Ransome's Honor (36 page)

Julia had agreed to truly become his wife, to put aside the notion of their marriage being a business arrangement. But the fact remained that three hours from now, his life would irrevocably change. No longer could he be concerned only for his own well-being and happiness. Julia’s joy and safety, indeed her very life, would now depend on him. He prayed he could live up to his responsibility.

Dawling entered as William pulled his shirt over his head.

“Breakfast, sir.” Dawling’s smile gleamed across the dim room. “A last meal, as it were, sir.”

“Humph.” William shook his head and sat down to the plate of eggs, sausage, and black pudding. “Have the lots been drawn?”

“Yes, sir, among the crew, anyway. Of the officers, Mr. Ingleby volunteered to stay.”

“Good man. I’ll see that he is rewarded for his sacrifice.” And staying behind was truly a sacrifice on the part of the ship’s master, who enjoyed a good feast and time ashore. William downed the food without tasting it. “You saw the baker yesterday?”

“Aye sir. He will bring the cake and treats to the ship at eleven o’clock as you requested. I have told Mr. Ingleby of the plan so he does not deny the boat approach.”

Sooner than he thought possible, the shrill whistles of boatswain’s mates piped up the hands. His innards quivered like a jellyfish. Dawling assisted him into his heavy dress coat, the gold braid and brass buttons dull in the dim light from the overcast sky outside.

After a quick inspection of the hands gathered on the quarterdeck, William released them to breakfast and called for the ship’s boats to be made ready to ferry him, the lieutenants, and the warrant officers ashore.

Rather than leaving the deck, the crew came to order by division, each saluting as if rendering passing honors to the ship of a superior officer. The lieutenants and warrant officers lined the path to the waist entry port.

“Three cheers for the captain!” Boatswain Matthews called as William came across the quarterdeck.

The crew’s cheers resounded in William’s ears and gladdened his heart. He raised his hat in a sign of honor to his men and then descended the accommodation ladder to the waiting boat, followed by the officers. The trip to the dock seemed but a blink of an eye. Sailors and workers alike cheered for him as he passed through the docks, his officers following him like novitiates.

In their walk from the dockyard to Saint Thomas’s Church, more well-wishers than William thought possible called their congratulations or joined and walked with them. The large church was nearly filled to capacity when William arrived—all faces bright with smiles as he made his way to the front of the chancel.

Collin met him in the nave, and William’s officers abandoned him to take up their seats on the front row.

“Julia awaits with Susan and Admiral Glover in the vestibule.”

William’s heart pounded in his throat. The organ groaned and began to expel music William hoped was pleasing to Julia. To him it sounded like nothing more than the rumble of cannons in battle.

“Ready?” Collin asked.

“As I will ever be.” William clenched his hands into fists to keep them from trembling.

Susan, dressed in a gown the color of the lilacs that graced his mother’s garden each spring, joined them at the altar.

William forced himself to stand at attention rather than galloping down the aisle to meet Julia when she appeared. Though it was covered with a lace veil, she wore her hair loose in a riot of curls down her back, the way he liked it best. Her face glowed, eyes luminescent.

The vicar stepped forward. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocence...”

William could not keep his eyes from Julia’s, losing himself in their emerald depths.

“I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it.”

Julia’s eyes twinkled, and she smiled for the first time. William returned it, his pleasure in her almost more than he could bear.

“If any man do allege and declare any impediment, why they may not be coupled together in Matrimony, by God’s Law, or the Laws of this Realm, let him now speak his objection.”

The sound of a door slamming caused a rustling gasp in the crowd, but William thought nothing of the latecomer’s arrival-until a man’s voice reverberated throughout the silent sanctuary.

“I object.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

J
ulia stifled a cry and, heart pounding, turned. The little light from the overcast sky outside that filtered in through the tall stainedglass windows sparkled on the epaulets and prodigious amount of gold braid adorning the uniform of the man who strode with purpose up the aisle toward them.

“Papa.” Her heart rose into her throat and then dropped into her stomach. That her father had come fulfilled her greatest desire. That he objected to her marrying William extinguished the hope for a future that included what might become a happy marriage.

A fevered pitch of murmuring swept around them like a whirlwind. Never before had Julia seen such an expression on her father’s face. She had known he would be unhappy he had not been consulted, his blessing not given before they proceeded with the wedding. But surely once they explained the circumstances, he would understand—would give his permission for the wedding to continue.

She trembled as he mounted the steps to join them, Admiral Glover moving quickly out of his way. Sir Edward turned his gaze upon William for a long moment. William stood at attention, his eyes forward, focused over Julia’s head. Then Admiral Sir Edward Witherington turned to his daughter.

“Julia, you will wait in the vestibule.”

