by Sarah Winn
“Oh, no, you can’t wear black to your wedding. I’ve been in mourning almost constantly for the last three years, first for my husband and now for my mother, so I know how depressing it can be to wear nothing but dark colors. We’ll have to find you something else.”
She led the way up to her apartment, and with the help of two maids began to dive into closets and trunks looking for something more cheerful for Ellen to wear. Ellen was embarrassed by the whole situation and tried to discourage Lady Angela, but when the maids begin to bring out airy summer dresses in pastel colors, she became caught up in the search, hoping she could wear one of them. The problem was that Angela was built more sveltely than Ellen and the dresses would need more altering than time would allow.
Then one of the maids said, “Oh, Lady Angela, I just remembered the dresses you had when you were pregnant. Maybe one of them will do.”
Angela agreed and sent the maid hurrying to the attic. Then she must have noticed Ellen’s distressed expression. “They are dresses I had in the early days, before I really started showing. Don’t worry, dear, I won’t send you off looking like you are about to give birth.”
Ellen smiled and tried to look reassured, but it wasn’t until she saw the three dresses the maid spread out on a sofa, that she truly relaxed. They were fashioned as regular visiting or promenade dresses only made larger to accommodate Lady Angela’s expanding waist and bosom. One of them was made of aquamarine silk with three flounces on the skirt that made it fuller than what Ellen normally wore. Each flounce was trimmed with quilled ribbons of a darker green. A matching jacket trailed over the top of the skirt with a series of narrow ruffles that were trimmed with the same ribbon. The white bodice filled the deep vee-neckline of the jacket with lace-trimmed ruffles. Similar ruffles extended beyond its three-quarter length sleeves.
Ellen could not believe anyone would have made such an elegant dress just to wear for a few months in early pregnancy. She almost wept with joy when the skirt was dropped over her head and fastened snuggly around her waist. Suddenly she felt like she really was getting married, not just executing a business arrangement.
She had just gotten back into her own clothes when a maid came to say Mr. Osborne had arrived and been seated in the rose parlor. Ellen felt a moment of panic at the thought he had come to fetch her for the ceremony. No yet! There would be no time to press the lovely green dress.
Angela accompanied her to the parlor and rushed into the room before Ellen, saying, “Did you get the license?”
Gerald smiled at her and nodded. Then he transferred his attention to Ellen. “Father has requested we have the ceremony tomorrow, so a few relatives can attend, and we are invited to have dinner at his house tonight.”
“Oh!” Somehow a private meeting with her in-laws-to-be seemed more terrifying than meeting them at the wedding. “Can Lady Angela come with us?”
“Oh, no,” Angela exclaimed. “This will be an important family meeting. I would just be a distraction. But Ellen must come back and spend the night here.”
Gerald waved his hand. “That won’t be necessary. There’s plenty of room at my father’s house and plenty of chaperons too.”
“The bride has to dress here, so she might as well spend the night, and I’ll bring her to the ceremony because I’m planning to attend whether you two invite me or not.”
The idea that she might have slighted Lady Angela made Ellen gasp in alarm. “Certainly, you are invited. You have been so kind that I would be honored to have you stand up with me.”
Angela nodded and smiled and then turned her attention to Gerald. “Did you ask Daniel to be the best man?”
He shook his head. “I’ve taken so much of his time recently that I didn’t want to ask for more.”
“Don’t worry, his uncle is delighted whenever Daniel associates with the higher elements. He thinks it’s good for his business. The wedding of a bishop’s son ought to qualify. I’ll make the arrangements with Daniel when he comes for dinner tonight. “
Gerald nodded his agreement. “That’s very kind of you, Lady Angela.”
“Not at all.” Then her eyes opened widely. “How many people are you expecting at the ceremony?”
“Ah, I’m not sure. Just relatives. No more than twelve.”
“Then we’ll have the wedding breakfast here.”
“Oh, no. We couldn’t ask that of you,” he exclaimed.
“It will be no trouble at all. There are plenty of servants here to do the work, and you can’t expect your mother to set up something on such short notice. With Father out of town, I’m quite bored. This is the most fun I’ve had all week.”
Ellen and Gerald both stared at her with opened mouths, and she took their astonishment as agreement. “You get an exact count from your mother tonight and send the information back by Ellen.”
Gerald gave her a lopsided grin, “I can see that Daniel will have an exciting life after he marries you.”
* * * *
The bishop’s house was, of course, nowhere near as imposing as the duke’s, but it was still impressive. The front door was opened by a footman, but then both the bishop and his wife came into the entryway to greet them. They were very polite to her, but Ellen wished she had not insisted on wearing her own clothes tonight for she felt drab in her best black dress, especially after she was led into the parlor and introduced to Gerald’s sister and her husband.
Florence was dressed in bright pink, and she was a chatterer. She soon had Ellen answering questions about Toby, and playing the violin, and all the places she had traveled to with her musician father and then her military husband. Obviously, Gerald had told his family a great deal about her, and they were still welcoming, so Ellen relaxed and asked a few questions of her own about the Osborne family.
