Chapter 21

Over an hour later, Remington woke to an empty bed. Looking around the empty room, he didn't see Laura and the bathroom door wide open. "Laura? Laura?" Hearing no reply, Remington got up and pulled his robe around him. Checking the bathroom just to be sure, he walked out into the hall, calling her again. "Laura?" Hearing footsteps, he saw Mickeline come out into the main hall. "Mickeline, have you seen Laura?"

"Sir?" Mickeline wasn't sure he heard him right.

"My wife, Mrs. Steele, you know dark hair, brown eyes… boisterous…." Remington was trying to describe her but the only things coming to mind were how they had spent their morning.

"Ah yes, Mrs. Steele. I was confused. You don't usually call her by her first name, my Lord." Mickeline replied, smiling. At least not outside of the bedchamber.

"Yes, yes, Mrs. Steele. Have you seen her?" Remington asked again impatiently.

"Yes, my Lord. She went off a little bit ago. Dressed for running I believe she was," Mickeline motioned toward the front door to indicate which way she left.

Nodding his head thoughtfully, Remington replied, "Running, oh, yes, yes… Thank you, my good man." Walking back to their bedchamber, he rubbed his face with his hand. After all that, she still needed to go running. You must be losing your touch, old chap. Checking his watch on the bedside table, he decided he had more than enough time to shower and call Abigail and Frances before Laura got back.

Enjoying his extended hot shower, Remington was humming with happiness as he dried himself off. Dressing in the dark jeans he was planning on wearing later, he added a white tank undershirt over which he wore a red sweater. Tying his shoes, he headed to the study to call Abigail and Frances. He had a few additional surprises he hoped to include without Laura's knowledge.

Dialing Frances' number first, Remington drummed his fingers happily listening to the phone ring. Hearing Frances' voice on the other end, Remington began, "Frances, how are you on this lovely day?"

"Mr. Steele? Well, good morning to you. Although I'm sure it's not morning in Ireland right now is it?" Frances greeted him.

"You are correct, Frances. I'm sorry to be calling so early. I know you are probably getting the children ready for school and all," Remington apologized.

"I am, so I only have a few minutes. Is something wrong?" Frances was worried something had changed from the last time she had spoke to him just a few days before.

"No, no nothing of the sort. In fact, I want to ask a favor of you. I haven't confirmed with Laura about the children coming but I would like to ask a favor. Our celebration dinner as you will.. We've decided to make the event formal…. You know gowns, tuxes and what not. I've even gone as far as convincing Laura we need a theme per say… so we are going along the lines of black and white. However, the girls… do they have any lovely dresses in emerald green by any chance? If not, just tell me their measurements and I'll stop in with the local couturier and have them made. A gift from us, of course… Only if that's ok with you…" Remington appealed to her.

"The girls? Emerald green dresses… I don't think they have anything like that. What would you need for measurements? I'm sure I can get those to you if that wouldn't be too much trouble," Frances was thankful he offered. One less thing she had to think about.

"Tell you what Frances…. I'll do one better. I'll have the couturier call you directly over the weekend and we will take it from there. There should be time after the girls arrive to have any tailoring done if need be. Would you think they would prefer matching dresses or something that suits their ages?" Remington understood the girls were at very different ages so matching them may upset one or both.

"I'm not sure. Sometimes they find it fun to match and other times it's a battle just to get them to wear the same color, " she laughed.

"Well, for a family event… maybe we find common ground… similar dresses, however different enough to be suitable for each of them. Given the setting here, Laura and I have even discussed having a photographer handy to document the event. You know… family photos and all," Remington didn't want to give away too much but wanted to impress upon his sister-in-law how important this night was going to be.

"Oh, Mr. Steele, that is a wonderful idea! Are you sure it wouldn't be too much trouble? We don't want to cause any trouble while we are there. After all, you are being more than generous by flying us all there…" Frances started babbling. At that moment, Danny came running into the kitchen followed by Mindy yelling at him.

"Give it back!" Mindy yelled.

"It's my book, so NO I'm not gonna give it back!" Danny replied.

Remington shook his head, listening to the commotion. "Frances, it sounds like you have your hands full at the moment so I'm going to let you go. What's the best time for her to call you?"

"Mindy… stop running in the house. Danny, please share with your sister… Mr. Steele…. I'm sorry… Saturday…. Saturday morning around 9:00? Ballet classes start at 10 so that should give me plenty of time to talk to her," Frances replied to everyone in the same breath.

"I'll be sure she calls you then, bye bye Frances. Give our love to the children…. Bye bye…" he couldn't hang up the phone fast enough.

Shaking his head, he made a mental note to stop by the dressmaker's shop on the way to Galmoy. Picking up the phone again, he dialed Abigail's number, hoping the conversation would be easier, if not quieter.

Abigail's answering machine picked up so he left a detailed message regarding the change to a formal evening with a black and white theme. He also included the tidbit of information about the photographer being present.