She swallowed the desire to disobey him and forced her feet to carry her back toward the rear of the sanctuary.

“Captain Ransome, you will come with me.”

She turned and looked over her shoulder to watch William follow her father through a door at the front of the chancel. Susan joined her and, arm around Julia’s waist, escorted her through the doors to the vestibule.

“Once William explains everything—oh, Julia, you know your father cannot object. He loves William as a son. I should think there is no one else in the world he should wish you to marry.”

Julia paced the small antechamber. Her father was here. He would see that all was put to right—would see to it that Julia was protected from any further threat. But could he truly ask her not to marry William?

Anguish wrapped around her chest and tightened until breathing came harder and harder. The door opened, and her father came through. Susan excused herself and returned to the sanctuary.

Upon seeing Julia, he must have recognized her affliction, for his face eased into a smile. “Come. Have you no greeting for your father?”

“I—” Restraining her grief, she moved into his open arms, the wool of his coat rough against her cheek.

“My daughter. Long have I desired to see this day. I could wish no finer man as your husband, as I told him twelve years ago.”

Julia stepped back in surprise. “No—but why—?”

He rested his hands on her shoulders. “I have one question to put to you to settle this matter. Do you love him?”

She opened her mouth, but no words would issue forth.

Sir Edward sighed and pulled her back into his arms. “Dear, dear daughter. I love you more than life itself If I were to see you unhappy in your choice of husband, knowing I could have prevented it, my inaction would be untenable and my misery absolute.”

“I will be happy with him, Papa. He is a good man—the best man I know, aside from you.”

“That is not what I asked you, Julia.”

Her mind whirled, memories of William as a fifteen-year-old midshipman taking care of her, of the handsome young lieutenant who charmed her out of all good sense, of the captain who’d ridden through the night to come to her aid yesterday.

“Yes, Papa. I love him. I have loved him since I was ten years old.”

He kissed her forehead. “Excellent. Because there is no other man I feel is worthy of your affection. Now, as to my objection to this wedding.”

The glimmer of hope his reaction brought was snuffed by his last statement. “Objection? But I have confessed I love him. You said—”

His green eyes twinkled. “My objection is that I did not get to walk my daughter down the aisle and give her away to her husband. That is not an office I want Crispin Glover performing for me.”

She laughed as he pulled her into another hug. But—she pushed away from him again. “How did you know to come—how did you find out? The post...?”

“I received an express from William early Monday morning. I rode all day yesterday and took only brief respite to ensure I arrived before the wedding.” The left side of his mouth quirked up. “Not quite the naval precision timing I usually have, but it will give everyone more to talk about, aye?”

“You are incorrigible.” She slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, feeling for the first time in more than a year that everything in her life was wonderful.

Susan turned when the doors opened, her eyes glistening with tears. But as soon as she saw Julia’s arm through her father’s, she handed Julia her bouquet and preceded them down the aisle. The organist was a bit slower to catch on; however, before they were halfway to the front, heavenly music once again filled the church.

The rector looked somewhat confused and very frightened of Sir Edward. William beamed his pleasure at her, and she returned his smile.

“I—er—shall I—?” the rector stammered, unable to take his eyes off Sir Edward.

Sir Edward scowled, though his eyes still smiled. “Continue, man, continue.”

“Er, yes. Right. Uh...” The service book trembled violently in the minister’s hands. He took a deep breath and did his best to still it before continuing to read the ceremony. “William Robert Ransome, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”

William’s tender gaze caressed Julia’s face. “I will.”

Her heart fluttered.

“Julia Edwina Witherington, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”

Obey him? Serve him? She searched the depths of the crystal blue eyes looking so intently into hers. He would never ask her to do anything that would bring her pain or harm. Yes, she would obey him, knowing he meant any request only for her good. He would protect her, had already proven so, time and again. Serving him was the least she could do to repay him.

His dark brows began to draw together and she realized she had not spoken. “I will.”

The rector released a sigh of relief. “Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?”

“I, her father, do.” Sir Edward cupped Julia’s cheeks in his hands and kissed her forehead. He then took Julia’s right hand and placed it in the rector’s before stepping back to take the seat made for him by the shifting down of William’s officers.

The minister placed Julia’s hand into William’s. “Repeat after me...

William pledged his troth, followed by Julia, her voice gaining strength with each word of the vows.

“Have you a ring?” the rector asked.

William turned. Collin withdrew a ring from the watch pocket of his waistcoat and laid it upon the rector’s book. The rector prayed a blessing over it and presented the ring to William. Taking her quavering left hand, he slid the ring—a thin gold band set with a large emerald surrounded by small diamonds—onto her finger. “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

He raised her hand and kissed the back of it before they both turned to kneel. The rest of the prayers and Scriptures were read, the sermon on the duties of the husband and wife given, communion shared by Julia and William, and the ceremony concluded with a prayer.

