Page 45 of Brazen Rogue
"Miss Hall?" Lizzie said, entering the room. "Lady Chilsten is here to see you."
Reign jumped to her feet, rushing out to the foyer to find Julia banging off her boots and wiping snow off her shawl.
"Julia," she shouted, pleasure flooding her at seeing her friend again. "It is so lovely to see you."
Julia pulled her into a quick embrace. "And I you, Reign. My visit is long overdue, but we're home for several days before returning to London."
Reign smiled, unable to believe her friend was standing before her again. "I have missed you. Tell me all your news?" she asked.
Julia studied her and nodded in approval. "Your dress is appropriate, so come. I have a surprise for you."
She looked past Julia and out the door where one could barely see through the snow. "A surprise? Outside?" she questioned, taking a cautionary step backward. The day was far too cold to venture outside.
Julia chuckled, picking up Reign's shawl that hung beside the door. "Yes, out there. Now come, I have a carriage waiting with hot bricks inside. You shall be warm enough," she said, and was once again striding toward the front gate.
Reign slipped on the shawl and bonnet and followed her friend. The carriage was indeed warm, and they were soon rolling toward the village.
"Will you tell me what this surprise is?" she asked.
"No," Julia smirked. "You will see soon enough." Reign glanced out the window and frowned as the carriage pulled up before the church.
"What are we doing here?" she asked.
Her friend tapped the side of her nose but did not respond, and Reign's interest was piqued. A footman opened the door and helped them alight before Julia clasped her hand and walked toward the church doors.
They stepped into the foyer and her stomach twisted at the sight of Lord Chilsten. He approached her, bussing her cheeks and holding out his arm. "Shall we, Miss Hall?" he asked her, as mysterious as her friend was being.
Reign looked to Julia, who beamed before opening the doors to the church and revealing all the people waiting inside. Reign gasped at the sight of everyone. The Woodville girls she had played with as children stood, watching her, their smiles as genuine as the men who stood beside them. Mr. and Mrs. Woodville and several local friends had ventured out in the cold January afternoon to be part of his snare.
Her attention moved over them all, and her heart jumped in her chest at the sight of one person in particular. Waiting for her, watching her, loving her.
Bellamy.
"We shall," she answered Lord Chilsten, blinking through her tears, unable to comprehend how Bellamy had organized such a momentous day without her knowing. Bringing everyone she loved to Grafton so he could marry her.
She walked up the aisle, and the sight of little Alice, soon to be her stepdaughter, made her tears fall quicker. She reached out to the little girl, taking her hand as she passed and bringing her with her to stand beside Bellamy.
Lord Chilsten gave her hand to Lord Lupton-Gage, and she shook her head, unable to comprehend, to understand. "Bellamy," she marveled, reaching up to clasp his face. "What are you doing?" she asked him, laughing.
He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. "I'm going to marry you, Miss Hall. Now, before anything else can keep us apart."
She looked back at all their friends, many of whom were as teary as she was. "But you're in mourning. I just read the news today. I'm so sorry."
He shook his head, halting her words. "I will not mourn a woman who would have danced a jig upon my grave if she could. I will continue my life, marry the love of my life and never look back. That is what I want if that is what you want too?" he asked her.
So much happiness thrummed through her she thought she would burst. Reign reached for him, kissing him, having missed him so very much it hurt.
"It is what I want. More than anything," she answered, her heart full with wonder and hope for their future. A future with the man she loved above all else in the world. A man worth waiting for.
He nodded and turned to the reverend. "Please proceed," he ordered, a commanding lord to his very core.
The reverend cleared his throat and proclaimed to all, "We are gathered here today ..."
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