Chapter Fifty-Five
Nick Barkley was sure that he was the happiest man at the rehearsal dinner that evening. They had arrived in Los Angeles a week ago to great fanfare. A cavalcade of reporters, along with the Mayor of Los Angeles and his wife had been there to greet the family. All he'd cared about was seeing Priscilla, but instead he had to wait until they arrived at Granny Elspeth's house.
He had descended from the carriage and went into the elaborate adobe house with great haste, wanting to see Priscilla. She had been waiting for him dressed in a ruffled pink day dress, trimmed with darker pink lace. She looked like a rose in bud and he had been all set to take her in his arms and kiss her passionately. However Granny Elspeth standing next to her in muted blue silk had stopped him with a steely look.
Instead he'd been able to do nothing more than kiss Priscilla's hand, taking secret delight in letting his tongue trace a heart outline on her smooth white skin. Nick noted with delight the reaction in her large, summer sky blue eyes, which pleased him. After his too formal greeting to Priscilla he and his family had met Cousin Andy and Bea; otherwise known as Lord and Lady Andrew Cavendish. They were well tailored and middle-aged, and everyone was soon talking away happily.
He finally did get some time alone with Priscilla, in the rose garden outside of the house. However, it was overlooked by the drawing room windows, so Nick was careful to be on his best behavior. Other than that one time the couple was kept busy, with events in their honor. The days in Los Angeles had been enjoyable, but time seemed to slow down. Nick tried to console himself that soon he and Priscilla would be married, and have all the time they wanted.
He had been impressed, over the course of the week at how well Cousin Andy could drink; Nick and Jarrod wondered if he had hollow legs even as they'd been glad to try to keep up with him. Heath had been more cautious, wanting to get back to Sarah as soon as possible. Nick had compared notes with Jarrod and was not surprised to see that they both shared the concerns about their brother and his wife.
His brothers, along with Carl and Andy had taken him out one night to explore the saloons of Los Angeles, while the ladies were hosting a hen party for Priscilla. Nick had never heard of that before, but was told it was an English tradition. When he asked Priscilla about it the next day she had told him that she'd received lots of lacey things, including some pretty nightgowns.
He had whispered in her ear that she wouldn't need them, or be wearing them for very long. Priscilla had blushed bright pink, giving Nick the reaction he wanted; it was even better that they were at a luncheon the mayor of Los Angeles was hosting for them. More than one person had seen Nick whisper in Priscilla's ear, and her reaction caused some knowing looks around the room.
The rehearsal dinner was being held in the dining hall of the vicarage, a fine adobe structure that drew from both Spanish and English colonial architecture on the outside. The inside of the parish hall was highlighted with solid wood beams and tapestries hung from the walls that showcased various biblical stories. Nick would later find out that the altar guild, which included Priscilla when she'd been in Los Angeles, had done all the needlework.
Now, as he shifted slightly in his chair, to give his long legs some room he heard Elspeth finish up her speech, welcoming him to her family. He had been careful not to drink too much, understanding what this evening meant. The family had met up in the church earlier, to go through a mockup of the ceremony.
Nick had enjoyed watching his brothers, along with Audra and Phoebe – Priscilla's best friend who was marrying Zack Morton next month – go through the ceremony. He had been told by Cousin Andy, who had a flask at hand, that it was bad luck for the groom to be involved in the rehearsal. As he'd looked out at the ensemble of wedding party he swallowed his ire at Sarah not being involved.
It had bothered but not surprised him that Sarah had turned down any role in the wedding. Her past behavior with Audra's wedding had set the pattern, but Nick had hoped that since Priscilla and Sarah were friends it would be different. He knew that it would make the next day hard, because Heath was going to be involved in wedding details while Sarah wasn't; Nick wasn't sure how it was all going to work out, because she really shouldn't be at the wedding unescorted.
However, after he'd expressed his concerns to his mother she had told him to leave it alone because Sarah was Heath's responsibility. Nick picked up that Victoria didn't want to deal with Heath and Sarah's relationship right now, so he bowed to her request. He recalled the talk that he'd exchanged with Jarrod about their younger brother's marriage. It wasn't what either of them would have wanted but so far Heath seemed to be happy; Nick privately thought that Heath could give Jarrod a run for his money in putting on a smooth public face but didn't say so.