They were all seated at the dinner table when Gerald relayed Lady Angela’s invitation to have the wedding breakfast at Bainbridge House. That set off a chorus of exclamations from the ladies, and even Florence’s taciturn husband looked impressed. Florence and her mother expressed regret that there wouldn’t be more time to gather out-of-town relatives and friends, but Gerald explained the invitation had been offered after he had told Lady Angela there would be no more than twelve guests.
The bishop asked, “Will the duke be there?”
“He’s out of town,” Ellen said. “His daughter has been serving as his hostess since the duchess passed away last winter, and Angela said she has little to do while he’s away. Of course, she has a young child, and I’m sure many other social duties, so a good deal of her kindness stems from the fact that she’s engaged to Gerald’s friend, Daniel Matthews.”
Florence turned to her brother with a frown. “Your friend is going to marry a duke’s daughter? Why didn’t you tell us?”
Gerald shrugged. “It hasn’t been formally announced. I didn’t want to spoil their surprise.”
Florence shook her head. “You’re just like every other man, keeping all the really interesting news to yourself.” She gestured toward her husband. “Andrew is the same way.”
The bishop chuckled and turned toward his wife, but spoke loud enough for all to hear. “Well, this is just like old times, isn’t it, my dear, me having to call the children down for bickering at the dinner table?”
Florence actually looked abashed as she said. “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to start a quarrel.”
Gerald chucked. “Oh, I didn’t think you were quarreling, sister. You were just pointing out the shortcomings of men in the field of gossip.”
His sister huffed at Gerald, but then she glanced around to see both of her parents grinning at her, and even her husband trying hard to suppress a smile, so she relaxed and smiled at her brother.
Ellen couldn’t help but envy the comradery between these people. It would be good for Toby to have a family life like this. Of course, considering the temporary nature of the union she was about to go into, perhaps she should not encourage such a relationship
Chapter 7
Gerald waited with his sister and brother-in-law in the rear of the small chapel his father had reserved for the service. Daniel had gone outside to be sure the duke’s carriage came to the right entrance. The rest of his relatives had already gathered in the pews nearest the altar. Thank goodness, this small chapel had been available. A wedding party this size would have looked ridiculous in the great space of the main cathedral.
The clatter of footsteps drew his attention toward the entrance. He saw the figures of a man and two women outlined in the doorway. As they stepped away for the bright, outside light, Gerald saw Ellen as he had never seen her before. She was dressed in a blue-green cloud of silk. Her straw bonnet had a very short brim that did not hide her face, but rather framed its heart-shaped symmetry. Her cheeks were flushed and a few, jet black, curls showed along the edges of the bonnet.
The comely, but comfortable woman he had always seen in plain black and brown dresses had suddenly become a stunner.
As the new arrivals stopped in front of him, Gerald could think of nothing to say. Then he remembered the small bouquet of white rose buds Daniel had insisted they stop and buy from a street vendor on the way to the church and gratefully extended them toward Ellen. She looked surprised and then pleased as she accepted the flowers.
Daniel introduced Lady Angela to Florence and Andrew, and Florence effusively thanked Angela for having the wedding breakfast. Angela insisted it was no trouble at all, and Daniel reminded them that they needed to have the ceremony first.
Florence surveyed the wedding party and said, “Perhaps Andrew should accompany Ellen down the aisle, since she doesn’t have a male family member here.”
Neither Ellen nor Andrew looked too enthusiastic about that suggestion. Gerald guessed she was embarrassed by her lack of family. Why didn’t he think about these things ahead of time?
“There’s not much aisle to go down,” he said, “so why don’t you and Andrew join the others, then Daniel can conduct Angela to the front, and Ellen and I can follow?”
Florence took a deep breath obviously preparing to object, but then she glanced at Ellen’s relieved expression, and for once in her life decided not to argue with her brother. “That will work too.”
The wedding party gathered in front of the bishop, and the ceremony began. Gerald was grateful that the traditional way of facing the minister had put his left arm next to Ellen, so he could feel the heat of her hand as it lightly rested on his raised forearm. For a moment, as he replied to his father’s questions, Gerald felt as if this were a real wedding, and he and Ellen were truly promising to love and cherish forever. Then he reminded himself that the only love involved in this wedding was Ellen’s love for her son and her dead husband.
As his father pronounced them husband and wife, Gerald reminded himself that he was merely repaying a debt. He must keep that fact uppermost in his mind in the days—weeks—months ahead.
* * * *
Except for Daniel and Angela, who were to serve as witnesses, the rest of the wedding guests left the chapel while Ellen and Gerald signed the register. Ellen was glad to have their company, because this had all begun to feel too real for her. Even though there had not been time to gather any of her few remaining family members to attend the service, it had been a real service, officiated by a bishop, and there had been a respectable number of Gerald’s family and friends in attendance. Gerald had given her a bouquet of flowers and softly bussed her cheek after the I do’s.
How could she someday walk away from him as though none of this had happened?