After kneeling so long before the altar, Julia was grateful for William’s support when she stood.

“Well, kiss her then!” A male voice called from the direction of William’s officers.

Julia let slip a nervous laugh. Redness climbed up William’s neck into his face. He raised his left hand and touched a curl at her temple, leaned forward, and kissed her.

When her knees gave out, his arm clasped her waist and hugged her to him. The kiss ended, and she buried her face in his shoulder, completely disoriented and filled with too many feelings to even know what they were.

The officers of
Alexandra
and every other man in uniform in the church huzzahed three times.

Knowing she could not continue to hide in William’s uniform, she released him and turned to receive a hug and kiss from Susan. The organ bellowed out a raucous toccata as William took her hand and led her from the church.

Outside awaited one of the fanciest carriages Julia had ever seen. Standing beside it, in full formal livery, Elton swept off his hat and bowed low before opening the door for them.

William assisted her up into the large, open-topped carriage.

“Lady Dalrymple told me I was to drive you down through High Street and to the dockyard so all those who couldn’t come to the wedding could see you and wish you joy.” Elton secured the door behind William.

“Oh, no, Eiton—” She implored William with her gaze.

He nodded and patted her hand. “After the wedding breakfast, you may drive us to the dockyard, Elton, so that I may take Julia out to see
Alexandra.
But not now.”

“Aye, aye, sir.” Elton knuckled his forehead before returning his tall, feathered hat to his head and climbing up into the box. “To Lady Dalrymple’s it is, then.”

“May I ask you to stand and join me.”

William dragged his gaze away from Julia, who sat serene amid the flurry of Charlotte and Susan’s animated conversation. Around him, everyone pressed in at Sir Edward’s request. William extended his hand to Julia and brought her back to his side.

Sir Edward raised his crystal goblet. “To my beloved daughter and her husband. May they never know sorrow, but enjoy health and prosperity. May they never be faced with great trials, but if they are, may they find wisdom and counsel one with the other. May Julia find comfort in the knowledge that her husband fulfills his honor through duty to king and country. And may William be supported in the fulfillment of his honor and duty by the loyalty and prayers of his wife. Ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom.”

“The bride and groom,” the crowd around them repeated and raised their glasses.

“Now, William, I understand that Admiral Glover has taken an office upon himself that I wished myself to do.” At Sir Edward’s scathing glance, Admiral Glover made a deep bow.

“Most humble apologies, sir.” Admiral Glover’s smirk was anything but contrite.

“May I assume you are carrying it with you?” Sir Edward set down his glass and extended his hand.

In the silence surrounding them, William’s pulse thudded loudly in his ears. “Aye, sir.” He, too, set down his champagne, and then he reached into his coat pocket and removed the packet Admiral Glover had given him. Heat rose up the back of his neck—a mix of pleasure and pride and humility.

“Very good.” Admiral Witherington unfolded the pages and patted his pockets. “I do not appear to have my spectacles with me. Well, no matter.” He raised the papers over his head. “What I have here are the orders officially raising Captain William Ransome to the rank of Commodore. When he arrives in the Caribbean, he shall take over command of Jamaica station.”

A cheer went up around them. Julia’s mouth dropped open before spreading into a wide smile. She hugged him tightly. “Why did you not tell me?”

He held her close so that she could not see the embarrassment creeping into his face. “So much has happened since I learned this news, it slipped my mind.”

“Slipped your mind?” She pulled away and then raised up on her toes to kiss him. “No matter. But next time you are promoted, please tell me personally.”

“I promise.” He kissed her again and then released her. Collin and the other officers present crowded around to congratulate him and offer him their advice.

The continual press of the assembly set William on edge, remembering why he despised public functions so greatly. Julia received the attention with an admirable aplomb that increased his pride in knowing that regardless of where they went, he could always depend on her to part the social waters and afford him smooth sailing.

Finally, the crowd began to disperse. William dismissed the officers to go back to
Alexandra
to prepare the crew to receive Julia.

Lady Dalrymple approached them. “You should be honored by the number of people who turned out today,” she said, taking one of each of their hands in her own. “Never have I seen a couple so universally celebrated as you. All of Portsmouth will remember this as the happiest—and most eventful—wedding ever. Thank you for letting me have some little part of it.”

“No, it is we who must thank you for so graciously opening your home to us, my lady.” Julia inclined her head.

“Captain Ransome, I understand you wish to take Julia to see your ship. My carriage is at your disposal, and Julia, your father has relinquished the services of his driver for today, so Elton will take you wherever you please.”