The rain was heavy, we were soaked by the time we reached the door, but Mr. Gold… Cameron did not seem to mind. As we stood in the doorway he pulled me close, kissing me properly.
"Your clothes are soaked through." He murmured, pressing another kiss to my lips as his hands traveled the length of my arms in an attempt to warm me.
"It does not matter, I feel nothing but you, sir."
"Cameron." He reminded me again. It would take some time before I fully remembered that Sir was no long required.
"Cameron. I feel nothing but you, Cameron." He groaned softly, finally forcing our bodies apart.
"Go change, dear. We'll have dinner and tell Bae the good news." I just nod, allowing myself to be pulled into one more kiss before hurrying up the stairs.
As I reached the landing of the second floor I froze, startled to find Mrs. Lucas standing there. She too seemed taken back, having witnessed the exchange between Mr. Gold… Cameron and myself.
"What was that?" She questioned, following me to my bedroom. I disappeared behind the screen to change while she seated herself at my desk. "Did he make untoward advances?"
"No! Of course not… we are to be married. He asked that I become his wife."
"But what of Miss Ingram?"
"He does not love her! He loves me!" As the words left my mouth I could feel my lips curl into a smile. It was the first I had said the fact aloud. He did not love the woman with perfect curls and "good blood," he loved plain Belle French.
"I don't believe it." I peaked over the screen to see her face, set in stoic denial.
"You do not believe that I am capable of being loved by someone? I'm such an unfortunate creature, no one could love me."
"Of course not, Belle. You are so little acquainted with men. I worry you are entering into this blindly, that you have been overwhelmed by the charm. Perhaps it would be best to keep him at a distance. Wait for this foolish notion to pass." The woman asked the impossible. To keep away from Mr. Gold would require a Herculean strength. She had never received a kiss from Cameron Gold, never felt his fingers trace along her cheek and neck. Keep away?
"This is not a foolish notion. It is an engagement."
"Be careful." She sighed, leaving me alone.
"Married!" Bae exclaimed, rushing from his seat to throw his arms around me. "You will be my mother?"
I hesitated, not wanting to presume that I would be taking the place of his mother, although I loved the boy as my own.
"Yes she will." Cameron answered with a smile. My expression matched his own as Bae continued to hug me.
"I will call you mama?"
"If you'd like." The child's enthusiasm was contagious.
"Thank goodness Papa came to his senses." Bae grinned returning to his place. I struggled to hide my smile while Cameron just reached for my hand.
"Thank goodness indeed."
"Overwhelmed? Sweet Belle, am I overwhelming you now?" He chuckled.
"You have a strong presence, Cameron."
"Belle…" he seemed to desire nothing more than to say my name as his fingers brushed across my cheek, tracing down my throat. "Such a name."
After finishing dinner Bae was put to bed and Cameron and I took to the sofa in his library. He sat closer than I had ever dared to imagine he would, pulling my shoes off and shifting my feet into his lap. It was cozy, domestic, and the warmest my toes had ever felt. It was the happiest I had ever felt.
"The irony does not escape me, sir."
"Cameron." He corrected.
"The irony does not escape me, Cameron, that I am named for a beauty which I do not possess."
"Whom, may I ask, would dare deny your beauty?"
"If you think I possess any then you are a blind man." I scolded him, looking down. Then I heard his voice drop lower than I had ever known before.
"I'm nothing of the sort." His fingers found their way under my chin, coaxing me to meet his gaze. "I know nothing more beautiful than when your hair is free of that damn braid. I think of nothing but twisting those curls around my fingers. Your skin has a glow that beckons me like a moth to a flame. Your eyes are a shade I've not seen in nature. And your lips… my dearest, it's all I can do not to press mine to yours and pass the afternoon in such a way."
I could feel the blush on my cheeks, burning with his words.
"Shall I continue? I have given a great deal of thought to your many attributes. In truth I've thought of little else over the past year since you came into our lives."
"No, no. That is more than enough for me… thank you, Cameron." I smiled, moving his fingers from my chin to my neck as I leaned forward to kiss him. The brush of his lips to mine had to contain some kind of magic. Some power that I never thought possible.
"Well then, my Belle, when shall we marry? Next week?"
"Next week? That is hardly enough time for everything to be put into order. Two months? A suitable period to be betrothed."
"Two months is far too long. How about a compromise? We shall marry in one month, then retreat to the Mediterranean. I have a lovely little whitewashed villa there. We shall remain secluded there as I thoroughly overwhelm you, my love."
"And what of Bae?" I questioned, realizing that if we were to leave for an extended period the boy would be left alone in the grand manor with only Mrs. Lucas as company.
"You wish to bring the boy?" He seemed almost surprised by the notion.
"Well we are to be a family."
"Yes, we are." He smiled, pressing a very sweet kiss to my lips.
The month passed in a whirl of activity. Cameron insisted on taking Bae and myself into town, where he had new dresses commissioned for me as well as my wedding gown. He tried to purchase a gaudy diamond necklace for our wedding day, but Bae insisted that he knew best and later presented me with a simple string of pearls.
It was as though no time had passed before I found myself dressing for our service at the church. Mrs. Lucas assisted with my corset, but I saw to the rest on my own. While I pulled my hair up so that it might fit beneath my bonnet, I allowed a few loose curls to appease Cameron's fondness for them. With everything in place, I fastened the string of pearls around my neck, enjoying the feeling of the cool smoothness against my skin.
There was an eerie calm that had fallen over Thornfield. The buzz of excitement that one might suspect to fill the air before a wedding was somewhat diminished by a foreboding I could not explain at the time. Of course I considered myself to be foolish, pushing the feelings aside as I met Cameron at the top of the stairs.
"You are the most beautiful bride." He said with a grin that was somewhat forced.
"What is it? Is it too plain?" I questioned at his expression. While in town he had pushed for the finer materials and extravagant designs, but I had insisted on the simple styles I was more accustomed to.
"No, of course not, dear. Nerves I suppose." He smiled slightly more sincerely as he took my hand. "Come, let us be married and merry."
"You find yourself terribly clever today." I laughed, allowing him to lead me downstairs and out to the waiting carriage.
"What do you mean?" His nerves truly were shaking him.
"I was just teasing. Cameron, why should you be so nervous? You aren't thinking of changing your mind, are you?"
At last he managed a true smile as the carriage pulled away from the house. His index finger slipped beneath my bonnet, locating one of the curls I left for him.
"Of course not. I don't think I'll know a moments peace until we are pronounced man and wife."
"We soon will be, then we may begin our life together." I assured him with a grin.
Bae was already at the church with Mrs. Lucas, our only two witnesses as we stood at the alter.
"We gather here to witness the marriage of Belle French and Cameron Gold in holy matrimony. Should any man have just cause why these two should not be joined, let them speak now or for ever hold their peace."
A moment of silence passed before the preacher began again.
"Marriage is…"
"I object!" A voice rang out, echoing through the mostly empty chapel. With a small gasp I turned, surprised to see Killian Jones darkening the doorway.
"You have just cause, I trust?" The preacher questioned.
"Mrs. Gold surely must. As she is alive and well at Thornfield." Killian announced with a great pride. He glared at Cameron, certain that he had achieved an upper hand.
"Alive perhaps, well is debatable." I heard Cameron reply. It felt as though cold water rushed into my stomach.
"It's true?" My voice was small, unrecognizable even to myself.
"I'm sorry, Belle." He managed before taking my hand. With a sharp turn to the preacher he announced, "Go home, sir. There will be no wedding today. Come, everyone come, I will show you what shadow remains of Milah Gold."