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She hoped her plaid walking gown could be salvaged, for it was her favorite day dress. What a pity she had not been wearing the old burgundy! She decided against having her hair dressed, for she did not want to tarry any longer and miss the Gerrards’ nuptials, so it hung loose down to her waist. Lottie escorted her down to the floor below afterward to Teddy’s room and left her discreetly at the door.
Caroline knocked and walked in to find Teddy and Gervaise sat on the floor arranging dolls into small piles. “Ah, here you are, Caroline.” Gervaise patted a spot on the rug next to him. “Come and take a seat. You are just in time for the ceremony.”
“Look what Cook made for me!” Teddy said, jumping up and rushing over to a side table to gesture to a gaudy little cake decorated in swirls. “It’s the wedding cake.”
“Miss Pomfrey specified that particularly violent shade of pink for the icing,” Gervaise explained. “She was most specific.”
“It’s her favorite color,” Teddy explained. “But you already know that as you made her wedding gown.”
“Yes, I already knew that,” Caroline agreed, lowering herself onto the rug.
“And now that you’re here, we can hold the ceremony,” Teddy said with satisfaction. “We did not want to have it without you.”
“And how do we proceed?” Caroline asked with interest.
“We have to stand the couple on top of the cake,” Teddy said, carefully picking up the cake and walking it over to the rug where he set it down in the center.
“Sorry, they are going to stand on the cake?” Gervaise asked for clarification, flashing her a puzzled look.
“Yes,” Teddy said impatiently. “Miss Pomfrey said so. She wants to stand right in the middle of the cake and for all the soldiers to stand around the edge with their sabers drawn. Then they have to stand like that all night, and in the morning, they will be married. Is that not so, Caroline?”
“Oh yes, indeed, it is quite common practice in the part of the country that the Pomfreys come from,” she agreed serenely.
“You see,” Teddy said to Gervaise in a superior manner.
“Well, what Miss Pomfrey wants, Miss Pomfrey must assuredly get,” Gervaise murmured, and started arranging the soldiers’ stiff little arms until they stood brandishing their swords aloft.
The three of them sat in silence as they carefully placed the soldiers around the edge of the cake with Miss Pomfrey and Captain Gerrard in the very center. The groom had a tendency to topple over which was vexing but luckily his bride’s skirts were so voluminous they gave him something to lean against.
“Yes, she likes that,” Teddy said once they were all arranged to his satisfaction.
“And tomorrow Miss Pomfrey will be no more,” Gervaise sighed.
Teddy’s face fell. “What do you mean, she will be no more?” he demanded.
“Well, she will be Mrs. Gerrard,” he explained reasonably. Teddy’s frown deepened and it was clear he did not like this idea at all.
“Well, in the Pomfreys’ part of the country, it is customary for the married couple to take on a double-barreled name,” Caroline said hurriedly. “So tomorrow morning they will be known as Captain and Mrs. Pomfrey-Gerrard.”
Teddy’s frown cleared like magic. “Yes, the Pomfrey-Gerrards,” he said with relief. He turned a stern look on Gervaise. “It is clear you do not know much about weddings, Godfather,” he said pityingly.
“What a good thing I have you two to teach me,” Gervaise agreed.
A throat was cleared in the vicinity of the door and Caroline turned to find Lord Faris stood leaning against the doorway. “It is time for Teddy to take his bath,” he pronounced and would not be dissuaded however much his son and heir protested.
“You can see Gervaise and Caroline in the morning, Teddy,” his father said firmly. “They are staying with us for a few days so you need not worry you will miss them.” He duly admired the pink wedding cake, and they heard him agreeing the double-barreled surname sounded very fine as he carried Teddy off to his bath.
Shortly after Lady Faris appeared in the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt,” she began apologetically, then her gaze snared on the bizarre pink cake covered in toy soldiers. “Oh!”
“You have interrupted the wedding ceremony of the Pomfrey-Gerards,” Gervaise said blandly. Caroline was pleased to see he did not look faintly embarrassed about the fact. “The regiment must stand vigil over the couple all night,” he explained, his eyes dwelling on the luridly colored cake. “And then, come morning, they will be joined as one in holy matrimony.”
“I have no idea where Teddy gets these ideas,” his mama responded helplessly. “The cake was originally intended for the two of you, but somewhere along the way, Teddy became convinced it was for his toy wedding instead. I’m afraid he took over, rather.” She winced. “Cook ought not to have let him convince her to turn it such a garish color.”
“I’m not sure commemorative cake is really appropriate under the circumstances in any case,” Gervaise murmured and Emmeline immediately looked contrite.
“No, of course, how tactless of me. I’m so sorry, Caroline…”
“No, no, please don’t apologize,” Caroline said hurriedly, kicking out her slippered foot to nudge Gervaise’s in reproach. She frowned meaningfully at him before turning back to Emmeline. “You have been most kind in accommodating my brother and me under very trying circumstances…”
