Dark Deeds and Dangerous Desires

Chapter XX

"Where thou art, that is home." - Emily Dickinson

Rey gently drifted out of slumber, her cheek warm from where it rested on Ben's broad chest. She closed her eyes once more to better savour the moment, a sigh of contentment escaping her as she listened to the steady beating of his heart. He did not stir from his sleep and she could feel the puffs of his soft snores where his lips blew against her hair. It wasn't considered proper for a lady to dwell on such things, but the thought of all the nights she would spend nestled in Ben's strong arms after their marriage sent a thrill of anticipation through her. Both of them were eager for their wedding to take place as soon as it could be arranged. Rey didn't mind exchanging her newly discovered birth name of Audrey Bright for Mrs. Solo in the least. The former belonged to her unhappy past whereas her married name signified her future happiness.

Ben murmured in his sleep and her heart swelled with love for him. How surprised she'd been to reunite with him at Euston Station instead of in Killerton as she'd expected. It had been a welcome shock but a shock nonetheless. After reading Mrs. Kanata's letter, telling her all about Lord Snoke's demise and the cancellation of Mr. Solo's wedding to Miss Netal, she knew she had to go to him. First, she had to return to Lady Holdo's house to collect her belongings and express her gratitude for the hospitality she'd been shown from someone who, until a few days earlier, had been a perfect stranger. She then wrote a farewell note to Lord Casterfo, sending apologies for not being able to dine with him and thanking him for his many kindnesses. From there, she went to see Mr. Jinn to inform him of her intention to return to Killerton and use part of her inheritance to save Hope Mills.

Ben had been uneasy regarding the money when she told him about it. He knew the law decreed that once they were married her assets would become his, but he insisted his family's debts should remain his responsibility alone. Rey would have none of it. Almost everyone she cared about in the world had a vested interest in the future prosperity of Hope Mills, from her fiancé to her friends, and she could think of no better use for her new found wealth. She also wished to start a philanthropic venture to help orphaned children. The faces of the children toiling for Uriah Plutt haunted her and she tasked Mr. Jinn with finding out what could be done for them.

Killerton came into view and the train began its approach into the station. Rey craned her neck to press a soft kiss to Ben's lips, marvelling again at her freedom to do so after all the time she'd spent lamenting their lost love. He came to in a daze and it took him a moment to collect himself.

"I feared it was a dream," he gasped his face pained. "But here you are." His anguished expression turned to awe and he kissed her soundly.

Once they alighted onto the platform, Ben turned his attention towards finding them a carriage for hire. Mrs. Kanata had told Rey she would be welcome at any time of the day or night if she decided to return, and as it was past ten o'clock in the evening, she hoped the old widow had meant what she'd said. For his part, Ben intended to escort her safely to her destination and seek lodgings at the nearest inn. One night of sharing a bed with his uncle had been quite enough. He would send a messenger to his mother to put her mind at ease in regards to his absence. The news of his engagement and the identity of the saviour of Hope Mills, he would break to her in person the following morning with Rey at his side. That had been their vow to each other; they would never be alone again. It would be the two of them together in every aspect of life from business to family. There wasn't anything he wanted more.

By chance, Ben spotted Captain Nunb passing by outside the station and he called to him. The man owned a small cottage near to the one his mother and uncle had rented. After serving in the military for many years, he now lived quietly on the outskirts of the town. From the smell of ale on his breath, Ben deduced Captain Nunb had visited the nearby tavern. But the man did not appear to be any the worse for the drink and readily agreed to deliver Mr. Solo's message to his mother. It pained him to imagine her spending another night worrying about the future and fretting over him not returning from his quest to find employment when he had found so much more than that. First and foremost, Captain Nunb had been instructed to tell Mrs. Solo Hope Mills was saved and her son would return in the morning to explain all. Ben couldn't wait to see his mother's face when he arrived with Rey on his arm.

Once he secured a hired carriage, he wasted no time in getting his fiancée and her baggage onboard and out of the frosty night air. It was a tight squeeze but neither of them minded huddling close for warmth and comfort. The journey to Mrs. Kanata's house passed swiftly and Rey was relieved to see candles still burning in the windows as the carriage came to a halt outside. Ben paid the driver and soon they were standing at the door waiting for their knock to be answered.

"Well, bless my soul!" Mrs. Kanata exclaimed as she threw open the door and bid them enter.

