‘So that is why you were so distant when I told you of my plan to trap Goss.’
He nodded. ‘I was angry with you for having agreed to marry a man you didn’t love, and angry with myself for having allowed myself to fall in love with you. And so I made up my mind to forget about you. But then you came up with a plan for trapping Goss and I couldn’t resist, even though it would mean being with you. Something I felt unequal to.’
‘As I felt unequal to being with you,’ Cicely admitted. ‘Every time I saw you I wanted —’ She broke off, confused.
‘Yes?’ He turned to face her.
‘I wanted you to take me in your arms and kiss me.’
‘Like this?’ he asked, suiting the action to the words.
‘Yes,’ she gasped as he finally let her go. ‘Like that. But then you accused me of being about to marry so that I could live at Parmiston Manor.’
‘I should never have doubted you.’
‘If Chuff Chuff told you we were betrothed, you had no choice,’ she sighed.
‘Yes, I did. I should have asked you if it was true. I tried to do it, but I could not bring myself to say the words. Because I could not bear to hear the answer.’
‘I understand.’
He kissed her again. ‘We will live at the Manor, and not a thing will be changed.’
Cicely smiled. ‘There are some things I would like to change,’ she said.
‘Name them, and it will be done.’
He led her back inside, and together they talked over the plans for the Manor. The Manor had brought them together, and it was only fitting it should be their new home once they were married.
‘And when it is done, we can hold our wedding breakfast there,’ said Alex with satisfaction. ‘The first celebration we hold there together will be to celebrate our marriage.’
‘Marriage?’ The voice took them surprise. Alice was just entering through the French doors, grinning from ear to ear. ‘Oh, Cicely, I’m so happy for you. Fairy tales can come true after all! Say I can be a bridesmaid.’
‘Of course,’ laughed Cicely. ‘I wouldn’t have it any other way.’
EPILOGUE
The day of the wedding dawned bright and fair. Cicely felt a mixture of nerves and excitement as Sophie helped her to arrange her veil over her face. The veil was a beautiful confection made of the finest lace. It complemented the loveliness of her gown to perfection. Made by Maison Worth, the high-necked gown was a most exquisite creation. Its silk bodice was inset with rows of ruffled lace, and its long train was decorated with lace flounces. The bodice was tight, with a tiered skirt opening at the front to reveal a ruched underskirt, matched by lace-trimmed sleeves. As a finishing touch, she wore white gloves and the most delectable silk slippers.
‘You look beautiful,’ Sophie breathed.
Sophie and her mother had come over to Little Oakleigh for the occasion, and they were not the only two visitors. Alex’s sister, Katie, had also arrived. Like Sophie, she was one of Cicely’s bridesmaids and the two girls were wearing beautiful silk-and-lace gowns that complemented Cicely’s own.
The third bridesmaid, Alice, was at that moment nowhere to be seen.
‘I hope Alice is here soon,’ said Cicely anxiously, as her nerves momentarily got the better of her. ‘In another few minutes we will have to leave for the church. What is she doing?’
Sophie chuckled, but would say no more than, ‘There is something she has to do. But don’t worry, she’ll be here on time.’
Sure enough, at that moment Alice arrived. She was grinning from ear to ear, but Cicely was too nervous and excited to ask her what she had been doing. Instead she took a deep breath and, picking up her bouquet, led the way downstairs.
One by one they took their places in Alex’s Daimlers, two being needed for the short drive to the church.
And then they were there.
Cicely stepped out of the Daimler. Gibson, stepping out of the car beside her, almost burst with pride. His delight at being asked to give Cicely away was plain to see. He held himself erect, head up, back straight.
Cicely stood patiently whilst Alice arranged her train, then took Gibson’s arm and walked through the lych gate and up the path to the church.
