AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lydia felt like she was in a state of intoxication, dressed in her nicest dress, sitting across from her mother and Trinity in the carriage, heading to Michael’s townhome. In her mind, she expected to be turned away at the door or to find that they had all gone home. Even worse, she expected to wake at any moment to find it had all been a dream.
“I suppose I do not need to explain to you the things that might happen between a man and a woman,” her mother said wryly.
Lydia blushed. “I assure you, there are many things that I do not know.”
“There are many girls that go into their wedding night that know nothing about what they may experience, how a man even looks undressed. It seems that you know at least that much.”
Trinity laughed, but Lydia just blushed further, desperately wishing she could get out of the conversation.
“How far away is the Conner’s London home?” Lydia asked, trying to change the subject.
“We’re nearly there,” her mother smiled. She reached over to pat her knee. “I am happy for you, dear, truly. It seems that this will work out the way that you want, if not how you wanted it to.”
“It has been such a whirlwind,” Lydia said, shaking her head. “I could have done without the heart break, the sadness.”
“This is how life works sometimes,” her mother explained to her. “You must take the good times with the sad times, as long as you are happier more often than you are sad.”
Lydia clutched her hands together. “I just want to see tomorrow morning as a bride,” she said. “I cannot help but feel everything could go terribly wrong.”
“We will make sure you are married tonight,” Trinity said. “If only so I can make sure I am married next week.”
Lydia scrunched her nose at her, and Trinity responded by sticking out her tongue. The juvenile moment helped lighten her spirit as they pulled up to the Marigold townhome.
Michael was waiting on the front steps as they pulled up. Lydia’s heart raced, seeing him standing there. She turned to her mother. “I can’t breathe,” she gasped.
Martha rubbed her knee reassuringly. “It is quite all right to be nervous. As long as you are certain you want to marry him. No matter how much scandal we might face as a family, I won’t make you do anything you absolutely don’t want to do.”
She took a deep breath. “I want to marry him. I love him.”
Martha smiled reassuringly then gestured to the door. “Then go on then.”
Lydia turned to the door of the carriage as Michael stepped forward. He opened the door, offering his hand to her. “My lady,” he said. “Welcome to what will be your new London townhome.”
She took his hand, her fingers trembling. He helped her step down from the carriage as she took in the sprawling manor. The home dwarfed the Rackliff townhome, with gardens on both sides of the house. A drive separated the front of the house from the street, such that they stood in relative silence in front of the home.
Michael looked down at her as she took in the sight. When she turned back to him, she was happy to see him smiling admirably down at her. “Despite the rush that this has been,” he said, “I am quite looking forward to calling you my wife.”
“Truly?” she asked, looking hopefully up at him.
“Truly,” he agreed.
Martha and Trinity stepped out of the carriage behind them. Michael held on to Lydia’s hand. “Come, now,” he said. “All the arrangements have been made. All you have to do is walk into the ceremony.”
“Has the curate arrived?” Martha asked.
“Yes, he’s quite displeased at being taken from the ball,” Michael said, grinning over his shoulder back at her. “But he is here, ready and waiting for us.”
Lydia squeezed his hand, trying to steel her nerves. He smiled reassuringly down at her. “I’m not sure how we managed it, but upon hearing about our wedding, the staff has made a substantial effort to celebrate the occasion.”
As she stepped into the foyer, she was shocked by the bouquets of flowers everywhere. “Is it normally like this?”
“To some extent,” he replied. “But, somehow, the housekeeper managed to pull in some favors.”
“Are your other sisters joining us?”
“Yes, they’ll be right behind us,” Martha assured him.
