Riverbreeze: Part 3 (12 page)

“No, I’m feeling fine.” She said.

“Good.” He said, believing her.

“Did you finish clearing the paths?” She asked.

He pressed his lips together before answering, “No.” He said shortly.

“Why not?”

“I was interrupted too many times!” He complained.

“By everyone’s arrival?” She asked, with a little smile.

“I’m glad you’re amused.” He said, pouting.

This time she let out a laugh. “Oh Jamie, you did your best. There’s no need for you to be upset.” She said, stroking his hair back from his face. She started to brush one of his shoulders then, cleaning off bits of lint and loose strands of hair.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that here.” He grumbled, watching the crowd to make sure no one was looking at them.

“Oh.” She quickly pulled her hand back. “I’m sorry.” She said, looking hurt.

He immediately felt remorse. “No, I’m sorry.” He said, taking her hand and kissing her fingertips. “I guess I’m still irritated by the men picking on me out there.”

“Picking on you? Who?”

“Oh, you know, Tom Paulette, William Barber, Nick, Rob…”

She smiled that little smile again. “If you had named Sparshott’s cronies or Martin Blear or Blockhaws…” she gave a little shudder then. “Then I’d say you have a right to be irritated, but Mr. Paulette? Captain Barber? Nick, Rob? They do that because they love you, respect you.”

He let out a snort. “I wish they’d show it some other way.”

“No, you don’t.”

She was right, bless her. He laughed again and grabbed her for a kiss. “I love you, my angel.”

“And I love you. Come.” She said, linking her arm with his. “Let’s take our seats. Reverend Gowan is almost ready to call everyone in.”

“I wish we could sit together.” He said, as they started walking up the aisle.

She leaned into him as if to say, ‘I do too’. Instead she said, “My heart and my thoughts will be with you.”

“As mine will be with you.” He said, gazing down at her.

“I’ll be repeating the vows when Alison says hers.”

“I will, too.”

By this time they had reached the third-row benches and were suddenly startled out of their private, tenderhearted conversation by Roy Wright coming upon them on his way to the front door. They stepped aside, a little embarrassed, but Roy didn’t seem to notice.

Exchanging one last peck on the lips, they each turned to go to their separate places. Evelyn was welcomed into the women’s circle again by Elizabeth, Abigail, Annabelle and Alison and her best friend. They took their seats on the first row bench on the women’s side.

Alison’s family members and William Barber’s men had already taken the first row bench on the men’s side. “Jamie, come sit behind us.” Chiffock said. “Yes, please do.” Thomas added. But instead of sitting, Jamie had a sudden idea. Recalling what Evelyn had said about the men outside made him realize he should apologize to them for his childish outburst. He decided he better do it before they came inside and the service began. “I will.” He said quickly to the Paulette men. “But first there’s something I must do. I’ll be right back.” And he took off down the aisle of the church and went outside to find Robert, Nick and William Barber.

They were coming up the path towards the church along with the rest of the folk and Robert was carrying the broom. Jamie felt like he was fighting the tide, moving in the opposite direction of everyone else and having to step around everyone. “Oy!” He called out to the men, waving his hand and panting a little.

“What is it, Jamie?” Robert asked, frowning at his brother. He and the men stopped on the path.

“I wanted to catch you before we all went inside.”

“Has something happened? Is Alison all right?” William Barber quickly asked.

“No, the women are fine. But I’m not. I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. Here, Rob, I’ll take the broom.” Robert handed over the broom without any protest.

Nick snorted. So did William Barber and Robert. “There’s no need for you to apologize.” Nick said, clapping Jamie on the back, rocking him forward a little. “Like I said, I’m sorry for attacking you.”

“Me too.” William Barber added sincerely. “I’m sorry, Jamie. You can do whatever you want from now on.”

Jamie let out a laugh. “Thank you.” He said with some sarcasm.

And they all laughed, friends again.

Nick was the next to speak. “Let’s get this man married.” He said, clapping Barber on the back.

