“Icannot believe the beautiful weather we have for an autumn day,” Verity said to Elspeth as she adjusted her veil. “I think you have brought your Scottish luck with you. So unusual for London!”
“Aye,” Marion agreed, clapping her hands. “This is a great sign for the rest of your happy days, me friend!A h-uile là sona dhuibh ‘s gun là idir dona dhuibh!”
“I can only hope that all me days will be happy ones,” Elspeth said. “Mo chairdean choir!”
The sun shone down on them as they stood outside, casting a perfect, gilded splendor on what Elspeth knew would be the happiest day of her life.
It was the kind of day that seemed plucked from a storybook. The air was crisp and clear, the sky a vast, unending canvas of cerulean blue with fluffy white clouds. The whole ton, along witha few notable guests from Inverhall, were gathered to witness the wedding of the Duke of Arrowfell and Lady Inverhall, soon to be the Duchess.
They were gathered for the ceremony in the grand chapel on Arrowfell Estate, in the beautiful countryside of England, and away from the hustle and bustle of London. The church itself was transformed from a mere building into a living and breathing thing, a haven of white roses and lilies and love. Their sweet scent perfumed the air, and every attendee had a wide smile on their face.
Their joy was infectious.
I cannae believe how happy these people are… to see me so happy. It is almost more than I can fathom.
Elspeth stood at the back of the church, about to make her entrance. She was radiant in a cream-colored gown of the finest silk and lace. It had a fitted bodice and long lace sleeves that went down to her fingertips. Its cut accentuated her beautiful curves.
She was a vision.
After her friends entered before her, she walked down the aisle with a joyful elegance that was new to her. She was confident in the way only true happiness can provide.
The duchess she had always been was finally able to shine, her face bright with a quiet, undeniable joy.
She met her groom in front of the altar and looked up at his bright blue eyes, the nerves in her belly dissipating at his smile. She knew that they were a picture of serene contentment as they professed their love and commitment to each other in front of their honored guests.
“I promise to love, honor, and cherish ye,” she said, a happy tear trailing down her cheek. “For the rest of me days.” Then, she leaned into his ear. “I mean it, Hugo. Until me last breath. I am yers, me love.”
“And I promise to love, honor, and cherish you,” he said, a wide smile on his face as his eyes watered. “For the rest of my life. Until my last breath. I am yours, Elspeth.”
The wedding breakfast was a feast of lavish proportions. It was a testament to Hugo’s wealth and a final, grand gesture of Elspeth’s triumph in the Benefactress of the Year competition, as even the boys of St. Jude’s were in attendance that day. No expense was spared as they savored exotic pineapples and melons, salmon, and fresh cream.
As Elspeth and Hugo navigated the celebration, their hands often found each other, their smiles quiet and shared. They moved as a single entity, a powerful unit that had, against all odds, found a way to work together.
They made their way through the throng of well-wishers, greeting familiar faces with a warmth that was entirely new for Hugo. He had always been the remote, brooding Duke of Arrowfell, a man of few words and even fewer smiles. Now, he was a man in love, and it showed in every look he gave his wife.
“Well, boys,” he said as he approached the table at the corner. “I trust you have had your fill?”
“Oh, Your Grace! It has been so much fun,” young Hugo said with a smile, his mouth full of sponge cake. “We have never eaten so well in our lives.”
“Well, you will from this moment forward,” Hugo assured him.
“Whatever do ye mean?” Elspeth asked, a large smile forming on her face.
“I will personally see to it that Monsieur Henri provides all meals to our friends at St. Jude’s.”
“Oh my, Your Grace!” Miss Caruthers scrambled to her feet, tears streaming down her cheeks. “We cannot accept such a gift. It is too much, even for a man of your standing and generosity.”
“You can, and you will. Either that, or I will have to move the lot of you into the townhouse.”
“I daenae think we could survive that, thoughtful as that is,” Elspeth said with a wink. “But I think that is the most beautiful weddin’ present ye could’ve given me.”
“I will see it done,” Hugo said as they walked away from the table.
They found Aaron, Verity, and her husband, the Marquess of Wrotham, by a table laden with empty champagne flutes. Verity’s eyes were dancing with a mix of excitement and the deep satisfaction of a matchmaker who had seen her work to a perfect conclusion.
Elspeth knew that look too well.
“I told you he was not a lost cause!” Verity said, pulling her into a tight hug. “You had a much easier time of it than I did with this one.” She gestured to the Marquess of Wrotham, who grinned and wrapped his arm around her waist.
