Too antsy to stay confined in this room any longer, she strode out into the corridor and down the steps. Not seeing anyone, she crossed through the dark and dreary great hall, then carefully descended the treacherous wooden steps into the bailey.
Pacing in the warm sunlight and breathing the fresh cool air, she felt a bit more clear-headed. A small stone structure at the west end, nestled by the castle, caught her eye. The arched doorway and small bell tower said it had to be a chapel. Would the wedding take place there… if she did choose to marry Gavin?
Her stomach knotted as she approached it. She climbed the three steps, lifted the metal latch, and entered. Brilliant sunlight beamed through the colorful stained-glass windows on the eastern wall.
"Wow," she breathed. Such vivid blues, reds, and greens captured her imagination. Tingles showered over her. She glanced around, feeling her anxiety slip away as a bright calmness came over her. One of the windows depicted an angel with people. Another showed Jesus turning water into wine while a bride and groom sat at a table in the background.
"What?" A shiver passed through her.
Could this be a sign from God she was supposed to marry Gavin?
Her eyes misted with tears. Well… she did care about Gavin a great deal. Did she love him, or could she grow to love him?
"Maybe," she whispered.
Her parents wouldn't get to attend her wedding. Her father couldn't walk her down the aisle… in fact, she'd probably never see them again. Her throat closed off, and her eyes burned.
"What should I do?" she whispered. "Is this my new life?"
She dropped onto a pew, mesmerized by the beauty of the radiant and colorful windows. "What is my destiny?"
Not hearing an answer, she stood and moved closer to the stained-glass to see the detail of the bride in the background. She wore a light blue dress… the same color as the gown upstairs.
Tingles and chills coursed through her as if God communicated with her.
Her gaze scanned over the groom in the artistic glass. Did he represent Gavin?
He had been so sweet the night before when he'd said he would give her time or anything she wished. And the loving way he had kissed her.
How could she saynoto a man like that?
She would say the words and see how she felt about each statement.
"I'm going to marry Gavin," she whispered. Happiness illuminated her from within, brighter than the vibrant windows. She did not even want to make the opposite statement.
Running her gaze over the beautiful windows one last time, she felt grateful for the guidance from the spiritual realm. She opened the door and exited the chapel.
Grinning, she acknowledged she would marry Gavin. But how could she ready herself for a wedding? She had no makeup, no brush or comb.
She jogged through the great hall, and up the steps, then poked her head into Lunn's room to find him sleeping. Next door, she rummaged in the trunk again and pulled out the various pieces of the antique blue dress. It appeared in good shape and hadn't been worn much. Sniffing it, she found it smelled of lavender. Had it been laundered recently?
She gathered the outfit into a bundle and carried it to her chamber. After unrolling it, she figured out the front and back of each piece—the skirt, the vest-like bodice, and the multiple layered petticoats. After struggling for a few minutes, she pulled the loose garments into place and tied the petticoats. The fit would be okay once someone laced up the back for her.
A fist banged on the door, startling her.
"Just a minute!"
"I brought you the rest of your clothing, m'lady," Crocker called. "I'll leave it by your door."
"Thank you." What did he mean?
After removing the blue dress and putting on her regular clothes again, she opened the door. A linen-covered metal framework sat in the corridor.
"What is that contraption?" She had seen it in one of the trunks but dismissed it. A rolled-up stiff piece of linen sat on top of it. She picked it up and straightened it out to find it was a corset.
"Oh hell no." She glared again at the metal framework. Part of her clothing? "Ah. A farthingale." To make her hips look as wide as a freight train. "Doublenoon that, Crocker," she muttered. She brought the two items into her room and placed them on a chair, never to be touched again, she hoped.
Even though anxiety still troubled her about the wedding, she couldn't wait to tell Gavin about her decision. She looked forward to seeing the joy on his face.
