CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

C HAPTER T HIRTY -T WO

T he next day dawned bright and sunny. Oriana sat up and stretched. Today was her wedding day. It was the dream she had never dared to believe would come true. She rose from the bed. Her aunt had brought over her gown for the wedding yesterday, but she had been so busy with the preparations that she had not even looked at it. She went to the basin, but her toothbrush and other items were no longer there. Grabbing her robe, she donned it and went to her dressing room. A salmon-colored gown she had never seen before was hung across one of the wardrobe doors. It had a thin line of gold lace on the bodice, sleeves, and hem. The waist was almost to her natural one. Leave it to her aunt to provide the latest fashion for Oriana’s wedding. On the floor were matching colored half boots. “Oh, this is beautiful.”

“Miss.” Kerby entered the room. “Mr. Bedloe gave me these for you to wear today if you like.” She pulled in her bottom lip as if she was biting it. “I have to apologize to you for what I said the other day. You were absolutely correct. It would not have been right for you to stay with his lordship here before you wed. Please forgive me.”

It had shocked Oriana, but so had her pregnancy. That had probably stunned her maid as well. It was not as if she was a fallen woman. She and Charlie had been betrothed. If only for a few hours. “We have all been under a great deal of stress. There is no need to speak of it.”

“Thank you, miss.” Kerby took the box to the dressing table and opened it. “I thought the pearls set in the gold setting with the earrings would be perfect.”

She was right. The necklace was finely made with pearls that appeared to be scattered onto a delicate gold necklace. The earrings matched. “This is beautiful.”

“I was told to tell you that the set is yours. It’s not part of the Stanwood jewels.”

Oriana’s mother had never had much in the way of her own jewelry. She was more than happy that Charlie had thought to give her something she would never have to give up. “I will go through the rest of the box later.”

A knock came on the door, and her maid came back with a large tray filled with breakfast foods. “Mrs. Penny thought you might not want his lordship to see you before the wedding.”

“That was kind of her.” Oriana had not given that any thought at all. She glanced at the clock as it struck eight. “I will eat, then dress.”

Shortly after nine thirty, another knock came on the door. “Who can that be?”

Her maid shook her head. “It had better be important. I still have to dress your hair.”

Charlotte, accompanied by Theo, Mary, and Constance entered the parlor. “We come bearing gifts.”

Charlotte handed Oriana a small box. “This is something old.”

She opened it to find a gold bracelet that looked as if it was made of tiny leaves. “This is lovely. But why?’

“It is a tradition,” Theo said as she handed Oriana a pretty cream-colored reticule. “This is borrowed.”

“This is something new.” Mary smiled as she gave Oriana a square box holding a pair of pearl-decorated combs.

“This is something blue,” Constance said of the blue linen handkerchief embroidered with white flowers.

“How did you make this so quickly?”

Constance glanced at her mother, who nodded. “I started it after you came to dinner.”

Oriana laughed. “You had a great deal more confidence in the outcome than I did.”

“Come now,” Charlotte said. “Oriana must finish dressing.”

“Wait a minute, please. I do not have anyone to stand up with me. Mary, would you be my attendant?”

She smiled but shook her head. “Theo should do it. She will be the next one to marry.”

“Theo? Will you attend me?”

“Thank you. I would be honored.” She smiled broadly.

“We must go,” Charlotte said, shooing them out of the room.

She brushed away a happy tear and the ladies left. “I never expected something like this.”

No, miss.” Kerby sniffed. “Let’s finish getting you dressed.”

As Oriana was about to go down to the hall, another knock sounded. Eleanor, Alice, and Madeline entered. Alice carried a bouquet of flowers from the garden. Then Oriana saw something else. “Is that heather?”

“Yes.” Alice beamed. “It is for good luck. We gave some to Charlie too. It is a Scottish tradition.”

“Did you make the arrangement?”

She waved her hand to include her sisters. “We all did.”

“There you all are,” Worthington said. “I was told to bring you down immediately. Stanwood is pacing, opening and closing his watch, and shaking it to make it go faster.”

“Dear me. I suppose I should put him out of his misery.”

“Believe me, you will be doing us all a favor by going down with me now.” Worthington held out his arm. “It is short walk to the chapel.”

They strolled out the front door. The path to the small chapel set off to the side of the house and was lined by their servants, who fell in behind them as she and Worthington passed. The chapel itself was filled with family members and others. They stopped at the door, and Oriana had her first glimpse of Charlie. He was resplendent in a Prussian-blue jacket and trousers. He glanced at her, and their gazes collided until a distraction to one side caught her attention. The four Great Danes sat, held by footmen. The females had flower necklaces and small hats. The males were dressed nicely in tied cravats. Oh my. They were all so elegant. On either side of the aisle, the younger children were squiggling and leaning over to look at her.

“She’s beautiful,” one of the girls whispered.

“I wish Uncle Charlie hadn’t asked her first.” Poor Hugh.

“Are you ready?” Worthington said.

“I am.” They started down the short aisle and Charlie stepped next to her. It was not until then that she noticed Rochford was his attendant.

Mr. Taunton cleared his throat. “Dearly beloved . . .” Oriana and Charlie looked into each other’s eyes as they exchanged their vows. She blushed, and there was light laughter when he promised to worship her body. “I now pronounce you man and wife.”

Thunderous applause broke out in the church as everyone stood.

“Do you think they’re happy?” Charlie asked.

“I think they are.” They signed the register, and Oriana could not stop smiling as they strolled to the front of the church, greeting people as they walked. Once they were outside, the servants hurried off to finish preparing.