His thoughts were broken by Elspeth raising her glass of champagne in a toast to him and Priscilla; Nick gallantly reached his hand out to his bride, as they both stood up. Priscilla had on a pale blue evening dress, all fluffy tulle scattered with silver embroidered stars and diamante crystals that reflected the light from the chandeliers above the table. The neckline was enough to show her shoulders, but still proper for a bride. Nick still couldn't believe his luck that this dazzling, beautiful, good woman was willing to marry him.
"Thank you Elspeth for that warm welcome to the family. I am still in awe that Priscilla has consented to take me on so to speak." Nick started to speak after the toast, giving both women an endearing smile. "They say that the Lord works in mysterious ways, and in this case it is certainly true; when I think about how Priscilla and I first met." He went on to tell the story of the train station, and the one ticket, along with the grief his family had given him about missing the school board meeting. Everyone laughed at Nick's retelling of the scene.
"The day that Priscilla accepted my proposal is the happiest day of my life, and I will never forget that moment." Nick paused here and shared a private look with Priscilla; he had planned a whole elaborate occasion at a restaurant but instead had asked her to marry him in an alcove of his family's house. She had said yes, but still made him take her to the balcony of the Chart House, where they'd enjoyed a lavish meal. One of the things he liked about Priscilla was that she was a young lady with standards.
"What say, if you two stare at each other too long like this we'll need to do the ceremony right here." Cousin Andy's British accented comment interrupted Nick's reminiscing of the proposal, and he was glad for nudge. Everyone else in the room laughed, and Nick raised his glass to Andy as a thank you.
"No, Priscilla informed me several months ago that she expected a proper English wedding and I am more than willing to give that to her." Nick's voice loud under normal circumstances now rang around the dining hall, as he bowed gallantly to Priscilla. "My father told me once that the best decision he'd ever made was to marry a woman he loved more than anything else. He also told me that it was always a good idea to fall in love with a smart woman, as they will keep you on your toes. I am very honored to be marrying the great love of my life; and I rather suspect that she is smarter than me even as she is too kind to say so." He raised the champagne glass to Priscilla, tilting his head to give her a semi-private smirk.
She so had his number – and his back – all at the same time. Priscilla could hog-tie him into a corner even quicker than his mother. Nick remembered the whole mess with Jarrod and the House of Flowers, and how she had dealt with Silas, even as she smoothed things out between him and his brother. Yes, Priscilla might get the best of him in so many ways, but he had already had a taste of how he could have her submit quite happily to him.
"I mention my father for a special reason, because of a tradition he established with my mother, both when they married and again at their twentieth-fifth anniversary." Nick raised his glass to his mother, and everyone in the room followed suit. He watched his mother take pleasure in the tribute, even as her dove-grey eyes went soft, no doubt remembering her late husband.
"My father said his family had a tradition for the groom to give his bride a string of pearls. They symbolized purity and perfection, which is what a man wanted in his bride." Nick stopped here and turned to face Priscilla, giving her a discrete wink and grin; she'd kept him to the straight and narrow like no other woman had, in spite of his behavior.
"My brother Heath followed the tradition when he married." Nick feeling flushed with three glasses of wine and bonhomie turned in the direction of Heath and Sarah. He knew that his brother had gifted Sarah with a pretty pearl strand necklace which she wore on their wedding day. In the flush of good feeling he saw them all linked together in family allegiance, which is what mattered.
"So I now have the great honor to follow in my father's and brother's footsteps." He set down his glass, untouched because he wanted to be in full control at this moment, and reached under the table. Nick drew out a large box, covered in dove grey leather decorated with silver gilt trim.
"Priscilla I love you so much, and am awed that you want to be my wife. Please accept this gift as a symbol of my love and devotion to you." Nick held out the box and watched as she set down to her glass to take it from him. She held it gingerly, before setting it down in front of her, to open the package. Priscilla was the only one who could see what was inside, and Nick watched with pleasure as her eyes widened with awe. He noted that she gazed at the box for almost a minute, not moving until her Grandmother discretely prodded her.
