Her heart skipped a beat.
Their eyes met. Something profound and unspoken passed between them. This was the man to whom she entrusted her heart. This was the man who challenged her convictions.
This washerman.
She then looked up at the gentle sunlight filtering through the canopy of leaves. She closed her eyes and thought of her parents, wishing they could be present, hoping they would be proud of her.
Soft music filled the air as the bridal party began the procession down the aisle. Clara went first, scattering petals. Lydia and Mary followed, Lydia barely able to hold her emotions together.
Then, Edmund and Charlotte.
Every step felt momentous. Time became a fluid thing. Nathaniel seemed far away, but only a moment later, she was standing before him, and he was lifting her veil.
“You are a vision,” he whispered, with an awestruck look upon his face. She smiled sweetly as everything began to fade away—everything except him.
Charlotte couldn’t take her eyes off Nathaniel as they spoke their vows. She was aware of her mouth moving, but the voice sounded as though it came from someone else, someone faraway. His tone was rich, and every word he spoke was imbued with emotion and meaning.
When he took her hand and slipped the simple golden band onto her finger, tingles raced up her arm and stole her breath. Charlotte was a woman of science, but reciting these vows made her a believer in magic. There was an indefinable quality about the emotions that were conjured, and their vows sounded like a spell was being cast.
The air thrummed with tension as they became man and wife. Charlotte stood a little taller and held herself with more poise than usual, feeling that some of Nathaniel’s notorious authority was now hers.
They turned to face the gathered crowd and welcomed the adulation that came their way. Charlotte had never felt so celebrated before. All eyes were on her, and she drank in all the love.
As they came to a stop at the end of the aisle, they received their guests, thanking them for their attendance and their well wishes. One guest in particular surprised her, that being Lady Honoria, who was in attendance with her parents. She directed her gaze away from Nathaniel but smiled at Charlotte.
“I’m surprised she attended,” Charlotte said.
“Mother insisted. Lady Honoria sent us a letter not long after her abrupt departure. She apologized profusely, saying that shecould not in good conscience get married due to pressure and convenience rather than love.”
“She sounds like Lydia. She’s clearly romantic and should be applauded for following her heart instead of convention.”
“In this instance, I am inclined to agree, although her parents were not as forgiving. Mother took it upon herself to mend the rift between families and show that we bore no ill will toward Lady Honoria. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Of course not. I’m glad that Lady Honoria stuck to her convictions. If she were interested in marrying you, then our relationship would have been even more complicated, and I might not be standing here now.”
“I dread to even contemplate such an eventuality,” Nathaniel said warmly.
After receiving their guests, they all spent some time admiring the natural surroundings. Clara frolicked, running about with glee, while other people clustered together in small groups. Agatha and Beatrice were deep in conversation until Agatha moved away.
Charlotte excused herself from her husband and approached her mother-in-law.
“Excuse me, Your Grace, might I have a word?” Charlotte asked. Even though she bore the Blackwood name now, Beatricestill inspired fear. Charlotte was aware that she did not meet Beatrice’s expectations, but she hoped to change that.
Beatrice folded her hands across her abdomen and adopted a cool, collected expression.
“Anything for the woman of the hour.”
“First of all, I want to thank you for opening your grounds to us.”
“Nathaniel insisted.”
“But he would not have gone through with this unless you gave your blessing. I am indebted to you. I know that you may not think I have the qualities suitable to be a duchess, but I assure you that I will represent the family as best I can. I will honor my husband, you, and the Blackwood name. I am proud to bear it, and I will do my best to learn from your example.”
Beatrice softened and let out a long breath.
“I admit that at first I was… surprised by Nathaniel’s decision. It came as quite a shock, as you did not meet the requirements he gave me. However, I have been impressed with the way you have conducted yourself over the past three months.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