After the signings were completed, they left for Bainbridge House. The Bishop, Mrs. Osborne, Daniel, and Angela all crowded into the duke’s carriage with them. Ellen was relieved not to be alone with Gerald. Strangely, she had suddenly become shy around him. There were a number of questions she should have asked before agreeing to this wedding. Most of all, exactly how would they avoid consummating their union when all those around them expected them to do so? Would they have to lie together in the same bed night after night and never touch one another?
That seemed a near impossible feat unless…unless poor Gerald was incapacitated by his war wounds. His missing arm was obvious, but what other injuries might he have suffered? Could that be why the man had agreed to this marriage in name only?
Someone called her name and she realized the coach had stopped and it was time to disembark. The other guests were waiting inside the entry hallway, and Angela gestured them forward and up the grand staircase and into a dining room. A table set with delicate china and shining silverware and large enough to accommodate all the guests stood waiting. Liveried footmen swarmed to hold the guests’ chairs. Rather than separate the bride and groom at either ends of the table, Angela had arranged for them sit together in the middle of one side of it, so the other guests would surround and face them.
Ellen realized the room was abuzz with jovial conversation, except for Gerald and herself, so she prodded herself to smile and speak to her new husband. “Isn’t this lovely?”
He nodded. “Yes.” Evidently, he wasn’t feeling chatty either.
The footmen began offering platters of food to each guest. Because this meal was in the early afternoon, the foods were light: finger sandwiches, salads, fruits, nuts. Then they brought bottles of champagne and the toasts began. Daniel, as the best man, went first, keeping his remarks short and light-hearted. Ellen thought he probably did so because he knew this wedding was a sham.
The bishop followed, and he spoke seriously about the blessings marriage brought to people’s lives, and how happy he was that his son had finally entered into this hallowed state.
Florence had to elbow her husband several times before he rose, held up his glass and said directly to Ellen, “As an in-law in the Osborne family, it is my happy duty to welcome the newest addition to this family. Ellen Osborne, thank-you for adding beauty and grace to the ranks of the in-laws.”
Several of the women ah-ed and the men clinked silverware against their glasses, and Ellen had to blink away tears. She felt like such a fraud.
Finally, the cake was served. It was only a three-layer cake, but the layers must have been two feet in diameter, and they were covered in thick white icing that was trimmed with pink rosebuds. Ellen knew the poor cook must have risen before the birds to have all this prepared on such short notice.
After the cake was cut and served, Angela came over to Ellen and suggested it was time for her to gather her belongings from the bedroom she had used the night before, so all the guests could witness the bride and groom’s departure.
In surprise, Ellen looked over at Gerald and asked, “Where are we going?”
“We’ll spend tonight at my father’s house. We have an early appointment to keep in the morning.”
“What?”
He shook his head. “You go ahead and get your things. I’ll explain everything later.”
* * * *
After the newly married couple and the groom’s parents had returned to the bishop’s home, Ellen was deposited in a guest bedroom with her luggage and a suggestion to make herself comfortable, until dinner at eight that evening.
She changed out of her fancy wedding dress and examined it carefully for any spots that might need to be sponged away. She had offered to return it to Lady Angela before leaving her house, but the lady had insisted Ellen keep the dress. “The way things are going between Daniel and me, it will be sometime before I’ll have need of it, and who knows what may be in fashion then.”
Ellen had not known whether Angela was being honest or kind, still she marveled at someone being so wealthy that they could casually give away such a valuable garment. Perhaps she could sell it herself and give the money to Gerald to reimburse him for some of the cost of taking time away from his business and traveling about with her. But perhaps he was wealthier than the impression his house had given her during the brief time she had been there.
He had said he inherited the house
near Hemsley. Maybe money came with it, and he just hadn’t gotten around to remodeling. Maybe she could help him with that. But she warned herself to be cautious about suggesting he spend money until she knew more about his situation. Once again, she was reminded of how little she knew about the man she had married.
She had finished putting on a dark skirt and a simple white bodice and was standing at a mirror combing back strands of hair that had come loose, when a brief knock sounded at her door. “Ellen, may I come in?” Gerald called.
“Yes, please do,” she replied.
As he entered the room, she said, “I was just hanging up a few things to let the wrinkles fall out. I didn’t know if I would be staying in this room or…” Her words dwindled as she remembered this was technically her wedding night, and it was taking place in her in-laws’ house. Sticky situation.
He looked down and flecked a bit of imaginary lint from his suit coat, “Yes, you’ll stay here, and I’ll be in my usual bedroom.”
“But—but won’t your parents think that strange?”
“I had a little talk with my mother. Told her that since our acquaintance had been so short, we’ve decided to get to know each other better, before joining completely, so you need not feel embarrassed about the arrangement.”
She felt a wave of sympathy for him. “That must have been a difficult conversation for you.”
He looked her steadily in the eye. “When—if we get the annulment, I would not want my parents in a position where they might feel obligated to lie about anything.”
Good heavens! She had not considered how other people might be dragged into it when she and Gerald sought an annulment. And Gerald, with his prominent parents and elegant friends had so much more to lose than she. Why had he agreed to this arrangement?