Jamie noticed that Nick liked to do that a lot, clapping his friends on the back like that. And it wasn’t a light pat either. Being a blacksmith, Nick had a rather powerful arm.

Anyway, Jamie’s good mood restored, he and the men headed for the church.

* * *

All was well again. Jamie settled in next to his brother with Robin on his lap. Richard sat next to him on the other side along with his father and brother. Normally the Mathews men would sit in the front row, but today the bench was crowded with Alison’s family members and William Barber’s men. Behind Jamie and Robert sat Roger Wentworth, Charles Crockett and his sons, and Adam Cooke and Nick Bannister.

Once everyone had quieted down and knowing how they were all anticipating the wedding ceremony of Alison Wyatt and Captain William Barber, Reverend Gowan kept the Sunday service short. And then Elizabeth sang a most beautiful Advent hymn which brought everyone to tears. Even Robert got choked up and the pride he felt for his wife showed in his watery eyes. Being a sentimentalist at heart himself, Jamie also had to wipe away a tear or two.

The bride was still shedding tears as she and her groom took their places before the Reverend, the man on his right, the woman on his left. Their witnesses, William’s second-in-command and Alison’s best friend, stood with them.

The congregation was still affected by Elizabeth’s singing, but now in addition to sniffles and sighs, admiring murmurs could be heard throughout the entire church for Alison was truly a vision in her new wedding gown. Jamie sat up a little straighter, proud of his wife’s handiwork. Charles Crockett, sitting directly behind the brothers, clasped their shoulders in turn and told them how lucky they were to have such talented wives. Roger, Adam and Nick agreed.

“Thank you, all.” Jamie whispered back over his shoulder. He had seen the finished gown two evenings before and knew it was a splendid display of Evelyn’s talent as a seamstress, but he hadn’t seen it on Alison and now he admired it anew.

The gown had been made out of costly silk damask the color of the blue sky. Evelyn had told him that Alison had chosen the color because traditionally the color blue symbolized purity, love and fidelity and while she wasn’t pure any longer because of her first marriage, she loved William Barber with all her heart and believed strongly in fidelity.

Evelyn and Alison had followed a modern pattern and drawings that William Barber had brought back from a London tailor. The bodice had a low, square neckline trimmed in three-inch lace, a pointed waist and full puffy sleeves that ended at the middle of her forearm and finished with the same lace that trimmed the neckline. The skirt was very full and swept the floor. Fancy ribbon bows of the same material were attached at the waist and at the cuffs, however the gown was devoid of any embroidery since heavy embroidery had recently gone out of fashion much to Evelyn’s dismay. And for jewelry she wore a stunning gold and pearl link necklace with a faceted blue aquamarine pendant drop. Matching drop earrings and gold and pearl bracelet, most likely a wedding gift from her groom, completed her ensemble. She looked magnificent.

“Didn’t I tell you it was beautiful?” Jamie whispered to his brother.

“You did. And it is.” Robert whispered back.

The Reverend cleared his throat and everyone focused their attention on the happy couple. Both looked heels over head in love with each other and the bride glowed. William looked most elegant in his black velvet suit and his hair tied neatly back with a blue ribbon in the same material as Alison’s gown. As they exchanged their vows, pledging their devotion through times of joy and sorrow, sickness and health, prosperity and poverty, Jamie repeated the vows in his head, gazing over at Evelyn instead of watching Alison and William. She, too, was silently mouthing the words and had twisted in her seat a little so she could return Jamie’s tender look.

Jamie noticed that Elizabeth also looked back at Robert and much to Jamie’s surprise, Robert acknowledged her with a nod and an affectionate smile.

After the Reverend declared Alison and William man and wife, William surprised everyone by enthusiastically embracing his bride and kissing her heartily. No one was bothered by that bold move. Instead everyone cheered and whistled in delight. Even Robin stood up on Robert’s lap and clapped energetically, losing his hold on his cloth beagle and sending if flying right at the back of Hugh’s head. At least it was soft and Hugh was a good sport about getting hit by it.