“Where do you want to go for a wedding trip?” Charlie pulled her a little closer to him.

“Do we have to go anywhere?” She was close to being exhausted. “I would just like nothing to happen for a little while.”

He quirked a brow. “I would like to be alone with you. We can think about it. We don’t have to go right away.”

“Who donated their cravats to the Danes?”

He gave her a rueful look. “I don’t know for a fact, but I think it was Worthington and me.”

“Well, they looked magnificent.” She was going to like getting to know Apollo better.

“They do at that.” His lips tipped up. “Very dignified.”

Tea had been set for the family and the Tauntons in the morning room. From there Oriana could see the tables being set up on the terrace and in the garden. Outside the side windows, long wooden tables were set up and covered with tablecloths, while kegs of ale and cider were put into place.

She glanced around at her new family. “We did it. It’s almost all prepared.”

They broke off their conversations and satisfied looks appeared on all their faces.

“Now we know how long it really takes to prepare a wedding,” St. Albans said. “There’s no reason to wait for two weeks.”

Every single lady raised a jaundiced brow, and Alice blinked. “If one is at one’s home and not in Town.”

“And,” Eleanor said, “if we have two households to assist.”

“Of course this could only take place in summer,” Madeline added.

“And if,” Aunt Prue said in a dry tone, “someone had the good sense to order a gown for the wedding weeks in advance.”

“All right. All right.” St. Albans raised his hands in surrender. “It takes two weeks unless everything else is perfectly available.”

“We will give you that,” Charlotte said.

Shortly before eleven, Charlie and Oriana took their places to greet the guests. She was surprised when Lady Pettigrew and Miss Pettigrew were announced. “Lady Theo invited us,” Miss Pettigrew said. “She and I will come out together next year.”

“Oh, my lady,” Lady Pettigrew said. “You did not know we had been invited. I will not blame you if you do not want us here. After Lord Pettigrew’s disgraceful behavior, I cannot blame you.”

Oriana took her ladyship’s hands. “You are most welcome to join us. I could see last evening that you had nothing to do with his scheme.”

“He just did not want to give me a Season,” Miss Pettigrew said. “I am glad Theo told me it was all a hum.”

Now that was interesting. “I am pleased that she reassured you.”

She held her hand to the side of her mouth and whispered, “Aside from that, Lord Stanwood is much too old for me.”

Oriana almost choked holding back her laughter. “I can see how he would be.”

Fortunately, the Pettigrews were the last to arrive. As soon as they had left the hall, she broke into whoops.

Charlie looked at her as if she was mad. “What has you going?”

It was several seconds before she was able to speak. “You will be devastated to know that you are much too old for Miss Pettigrew.”

He slapped a hand to his forehead. “Thank God for small miracles.”

Later that evening Charlie waited in their parlor as Oriana prepared for bed. A decanter of claret, bread, cheese, and fruit were arranged on the table. The door to her dressing room opened, and he glanced over. “You look like a confection.”

His beloved blushed. “Another gift from Aunt Prue.”

He stalked toward Oriana. “We might have to take her with us when we go to Town. She has excellent taste.”

“Yes. I suppose I must admit that she does.” Charlie handed her a glass of wine. “There is something I should tell you.”

Leading her to a small sofa, he drew her onto his lap and nuzzled her neck. For the first time they didn’t have to be anywhere. “What is that?’

“I think I am pregnant.”

He raised his head to look at her. “If you are, you have made me doubly happy today. Just think, our child and Charlotte’s will be born only two months or so apart.”

“It is strange to admit, but I was concerned that this baby would not have anyone close in age to him or her.”

Stroking Oriana’s face, he kissed her. “We have eight or nine months to plan for the baby. Right now, I want to focus on us. Shall we go to bed, my wife?”

“Yes.” She took a large drink of wine. “Let us do just that. Finally as a married couple.”

He swooped her into his arms as he stood. “As a married couple for the rest of our lives.”

* * *

A week later the Stanwood fête day and ball were held. Unbeknownst to Oriana, the plans had been underway for some time. A group of traveling performers arrived to give several performances over the period of three days. Games were held for both adults and children. Naturally there were baking competitions for which she and Charlie were the judges.

Sally Scully and Will Hammersmith strolled up to them. Sally’s smile could not have been any larger. “We’re getting married next Saturday in Liliford. We’d be honored if you’d come to the service and to the smithy for a small breakfast after.”

Will nodded his agreement. “Seeing as if his lordship hadn’t taken a hand, we would never have met.”

“We’d be delighted,” Charlie said. “Isn’t that right, my love?”

“It is indeed.” Oriana was so glad for them.

Once Sally and Will left, Charlie scanned the lawn. “I need to find out what they need most and give it to them for a wedding gift. Have you seen Mr. Scully?”

“Not yet, but I’ll ask the footmen to watch for him.” Oriana signaled to a footman and told them what they wanted.

About an hour later he returned with Mr. Scully. When the question was put to him, he laughed. “That’s easy. A strong bed big enough for the both of them. I’ve been look’in around, but I can’t find anything that won’t break with the two of them in it.”

Oriana almost choked but quickly realized that Mr. Scully had a very good point. Both Sally and Will were large and presumably energetic young people.

“I’ll have the estate carpenter see to it straightaway. It will be delivered before the wedding.”

“Thank ye, me lord. I’ve been having nightmares of them breaking the bed.” Mr. Sully sketched a bow and wandered off.