Hyacinth (Suitors of Seattle) (14 page)

BOOK: Hyacinth (Suitors of Seattle)

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Fred beamed with pride as he stood at the top of the steps with Hyacinth, getting ready to walk her down and give her away. Another of his beautiful girls was making a good match for herself, and he couldn't be prouder.

As they walked slowly down the stairs, Hyacinth kept her eyes on Lawrence, seeing the love shining from his eyes as she made the short walk toward him. Finally, her father placed her hand in his
, and she stepped close to him.

*****

She hadn't cared about being the center of attention for her wedding, so she'd done her best to keep the reception short. After they left the party, Lawrence drove her home through the quiet streets with her snuggled close to his side. "It was a really nice day for a wedding," she told him nervously. She found it hard to believe that she was actually going home with her new husband, and she would never live in her parents' home again.

He kept his arm tightly around her shoulders. "I'm so happy we're finally married. It's felt like an eternity since you agreed to be my bride on Tuesday morning."

Hyacinth nodded in agreement. She wanted to be with him every moment of every day, so their time apart had seemed long and unnecessary to her. "I'm glad we get to finally leave all those people behind and just be alone together." Yes, she was nervous, but she was even more excited about spending her life with the man beside her.

He kissed her forehead as he pulled up in front of his small carriage house. He helped her down
, walking with her to the door and sweeping her off her feet to carry her over the threshold. She giggled. "Don't be silly, Lawrence. Put me down!"

"I can't seem to do that," he said with a laugh. He carried her toward the stairs and straight up them.

She saw two maids and the cook watching them as he carried her toward what she assumed was his bedroom, and she blushed. "Everyone knows where you're taking me!" How could she ever face the servants again?

He laughed as he set her on h
er feet, closing the door behind them. "You didn't think they knew I was going to make love to my beautiful new bride?" His hands reached out, and he plucked the flower from her hair, setting it in a vase he'd already filled with water for just that purpose.

She backed up a step as he walked toward her, removing his jacket as he went. "You're my wife, and I'm going to enjoy every second with you." He
tossed his jacket over a chair and removed his tie, throwing it onto the dresser. Stopping in front of her, he put his hand on her shoulder and turned her around so he could see the row of buttons down her back. He groaned. "I suppose you'd be angry if I just ripped the buttons off the dress to get you out of it faster?"

She nodded, not sure if she could speak. He was acting very differently than she was used to. She wondered
for a moment if it was Tuesday, but she knew it wasn't. Now that she knew what his 'Tuesday affliction' was about, she had to stop blaming all of his odd behavior on the day of the week and just accept that Lawrence was odd at times.

He carefully unfastened each button, pressing a kiss to the flesh he exposed after each one. "Have I told you yet today that I love you more than I ever dreamed it was possible to love someone?"

She smiled. That was the Lawrence she knew. "Not yet. I wouldn't mind hearing it, though."

He leaned over and nipped her neck, grazing his teeth against her skin. "I love you,
Hyacinth Bennett. I'm so glad you agreed to spend your life with me." Finished with his task of unbuttoning her dress, he pushed it off her shoulders until it fell to a heap on the floor.

She stepped out of it gracefully, wearing only her petticoats and corset. Turning to him she cupped his face in her hands. "And I love you, Lawrence. I love you so much. I never thought I'd find the kind of man I could love the way I love you."

He leaned down and kissed her softly. "Forever."

Epilogue

Violet stood in the park, watching a lonely man walk along holding the hand of a small child. They stopped and talked for a moment, their eyes meeting. Violet's fingers flew over her sketch pad, capturing the moment. The love and pain in their eyes was almost more than she could bear.

She usually only did portraits of her family members, choosing to work mostly on landscapes. Her upcoming exhibit at the new art gallery in Seattle was only meant to have landscapes, but she knew that this man and boy would be displayed prominently. There was something about the emotion on their faces that drew her to them. She wanted to hold them both close and tell them everything would be fine.

Within a few moments, the pair had walked on, but she could see she'd done a credible job of sketching them, and she knew the looks on their faces would be implanted in her brain for her entire life. Anytime a person saw that much raw emotion, they couldn't help but remember it. Always.

She tucked her sketch pad under her arm and walked down the street toward her home, wondering who she had drawn. She shook her head. It didn't really matter, she supposed. They were simply subjects. All the world was filled with subjects for her to draw. Why would they be any different?

She tried to put them out of her mind as she rushed toward home. Hyacinth's book would be released the following day, having been accepted by Lawrence's publisher immediately. They would be celebrating that evening, and she was looking forward to it.

Hyacinth said she had other news as well, but it didn't take a genius to figure out what that news was. She'd already watched three of her sisters through their pregnancies. She knew the signs as well as anyone else. She smiled as she thought about another niece or nephew. Another tiny little face to paint. Another child to hold close.

She'd chosen a career over a family, refusing the suit of every man who had asked her, not that there had been a great deal. Everyone had always known she was going to be an artist. She had no time for love.

She looked down at the sketch she'd made of the man and boy in the park. Sometimes, she wished it could be different, though. The kind of love she saw between the two was something she'd never feel.

Sighing, she continued her journey home. She had her family. They wouldn't let her be lonely.

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