"Nicholas, this is more than I ever imagined!" Priscilla reached into the case and drew out a magnificent strand of pearls, each creamy orb the size of a hazelnut. The necklace was designed to be worn as either a double or triple strand with the diamond clasp in the shape of a flower, or a single long strand that would reach to below the waist. It was truly a necklace of a beautiful and beloved woman of a rich man and Nick took pleasure in being able to gift the piece to Priscilla.
The next several minutes were spent with everyone at the head table oohing and ahhing over the necklace, even as they all drank their champagne. Nick's chest swelled even more, as he noted all the accolades Priscilla received. In his mind it was the least she deserved, and he planned on seeing to it that there more gifts in the future.
"Well now that we have done the groom's gift to the bride; what ho well done Nick" Cousin Andy stood up, his glass refilled with the golden bubbly liquid. He was tall, with pale blonde hair, blue eyes, and the well-bred look of an English aristocrat which is what he was. "I am glad that my kinswoman is marrying a man like you." He went on to talk about how Henry and Elspeth Cavendish had been his God-Parents, and all they'd done for him, retelling several funny anecdotes that showed Henry's dry wit, before he came back to the present.
"We have a tradition for brides in England, about what they need to walk down the aisle. The verse is 'Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Six-Pence in your shoe'. It is an Olde English blessing that carries great meaning." Andy paused to take a drink from his glass, as he reached into his pocket for something, as he explained the meaning of the verse.
"So here is a Six-Pence, minted this year, of your marriage. After all the Six-Pence is an English coin so I am glad I can gift it." He offered the coin to Priscilla, who took it, reaching across Nick to bestow a kiss on his cheek. Nick took advantage of the opportunity to look down her neckline, admiring the tops of the creamy mounds the dress displayed. It made him want to her alone, and he ruefully admitted to himself that it was good that Elspeth was keeping Priscilla away from him.
"Now as far as the rest of the verses, the Something New is clearly the magnificent pearl necklace that your bridegroom has gifted you, Priscilla. The Something Borrowed will be the headpiece that you wear tomorrow, to anchor your veil. It carries special meaning for me and Beatrice, because it is what she wore on our wedding day." Andy looked over at his wife and Nick saw the love and admiration in the look. Even if the marriage had been arranged; more than likely, it was clear that it had developed into a great love affair.
"The Something Blue; well I'm sure you will take care of that." Andy gave the room a knowing chuckle, and Nick watched Priscilla turn pink while Granny Elspeth was giving her God-Son a hard stare. He didn't notice it though, as he reached into his jacket pocket and brought out a small box covered in worn dark blue velvet. "Beatrice and I want to provide the Something Old, and to give you a memento of your Grandfather's family. These were worn by your Great-Great-Aunt, the fourth Duchess, back at the beginning of the century."
Nick saw Andy hand the box to Priscilla, who looked at it with curiosity, before she opened the lid. He heard her gasp, as she turned to show him the contents. There, against old ivoried satin was a pair of diamond earrings that sparkled from the overheard chandelier. Each one had a large round diamond, surrounded by smaller diamonds; underneath was a small diamond bow from which an oval frame of diamonds set off inner ovals that showcased two more larger, round diamonds. Nick could tell, from the cut of the stones and the patina of the metal, that these were antique and very valuable.
"Cousins, thank you so much! They are lovely; you are too kind!" Priscilla held them up for everyone to see, before she hugged and kissed Bea and Andy. After showing those to her Grandmother Priscilla passed them to the Barkley's for their perusal. There followed a toast, before people started coming up to the table to see the earrings and the pearl necklace.
The earrings were impressive, Nick thought to himself, also acknowledging that Priscilla's relatives clearly were ready to welcome him. In the end it would not have mattered to Nick, but he knew that strained relations with family members made for difficulties in even the most loving of marriages. Now he reached over and put his arm around Priscilla, giving her one of his infectious grins. Life was good and only going to get better he thought to himself.
