Epilogue
On the daybefore the wedding, the guests started arriving in droves. And fortunately, Haverford House was large enough to accommodate themall.
The first to arrive was Susan’s family. Not only Mamma and Papa but Louisa and Jacob and theirfamilies.
Mamma immediately went into her panic mode and began to try and manage all the details of the wedding, even though everything was well in hand. Susan had to urge Louise to take her mother aside and persuade her to just enjoy the event with no need to do anything. Not an easytask.
Katherine and her family were the next to arrive. And Katherine’s offered help, as her chief bridesmaid, was mostwelcome.
The Earl of Pembrook and Hester arrived and immediately focused their doting attention on Elizabeth as hergrandparents.
Then members of the aristocracy began to arrive. Numerous other dukes, earls, lesser counts, and even a representative of His Majesty were in attendance. Clarissa had needed to hire additional staff to help with the crush. And beside all of the guests, there were the guest’s servants to find places for—man servants, personal maids, and carriage drivers and their footmen—some of whom were housed above thestables.
Susan had given up on Elizabeth’s lessons during the week of the wedding and it was almost impossible to get her to take her naps in the afternoons with all theexcitement.
It was late at night on the eve of her wedding and Susan was finally alone. No Jessica, no mother, no Katherine, or Clarissa or even Elizabeth. She rested in the nook of her window seat and watched the almost full moon wash the park inmoonlight.
What a journey this had been. She remembered what Jessica had said about the young person she had been just six months ago. As she reflected on this past year she could not believe how much her life had changed and, tomorrow, she would be the Duchess ofLennox.
Then Daniel came to mind and she brushed a tear away as she remembered their fleeting and unsteadyromance.
But most of all she thought about John and Elizabeth—her new life, bright and shining beforeher.
Tomorrow night she would no longer be sleeping in this room. She looked around and remembered the many moments she had experienced in this treasured room. But, and not for the first time, she thought about what her life would be like as John’s wife. She felt her passion rise as she thought about him holding and kissing her. She wrapped her arms around herself, laid her head back against the window seat, and closed hereyes.
* * *
She was awakenedby a knocking at her door. She couldn’t believe she’d slept the whole night at the window, and she leaptup.
“Come in,” she calledout.
The door opened and Clarissa and Katherine entered—Clarissa carrying a breakfasttray.
“It’s time to get ready,” Katherine joyfullyannounced.
But first, they made her sit at her table and take some breakfast, even though she was too excited to behungry.
“I’ve been thinking a great deal about how to do your hair,” Katherine said, as she finally sat Susan down at her dressing table in front of themirror.
Aunt Clarissa meanwhile laid out all of the garments Susan would wear and checked eachitem.
As Katherine was working on Susan’s hair, adding ribbons and fresh flowers from the estate greenhouse, Elizabeth, wearing her flower girl’s dress, burst into the room and dashed over to give Susan ahug.
“You’re going to be my official mommy today, aren’tyou?”
“I thought you made that official already atChristmas,
Susanlaughed.
“I did, but now it’s official,official.”
“Then I’m verypleased.”
Elizabeth squiggled up on the stool next to Susan and watched as Katherine worked on Susan’s hair and makeup. She was silent but captivated as shewatched.
Clarissa guarded the door and kept curious guests away, except for Susan’s mamma, who insisted she be allowed to see her daughter before theceremony.
“Oh, Susan,” she gushed as she saw her daughter’s face in the mirror. “How beautiful you are.” She put her hands on either side of her face in the wonder of itall.
