The next two hours were spent in laughter and eating in the sitting room. The Potters and the other boarders joined in.
The boardinghouse residents left for the church while Rory was making the final adjustments to Suzanne’s appearance. The green and silver gown matched the green and silver ribbon-trimmed bonnet she’d ordered, and Athena Masterson had given her a delicate emerald and pearl necklace set that was the perfect complement.
Suzanne turned to gaze into the mottled mirror in her bedroom. Though it was too small to show her full image, it was clear enough to make her throat tighten. She looked her best. More than that, she looked like her own woman in a way that she never had before.
“You look beautiful,” Rory said warmly. “Even more beautiful than usual. But don’t youdarecry and ruin all my work!”
The comment made Suzanne laugh. “I’ll do my best not to.”
She lifted her skirts to examine her green and silver slippers. Rory had really done an amazing job in creating this ensemble so quickly. “I’m glad it’s not raining. I’d hate to ruin these.” Then she left her small, cold room and moved down the steep stairs toward her new life.
Hawkins was waiting there with their warm cloaks. Suzanne’s was dark green velvet trimmed with dark fur, a gift from Callie. Such generous friends she’d acquired!
Their carriage waited outside for the short drive to the parish church, but the distance was long enough for Suzanne’s nerves to begin to flutter again.
“You’re doing the right thing,” Rory said with a pat on Suzanne’s gloved hand. “Marriage is a very fine institution and Colonel Duval is a very fine man. Hawkins said that he was the one who took the most risks in escaping from the cellar where they awaited execution. Ask him about it.”
“I will,” Suzanne said a little unsteadily. She’d met Simon half a lifetime ago, and even though they hadn’t seen each other in years, she trusted him. And if the marriage didn’t work out, she now had the means to leave and live comfortably.
But she wanted rather desperately for it to work. She owed that to Simon. Even more, she was tired of being alone.
They arrived at the church and Hawkins guided them up the steps with a lady on each arm. He was such a kind, reliable man, with the courage of a lion as she had observed firsthand. She sensed that Simon had similar qualities of courage and rock solid reliability, which was good. She had no taste for volatile charmers.
Events began to blur. Music filling the church, bouquets of winter flowers, and then gripping Hawkins’s arm while Rory walked gracefully down the aisle carrying a nosegay of golden daffodils that matched her hair.
Suzanne’s heart caught as she saw Simon waiting for her at the altar, with Will Masterson at his side. Simon wore his scarlet army uniform and was so dazzlingly handsome her knees felt weak. How had she gotten so lucky as to be this man’s chosen bride? There was no answer, but then he smiled warmly at her and that was enough.
It was time for her to walk down the aisle with Hawkins, unsteady but no longer unsure. Looking on were her friends from the boardinghouse, the friends she’d made with Simon, the Merciers, and a scattering of other friends of Simon. So much goodwill.
The gray-haired vicar greeted them all in his sonorous voice and the ceremony began. As Suzanne listened and made her responses, she realized she’d never attended a wedding in the English language. The words from the Book of Common Prayer were lovely, and the vows solemn and a little fearsome.
Though the words “with my body I thee worship” were bitterly inappropriate, the arrangement they made suited them both. She and Simon would learn how to be happy together.
And then they were married and the rest of their life began.
* * *
The Kirklands knew how to host a fine wedding celebration and there was an abundance of good food and friends and toasts to the newlyweds’ health and happiness. Nonetheless, Simon was happy to finally be home with his new bride, fulfilling her domestic dream of a quiet evening together.
The sitting room between their bedrooms was small and cozy with warmth, and the previous week he’d bought a pair of very comfortable wing chairs to place on each side of the fireplace. They’d both changed into relaxing garments when they’d returned home. He’d packed his uniform away, not sure if he’d ever wear it again since soon he’d be officially out of the army.
Looking forward to this peaceful evening, he’d changed into loose trousers and shirt and a warm navy blue banyan. Suzanne wore a soft gray wool robe and looked thoroughly enchanting even though there wasn’t a square inch of her visible below the neck. She had curled up in her wing chair and was pulling pins from her hair as she gazed idly at the flickering fire.
Knowing that she liked red wine, Simon poured two glasses of a particularly fine claret and set them on the table between their chairs. “All we need now are the cat and the dog, and that lack will be remedied soon.”
He settled into his chair and sipped his wine, content to gaze at his bride. From what he’d observed, first marriages burned with hope and passion and eagerness for a shared future. But this would be different even though it was a first marriage for him.
“I remember your first wedding so clearly,” he mused. She’d been vividly pretty and eager for life. “You were the loveliest bride imaginable. I’m sorry that your hopes and dreams on that occasion didn’t come true.”
She combed her fingers through her hair, loosening it to fall over her shoulders in a shining cascade. “I doubt that anyone’s bridal dreams come fully true, but being caught in the tides of war certainly fractures the maximum number of dreams.”
He hoped she’d say more, but she fell silent. He wondered about the years between her marriage and her escape from the Turkish harem. What had happened to her husband, the handsome, debonair Jean-Louis, Comte de Chambron? How had she been captured and sold into slavery? How had she survived so much disaster?
But if she didn’t want to speak of it, no matter. There was much of his own past he didn’t like to discuss. Safer to discuss domestic matters. “I suspect your new friends have been working to get you a whole new wardrobe suitable for a lady of means.”
Suzanne smiled. “I’ve already ordered several gowns from the modiste who made my wedding dress. She’s very talented and has good assistants so she can work very quickly. After they finished my grand green gown, they started work on a riding habit. She promised it for tomorrow since we were planning on going to your estate for a honeymoon.” There was a slight questioning note on the last sentence.
“And you want to be ready to ride,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m looking forward to visiting White Horse Manor. I haven’t been there in years. The estate belonged to my grandfather and we spent long visits there in the summer. The stables will contain several decent riding hacks, I’m sure.”
