Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty – Four

Henry fidgeted with the little golden circle in his pocket. It wasn’t mandatory to give a ring with a proposal but he thought it would make the occasion a little more special.

She’d told him she was ready … in so many words. He’s kissed her before she could tell him but he knew what she’d been trying to say. She was ready. Vernon was in the past and he could now be forgotten. He didn’t want to waste any time before securing her hand. Well, they’d have to wait until December. He wasn’t having their wedding without his grandmother present. It would be quite poetic anyway. So many members of his family had wed at the village church. Though, of course, he could if she said ‘yes’.

The ballroom was already quite full with guests. Noblemen and military men alike, everyone was feeling the excitement in the room. The strings band that Emilia had hired were warming up and dance cards were being filled out. He’d made small talk with several of his parents’ acquaintances with many of them asking after the main attraction – Soprano Ebony Seaver. There were only a few mentions of the happenings at court but none seemed to care too much. As far as the ton were concerned, the star of Her Majesty’s favourite opera was to perform a private concert. London were quick to judge the little man, but they would strangely overlook the private life of a celebrity if it meant they’d receive something in return.

The announcer cleared his throat as his mother, sisters, Alice and Ebony all entered the room.

“Her Ladyship, Emilia, Countess of Ethridge. Lady Catherine Aubrey, Lady Jane Gray, Lady Anne Preston, Lady Alice Alcott and Miss Ebony Seaver.”

At the mention of Ebony’s name all heads turned and the whispers started. They were excited whispers. Not many sounded negative.

His sisters all joined their husbands, Kitty in particular seeming overly attached to the soon departing William. But he couldn’t take his eyes off Ebony. She looked so happy. She looked relaxed and carefree. Not in the several months he’d known her had he ever seen her look her age. She was twenty. She was in the prime of her life. The stress she’d been experiencing made her have the spirit of an eighty year old. He’d loved her before, but he could never comprehend the amount of love he had for the new Ebony.

Her dark eyes found him and she flashed him a brilliant smile as she was led to the stage by his mother. She looked ever so beautiful. His sisters had pulled, brushed and pinned her impossible tendrils until they were smooth and shiny. The little, intricate braids were twisted into a sophisticated bun on the back of her head. Her gown was gold and tight the waist with several yards of expensive lace folded into the skirt. Handmade, material roses were the decoration on the bodice, with the little buds being sewn to the sleeves and to the bust of her gown. She belonged here with him.

“My lords, ladies and gentlemen,” Emilia began, capturing the attention of the room. “It is my great pleasure to present to you a beautiful young lady of whom I’m glad to call ‘friend’ … though I hope to be calling her my daughter soon enough.” Emilia laughed lightly, as did many others. Ebony’s cheeks went bright red and Henry shot his mother a displeased look. Emilia had been the one who’d given him her sapphire ring. She’d told him that his father had given it to her on their first anniversary. Emilia ignored his look though. “We’ve all heard her dazzling voice bring Bellini’s Elvira to life on the stage, and here to perform the pieces we all fell in love with and exclusively for us – Miss Ebony Seaver!” Emilia and Ebony kissed each other on the cheek and then Emilia left Ebony on the stage. She turned around and said something to the band and they began to play. Ebony then opened her mouth and began to sing in perfect Italian.

The evening was a huge success. The dancing never stopped, the singing was sublime and Kitty wasn’t crying. Celeste had even crept downstairs and Henry had asked his future sister-in-law to dance. He’d received a very touched look from Ebony as he did so. Celeste had told Henry that she wanted to be like Ebony one day. Henry had asked her if she wanted to sing on stage as well but that wasn’t what Celeste had meant.

“Ebbie always looks after me,” Celeste had commented while Henry was dancing with her on his feet. “I want to take care of her.”

