throat.

“We sent John Little to Gloucestershire when your stepfather’s possessions were auctioned. He also asked around and found a few items that had been sold before.”

Harriet went to a small table and took a box that was sitting there.

“There is something else you should have. Siobhan gave me this pendant with a miniature painting of her when we parted, and although I cherish the memory of her, I want you to have it, so you can remember your mother by her picture.”

Ellen stared in awe at the minute painting of a young woman in a silver frame. This was her mother, before she became sick and frail! This was her mother how she appeared in Ellen’s happy dreams. She swallowed hard and looked at Harriet whose eyes were moist, too, but she fastened the chain with the pendant around Ellen’s neck. The two women hugged tightly, and then Harriet led her daughter-in-law back into the dining hall.

For the next two weeks, Ellen and Richard enjoyed themselves and the country life, and it was late August when they returned to London. Old Lady Lambert openly enjoyed the presence of the young couple, and she studiously saw to it that they had enough private moments. She became excited like a young woman when Ellen told her that she had missed her first times after the wedding. Most of all, she enjoyed to see her grandson drunk with joy at the side of his young wife. If only Eleanor wound find peace!

Richard was now heading the department in Gilbert Hume’s stead, and he had returned to his desk. It was during his fourth week back, when a clerk from the consular department came over with an envelope. There was a hand written note attached.

’This appears to be a matter for your family.

Melwith.’

George Melwith was the head of the consular department.

Richard opened the envelope to find two sealed letters and a cover letter. He read the cover letter first.

Richard’s first impulse was to rip the letters open, but he checked himself. He stuffed them into his breast pocket and left his office in a hurry. A rented cab brought him to his parent’s home, and he ran up to the door, two steps at a time. Inside, he did not wait for anyone, but bounded up the stairs to Eleanor’s room, pounding against the door until a bewildered Eleanor opened. He picked her up into his arms and hugged her, whirling her around the room.