Laura still hadn't returned from her run so he decided to give Murphy a call as well. Murphy was still amused about the whole plan and laughed when Remington explained about the photographer and the band.

"You're really doing this? I still can't believe it," Murphy commented.

Remington smiled, "Yes, well believe it. In just a few short weeks, you will be witness to Laura and I making the ultimate commitment to each other."

Behind him, Laura stood in the doorway listening and smiling. She had just come in from her run when she heard him talking.

"And you're sure she's not doing this just to keep your butt out of trouble with the INS?" Murphy still wasn't completely convinced.

"I assure you, Mr. Michaels… I truly do love her and I believe she does me as well. I would never intentionally put her in the path of the INS just to … as you so put it… keep my butt out of trouble," Remington admitted. "I tried to avoid that not too long ago if you remember. It was she who stepped directly in their path willingly. Now I want to make it right… make things right… She deserves so much more."

Cross the room, Laura put her arm around Remington and took the phone from him. "Hey Murphy… I do love him….and I'm not doing this just for him. I'm doing it for me too," she said into the receiver. Handing him back the phone, she kissed his forehead. "I'm going to take a shower." And with that she walked out of the room, leaving both men silent.

Murphy was the first to break the silence. "Wow, I didn't see that coming."

Remington, just as stunned, replied, "Neither did I, Murphy, neither did I."

The next few minutes were just a confirmation of details once again. Murphy would have a tux, Sherry a black and white dress, he would be landing early Saturday afternoon. Remington assured him he wouldn't need to rent a vehicle, they had plenty at their disposal for use.

Hanging up the phone, Remington climbed the stairs toward their bedchamber to have a conversation with Laura. They had about 2 hours before they needed to head to Galmoy to meet Christian at the local pub. They could discuss a plan on the way, but right now he needed to see her.

As soon as he closed the door behind him, he heard the shower turn off. Remington sat in one of the chairs by the window, waiting for Laura to come out. It wasn't long before she exited the bathroom wearing nothing but her robe, her hair wrapped up in a towel. Seeing him waiting for her, she walked over and sat in his lap without saying a word. Remington just looked at her, not sure how to begin a conversation. Laura sensed his hesitation and began, "I do love you…."

"Laura, I thought we determine that feeling was mutual already," Remington interjected.

"I know, I know, but let me finish. I told you before, I was afraid of losing me, who I am, in our relationship. But I'm not afraid anymore. I mean, there are some things I am afraid of… like losing you, or you walking away…." Laura trailed off, remembering the last time when he left for London without a word.

Taking her hand in his Remington brought it to his cheek, "Love, that will not happen again. I'll not walk away, ever again. Not when I know what I'd be leaving behind…. Who I'd be leaving behind." He tried to reassure her but he knew deep down that was her biggest fear.

"I want to believe you, I need to believe you. So, I'm going to believe you. And I'm going to marry you, for better or for worse… and I'm not going to let my fear get in the way of that. We've come so far in the last week alone in our relationship that I don't want to lose that," Laura leaned in, her forehead touching his.

Remington brought her hand to his lips, gently kissing her fingers. They stayed that way for a few minutes before he tapped her hip and declared, "If you do not start getting ready, Mrs. Steele, we will be late leaving. So I'll not distract you anymore. I'm going to run to town for a quick errand while you get ready. It won't take me more than a few minutes to change when I get back. I'm… ah… interested in seeing what 'Tracy Lord' will be wearing this evening."

Laura looked into his blue eyes flashing with mischief and laughed. Getting off his lap, she smoothed an imaginary wrinkle off his sweater. "Well, I hope 'Johnny' likes it. He's a hard man to please."

"I'm sure, Ms. Lord will find a way to please him later…" Remington said suggestively, pulling her close to him. He tried to push the opening to her robe a little wider to get a peek when she pushed his hand away.

"Keep that up and we won't be going anywhere any time soon," Laura pulled her robe tighter across her chest.

Throwing his hand up as if he had been wounded, Remington took a few steps toward the door. "As you wish, Mrs. Steele. I'll return in a short while. Please be ready upon my return."

Remington left their room and headed back down the stairs. Knowing Laura as he did, he knew he had almost an hour before she would be ready so he decided to go to the dressmaker's shop now.

The couturier was more than happy to make the dresses for both Mindy and Laurie Beth, assuring him she would call Frances the next morning for the measurements. It was decided Mindy's dress would be a simple A-Line Princess scoop neck floor length chiffon dress with a white satin band at the waist. Laurie Beth's would be the same, however tea length with a white satin bow at her waist. This way, although the dresses would be similar, they would be different enough to suit both ages. As he was there, he also commissioned her to make him a matching vest, bow tie and pocket square for himself and a bow tie and pocket square for Murphy. Heading back to the castle, he could only hope Laura was ready so they could head out toward Galmoy in hopes of getting Pace home soon.