It was full to overflowing. Everyone in Little Oakleigh had turned out to see Cicely’s marriage. They were all delighted that she was to marry the owner of the Manor, and even more delighted that she was to marry Alex, who had become an inalienable part of the village. And there, her leg newly mended, was Cousin Gertrude, who had arrived to be Cicely’s chaperon just as a chaperon was no longer needed.
From within came the strains of the organ, growing louder as Cicely approached the church door.
She took a deep breath, and then stepped into the church.
As she began to process down the aisle on Gibson’s arm, every head turned. But Cicely did not see her friends. Mrs Murgatroyd’s smiles and Lady Chuffington’s sniffs passed her by. She only had eyes for Alex.
He was waiting for her at the altar. His immaculate suit showed off his splendid physique, and as she saw the look of love in his eyes she was filled with joy at knowing that she was going to be his wife.
The bells pealed cheerfully as Cicely and Alex left the church. A crowd of well-wishers had gathered outside, and the two newly-weds were showered with rice in a traditional gesture of goodwill. As they ran through the shower to the waiting Daimler, something caught Alex’s eye. Bending down he scooped up a handful of rice. In and amongst the creamy grains were a number of shapes, cut out of pink paper. He held them on his open palm and looked enquiringly at Cicely.
Cicely, seeing what he held, began to smile, and then began to laugh.
‘What . . . ?’ he asked in surprise.
‘So that’s what Alice was doing!’ said Cicely. She turned to Alex. ‘When you first arrived in Little Oakleigh, Alice said it would be a fairy tale if I were to marry you. And I said —’
‘Don’t tell me. Let me guess!’ He looked at his palm again, smiling at the sight of the little pink pigs, each with their own set of wings. He threw them into the air, and as they swirled and danced in the air currents he said, ‘Pigs will fly!’
They went out of the lych gate and stepped into the Daimler, then together they drove back to the Manor.
For more Kindle books by Amanda Grange please
visit her Kindle page on Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon DE
Amazon FR
Amazon IT
Or click the links to individual titles below
(Links to Amazon US on following page)
Jane Austen retellings (also available in hardback and paperback)
Darcy’s Diary
(Pride and Prejudice)
Mr Knightley’s Diary
(Emma)
Captain Wentworth’s Diary
(Persuasion)
Edmund Bertram’s Diary
(Mansfield Park)
Colonel Brandon’s Diary
(Sense and Sensibility)
Henry Tilney’s Diary (ebook forthcoming)
(Northanger Abbey)
Regency romances
A Most Unusual Governess
The Earl Next Door
The Six Month Marriage
One Snowy Night
The Silverton Scandal
One Night At The Abbey
Castle of Secrets
Edwardian romances
That Would Be A Fairy Tale
Titanic Affair
(Set on board the ill-fated liner, Titanic)
All books originally published in hardback by Robert Hale Ltd
Except Titanic Affair, originally published in hardback by Severn House
Please visit Amanda Grange’s website at http://www.amandagrange.com
for more information
For more Kindle books by Amanda Grange in the US,
Please visit her Kindle page on Amazon US
Or click the links to individu
al titles below
Jane Austen retellings (also available in hardback and paperback)
Mr Darcy’s Diary
(Pride and Prejudice)
Mr Knightley’s Diary
(Emma)
Edmund Bertram’s Diary
(Mansfield Park)
Colonel Brandon’s Diary
(Sense and Sensibility)
Captain Wentworth’s Diary
(Persuasion)
Henry Tilney’s Diary (forthcoming)
(Northanger Abbey)
Regency Romances
A Most Unusual Governess
The Earl Next Door
The Six Month Marriage
One Snowy Night
The Silverton Scandal
One Night At The Abbey
Castle of Secrets
Edwardian Romances (Downton Abbey era)
That Would Be A Fairy Tale
Titanic Affair
(Set on board the ill-fated liner, Titanic)
Please visit Amanda Grange’s website at http://www.amandagrange.com
for more information
Amanda Grange, That Would Be a Fairy Tale
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