Cecilia:

I awoke early the next morning to find myself snuggled into Rory's side, my hair a wild tangle as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, how romantic, I thought sarcastically. I shifted my body slightly and felt his arm tighten around my waist, God, not this again.

I swivelled in his vice like grip so that I could at least admire him whilst he slept on. My eyes took in every inch of his chiselled face, his fair hair falling slightly into his face, his lips slightly parted, his breaths slow and even. I committed every line and angle to my memory as my eyes recorded his handsome features carefully.

"Who's staring now?" Rory opened one eye and grinned cheekily up at me as my face turned scarlet. "Morning beautiful," he chuckled before placing a lingering kiss on my lips, the familiar buzz of excitement rushing through my veins.

"Morning," I sleepily replied before placing my head in the crook of his shoulder.

"Damn it," I heard Rory mutter under his breath, I lifted my head from his shoulder to look at him curiously.

"What is it?" I questioned.

"What is the date today?" he asked in response.

"I believe it is the thirtieth of December," I replied throwing him a quizzical look.

"Five days late, damn it," he said seemingly more to himself than me.

"What is five days late?" I pressed, what on Earth was he going on about?

"Oh well, I guess it will have to be a belated gift," he continued as if not hearing my question. I watched as he fished around blindly in the draw of his bedside table for a minute before drawing out a small object wrapped in tissue paper. I cocked an eyebrow at the package in his hands, what was it?

"I found this in the village," He started, "A tinker sold it to me actually, I believe it is time it was returned to its rightful owner." He placed the little parcel in my hands, "Merry belated Christmas."

"It's for me?" I asked shocked.

"That is what I said is it not?" he laughed.

"I've never had a christmas present before," I murmured bewilderedly.

"I've never given one before," Rory chuckled. "Well come on then," he urged excitedly, "Open it." He rolled his eyes at me as I made no move to open it.

"You simply, open the paper," He said patronisingly as he mimed opening the package.

"I know how to open it," I snapped at him giving him one of my finest glares as he held his hands up in surrender.

I pulled the tissue gently away from the object and held up the locket nestled within the paper. I felt tears spring to my eyes as I stared at the object I had not seen in ten years. "My mother's locket," I choked out, feeling the emotion swelling in my bosom.

I opened the locket and there was the likeness of my mother painted within it, smiling happily out at me as if she had not a care in the world.

"Oh Rory," I lifted my head to look at him, "Thank you, thank you, thank you." I smiled up at him, throwing my arms around his neck as he brushed the tears that had escaped from my cheeks.

"You're most welcome my darling" He laughed into my hair as he wound his arms around my waist.

"I must admit though, I did not know it was your mother's necklace, only that I had seen you wear it when we were young. It is quite an unusual design though so I recognised it when I saw it. May I see the portrait inside?" He queried.

I nodded and drew back from him to show him the picture nestled in the silvery leaved locket. I noticed the look of surprise cross his face, "She looks just... Like you." His eyes swept over my face and then returned back to the portrait.

It was true, I had always been told I looked the spitting image of my mother and from the small illustration within the locket I had to agree. I shared my long raven hair and bright blue eyes with the woman I had never met as well as my pale complexion.

I often missed her even though I had never known her myself. Well, I say I missed her, but it was more the idea of her. I missed not knowing the touch of a mother. All the other girls I had ever known had had mothers to brush their hair, cradle them when they were sad and teach them the ways of a proper lady. I had had no one but myself.

I had never known what it was to depend on someone as I had only ever depended on myself. Perhaps that was why I had been reluctant to admit my feelings for Rory to myself. I couldn't help but smile though as I thought of just how well everything had turned out in the end.

"What's got you smiling so?" Rory teased playfully.

"Oh, you know, just thinking how lucky I am to be married to the most wonderful man in England." I said, my smile broadening. And I had discovered throughout our short marriage that he really was the most incredible man, there was certainly no other like Rory and definitely no other for me but Rory.

Rory's eyes widened and he stared at me in wonder and amazement. "I really love you Cecilia Huntington. How good that sounds." He murmured the last part as if talking to himself. I giggled at him and placed a chaste kiss on his lips.

"I love you too Rory Huntington." I then turned in his arms so that my back was facing him, "Would you?" I asked holding the locket out.

"Of course," Rory replied tenderly. I felt the breath catch in my throat as it did every time Rory's fingers touched my skin. Rory chuckled deeply behind me obviously noticing his effect on me and I blushed scarlet. "Everything alright Lady Huntington?" He whispered slyly in my ear sending another wave of shivers down my spine.

"Fine thank you," I squeaked causing Rory to laugh again.

