Chapter 2
The groom’sparents were hosting the wedding breakfast. Robert, the groom, greeted the Wiltons when they arrived at the Tunbullhousehold.
“Greetings. Welcome,” he said, as he embraced Louisa and gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek. Sheblushed.
“Should you be seeing the bride on the morning of the wedding?” Mamma asked, suddenly concerned that a jinx would befall all ofthem.
“She’s not in her wedding dress yet,” Robert’s mother said, as she shook each guest’shand.
“I guess that’ll do,” Mamma said, ready to concede theissue.
The Tunbull household was even more rambunctious and chaotic than theWilton’s.
Robert was a strawberry blond with freckles and a winning smile. He was short, but still a little taller than Louisa and no one seemed to take issue with thefact.
There were children running throughout the house. There were brothers and sisters. Sister and brothers-in-law. And so many various people wandering the house that Susan never caught any of theirnames.
The breakfast was jovial but chaotic and Susan just smiled, engaged in anonymous conversations, and tried to keep her center in the turmoil around her. But she could see that Robert’s family would be congenial in-laws.
Louisa still needed to get back home, get dressed, made-up and ready for the wedding. As bridesmaid, Susan kept urging the family to return home so they would have enough time, and eventually, she got her reluctant family back into the carriage and on the way back to theirhouse.
Susan couldn’t help but remember her own preparations for her wedding as she helped Louisa getready.
Louisa looked up as Susan was working on herhair.
“Are you all right?” Louisa asked. “You’ve been very quiet allmorning.”
“Someone has to keep this wedding on track. Mamma has been her usual frantic self and Papa has been less than useless through the whole wedding planning. Someone has to keep us all on track. Guess it fell tome.”
Louisa reached up and patted her sister’s hand. “You’re such a good sister. Thankyou.”
Susan smiled and leaned in and whispered. “Did Matilda give you the information you were searchingfor?”
Louisa looked up at her and nodded. “She was veryhelpful.”
“Good.”
Mamma suddenly burst into the room. “Are you nearly ready? We’re late. And with His Grace, the Duke, attending we can’t afford not to be there to welcomehim.”
“Mamma, it was you who had the second helping of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, and insisted we stay longer at the breakfast,” Susansaid.
Mamma waved her hands as though shooing flies. “Never mind. Never mind. We need to go now. Is sheready?”
“Yes, she’s ready,” Susan said, as she offered her hand to help Louisastand.
“You look lovely, my dear,” Mamma said as she pushed Louisa forward and out of thebedroom.
The four were herded into the carriage. Jacob, Amy, and their young son, Kevin, had gone ahead in their owncoach.
Susan couldn’t help herself—she reflected back on this same journey on the day of her disastrous nuptials. Had it only been five years ago? It was pointless to reminisce about that horrible day. But unlike the fair weather that had blessed the party on that day, today the sky was ominous with a storm brewing over the channel that might strike at any point during the morning. Susan just hoped it would be delayed at least until they all got safely inside thechurch.
However, in the carriage, Mamma was chatty and Papa held tightly on to Louisa’s hand, about to lose his youngest—and Susan suspected—favorite daughter. And Susan just stared out the window at the same landscape she’d studiedbefore.
They did arrive on time, although the groom’s party preceded them into the church. There was, as yet, no sign of the Duke and hisaunt.
Jacob directed the family to the bride’s side of the aisle, while Louisa, Papa, and Susan once again sought refuge in the vestry until the ceremony shouldstart.
Louisa seemed nervous and fidgeted with her wedding gown. Susan went over to calm and reassureher.
