Saving Lord Berkshire - Laura Beers Page 0,2
her choice,” Lady Henry asserted.
The door to the coach opened, and Lucy exited with her head held high. “I am ready to marry James now, assuming he will still have me.”
Katherine smiled encouragingly at her friend. “I have no doubt that you two will have a life filled with happiness.”
“I hope so,” Lucy responded, her eyes shifting towards the chapel.
Unexpectedly, the door to the chapel was flung open, and Lord Hampton ran out. He didn’t stop running until he came to a stop in front of Lucy.
“I cannot wait any longer, my love,” Lord Hampton declared, his breathing labored. “Please say that you have not changed your mind about marrying me. I don’t think my heart could stand it.”
“I’m sorry that I took so long…” Lucy started.
He cut her off as he cupped her right cheek. “I love you,” he declared.
Tears pooled in Lucy’s eyes. “I love you too, James. And I am ready to marry you.”
“I am so relieved to hear you say that,” Lord Hampton murmured before he pressed his lips against hers.
Lord Henry cleared his throat. “Unhand my daughter,” he ordered. “She is not your wife… yet.”
Stepping back, Lord Hampton reached for Lucy’s hand. “We shall have to rectify that situation immediately.”
As Katherine watched Lord Hampton and Lucy walk swiftly towards the chapel, a bright smile came to her face. This is why she loved being a matchmaker. There was no greater feeling than watching two people fall hopelessly in love.
“Hallelujah!” Hannah exclaimed as the rhythmic sound of horse hooves on the cobblestone drifted through the open window. “We are almost home.”
Amelia glanced up from her needlework only long enough to smile. “I find it fascinating that you hate riding in coaches.”
“Only long distances,” Hannah corrected, shifting her gaze away from the window. “I have no problem riding in them around Town, I just don’t care for travelling very far in them.”
Katherine lowered her book to her lap and suggested, “You could always read.”
Hannah shook her head. “And risk the chance of getting sick? I think not.”
“That only happened one time,” Katherine remarked, smiling. “Besides, you were only a young girl at the time.”
Hannah reached up and tucked the tendrils that had escaped her elaborate chignon behind her ears. “It is better to be safe than sorry,” she responded. “Besides, I cannot wait to return home and have a long soak.”
“That does sound heavenly,” Amelia murmured, lowering her needlework to her lap.
“But we have work to do,” Katherine reminded them. “Now that Lucy is married, we have the opportunity to take on a new client.”
Amelia let out a loud, unladylike groan. “Can’t we just take the afternoon off?”
Hannah bobbed her head in agreement. “I must side with Amelia on this one,” she said, “and I rarely do.”
“That is true,” Amelia replied. “I can’t remember the last time Hannah and I agreed on something.”
“That is because you always come up with the most outlandish ideas,” Hannah countered, giving her a pointed look.
Amelia laughed. “I merely suggested that we start taking boxing lessons and you nearly fainted.”
“I did not nearly faint,” Hannah remarked, frowning. “I just don’t think it is an appropriate pastime for women.”
“I disagree,” Amelia argued. “It would keep us nimble and healthy. Furthermore, it is all the rage amongst the ton right now.”
“If you want to stay healthy, then take a turn around the gardens,” Hannah suggested. “The fresh air will rejuvenate you.”
“But that is so boring.”
Hannah shifted in her seat to face her sister. “We could always take a stroll through Hyde Park during the fashionable hour.”
“It is so crowded during that time,” Amelia complained. “Perhaps we could go early in the morning before everyone is awake.”
“You know I like to sleep in,” Hannah responded.
“And I like to wake up early.”
Katherine laughed at her sisters’ squabble. “I find it fascinating that two sisters could be so incredibly different,” she commented.
“It is true,” Hannah said, smoothing back her blonde hair. “We don’t even look like siblings. I have blonde hair and fair skin, whereas Amelia has olive skin and brown hair.”
“You take after Mother, and Amelia takes after Father,” Katherine observed, “and I am a mixture of them.”
“That you are,” Hannah agreed. “You have father’s dark brown hair but mother’s fair skin.”
A pensive look came over Amelia’s face as she admitted, “I miss them dreadfully.”
“As do I,” Katherine agreed.
Hannah lowered her gaze to her lap and remained silent. Whenever they spoke about their parents, Hannah always retreated into her own thoughts, refusing to participate in the