“It’s going to be strange without you at Stonewood.”
“I shall visit often.”
“It won’t be the same. It will be the first time since our school days that we shall be separated. The first time since…” he trailed away.
“…mother and father passed,” Charlotte finished in a soft voice. Edmund’s head dropped, and he nodded with sorrow.
“It has always been the three of us. Now, it is just two.”
“You are wrong, Edmund. It is four because Nathaniel is a brother now, too. Seven if you count Mary, Alfred, and Clara. Our family is not diminishing. It is growing.”
“It’s just… it seems so long ago now that we were all in the garden together. I thought those days would never end.”
Charlotte took his hand.
“They were always going to end, Edmund. Things cannot stay the same forever. All plants wither and die, but new ones grow again. It is the natural cycle of life. People are like plants; we should not be allowed to stagnate.”
Edmund arched an eyebrow.
“Are you trying to hint at something, sister?”
Charlotte gave him a meaningful look.
“It’s time for you to have a life of your own, Edmund. Mother and father would want us to be happy.”
“I am happy,” Edmund said, but she got the sense that he was lying. However, she didn’t have the opportunity to continue the conversation because he pulled the veil over her face, grinning as he silenced her.
“Your groom is waiting,” he said, holding out his arm. Charlotte shook her head, but allowed him to escape this discussion as she did not want her wedding day to be marred by disputes.
Horse-drawn carriages had been leaving the estate in a steady rhythm, escorting the guests to the location of the wedding. Charlotte and Edmund were the last to leave.
Her breath caught in her throat as she stepped onto the carriage, knowing that there was no turning back after this. Marrying Nathaniel meant saying goodbye to the life she thought she was going to have for herself. But she had always said she would get married if the right man came along.
She entered the carriage and smoothed down her dress, smiling all the way to the forest.
Servants had been busy carting chairs out to the forest. The carriages were all lined up, ready to take people back to the estate once the ceremony was over and people had had their fill of exploring the forest. The summer Season was over, and the leaves were changing color. The air was mild.
Charlotte believed it was the perfect day to symbolize change.
“You look just like a princess!” Clara exclaimed, her mouth agape.
“Thank you, Clara; that is most kind,” Charlotte replied.
“How are you feeling? Are you nervous?” Mary asked. She was standing beside Lydia, who kept running her finger below her eyes.
“I’m excited. You were correct when you said that the right person won’t bring about any nerves. There is no need for anxiety when the heart is filled with certainty,” Charlotte said. Mary squeezed her hand in response.
“And how areyoufeeling? Are you sure you wish to walk down the aisle?” Charlotte asked.
Mary chuckled.
“I am quite well. It is still early, so I am not carrying too much extra weight around yet.” She patted her abdomen gently. “And I would not want to miss this for the world.”
“Lydia, are you well?” Edmund asked with concern.
“I’m just so happy. I never thought this day would come,” she said, her words wobbling in the air as she almost burst into tears. Edmund left Charlotte’s side for a moment to embrace his youngest sister and offer her some strength.
Charlotte took a moment to stare at the gathered crowd. For one who prided herself on enjoying her own company, it was surprising to see how many people turned up to celebrate her wedding. Her gaze passed across all of them and then fell upon Nathaniel, who was standing at the other end of the aisle.