Henry was in awe of the little girl. “How about you and I make a deal for the interim?” he proposed. “Why don’t I take care of her until you are old enough?” Henry pulled the sapphire ring from his pocket and showed it to Celeste. The oval shaped stone sat on top of a thin, gold band. It was a very attractive, yet unorthodox, wedding ring. “You are the most important person in your sister’s life. Do I have you permission to ask her to marry me?”

Celeste’s blue eyes widened as she took the ring in her hand. “Beautiful,” she whispered. She then looked up at Henry. “Does this mean you’ll be my brother?” Celeste asked.

More like a father figure, but either name suited, and he couldn’t wait to be. He’d be there to dry her tears and sooth her fevers and threaten her suitors. “Would you like that?” he asked.

Celeste nodded eagerly. “Very much!” she said excitedly. She wrapped her arms tightly around Henry’s waist. “I love you, Henry,” she whispered.

“I love you, too,” he replied. Though it wasn’t the sister he’d wanted to say the words to first, he was glad he had Celeste’s faith and trust.

William had made a speech thanking Emilia and Sebastian for their farewell party and he’d promised Kitty that he’d be in Yorkshire for Christmas by December fifteenth with a gift from the Caribbean for her and the children. Henry could still see the nerves on Kitty’s face but she’s called out that she expected something atrociously expensive, much to the amusement of the guests.

At around midnight, Ebony had finished singing for the evening so Henry took the opportunity to ask her for a dance. He liked the waltz, mainly because of its simplicity. If one could remember three steps then they could waltz.

“You were beautiful,” he commented with a smile. “Both in your singing and in your appearance.”

Ebony looked to the ground bashfully. “Thank you,” she replied quietly. “I enjoyed performing again.”

“You belong on the stage,” he said simply. “I don’t want to keep you from it. Ellen is still in London … you could go with her to Barcelona … if you wanted.” He desperately didn’t want her to go, but he would not be responsible for keeping her from what she loved. In the end it would be wrong to keep someone from what they loved. It would be like keeping Kitty from throwing a tantrum or keeping Little J from spouting a fact – it would be impossible.

Ebony smiled at him, looking quite appreciative of what he’s just said. “I will be there again, but I don’t want to be traipsing across the continent like I’m completely carefree. Not that Ellen is carefree, she has her son, but he’s well taken care of … thanks to you. What I’m saying is that I have roots now which I’ve never had before. I’m finally in a position to support her. And ….” A blush formed on her cheeks. “I don’t want to be apart from you.”

That’s all Henry needed to hear. She wanted to be in London with him. “Come with me,” he said quietly, taking her hand. Where was he going to do it? He set his eyes on the courtyard outside. The windows would allow onlookers but only those informed of his plans would know what they would be discussing.

The night air was quite mild. Summer was here once again. He didn’t like the warmer weather. As a typical Englishman, he enjoyed in the miserable drizzle and dreariness he was used to.

“What are we doing out here?” Ebony asked curiously.

Henry rounded on her, keeping her hand in his. Their abrupt stop made her jump a little. He didn’t hesitate. If he did then he would lose his nerve. “I love you,” he said intensely. Her dark eyes widened with shock at his confession. He didn’t give her an opportunity to respond. “I am so hopelessly in love with you and you might not love me as much as I love you, if you love me at all, but please give me the opportunity to make you love me.” He was almost breathless. He spoke so fast. Ebony just looked stunned. It was then that he reviewed his statement in his mind. “Not make you!” he exclaimed. “I’d never make you. I’m not a tyrant,” he explained. “I’ll do everything in my power to persuade you to … oh, that’s still not right.” He wanted to smack himself. “I’m doing this all wrong.” He hung his head and cursed himself.

Instead of stalking off at his ridiculousness, Ebony laughed. “I think you’re doing this all right.” He felt her put a finger under his chin and lift his head up to look at her. She looked so happy. Happier than before. Happy to hear his confessions, he hoped. “Henry,” she said tenderly. “I love you, too.”

