“Why is everyone crying?!” Ophelia asked, growing exasperated.
“We are just happy for you is all,” Theo replied, then sniffled.
“And you do look beautiful,” Rose’s voice quivered as she brought her kerchief to her eye.
“So very beautiful,” Seraphina all but whimpered.
“The most beautiful bride of us all,” Amelia softly cried.
Ophelia rolled her eyes, not at all comfortable with this mushy business.
“You are not doing this at the ceremony tomorrow, are you?” She asked, looking around at all of them.
“Of course not,” John sniffled, as if trying to gain his composure, “All smiles and no tears tomorrow. That is why we must get them out today.”
Ophelia felt the urge to roll her eyes again as her friends offered their agreement, but she was smiling from ear.
“Let us speak on tomorrow’s plans,” she suggested, “draw your minds away from all of this emotion.”
“Very well,” John said, wiping his kerchief once more over his cheeks.
“Your lovely friends will be spending the evening here with us so that we may start early tomorrow morning,” John began, waving an arm toward her friends. “Your groom and his groomsmen will be arriving at half past seven. The priest will be arriving at a quarter til eight. Our ceremony begins at nine in the parlor-”
“And will be over at twenty past nine since you want a simple exchange of vows,” Theo said, taking over as John’s voice began to quiver again. “Hooray, Hoorah, we have ourselves a lovely toast to the newly wedded couple, then we partake in a wedding breakfast precisely at ten a.m.”
“At thirty past eleven you and Tristan will be traveling as newlyweds to the Darlington country estate, where we will all be joining you the next afternoon,” Rose picked up where Theo left off.
“Theo and Alistsair will be accompanying your father for the journey,” Amelia added.
“And we will spend the Christmas month all together,” Seraphina finished.
“Very good,” Ophelia praised, beaming at her friends. She bounced a little on her feet, more excited than the she ever thought she could for her own wedding day. There would be no pomp or circumstance, no gossiping whispers. Just her family, friends, and the love of her life.
A knock on her father's door came, followed by Mr. Potter’s entry.
“Pardon, Miss Wexley-myyou look beautiful!” Their loyal butler exclaimed.
Ophelia smiled warmly as she felt her father tighten his hold on her hand; as if silently urging her to believe it was true.
“Thank you, Mr. Potter,” Ophelia replied, “What were you about to say?”
“Oh!” The butler startled, as if he’d completely forgotten the reason he’d come into the room in the first place. “Yes, forgive me. The Earl of Darlington is here, Miss Wexley, and he requests to have a private audience with you.”
Excitement jolted through Ophelia’s veins, and without a word, she stepped toward the door. She knew well what he had been doing today and want very much to know how business had went.
“Wait a moment!” Theo exclaimed with a laugh as she and Rose grabbed her arms with surprising strength.
“What for?” Ophelia laughed, looking at them as if they were crazed.
“Your gown!” Seraphina exclaimed, “He cannot see you in it until tomorrow! It is bad luck otherwise.”
Ophelia let out a groan of annoyance, but allowed her friends to hurry her back to her room. They helped her out of her wedding gown with quick but gentle hands, then she drew on her favorite long-sleeved, dusky blue day gown.
She raced down the stairs, not waiting for her friends or caring about pretense. Her smile grew as she saw Tristan waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, and she leaped from third step to the last and into his arms. Tristan chuckled as he caught her, whirled her around, and gave her a dizzying kiss.
“There is my beautiful bride-to-be,” he said, stroking her cheek lovingly.
“Enough praises,” she insisted, stroking her hands down the front of his jacket, “Tell me how it went!”
