Emma jumped up and ran to Bett, hugging her. “I’m so pleased you’re here.”
“I am as well. I’m thrilled for you. Mr. Walker is a fine gentleman.”
“I know,” Emma said.
Emma turned to Olivia and bussed her cheeks. “Now, it will be a wonderful celebration with all the people we love here.”
The maid brought in a tea tray, and Emma poured tea. She then sat on the sofa next to Miles before addressing Bett. “I would like to ask a favor, if I may?”
“Of course,” Bett said. “What do you need?”
Emma clasped Miles’s hand. “We would be honored if you and Harrison would agree to be our witnesses.”
“Oh, that’s a lovely idea,” Bett said, looking at Noah. “What do you say, my darling?”
“We would be delighted,” Noah said, nodding.
“I’m so pleased,” Emma said. “Would you and Lady Robertson care to see my dress after tea?”
Both Bett and Olivia nodded as the conversation turned to the wedding arrangements.
“Speaking of wedding arrangements, Harrison and I would be thrilled if everyone would attend our wedding next week,” Bett said.
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Emma said.
Noah turned to Emma’s parents. “Lord and Lady Fleming, we would be delighted if you would attend as well.”
“Of course. We wouldn’t miss it,” Fleming said.
“It only seems fitting,” Noah added. “Without your house party, I never would have met this beautiful lady.”
“I have to say, I’ve never had a more successful house party. Three engagements is a record,” Fleming said, chuckling.
After tea, Emma led Bett and Olivia up the stairs to her bedchamber. “The modiste did a remarkable job,” she said, walking into her room. She went to the armoire and pulled out a forest-green dress trimmed with cream piping around the bodice and cuffs.
“Oh, Emma. You’ll look stunning in this. It matches your eyes perfectly,” Bett said.
“It’s very beautiful,” Olivia chimed in.
“I can hardly wait to marry Mr. Walker. I never thought I’d marry, but sometimes life can surprise you.”
“So very true,” Olivia said. “I fell in love with Robertson at your parents’ house party, but I thought my feelings weren’t shared. It seems men sometimes need more time to realize their feelings.”
The day of thewedding dawned bright, although there was a definite chill in the air. Puffy white clouds dotted the blue sky. However, by the time Emma got to the chapel, she was too excited to feel the cold.
Standing down at the end of the aisle was her beloved Miles, and she couldn’t wait to marry him. Her father walked her down the aisle.
Bett and Noah stood as witnesses, and the congregation was filled with well-wishers. Many of the Fleming tenants crowded into the small chapel to catch a glimpse of the bride.
When the vicar finally pronounced them man and wife, Emma leaned toward Miles for their first official kiss as husband and wife. “I love you,” she whispered.
“And I you.”
The vicar then had them, along with Bett and Noah, sign the registry before heading back to Fleming Manor for a small wedding breakfast. Neither she nor Miles wanted a big affair, and her parents had finally relented to only having family and a few friends attend. They were more than pleased that the chapel had been filled to capacity by well-wishers watching their daughter marry.
During the wedding breakfast, Miles and Emma couldn’t stop smiling as they chatted with their friends.
“Next week, this will be you, Bett,” Emma said.