"There you go," he twisted me back around to face him after securing the locket around my neck. "Beautiful," he murmured as he kissed my forehead, "As always." I couldn't help the smile that stretched across my face, was everyone as lucky in love as I had been? I hoped so.

**********

"No, no," I chided the young boy, "That is to go above the fireplace." I pointed towards the large hearth that dominated the empty ballroom. It was a month since the incident with Edward and Rory was fully recovered.

We had decided to wipe the memory of him from our minds but Rory had certainly become more protective of me, insisting to be with me at all times of the day when he was not working. I had to admit though, I loved spending as much time with him as possible so I could hardly complain.

"Ah, I thought I might find you here my darling," Rory's voice drifted towards me as his boots clicked on the newly polished floor. "May I be of service your grace?" He stooped low in an over exaggerated bow. I laughed and slapped his arm playfully before my expression turned serious.

"Yes actually," I stifled a giggle as he pouted ridiculously at me, obviously he hadn't expected me to call him on his offer of help. "Those flowers need to go over there," I gestured to the bottom of the small make-shift aisle that ran through the hall. "And, Lewis needs some help with setting out all the chairs."

I beamed up at Rory as he mock scowled at me before placing a short kiss on my forehead and moving off to position the flowers.

"The things I do for love," he shouted over his shoulder jokingly before offering his help to the new footman Lewis. The ballroom had really been transformed in the last few hours and it looked absolutely stunning.

Red and white roses lined the edge of the hall and ran up the aisle to the small improvised alter where the local priest was waiting patiently reading through a book of sermons. I could not stop the excitement rushing though me and the smile stuck to my face as I recalled the conversation from a fortnight ago.

"Your grace, might I have a word?" A rather happy looking Mrs Stone lifted her head from the danish pastry she was making.

"But of course, pray what do you wish to speak of? Should we take tea in the sitting room?" The woman shook her head, a rosy tint on her face as her eyes crinkled at the side.

"Oh there is no need, everyone downstairs was told this morning." The older woman blushed again and a couple of the younger kitchen maids giggled and murmured behind their hands with evident glee.

"Indeed?" I questioned, "Well by all means go ahead, I am quite curious to hear of what it is you have to tell me."

"Well," She started, "With your graces' permission of course, Mr Ellis and I wish to wed." The kitchen maids ahh-ed and smiled as Mrs Stone relayed the news. I could not help but smile too and I began to clap my hands in delight.

"Oh I cannot tell you how happy I am! I have been waiting for the good news ever since, oh you know when." I winked playfully at the cook who blushed again and lowered her head to stare intently at her pastry.

"This is simply marvellous, why, we must hold the wedding here!" I exclaimed gleefully.

"Oh no I could not possibly your grace," Mrs Stone shook her head at me keeping her head bowed.

"Both Rory and I would be thrilled to host two of our most beloved servants' wedding, there is to be no talk further on the matter, I am quite decided. And please Mrs Stone, you know me well enough to know that I care not for titles nor am I remotely graceful, Cecilia is really more fitting."

"Well then... Cecilia," she said testing the name on her tongue as if it were one of her new dishes. "Thank you very much, that is most generous of you, George and I would be honoured to wed at Clampton."

George, so that was Ellis' christian name, I had only ever known him as Ellis, head butler, but of course he had to have a first name although I had to admit the name sounded foreign on my lips. He would remain Ellis to me.

And here we were, a mere fourteen days later adding the finishing touches to the Clampton ballroom before it was to receive its bride and groom.

I had not even been this excited for Sybil and Denny's wedding which had taken place on new years and was indeed a splendid occasion, I supposed it was because I had had a hand in the planning of this wedding.

Sybil and Denny had delivered the news of Sybil's pregnancy shortly after their union and it had made me anxious. Rory and I had not yet consummated our marriage, Rory had been recovering from his injury but he had been better for several days now and had made no move to further our relationship.

I knew I desired that intimacy with Rory that only a husband and a wife were permitted to share, but did he? Surely he would have mentioned the topic to me if he wanted to, at least he may have talked of children, but no, there had been nothing.

I knew he loved me and he showed me he did every day, but maybe he just did not want to lie with me, but why? "What's the matter?" A concerned voice reached me, "You look worried, are you sick, my darling what is wrong?" Rory's anxious words shook me from my reverie.

"No, I assure you I am fine, I just hope everything runs smoothly today." I smiled up at him but my smile was half-hearted. Tonight I would find out, and maybe, just maybe, before too long we might be expecting a new edition to the Huntington family.

Hey Guys,

Here is chapter 30 woohoo! Last one tomorrow then the prologue, how fast this has gone! Hope you enjoy it and please keep voting and commenting it really means so much to me to hear both kind words and constructive/confused ones. Have a good week!

Much love

xxx