Chapter Three
Eve stood and stared at her wardrobe.She had tried on two gowns already and tossed them onto her bed.Nothing seemed to suit the occasion.Nothing fitted her mood.
Her maid came and stood beside her.“Blue for good luck?”she suggested.
Eve wrinkled up her nose.Luck was something her cousin Lady Lucy Radley and her about-to-be husband, Avery Fox, were going to need in spades.
After having been caught in a compromising position with the former soldier in the grounds of Strathmore House, Lucy and Avery were now obliged to marry.Avery, the future Earl Langham, had not gone quietly into the arms of his impending marriage.
Lucy’s two older brothers had both taken brides earlier in the year, and their respective weddings had been followed by lavish parties and balls, attended by more than a thousand people a piece.Lucy’s wedding should have also been a glittering occasion.
At Avery’s insistence, however, his and Lucy’s nuptials were to be a quiet family affair at Strathmore House.
“Why aren’t you dressed?”Caroline Saunders closed the bedroom door behind her.
Eve spared her fully dressed and ready-to-go sister a sideways glance before going back to staring at the wardrobe.“I just cannot find the right outfit for the occasion.Nothing in there speaks to me.What does one wear to an occasion that is a cautionary tale in not pursuing a hasty marriage?”
Caroline sighed.It was going to be a trying day for all.
“It’s not a funeral.Besides, we should wear what we would be wearing if it was a full church service.We owe it to cousin Lucy to give her as much support as possible.Who knows?If we give them all our blessings then they may make a go of it.”
Eve nodded.Her sister was right, as usual.Lucy did love Avery.She had set her sights on him a matter of weeks earlier when he was first introduced to London society as the mysterious new heir to the title of Earl of Langham.The fact the groom was not keen on the union was beside the point.He had kissed Lucy and placed his hands on her naked breasts in the garden of Strathmore House.After those facts, marriage was the only possible outcome.
“I shall go with the pale blue dress.It is simple and elegant, and I haven’t worn it before today,” replied Eve.
“Good.Papa is making noises downstairs about wanting to leave very soon, so you had better get a wriggle on,” said Caroline.
Strathmore House, home of the Duke of Strathmore, was located within the fashionable area of Park Lane.The mansion dominated the street, being twice the size of every other house.Its huge Portland stone columns were a physical reminder of the long-held power and wealth of the Radley family.For Eve and her siblings however, it was simply the home of their uncle, aunt, and cousins.
As the Saunders’s family carriage drew up outside the front of Strathmore House, Eve’s heart sank.It should have been the biggest and most wonderful day of Lucy Radley’s life.Crowds should have gathered outside, all craning to catch a glimpse of the elite of London as they arrived for the post-wedding festivities.
The only sign anything was happening at the house was a simple bouquet of white lilies, which had been hung from the front door.They spoke volumes as to the hurried nature of the wedding and the lack of celebration that came with it.
“Now, I want all of you to make a fuss over Lucy and Avery today.No matter the circumstances, it is still their wedding.The wedding breakfast will be a small affair, but since it’s the only one they are going to get, it is up to all of us to make the day memorable.Make sure you have your best smiles on at all times,” said Adelaide Saunders.
Eve noted the bitterness in her mother’s words.Adelaide was heartbroken for her niece, but she was determined to do all she could to make it a special day for Lucy.
Inside Strathmore House, the family were ushered into the Winter Ballroom.
Adelaide shook her head with disgust.“Not even the Summer Ballroom.When Charles and I were married, my father made sure we had the finest of everything at our wedding.A duke’s daughter should never have to face such an insult to her station.”
The Winter Ballroom was bigger than any other ballroom Eve had seen in London, yet it was still smaller than the famous Summer Ballroom with its towering ceiling fabulously decorated with scenes from Aesop’s fables.
The room had been simply decorated with a large vase of white roses next to where the bride and groom were to stand.Little other effort had been made for the wedding decorations.The chill of a forced wedding hung in the air.
Eve and her family took their seats.When the bride arrived ahead of the groom, hot tears sprang to Eve’s eyes.
Lady Lucy looked every part the beautiful bride.
Her white lace wedding gown fitted perfectly to her body.In her hands she held a small posy of cream and red roses.Her short veil was held in place by the Strathmore family tiara—a priceless gold and diamond tiara which had been worn by every daughter of the family on her wedding day going back many generations.
Eve wiped tears away, her heart breaking for her cousin.
“I have others if you need them,” whispered Caroline, handing her a clean handkerchief.
Lady Lucy Radley stood quietly talking to her mother, the Duchess of Strathmore.There was no grand entrance for the bride.She barely acknowledged the rest of the guests.
When the groom arrived, Eve noticed the stripes of his waistcoat matched the color of Lucy’s flowers.It was nice that Avery was making some effort toward keeping up appearances no matter how much he had resisted offering for Lucy’s hand in marriage.