He was taken aback. He honestly hadn’t expected her to say the words back. He just wanted the chance to properly romance her. Untying her in cellars, sitting together in a hospital bed and giving evidence at court was not his idea of courting. He’d also never expected to hear those words ever. He wasn’t the suave, handsome brother – James was. Women had never fancied him. Yet Ebony loved him. Ebony loved him. Nobody else. It was incredible. “Are you sure?” he checked. “You really do?”

Ebony giggled. “I do,” she confirmed. Hearing those words made him so desperate to hear her say them before a clergyman. “Is that so impossible to believe?”

Henry looked at her awkwardly. “Well … when you have an elder brother like James …” he mumbled but Ebony cut him off.

“Stop it. You should not be comparing yourself to anyone. You are the perfect version of you. I wouldn’t have you any other way,” she said sincerely.

Henry should his head in disbelief. How on earth could he ever be so lucky? Where did she come from? What had he done to deserve someone so perfectly imperfect? “I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” he stated simply.

Ebony smiled excitedly. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, too.”

Henry fished the ring out of his pocket and sunk down on one knee. Holding the sapphire up to her between his thumb and index finger, he asked the most important question of his life. “This was my mother’s, and now it belongs to you. Ebony Seaver, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” he asked, his voice breaking with an unbearable grin, the widest he’d ever smiled.

Ebony allowed him to slip the ring onto her ring finger as she sunk down onto her knees. She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. “Of course,” she whispered in his ear.

At that moment they heard a loud eruption noise, consisting both of cheering and applauding. They both turned their heads to see all the guests looking at them through the windows, his parents and siblings all in front.

“Lord, that’s embarrassing,” Ebony muttered humorously.

Henry chuckled. He didn’t care. He was too happy to be embarrassed. He was engaged. He had his future wife, the mother of his children on his arm. Lord, children. He’d be a father in the near future.

“How about we ask your brother-in-law to marry us after the church service on Sunday?” she suggested. “It can be small, only your family and Celeste can be my bridesmaid.”

Henry looked at her regretfully. “I would love that, honestly, but I want all my family there. My grandmother, my aunt and uncle, my cousins. Being together for these occasions is really important to all of us.”

Ebony nodded understandingly. “Of course. I adore your grandmother. I’d forgotten, I’m sorry. I’d like to meet the rest of your family, too.”

“December then?”

She grinned. “A wedding surrounded by fresh snow seems quite fitting, don’t you think?”

“How so?” he asked, cocking his head.

“When we first met you said I reminded you of fresh snow,” she recalled, interweaving her fingers through his.

He recalled their first meeting exactly. He’d been an awkward mess. “You remember that?”

“Of course,” she replied, like it was a given. “It was the first time a man had ever looked at me with tenderness or any kind of genuine affection. Before you men have only ever seen me for what they could use me for.” Henry knew she was talking about her step-father and Vernon. They’d wanted to exploit her for her talents. “I knew at that moment you were special, whether I wanted to admit it or not.”

“You are incredible,” he said simply, in disbelief of just how pure of heart she was, even with everything she’d endured.

Ebony laughed lightly. “Please remember that when we are arguing about something, will you?”

“If I’ve learned anything from my parents, it’s that when my mother is right, she’s right and even when she’s wrong, she’s right. The argument always ends with my father grovelling.” For a healthy marriage to prevail, the man just had to use the three magical words all women loved hearing – I was wrong.

“I should like to see you grovel.” Ebony giggled.

And no doubt she would when he put a foot out of line. “Come, I’d like to dance with my future bride.”

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Hope you liked it!!

Next chapter we say goodbye to William and then we're ... wait for it ... GOING TO YORKSHIRE!! YAY!!!

I was in the car with my brother today and "We built this city" came on from my extensive 80s collection of music and we just were rocking out at the traffic lights screaming "WE BUILT THIS CITY ON ROCK AND ROLL!!!!!" and one of my mum's friends drove up beside us - awks :P

About 2 more chapters and then the epilogue where we'll say goodbye to a character you all love :(

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