The Importance of Love (18 page)

The Viscount offered rooms at Torr House, but his grandmother declined, saying that she would find it difficult to sleep with the builders starting so early each day.

The Viscount knew that really it was not the idea of the builders she found difficult, but sleeping under what had once been Madame Le Fevre's roof.

As he waved them off, he noticed a buggy coming up the drive.

He squinted into the distance and, eventually, made out the figure of the Chief Constable seated alongside another Police Officer.

The buggy came to a halt outside and the Chief Constable climbed down.

“Chief Constable. What brings you here?”

“Might we go inside?” he said. “It is a rather delicate matter.”

The Viscount showed him into the library where they would not be disturbed.

“Would you care for some refreshment? I am afraid I am a little less than sober and would like some coffee, if you would care to join me?”

“Thank you, my Lord. Although you may wish for something stronger after I have told you what I came to say.”

“Oh?”

“It's Frank Connolly.”

“You have a date for the trial?”

“I'm afraid he has now dispensed with the need for a trial.”

“I do not understand, Chief Constable. How can he have done such a thing? Has his father pulled some strings high up?”

The Chief Constable shifted in his seat and looked uncomfortable.

“My Lord, we found him hanging by his necktie in his cell this morning. Frank Connolly is dead.”

The Viscount fell back in his chair utterly shocked.

“My God!” he exclaimed. “He really was not of sound mind. Did he leave a note?”

“No, but you are correct in assuming that his mind was touched.”

“I must say, although I detested the fellow, I would not have wished this for him. Still, I suppose it spares Luella the pain of a trial. She would have found it difficult to bear having to see that man again. Have you informed his father?”

“Yes, we telephoned him in Ireland as soon as he was discovered. He is on his way here to collect the body.”

“It is a great shame for his family. I do not personally know the Connollys of Kilsharry, but they do not deserve this terrible stain on their good name.”

The Chief Constable drained his cup and rose to leave.

“Will you inform Miss Ridgeway?”

“Yes, at once.”

“Then, I'll bid you good afternoon, my Lord. I am sorry to bring such bad news to this house at a time when it should be filled with joy. Do not worry about having me shown out, I know the way.”

The Viscount remained in his chair and sighed deeply. Although he was relieved that Frank Connolly would never cast a shadow over him or Luella again, he was not untouched by the tragedy of the affair.

‘Luella will be upset and will blame herself,' he murmured. ‘I must make certain that she realises that he was not in his right mind and that men in such desperate situations are wont to take desperate action.'

He rose to find Luella, his heart heavy and full of dread at what her reaction might be.

*

Much to the Viscount's surprise, Luella took the news of Frank Connolly's self-inflicted demise without becoming too distressed.

She simply sighed and said that it was a great pity that he should have taken his own life. But she was relieved to be spared the prospect of reliving the awful events of the past and refused to allow it to cloud their happiness.

The Earl and the Dowager Marchioness remained in Bideford. Luella was delighted that the old lady took an active part in the preparations alongside her Aunt Edith, while the Viscount found his father to be an enthusiastic partner, helping him ensure that the building work on Torr House was completed in record time.

He even paid for more builders and craftsmen to come from London so that the house would be ready in time for the celebrations.

On the day of the wedding, the Viscount went to stay in the same hotel as his family, while Luella and her aunt remained at Torr House.

Grace was in a high state of excitement as she woke Luella early on that late September morning.

The wedding dress was hanging from the wardrobe in the river room and was the first thing that Luella saw as she opened her eyes.

‘Today, I am to become
Lady Kennington
,' she said to herself with mounting excitement.

She climbed out of bed and Grace drew her a bath. After the ceremony, Luella would be moving into the rooms in the new wing with the Viscount.

‘Tonight I shall not say goodnight to him and be apart from him,' she mused as she lay back in the steaming water. ‘I shall lie in his arms and we shall become one in our love.'

She suddenly wished that her mother was with her to advise her and to allay her fears. By the time that Grace began to brush out her thick golden hair, Luella was feeling upset that her parents were no longer around to see her big day.

Seeing her Mistress close to tears, Grace made an excuse to leave the room and ran to where the Countess was breakfasting in the conservatory.

“Grace, what is it?”

