The room was silent for a few seconds, and then the inevitable barrage of excited comments followed.
"Oh, Daphnie," Annie breathed, awestruck. "It is perfect."
"Look at that lace!" Isadora gasped, jittering with excitement, "Excellent selection of the gown. It is quite befitting for a Duchess."
"Isn't it just perfect?" Violet added, leaning forward for a better look. "Duchess Daphne in her perfect dress."
"You'd better let me try it on after the wedding," Isadora teased, reaching out to touch the silky fabric admiringly.
"Oh, I am not sure if she'll be able to part with it so easily," Joyce laughed. "She took days to finalize the fabric, lace and all the details."
Felicity chuckled at that, "She would be in there for hours, trying everything on. Joyce and I had to take shifts to stay with her, otherwise we would grow too tired."
"Well, you only get married once," Daphne defended herself with a smile. "I wanted to make sure that everything was perfect, and just to my liking."
"You must be pleased with yourself with how it turned out," Violet giggled. "I can just imagine that the Duke will be positively enthralled when he sees you in it."
Daphne blushed at the mention of her husband to be. It had been a few weeks since their engagement now, but every time someone brought him up, she had the same reaction.
"I agree!" Isadora added.
She laid the dress carefully across the sofa, smoothing the fabric. "Annie, Joyce, Felicity, there was something I had been meaning to ask you..." she started, biting down on her lip.
"What is it?" Annie encouraged.
"Well, I have heard that when your husband sees you for the first time in a wedding dress, it is almost like he is seeing you for the first time," Daphne admitted shyly, "It is a big moment."
Her sisters exchanged knowing looks amongst each other. "And where did you hear that?" Felicity asked with an amused smile on her face.
"Oh you know," Daphne blushed, embarrassed, "I read about it in my novels."
That got a chuckle out of her sisters, "My dear, things are not the same in real life as they are in the books. But it is a special moment."
"One that the both of you will remember for the rest of your lives," Annie nodded in agreement.
Daphne felt her curiosity growing. "You must tell us more about your love stories," she encouraged. "The three of you have been married for some time now. There must be some secret to a happy marriage that us single women are not privy to."
"Well, you're not to remain single for long," Isadora added, with a giggle, "But I am curious to know as well."
"Marriage does not need to be complicated," Isadora said. She had been married the longest, and therefore had the most authority on the matter. "It can be a breeze, if both husband and wife agree to keep their vows."
"Felicity is right," Annie smiled, "It need not be complicated at all. Challenges are bound to come up, but as long as you both honor the promise you made to each other, it shall be fine."
Daphne thought back to the proposal, and the promise that Ambrose had made to her to love her for the rest of her days. Her cheeks warmed at the memory.
"Ambrose is one to keep his word," she admitted.
"Are you thinking about your proposal?" Joyce asked, ever perceptive. "Because I have to say, it was quite romantic how he showed up."
"I am," Daphne admitted, her blush deepening. "What was it like for you, Joyce? How did the Viscount propose to you?"
Joyce burst out laughing at the question, but when the girls shot her a peculiar look, decided to explain it to her. "Oh, I realize that I never told you girls the story of my proposal, have I? The Viscount had been so nervous about proposing to me that he nearly forgot what he had to say halfway, and started commenting on the weather. It took him a while to get back to the topic. It was quite endearing, really."
"Oh, that is endearing," Annie joined in, "But my experience was quite the opposite. Kevin had written a script for himself, bless him. He narrated it, verbatim. Later, he told me that he had been practicing for it all week."
"Mine was quite memorable as well," Felicity spoke. "He had decided to surprise me by telling me that he must meet me urgently, for there is some great news he must deliver to me."
"Did you expect that it was going to be a proposal instead?" Daphne asked.