After a warm embrace, they were taken into the kitchen and given a hearty meal and copious cups of tea to wash it down with. The old widow listened attentively to all their news before delivering some of her own. She had it on good authority that Lord Snoke had died in worse debt than anyone knew and Dreadston Hall, the mills, and all his other assets were to be auctioned off as soon as could be arranged. According to one of His Lordship's former maids, under the cover of darkness, Miss Netal and Mrs. Kloda gathered up as much jewellery and gold as they could carry and had fled abroad, most likely to Germany. Mr. Hux and Miss Phasma had also been seen leaving town. It was rumoured that they'd gone to his rich father in order to beg the money for them to buy the mills in East and West Killerton. Ben attended politely to Mrs. Kanata's gossip, although he cared not one jot for Miss Netal or any other of his former acquaintances from the dark years he spent under Snoke. He attempted to excuse himself on more than one occasion to go and secure a bed at the local inn. But was, in the end, persuaded to take Mr. Tooker's old room for the night. It wasn't customary for engaged couples to sleep under the same roof, but Mrs. Kanata assured them there was no harm in it. There would be a solid wall between them. She also made sure to mention how badly the upstairs floorboards creaked, in case either of them should have cause to wander out of bed in the small hours. The young couple both blushed at the insinuation to the old widow's amusement. She would never hear anything anyway as she slept like the dead.

The morning dawned without anyone's virtue being compromised. Ben had been too weary to pay much mind to the fact his fiancée was sleeping in the room next door. It was enough for him to have her near, he could wait until their wedding night for his other desires to be sated. Rey had retired for the evening glowing with happiness in the knowledge only a wall separated her from her one true love. Until Ben Solo came into her life, she had given little thought to ever becoming a bride. She had expected to nurse her adopted father in his dotage and end a spinster. As she lay in bed, her eyes resting on the wall that divided them, she realised her knowledge of what transpired between a man and wife in the privacy of their chamber was sorely lacking. During her mudlarking days, Rey would often go with the other children to where the river ran clearest in the summer months. When they had stripped down to bathe, she could plainly see the anatomical differences between girls and boys. In Sunston, she had visited enough farms to get an idea of how things worked in the animal kingdom. But for all his size, she would hardly compare Ben to a bull.

Such thoughts had no place at the breakfast table. Her fiancé glanced over at her and caught her staring at him. Ben gave her a smouldering look and Rey blushed into her teacup. Perhaps she could find a delicate way of broaching the topic with Mrs. Kanata when they had a moment alone. She had no mother to ask, and Mr and Mrs Tooker certainly never discussed such things, although they were open in their affection for each other. There were pamphlets on the subject, she'd heard. But where one acquired them, she dared not ask.

Mrs. Solo and Mr. Skywalker were ecstatic at the news of Ben and Rey's engagement. Leia remained determined her son's fiancée should have her birth mother's ring. When it was presented to her for the second time, Rey happily accepted it. She couldn't take it when Leia had made the original offer, reasoning it should stay in the family. But now, she would be family and she might one day have a daughter or granddaughter to whom she could bequeath it. Ben slipped the rose-cut diamond onto her finger and it fitted as if it had been made for her. He held her hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing her with such tenderness it brought tears of joy to her eyes.

The resurrection of Hope Mill's fortunes also gave Mrs. Solo, Mr. Skywalker, and many others, cause to rejoice. There was much to be arranged, not least the wedding. With Christmas so near, Mrs. Solo suggested it might be best to hold off until Spring when the weather might be more agreeable and the happy couple could spend a few days by the sea. Rey had never been to the coast and she liked the idea of experiencing it for the first time with her husband. But the idea of waiting months to be wed instead of weeks didn't appeal to either of them. Ben favoured a Christmas wedding and promised he would take his new bride to a hotel with a sea view as soon as business and the weather permitted. She agreed without hesitation and they went to call on the Parson. Mrs. Solo set about arranging for all their belongings to be moved back to Hope Mills. Many of the larger pieces of furniture had never been taken out of the house as the cottage could not accommodate them. Miss Netal had planned on replacing everything, but Rey liked the decor as it was and did not intend to make any major changes. Mr. Skywalker decided he would like to take a small cottage in Hope village and leave the main house to the newlyweds. Mrs. Solo would live with them but she intended to go and stay with her old friend Lady Holdo for a while after the wedding. Her son and his fiancée told her she need not go. However, Leia had made her mind up. She promised she would return to help with the birth of her first grandchild and, to that end, she did not want to hinder the likelihood of such an event taking place.

The matter of procreation continued to weigh on Rey's mind as her wedding day approached. She and Ben were to be married the day before Christmas Eve which left only a few weeks to make all the arrangements. Every minute of every day seemed to be filled with either setting Hope Mills to rights or getting things in order for the wedding. There wasn't much time to be spared for conversations about matters other than cotton manufacturing, bridal gowns, flower arrangements and food for the breakfast feast. When Leia suggested a trip to London to buy Rey's bridal trousseau, the young woman leapt at the chance and Mrs. Kanata decided to accompany them. Ben wasn't happy about them travelling without a chaperone and tried to persuade his uncle to go with them. In truth, there was too much work to be done at the mill for Luke to be absent and besides, his mother argued a man would only get in their way. Lady Holdo promised to meet them at the station and they would stay with her in Mayfair for a couple of days. Ben could not deny his bride-to-be anything when she set her mind on it, and so the excursion was agreed upon.

