“Shame, I suppose, that I had bid on this gentleman for you, and then fell in love with him by accident,”Evelyn had replied shyly.“I did not want to lose your friendship if you became angry with me.”
She had asked for Selina’s forgiveness anyway, and Selina had given it freely, while insisting that it was not necessary. Since then, Evelyn’s dear friend had been a revelation in organizing everything so that Evelyn did not have to panic about the wedding: she had let Evelyn borrow another gown, she had arranged flowers to be sent to Evelyn’s house and the church, she had lent two cooks from her own home to help with thewedding breakfast, and she had written all of the invitations, among other things.
As for Sir Anthony, the letters had ceased entirely and, as far as anyone was aware, he was somewhere on the Continent with a French chanteuse.
“They always say that one wedding begets another,” Margery said, putting the finishing touches to the curls at the nape of Evelyn’s neck. “Perhaps it will be one of you next.”
The housekeeper had become fond of Evelyn’s friends over the course of the past week, the two of them forever at Evelyn’s side, guiding her through the rigmarole of planning a wedding. And Octavia always had a message from her brother to pass on to Evelyn.
She had seen Hugo at the tea that her father had invited him to, but she had not seen him since. It was one of her father’s terms of agreement, that Hugo was to stay away until the wedding. Evelyn suspected it was a last effort to try and claw back some control, but she did not mind too much. After today, she would never have to come back to this townhouse again or see her father or Matthew again.
Although shewouldmake the effort to see Luke. She still did not know what had caused the change in him, but it was worthy of maintaining a relationship. He had finally become a proper brother when it had mattered the most, and she would never forget that kindness or that courage.
Selina pulled a face. “It will not be me.” She shook her head effusively. “I shall need at least a year before I am ready to search for a husband again.”
“But you will not be the diamond next year,” Octavia pointed out. “And the Season is not yet over. Perhaps someone will pique your interest.”
“I no longer wish to be the diamond. I wish to be left alone at balls and parties and dinners. Indeed, I think it shall be good for me to be more of an observer for the rest of the Season,” Selina replied. “We shall stand together, dear Octavia. Two wallflowers who want nothing to do with society’s gentlemen. Not this year, at least.”
Octavia smiled at that. “That sounds rather lovely.” She hesitated. “Maybe, like you, I shall be able to muster the courage to search for a husband by next year.”
Evelyn smiled to herself, warmed by the friendship that was forming between Octavia and Selina. It was a stark difference to how they had begun their acquaintance, but Evelyn had always known that Selina would warm up to Octavia eventually, and vice versa.
“I hope that I shall be attending both your weddings, when they undoubtedly happen, and I hope that you shall both be as ‘giddy’ as I am today,” Evelyn said, as she turned on the vanity stool. “Now, be honest, how do I look?”
She rose to her feet to give the full effect of the exquisite gown: a beautiful creation of the same midnight blue that Hugo had so enjoyed before, but embellished with a veritable sea of silver spangles and beads that shimmered when she moved. It was, without doubt, the most remarkable thing she had ever worn.
“Oh, Evie…” Selina clasped her hands together, her eyes wide.
“Goodness…” Octavia joined in, covering her mouth with her hand.
Evelyn grimaced. “Is it that terrible?”
“It is not terrible at all!” Selina cried. “Indeed, you look every bit like a duchess.”
“Even with my simple necklace?” Evelyn asked, her heart full.
Selina chuckled. “Especiallywith that simple necklace.”
She jumped down from the window seat and hurried over to Evelyn, throwing her arms around her and hugging her tightly. Feeling giddy once more, Evelyn hugged her friend in return, her joy spilling over into a joyful peal of laughter as Octavia joined in, embracing them both.
“Now, there is nothing to do but actuallymakeyou a duchess,” Selina said, teary-eyed.
As if summoned, Luke’s voice bellowed from downstairs, “The carriages are ready! We should leave if you do not want to be late!”
“Well then,” Evelyn said with a deep breath, “I suppose it is time for my wedding.”
Even though it had only been a week since she had learned that she would be permitted to marry Hugo, the occasion still could not come soon enough.
“Thatis the dress you have chosen?” Evelyn’s father scrunched his face in disapproval as he met her at the church doors, for he had gone on ahead with Matthew to greet more of the guests.
Evelyn had known her father would have something to say about the dark color, and that he would not be complimentary. He had altered his opinion entirely when it came to Hugo, and the fact that his daughter would now be a duchess, but the habits of two decades could not be undone so easily.
“It is my beloved’s favorite,” she said with a smile, for she would not allow anything to dampen her joy today.
Her father pulled a face. “Very well. I suppose it is too late for you to change now anyway.”
I was just about to say the same thing about you…She chuckled to herself and, as her father held out his arm to her, she took it without hesitation. The sooner she walked into the church with him, the sooner she could walkoutof the church with her husband.
