SATURDAY, JULY16, 1904
On the Saturday before the wedding, Ellie and her father officially took possession of the Hennessy house. Mrs. Ashbury had paid her staff to clean the place from top to bottom and arrange things in such a way as to accommodate the newlyweds, as well as Mr. Briggs and his conservation work.
Marvella even surprised them by putting a staff in place after sending word to her friends that she had immediate need for a cook, a housekeeper, a lady’s maid, and a butler. She assured Ellie that if she didn’t like the people chosen, Marvella would arrange for their dismissal and the hiring of others.
The final surprise was a partial remodeling of the room Ellie had chosen for her and Carter. When Marvella learned which room it was, she sent workers in to remake the room into a fitting bridal suite. Ellie had to admit, she was impressed. Even now as she walked into the massive room, she marveled at all that had been accomplished in just a few days.
How had Marvella done it? She’d had the walls papered and the trim painted, as well as the floor polished, the marble fireplace cleaned, and new draperies hung. There was a large, four-poster bed with new bedding and pillows, homey and inviting. She’d also arranged some of the left-behind furniture in the room so that there was a sitting area in front of the fire and a desk and chair in the corner.
It all suited Ellie’s tastes perfectly. She wasn’t at all sure what Carter would think of it, but as Marvella had told her, it could always be changed to suit any desires they might have.
The older woman hadn’t excluded Ellie’s father either. She had refreshed his room as well as the library. He was pleased with the house and tried to insist Marvella allow him to pay her. But, as they both were learning, Marvella was not one to be insisted into anything she didn’t want to do.
Why, she’d even provided Ellie’s wedding dress. Havingno daughter of her own, Marvella gave Ellieherwedding gown. True, Marvella and the Judge had married in 1864, when he came home on a Christmas pass during the war, so it was very much out of fashion. But Marvella called in her dressmaker.
The woman altered the dress, creating something elegant.
Ellie had been very touched that Marvella would gift her the dress. The ivory satin-and-lace creation must have been very dear to her, as she had seen to its meticulous care all these years.
A knock sounded on her open door. Ellie found her father gazing in. “I’m sure you’re readying yourself for bed, but I wondered if you had a moment.”
“Of course, Father. What do you need?”
“I wanted to tell you that I’ve made some plans. I hope you won’t mind.” He stepped into the room. “I tend to think you won’t.”
She smiled and went to him. “Whatever have you been up to now?”
“I’m going back to New York after the wedding. George invited me to come and stay with him prior to our trip to Washington. He has a group of wealthy friends he thinks we should speak to about the national park. I thought how appropriate it would be to do so following the wedding. It will allow you and Carter to have nearly two months on your own before I return from the East. So that is going to be my wedding gift to you.”
Two months? On their own? “That is very generous. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“George and I talked about it before I was taken. I wastrying to come up with a way to tell you that wouldn’t cause you to feel abandoned.”
Ellie took his hands in hers. “I’m sorry I made you feel that you had to take me with you everywhere. It truly never dawned on me that you might like to be among your friends without your daughter traipsing behind you. What a bother.”
“No, you were never a bother. After your mother died, you were all that kept me going. Now, however, I believe we are both able to see our individual ways. God has done that for us.”
“I agree, and I will be just fine. You go and enjoy your trip. Do the things that are important to you. I’ll be here.”
He smiled. “You have always been here. No daughter has been more cherished or loved.” He hugged her close and kissed the top of her head.
MONDAY, JULY18, 1904
It was actually happening!
Ellie peered through her veil, gaze fixed on Carter as she walked beside her father. She couldn’t hold back the tears as Father lifted her veil and kissed her forehead, then placed her hand in Carter’s.
Stepping back, Father stood with the other guests.
Ellie gripped Carter’s hand and turned to face Judge Ashbury. He gave her a grandfatherly smile and opened his Bible. His rich voice rang out. “Dear friends, we have come here together to join Eleanor and Carter in holy matrimony...”
A lump formed in her throat. What a wonder God was. What a blessing He’d given her in Carter. And all these people who had become a part of her. So many wonderful changes had come to her life. She would have a home instead of being on the road, wandering from one place to another. She would have a husband to love and cherish. And the greatest change of all, she was now a child of God. The God of the universe had chosenherfor His own, and for the first time since her mother died, Ellie felt whole again.
The Judge cleared his throat. “Carter, repeat after me. I, Carter, take thee, Eleanor—”
“Ellie.”
The Judge stopped and she gave him a smile. “Not Eleanor”—she met Carter’s loving gaze—“Ellie.”
