“Well, look what the cat drug in,” she mused, giving Mary a once over before turning to Alex. “You always did have a weakness for a damsel-in-distress.”
Mary bit her tongue while Alex rolled her eyes. “I like what I like. She needs a place to ready for the wedding. Will you help us, Alice?”
The other woman turned her shrewd eyes on Mary then and considered her. The once-over did nothing to calm Mary’s already buzzing nerves. She knew what Ms. Alice Hill was remembering. Her abhorrent behavior the last time Mary had been a guest of hers and she stepped forward from Alex then with an apologetic nod.
“I would not blame you if you chose not to help us now. When I was last a guest, I was...weak. I allowed my mother to say what she wanted without correction. I did not conduct myself in a manner befitting anyone decent, and I am deeply sorry for it. I apologize to you, and I will apologize to Ms. Violet when I see her again. The last time I saw her was very brief, you see.”
Ms. Alice Hill hummed. “It was. You were in and out of here so fast I scarcely realized it, though I do know why.”
“Oh, yes, that.”
“That was a big deal indeed. You helped those two lovesick idiots see the truth even as your mother pushed you towards Julian. Why did you help them?”
“Because they were in love at first sight, I expect. Perfect for the other. I had to act,” Mary said. It was true. She had not missed the lingering looks between Violet and Julian. It had been tender to see, even with her mother’s meddling.
“Yes, you did. I am glad you did. It showed me you are not your mother’s daughter.” Ms. Hill opened the door wider and gestured for Mary to enter. “Come on inside then. I suspect you won’t have much in the way of motherly support on such a big day.”
“No,” Mary shook her head, stepping inside and following behind Ms. Hill. “I won’t.”
Ms. Hill had whisked her away then with a tut and a warm smile. She’d helped Mary dress for the wedding and had even done her hair up real nice with a sprig of flowers she had plucked from the vase in the room. It was a spray of wildflowers, their pretty yellow color making Mary think of sunshine and, of course, Alex. The woman was in her every thought as of late, making her feel excited and out of sorts, but in the very best way.
At least Mary had managed to find a partner that made her feel thus, even if their marriage was an arranged affair. She sighed and let the curtains go, stepping back from the window. She had been keeping a careful vigil for her mother’s familiar form but so far the elder James had not been spotted.
That was either a blessing or a curse. She uttered a silent prayer to the modiste working with her mother. The woman would need a good bit of relaxation that evening to recover from the ordeal. Her nerves must be shot by now, but Mary was glad for the distraction, without it their plan would not be possible. She turned at a knock at the door.
“Yes?” she called, hurrying over.
“Are you ready?” Ms. Hill asked, opening the door and sailing in without so much as a step of hesitation. She nodded in approval at Mary’s appearance. “Oh, you are a lovely bride indeed. Alex is a very lucky woman.”
Mary shook her head. “No, it is I who is lucky.”
“Well, then let’s call it even and declare the pair of you lucky, hmm?”
“I quite like the sound of that.”
“Perfect. Now come with me. We haven’t much time. I was just sent word that your mother is finishing at the dressmaker. We must make haste now. Step lively, step lively!” Ms. Hill ushered her towards the door with a wave of her hands.
Mary swallowed hard, her heart pounding at the news. “Oh, dear, oh dear.”
“Hush, she won’t catch you before the deed is done. Gold Sky is on the case and getting in her way. She’ll scarcely make it to the square by the time you say, ‘I do’ and by then it will be far too late, especially with the whole town knowing.”
“The whole town?” Mary’s feet turned to stone and she nearly tripped. “How will the whole town know?” she asked.
Ms. Hill was in front of her now and at the front door. She turned to look at Mary over her shoulder and grinned. “Why because they will all be in attendance. And you cannot deny or take back what an entire town has seen with their own eyes,” she said and threw the door open with a flourish. “See?”
“W-what?” Mary squeaked. No other sound was possible when faced with what appeared to be the entirety of Gold Sky standing at the steps of the boarding house. She swallowed nervously when several of them waved to her or called out greetings of good tidings.
“What do you mean what? Look and see for yourself,” Ms. Hill reached out and pulled her forward gently. “When there is a happy occasion, we all turn out to greet it together. Your wedding to Alex will bring so much happiness. She’s a good woman with a big heart, and you, I am seeing, are as well. You must be, if Alex chose you for her bride.”
“Oh, but it’s all just a favor really, it isn’t--”
“No time for words, Mary. You’ll be late to your own wedding.” Ms. Hill looped her arm with hers and guided her forward. “Make way, make way, the bride is coming!”
The crowd parted and Mary swore she had never seen so many smiles. All of them genuine and true. She had expected little happiness in her marriage and here she was being presented with buckets of it, and she hadn’t even laid eyes on Alex. She nearly pinched herself to see if she were daydreaming, but she didn’t dare chance waking from a dream as beautiful as this. Her walk across the town square and up the steps of the chapel happened in a flash and then the chapel doors were creaking open to reveal still more happy folk.
The entire town in attendance. For her wedding.
Mary’s eyes prickled and she sniffled back the tears. Ms. Hill patted her shoulder comfortingly and then stepped away from her. “Best you continue on your own, Mary.”
