Then she whispered, "But I am keeping the blue curtains."
He laughed. "They are hideous."
"You promised no more orders."
"I did not promise good taste."
She hit his shoulder. He caught her hand.
"I love you."
"I know. I will probably annoy you frequently."
"You will annoy me absolutely."
"And we will argue."
"Without question."
He smiled. "Then I believe we are ready."
They married in a small chapel at the edge of the estate. No newspaper received an invitation. No matchmaker attended. Lady Margaret cried before the ceremony began.
Henry whispered, "I still think the bird deserves credit."
Julian glared. Eliza smiled. "I think it does."
The ceremony ended. They walked outside. The white bird was waiting on the church roof.
Julian stopped. "No."
Eliza laughed. The bird flew down. It dropped something at their feet: the necklace. Eliza picked it up. She looked at Julian. He smiled.
"Perhaps it approves."
"Perhaps."
She fastened it around her neck. Then she took his arm.
"Come, Your Grace."
"Where?"
"Home."
He looked at her, then smiled. "Home."
Their first year of marriage was not perfect. That was precisely why it worked. They argued about money. They disagreed about renovations. Julian wanted a larger dining room; Eliza wanted a library. The library won. He complained for six months. Then she caught him reading there every evening.
"You like it?"
"I tolerate it."
"You are sitting beside the window with a blanket."
"It is cold."
"You brought tea."
"I was thirsty."
"You have been here for three hours."
He looked at her. "Perhaps it is a good room."
She smiled. "Perhaps."
They also learned how to disagree. Julian stopped assuming his decision was automatically the final one. Eliza stopped expecting him to understand her without explanation. They talked—sometimes badly, sometimes late into the night, but they talked.
Their estate improved. The school received new books. The cottages were repaired. Eliza started a small scholarship for village children. Julian complained about the cost.
She looked at him. "You married me."
"I know."
"You knew I was expensive."