“Oh, that is a very pretty dress.”
Georgiana turned when she heard her sister’s voice, forcing a smile when she saw her. “Down from the bed, dear. Thank you very much. You are too sweet.”
“She is right,” Jean said as she took a step back. She rested her hands on her hips. “I wish you had agreed to the new blue one you just purchased. But this yellow one suits you very nicely all the same.”
“I know it’s not the most fashionable,” Georgiana murmured when she touched the extra dainty lace on her small sleeves. “But it’s my favorite. I thought I could… I could use her strength today.”
Both of the girls nodded solemnly. They all knew this dress had been her mother’s nearly twenty years ago, cut and styled to fit the fashions of the last Season. Georgiana had worked so hard on it herself. She’d nearly poked herself full of holes, but the effort had been worth it. She loved this dress dearly and couldn’t bear the thought of marrying in something else.
Especially because I really do need her strength with me today.
It was finally her wedding day. In approximately two hours, she would be the Countess of Egerton, future Marchioness of Carlisle. A title she didn’t want in a home that would take her away from Emma.
“Here you are,” Jean murmured quietly while offering a handkerchief.
“Thank you.” Georgiana offered a watery smile before dabbing at her eyes.
Hurrying over with a frown, Emma glanced between them. “You’re not really going, are you?”
The words were near enough to break her sister’s heart. “Oh, Emma, we’ve talked about this. You know I must. I’m marrying Lord Egerton today.”
“Well, yes, but… who is going to ride with me this afternoon? I know Father won’t. And he won’t let me go with only a groom.” Emma folded her arms, appearing cross. “You have to be here to ride with me.”
“I can’t ride with you, not today. But perhaps I can come back soon. I’ll visit with you, a-and we’ll go riding them.”
“Tomorrow, then?”
Sharing a look with Jean, Georgiana bit her lip. “I don’t know. It will be my husband who decides that.”
The words slipped past her lips with great bitterness. She couldn’t hold them back. For the last week, there had been little peace in the sudden preparations for the wedding. It was the father’s choice to skip the usual three-week waiting period with the banns were read. They’d called it efficient. But now, everyone wanted to know the truth behind the matter. The rumors she’d heard about herself lately made her stomach clench and a lump form in her throat.
There had been no peace for her since her father had made the announcement. She’d had to cancel too many activities with her sister. The house had been in an uproar. Between readying her trousseau, managing the household, and then preparing everyone for her permanent departure, it had left her with little time to sleep.
Not that it helped I let Emma stay with me every night. I adore her to death, but goodness gracious, she snores like… oh, I don’t even know. But it’s a surprise that the house doesn’t shake by dawn.
“Then I shall come with you,” Emma announced.
“Oh, I wish you could.” Georgiana hugged her before stepping back. “And look how nice you look.”
“Not as nice as you. Maybe that will make your husband happy, and then I can come with you,” her sister suggested. “If we ask him really nicely, he might.”
Georgiana opened her mouth, but not a word came out. Already she had asked Benedict about Emma. Though her husband-to-be thought it dear how much she loved her sister, he’d looked at her funny before saying it would be best if there weren’t children in their house. At least, not while his parents were there.
Too crowded, perhaps. Or maybe none of them like children. What about when we have children? Will they be shipped off elsewhere?
The thought sent a shudder down her spine. No, it couldn’t be. Benedict had not appeared cruel. He’d been hesitant and a tad awkward, but she couldn’t believe him to be a mean sort of gentleman. Still, something did seem off about the man she was marrying. He could hardly look her in the eye when he came for tea the other day.
That was most likely the rest of her life she had glimpsed that afternoon. The idea sat hollow in her empty stomach.
“Why don’t we get you something to eat?” her maid spoke, reading her mind. “You look a tad pale.”
“Isn’t that what the gentlemen prefer? A lady who has never seen the sun?” Georgiana muttered, sighing before collapsing in her small chair. “If he even looks at me.”
“How could he not? You’re beautiful.” Jean brought over the tray of breakfast foods that had been ignored for the past three hours.
“Oh!” Emma huffed when Jean lifted the tray higher so she couldn’t swipe a biscuit. “I wanted that.”
Sighing, Georgiana nodded to the tray. “You can so long as you don’t get any crumbs on your dress. No, thank you, Jean. There is a wedding luncheon after the ceremony. I don’t think I can eat until then.”