Afterwards there was much kissing, hugging, and giving of good wishes. Everyone threw wheat kernels at Alison’s head as she emerged from the church and then Chiffock invited them all to the Paulette home for refreshments and dancing, and maybe even a horse race, if any gentlemen were so inclined.

Jamie was so inclined. In fact, he couldn’t think of anything that he would like to do more. Yes, eating would be favorable and dancing would be pleasurable, but a horse race! That would be blissful.

Over the next twenty minutes, the company of fifty or so guests traveled to the Paulette home by foot, except for Jamie, Evelyn and the men who had come by horse. Jamie worried that the men might become a little too boisterous and crude, but thankfully they remembered their manners in front of Evelyn and acted like true gentlemen. However, they did mention how they were looking forward to challenging Jamie’s stallion in that horse race, Nick especially.

Jamie laughed; he thought Pisador was the fastest of all and couldn’t wait to prove it to everyone, especially Nick.

The weather remained clear and pleasant and by the time they arrived at the Paulette’s estate under a noon sun, the temperature had risen considerably. Having only taken minutes to ride to the Paulette’s private yard, they were the first guests to arrive. However, Thomas Paulette and William Barber had anticipated this. They knew that anyone traveling by horse would be faster than anyone traveling by foot and they had arranged for the remainder of Barber’s crew to stay behind and welcome the riders. Three seamen, dressed in clean linen, (that was an immense feat considering these rough fellows), met them at the side yard. After everyone dismounted, the sailors led the horses to the paddock where Paulette’s four horses were already grazing. Jamie wanted to go with them to make sure that they would treat his horses with care, but he was stopped by the cook, Andrew Coplestone, who came out of the kitchen to greet them when he heard all the commotion.

The cook was a portly but jovial fellow with slicked-back copper red hair and wide green eyes. Sweating and exhausted from helping the two Negresses in the kitchen all morning, he was nevertheless friendly and welcoming. He offered them horn cups of beer and the gentlemen, thirsty from the sprightly ride, gladly accepted. Evelyn said she would rather have wine, but first she needed to go to the privy.

Once the cook directed Evelyn to the privy and she had left, the men followed Andrew to a long table that had been set up just outside the kitchen door. Every last inch of the table was covered with food and drink, kegs of beer and spiced hard cider, bottles of wine and brandy, bowls and plates of who knew what for they were covered with cloths for the time being. Jamie marveled at the bounty and envied Paulette’s wealth. He knew he shouldn’t—thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house and all that—but it was mighty difficult.

Just as the cook was tapping into the first keg of ale, Nick’s stomach growled loudly. They all heard it, but it was John Bolton, on the other side of Nick, who poked an elbow into his side and commented with a chuckle, “Hungry, are you?”

“I didn’t have breakfast.” Nick admitted with a good-natured grin. “I didn’t bother, knowing there would be plenty of food to be had here.”

“That there is, my friend, but fill your belly with this for the time being.” The cook said affably, handing Nick a horn cup filled to the brim with beer. “Supper will be served once everyone arrives.”

Nick took it and drank it down in one long draw, letting out a loud belch and wiping his mouth with his sleeve when he was finished. “Mmm…wonderful stuff. Thank you.” He said, handing the cup back.

The cook then filled it a second time and offered it next to John Bolton.

“You need a wife, Nick, to cook you breakfast.” Jamie said lightly, punching Nick’s arm companionably. His biceps were solid muscle.

“I would love that, but not everyone is lucky enough to have a lovely young woman given to him.” He said with a wink.

“Evelyn wasn’t given to me!” Jamie objected.

Nick raised an eyebrow. “Wasn’t she?”

Jamie thought about it for a second. “Well…” He conceded with a wry smile. “I guess she was.”

“You’re a lucky man, Jamie.” Nick said, with a bit of envy in his voice. “We’re all a little jealous.” He took a quick glance around the group.