Once Again a Bride

Twenty-seven



July was a lovely month for weddings in Derbyshire. The stone church near Sir Alexander Wylde’s estate was draped with pink climbing roses, the air saturated with their scent. All through the adjoining village, flowers bloomed and bees were busy.

On a sunny day near the end of the month, there were two ceremonies scheduled, and all of Sir Alexander’s staff had been given the entire day off. Hired help from the village would put the finishing touches on a feast that had occupied many hands for many hours, and serve it through the day’s continuous celebration.

***

Early that morning, Lucy Bowman sat before a dressing table mirror, enjoying the expert ministrations of Jennings herself. And if that wasn’t enough to intimidate, on top of wedding nerves, a knock on the door brought Ethan’s mother into the room. Jennings patted her shoulders and said, “You’ll do.” As she went out, Lucy wanted to beg her not to leave. She was not yet at ease with her soon-to-be mother-in-law. Though any awkwardness over her traveling with Ethan had been smoothed over, she remained in awe of this self-assured woman with Ethan’s dark hair and deep eyes. Her smile was kind, though. “I came to be sure you know how welcome you are to our family,” she said.

“You don’t know me very well,” Lucy couldn’t stop herself from pointing out.

“I know my son, and I’ve never seen him so… steady in himself. It’s a delight and no mistake.”

“I mean to be a good wife to him. To make him happy.”

“My dear, you already have.” The smile that came with this reply made Lucy’s heart swell with joy.

***

Ethan Trask, who’d been dressed and ready for an hour, fidgeted about the family home, unable to light anywhere. “Nervous?” asked his brother Sam, who would be standing up with him at the altar. He looked amused.

Ethan nodded. “Not about the big thing. Lucy’s what I want, no doubts there. I just want to make it through the service properly, you know? I don’t want to flub the words and spoil it for her.”

“You won’t.”

“I hope not. You’re the one always puts every foot right, Sam. Not me.”

“Seems to me that’s a thing of the past, brother.”

Ethan met his eyes and saw the conviction there. “Really?” It meant a lot hearing this from Sam.

“It’s what I think. Dad, too.”

“He said that?”

Sam gave him a nod, and a wide grin.

Ethan grinned back at him. “Cor!”

***

Jennings had moved on to Charlotte’s luxurious bedchamber and was dressing her hair when Frances Cole looked in. “May I watch Jennings do her customary superb job?”

“Of course.” Charlotte was very glad to see her. This was a time when she particularly felt the lack of family, and Frances was almost like family for her. They sat companionably together while the dresser worked her magic. When she had finished and gone, Frances said, “What is it?”

“Am I so transparent?” Charlotte tried to laugh. “It’s just… marriage. My history with it isn’t… good. I don’t really think I’m making a mistake, but…”

“Does it feel the same as the other time?”

“No! Of course not. Nothing like.”

“And Alec is nothing like Henry.”

“I know. I know. I’m just being silly.”

“It’s not silly. Nerves are natural before taking a big step in the world. I’ve felt it.”

“About your trip to Greece this winter?”

“Yes. But you have to dare to take what you want, don’t you?”

“Yes,” said Charlotte, her mood lightening. “Yes!”

“You and Alec had all those adventures without me. I mean to have some of my own—a bit less… strenuous, of course.”

“I should hope so. I’m finished with adventures myself.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Lizzy is all yours now.”

“Ah.” They laughed together.

***

Down the corridor, Alec had answered a summons from his Aunt Earnton, who had surprised him by making the trip up from London for this day. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Alec.”

“I do.” He smiled, in high spirits. “I’ll be saying that later, won’t I? I definitely do.”

“It’s not a good match. It’s not even a decent match.”

“Nevertheless, it is the match for me.”

“This is not what I expected from you, of all people. You’ve always been so sensible.”

“I have, haven’t I?” He smiled at her perplexity. “Don’t worry, Aunt, you’ll come to like her.”

“Oh, like her. I do like her. She’s a charming girl. But…”

“It’s going to be fine, you’ll see.” He dropped a kiss on his staid aunt’s cheek, clearly startling her.

After a moment, she smiled. “Perhaps it will, after all.”

***

Later that morning Lucy Bowman walked down the aisle on her father’s arm, aglow in a gown of white muslin sprigged with blue that matched her eyes. Ethan Trask awaited her at the altar, unable to suppress a grin at the lovely sight she presented.

The second ceremony was somewhat grander, though no more joyful. The groom’s sisters looked ravishing, and more than delighted, in rose pink gowns. And though the youngest, Lizzy, carried an oddly large basket instead of flowers, which was distinctly heard to meow during a pause in the music, no one minded. As they watched Sir Alexander Wylde and Charlotte Rutherford Wylde exchange their vows, onlookers smiled and nodded to each other and said in satisfied whispers, “You know, it’s a love match.”