“Yes, yes, of course you will. Take no notice of me,” Hattie replied, her voice now edged with remorse. “Now, let’s get your veil sorted.” She set about arranging the floral garland and lace veil onto Annie’s head. “There,” she announced, stepping back. “The finishing-touch. Perfect. Just perfect.”
Annie straightened her spine, lifted her chin, and gave her reflection a final, critical inspection. Though she did not consider herself vain, she silently admitted to being more than pleased with what she saw. “Thank you, Hattie.” She glanced at the clock on her mantelpiece and pulled in a deep breath. “It’s almost time to leave.”
“Yes, indeed.” Hattie cleared her throat. “Um, do you have any more questions for this foolish old woman? About tonight, I mean?”
Annie shook her head as a faint blush warmed her cheeks. “No, thank you. I believe you’ve already explained things quite clearly.”
A couple of days earlier, Hattie had taken it upon herself to assume a maternal role, and had described, in simple detail, what occurred in the marriage bed and how the act was required in order to conceive a child. Annie had feigned her ignorance and astonishment. Only her blush had been genuine, prompted by a sense of guilt.
Being a physician, Annie’s father possessed an extensive scientific and medical library. As a child, Annie had little interest in it, but the approach to womanhood raised questions. In the absence of a mother, Annie had turned, covertly, to her father’s bookshelves in search of answers.
She had found them and more besides, including answers to questions she had never thought to ask. The detailed anatomical drawings of men and women performing the sexual act had shocked her. So much so, she had shoved the book back onto its shelf and left the room, silently swearing never to return.
The resolution lasted barely a day. Curiosity drove Annie back to the library and the book was pulled from the shelf once more. Her initial shock rapidly evolved into a guilty fascination, which also left her with frustratingly unanswered questions. The drawings were merely clinical descriptions and diagrams, emotionless and unfeeling. Yet her own body’s reaction to them was unsettling; the soft pulse between her legs, the enhanced sensitivity of her breasts, and an underlying yearning for something she could not quite identify. She also had a desire to touch herself intimately, but resisted the urge. To capitulate to such a thing had to be wrong, somehow. Unnatural. Harmful, even. Consequently, the book was once again returned to its place, where it had remained, undisturbed, for some time now.
“And you are not a foolish old woman, Hattie,” Annie continued,and then grinned. “Well, not old at least. Seriously, though, you have been as a mother to me, and I shall be forever grateful.”
Hattie sniffed, pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, and scrubbed it over her nose. “Your dear mother is watching over you always,” she said, “so I have no doubt she’ll be watching over you today. Now, you’d best be off because I’m about to shed a bucketful of tears and would prefer to do so without an audience. I’ll see you at the church.”
*
Annie stood beforethe church of St. James and gazed up at the steeple, which pointed at gray skies. So far, though, London’s rooftops had remained dry, and a pleasantly mild breeze wandered the city streets. Not that Annie cared too much about the weather. The day ahead surely promised a variety of other blessings. Besides, the one she’d hoped and prayed for had already been granted.
She turned to him. “Ready, Papa?”
“I am, my dear,” he replied.
“And you’re sure you’re feeling quite well?”
“Well enough to walk my daughter down the aisle, I assure you.” He offered his elbow and then patted her hand as it settled on his forearm. “It will be one of the proudest moments of my life. Let’s go.”
Annie heaved a happy sigh, leaned in, and kissed his pale cheek. Yes, her prayers had been answered. Due to her father’s continued frailty, however, she had insisted on a quiet celebration. They had no immediate family to speak of anyway, only distant relations, rarely seen.
The creak of the vestry door echoed through the silent interior of the church. Annie stepped inside and inhaled the cool, stale air that somehow suggested the passing of many years. The opening of the door prompted the few guests to rise to their feet, and Annie’s veiled gaze went straight to the altar where Leo stood waiting. He turned asthey entered and inclined his head, as if acknowledging their presence. The Reverend Talbot, standing before the altar with a prayer book clasped in his hands, shifted on his feet as they approached. It suggested the man’s impatience, perhaps prompted by the slow pace of her father. Not that they were late arriving, but there would undoubtedly be another marriage ceremony after this, and probably one or two more after that. Saturday mornings, at this time of year, were busy for the clergy.
Too bad, Annie thought. The vicar had long known of her father’s illness and, as a godly man, should surely make allowances. Besides, it would be but a simple service, a quiet exchange of vows before God and the blessing of the church. In less than an hour from now, she would have set aside her Fairfax name, and become Mrs. De Witte. It was the most important day of Annie’s life, thus far at least, and she was determined to enjoy it.
In her peripheral vision, she became aware of Hattie and Bridget standing quietly in their pew on the right side of the church. Then another figure came into view; a dark silhouette, that of a woman, standing in shadows on the other side of the nave. A stranger. Annie gave her but a brief glance. A church volunteer probably, or maybe an onlooker who’d wandered in from the street to watch the proceedings. Such a thing was not unknown.
Leo had not once taken his eyes off Annie as she approached. As she drew near, his shoulders straightened slightly and a faint smile appeared. He looked as immaculate as ever. The dark tailcoat accentuated the broad lines of his shoulders, his gray trousers complimented his long legs, the silk cravat at his throat matched the pale blue of his eyes, and not a single blond hair on his head was out of place. At that precise moment, the fear—the doubt—Annie had encountered mere minutes ago dissipated like smoke in the wind. Her future—theirfuture—surely held much promise. As they arrived at the foot of the altar steps, Annie’s father released her to her husband-to-be. “You lookbeautiful, Annie,” Leo whispered. “I’m a very lucky fellow.”
Annie opened her mouth to respond, but didn’t get the chance.
“Let us begin.” Reverend Talbot’s voice filled the cavernous church and cut off Annie’s reply. At that same moment, she heard the now familiar groan of the church door being opened and wondered who it was. Leo gave but a half-glance over his shoulder and shifted on his feet as if irritated by the interruption. The reverend lifted his gaze, his expression unchanging as he regarded whoever had entered. Then, as the door groaned shut, he turned his attention back to his prayer book.
“Dearly beloved,” he began. “We are gathered here in the sight of God…”
Annie listened as the introductory part of the ceremony continued. Then came the preamble to a moment of meaningful silence.
“Therefore, if any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together,” the reverend said, “let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.”
The moment of silence came and went without interruption and the reverend continued. “I require and charge you both, as you will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment why you may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, you do now confess it. For be you well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God’s Word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful.”
There followed a brief, calculated pause, then the reverend’s gaze came to rest on Leo.
“Leopold Harvey,” he said, “wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thyself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?”
Leo gave Annie a fond glance. “I will,” he replied, the resonance of his voice rivaling that of Reverend Talbot’s, who nodded his approval and turned his attention to Annie. But before the man could speak, the sound of a slow but emphatic handclap came from somewhere behind them. Annie gasped at the intrusion and turned to see a man—a stranger—standing half-way down the aisle. With the exception of a stark, white collar, he was clad entirely in black, from his top-hat to his polished boots. Leo turned also, sucked in a breath, and muttered something Annie didn’t quite catch. She glanced up to see an expression of fury on his face.
