Page 74 of Ladybird

Chapter 18

“Regina, everyone is waiting in the courtyard. It is time,” said Regina’s mother, Abbey. Today was Regina’s wedding day and she couldn’t be happier.

“You are so lucky to be getting married to a man you love.” Her sister, Dot wove red roses into the braid that encircled Regina’s head. She made sure to cover the stitches with a flower so no one could see them. Regina wore the wedding gown that her uncle had made her, feeling prettier than she ever had before. It made her feel like a queen.

“Martine, let’s go take our seats,” said Abbey, reaching out for Regina’s older sister’s hand.

“Good luck, Sister,” said Martine, blowing her a kiss. “I’m sure you and Hunter will be as happy as David and me. And I’m sure you’ll be starting a family soon as well.” Martine rubbed her belly, being seven months pregnant. “Just like Robin and also most of our cousins. Our family is really growing.”

“Oh, Mother, now I feel bad that we didn’t wait longer to get married, and invite all the cousins as well,” said Regina, feeling a nervous fluttering in her belly.

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” said her mother. “Things always turn out the way they were meant to be.”

“I hear the music of the musicians. We’d better hurry and take our seats.” Martine pulled her mother out the door.

“It’s time,” said Dot, picking up a bouquet of red roses and handing it to Regina. She was Regina’s bridesmaid today.

“I’m nervous,” Regina admitted. “I just want everything to go smoothly today.”

“It will.” Dot put her hand on Regina’s back and guided her to the door. “Just remember who you’re marrying and that should put all your fears at ease.”

“Yes. You’re right.” Regina smiled. “I am marrying the man I love and that makes everything perfect.”

When Regina got to the courtyard, she stopped. “Why are there so many people here?” she asked, seeing the crowd below. “I thought we were keeping it a small ceremony.”

“They all wanted to be here to help you celebrate,” Dot told her.

“All? All who?”

“Look closer, Sister. Robin sent a messenger pigeon to all our cousins.”

“They’re here.” Regina smiled, happy that they had come, after all. “Are they all here?”

“All but Lark and the MacKeefes. There wasn’t enough time for them to travel here from the Highlands, but they were informed.”

“I’ll have to make certain to thank Robin for this.”

Regina walked toward the archway made of flowers where she would take her vows. Dot followed, straightening out her long burgundy cloak that trailed behind her, brushing over the cobbled stones. The music sounded beautiful. Musicians played flutes, harps, lutes and even a hurdy-gurdy. She nodded to her cousins, aunts and uncles as she made her way to the man she loved.

Regina was especially happy to see her cousin Eleanor and her husband Connor with their baby, Elizabeth, who had been born in January. Eleanor’s brother, Edgar, or Gar, as they all called him, stood with his wife, Josefina, cradling their newborn son, Eliot, in his big arms. They were the children of Madoc’s twin sister, Echo. The family all seemed to have a lot of names starting with E and it didn’t look like it would be stopping anytime soon.

She approached the arch and the music softened and then stopped all together. Her eyes fastened to Hunter looking so handsome in his new clothes that William had constructed for him. Clothes of a noble, but not too ornate since Hunter still had trouble accepting that he’d be a lord from this day on. Luke served as his best man, holding the rings tied to a small velvet pillow that William had supplied as well.

“Regina,” said Hunter taking her hands in his. “You are beautiful.”

“And you are so handsome,” was her reply.

They said their vows and before she knew it, she was a married woman.

“Throw the bouquet,” called out Dot, wanting more than anything to catch it.

“All right.” Regina turned around and threw the flowers over her shoulder. She heard laughing and when she turned around she could see why. “Evan? You caught the flowers?” Evan was the brother of Eleanor and Edgar and also the only one in his family not yet married.

“Nay! Dot did.” He threw the bouquet to Dot. The girl’s frown turned to a quick smile.

“Regina, there are a lot of people here that I don’t know,” Hunter whispered.

“Don’t worry, I will introduce you to them all. There is my cousin, Raven, and her husband, Jonathon.” She waggled her fingers at them. Over there is her twin brother, Rook, and his wife, Rose. Plus, Tolin, their brother just got married at Christmas and is here with his wife, Kit.” She spied all the baked goods spread out in a beautiful array on a nearby table. “Oh, it looks like Kit made some lovely treats. She’s a baker, you know.”