The Countess saw the worried expression on the maid's face and knew at once that she had come about Luella.

“It is Miss Luella. She is very upset and I think she needs you by her side.”

The Countess set down her toast and followed Grace upstairs. Luella was hunched over the dressing table crying profusely. With a slight gesture the Countess dismissed

Grace and went over to her niece embracing her warmly.

“Darling, what is it?”

“I just wish so much that Mama and Papa were alive to witness this day. I would so love Mama to be here with me.”

“You must miss them very much. We all do, but today of all days it will seem as if the proceedings are somehow lacking without them. Am I right?”

“As ever, Aunt Edith. Don't think I am not grateful for your being here – you have always been as a mother to me, but this day would have meant a great deal to Mama.”

“And to my brother-in-law, your father,” sighed the Countess. Luella clutched the photograph of her parents that always stood on the dressing table firmly to her bosom.

“It is as if a piece of my heart died with them.”

“Yes, I do understand, darling. But you know that you owe it to them and their memory to be happy on this day. They would not want you crying and miserable.”

Luella looked at the photograph and kissed it.

“Of course, Aunt Edith. That is how it should be, but I do so wish that they could see me getting married. It is just that David reconciling with his father has made me long for my parents to be here too. They would love David, as I do.”

“But they will see you. From Heaven.”

“I wish I could believe it. I would feel so much better if I thought they could watch me and be smiling down on me today.”

“They will. You must look into your heart and find the truth. God will show you the way, my dear. Pray to Him and He will send you their love through Him.”

Luella dried her eyes and nodded. She clasped her hands together and said a silent prayer, hoping with all her heart that she would be heard.

“I feel much better now,” she announced, as Grace tiptoed back into the room. “Aunt, thank you so much. I do not know what I would do without your wisdom.”

“Darling, we have all loved and lost dear ones and on days like this they are always with us.”

The Countess quietly left her to her preparations.

As Luella stepped into her wedding dress, a beam of sunlight suddenly struck her dress as she moved towards the mirror.

Gasping in wonder, she said to herself,

“
It is a sign
! A sign that Mama and Papa are with me.”

Feeling comforted, Luella's spirits soared and soon she found herself in the carriage seated next to the Earl on her way to the Church. Joy in her heart at last.

*

The ceremony went without a hitch and everyone who attended agreed that Luella was the most beautiful and radiant bride that Bideford, if not the whole of England, had ever seen.

The Viscount, so dashing and handsome in his morning suit led her down the aisle after they had been pronounced man and wife, and felt filled with joy that his father and grandmother had been present to witness the happiest moment in his life.

Bennett had the Daimler waiting for them and had decorated it with white ribbons. The whole of Bideford thronged the churchyard and cheered them on as they emerged from the Church.

Rice and confetti showered them from every angle as they walked towards the motor car.

As the Daimler sped them towards Torr House, Luella nestled close to her new husband and sent a silent prayer of thanks to God for her good fortune.

The Viscount looked at her as she cast her eyes downwards and thought that he was so happy he might burst.

“Luella,” he murmured gently raising her face to his. “Until I met you, I did not realise the importance of love. And now I know that, without love, we do not live – we simply exist.”

She smiled back up at him, her eyes full of warmth and deep affection.

“Oh, my darling, I thought I would never find a man who would love me after that awful business with Jean-Marie Bouillicault, let alone anyone as wonderful as you.”

The Viscount leaned in towards her and kissed her on the lips. As they kissed, people in the street cheered and waved.

Back at Torr House, he led her inside and took her in his arms as they stood on the front steps.

A cavalcade of carriages was coming down the drive towards them and Luella realised that this was their last chance of privacy before the house filled with guests, eagerly awaiting the wedding breakfast.

“My dearest darling,” she whispered fluttering her eyelashes and gazing up at him. “I want to be the very best wife you could ever wish for.”

Filled with passion the Viscount kissed her again.

He could feel her heart beating and her pulse racing as he traced the line of her neck with his fingers.

“Come,” he said at last. “Our guests are arriving. Let us go inside and drink a toast to
us
.”

“And to
love
,” sighed Luella allowing him to lead her inside.

And to a world of happiness and delight for all Eternity.

To a life together of tenderness and gentleness.

To a life of unending bliss.