Lady Holdo knew where the finest linens could be purchased and she had already set her best dressmaker to the task of procuring French silk and lace for the bridal lingerie. Rey had been waiting for an opportunity to bring up the subject of her wedding night but her courage kept faltering and she wasn't sure it was something Ben's mother would want to even consider. Noting Rey's puzzled expression as she looked over the designs for her night attire, Mrs. Kanata introduced the topic she'd been longing to discuss, although her blunt approach hardly spared the young woman's blushes.

"You look confused, child, is all well?"

Rey examined the samples of sheer silk and lace left by the dressmaker as she studied the pattern for her new nightdress. "These designs seem somewhat - revealing," she said her voice high pitched and her cheeks turning a dark shade of pink.

"The French fashions do have something of the bordello about them but I'm sure you'll discover your new husband won't complain," Mrs. Kanata tittered as Mrs. Solo and Lady Holdo made noises of agreement.

"It just doesn't look very practical," Rey observed her continued bemusement evident, " - or as if it will provide much warmth in the winter months."

"If all goes as it should, it won't be the nightgown keeping you warm of a night," the old widow chuckled.

Her companions couldn't hide their mirth at her naivety but they did sympathise too. Mrs. Kanata and Mrs. Solo could appreciate how a girl largely raised as a parson's daughter might consider such garments to be scandalous. In the absence of a mother to explain to her the facts of life, they took it upon themselves to prepare her for her wedding night and beyond. All would be well, Mrs. Kanata promised if both husband and wife were patient and approached the act with tenderness. Mrs. Solo maintained that the marriage bed could be a pleasure and not just a spousal chore or duty, to which Mrs. Kanata readily agreed. Both had been fortunate in their choice of husbands and had married for love which had endured right up to the end. Rey found their candour a little embarrassing, but she was grateful not to be entering the state of matrimony in complete ignorance of such matters. Ben's gentle yet passionate attentions during their brief courtship had already hinted at the delights to come. She smiled to herself certain the marriage bed would be a pleasure for her.

Ben quivered with anticipation as he stood before the church altar; his bride would be arriving soon. It wasn't too long ago he'd feared this day would never come. He had offered to forego his customary black attire but Rey cared only for his comfort. She didn't want him to be anything other than he was. On the inside, he felt lighter than he had done for years. Since childhood, really. However, he had grown accustomed to wearing black and, although he might entertain a necktie of a cheerier colour from time to time, he felt no need to go overboard. What a contrast to his other wedding day, he thought, and then chided himself for comparing the two occasions. There was no comparison. When he faced being bound to Miss Netal, he had not slept a wink the night before due to his revulsion at what the dawn would bring. This time around, his slumber had suffered only because he longed for morning to come and he kept waking up to look for the sunrise. Ben did worry he wasn't as prepared for wedlock as he might be in certain areas. His father had taken the view his son should be educated in all the ways of the world when he came of age. But Han Solo ended up spending most of Ben's formative years on other continents. He hadn't had the time or inclination to seek out female companionship until he met Rey. When he kissed her, it all felt so natural as if they were meant to be joined as one.

The sound of the church organ jolted him out of his reverie, and he turned to towards the entrance waiting for his bride to appear. Her beaming face as Mr. Chewy led her down the aisle made his heart leap. He just knew everything would be perfect on their wedding night and thereafter. Mrs. Kanata's maid, Jessie, led the procession as the only bridesmaid in attendance on the arm of the groomsman. Rey had insisted, remembering the young woman's dreams of attending a fancy party dressed in finery. And with but a few weeks to prepare for the wedding, one bridal gown and a singular bridesmaids dress had been as much as the dressmaker could handle in the allotted time. Mrs. Solo assured Rey they had everything they needed, and so they did. Lady Holdo and Mr. Jinn had travelled up from London to be among the Killerton guests, which included Poe, Finn and his new lady friend, Rose, and Mrs. Kanata. Before accepting his nephew's request for him to be the groomsman, Mr. Skywalker had offered to walk Rey down the aisle, but she'd already asked Mr. Chewy if he would do her the honour. He had been so happy to see her on her return from the south, she made sure to call on him every morning when she arrived at Hope Mills to see Ben.

The Parson declared them husband and wife, their lips meeting in a kiss to seal the union as in Roman times. She was his and he was hers; two halves of the same soul. Their first act as a married couple was to sign the parish register. Rey barely had the chance to get acquainted with her maiden name and now it existed only as a matter of public record. But she would mourn for the past no longer. Ben Solo was her future, and in him, she had found everything she'd been looking for.

"Shall we, Mrs. Solo?" He held out his hand to her as the church bells rang.

Rey nodded entwining her fingers with his, her smile as dazzling as the sun. "We certainly shall."

The End.

It is done! Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this story and for all your kind words along the way. I hope you all enjoyed the ending. - Mrs. P