Chapter Twenty-Two
T he next evening, many well-wishers came up to Ariadne and Julian, congratulating them as the first betrothed couple of the Season. Val had seen to the announcement being placed in the newspapers, so it was the first thing most members of Polite Society saw when they perused the news. Mama had insisted upon going to Madame Laurent’s to commission a wedding gown, but Ariadne vetoed that idea, showing her mother one of her new gowns which she wished to wear for the ceremony.
She had also informed her mother that Julian would seek a special license and that the wedding would occur at Willowshire. When Mama protested, her father stepped in, saying he had already agreed to the plan and that it would be a very exclusive list of guests who would be invited to the ceremony. That mollified Mama, who insisted upon leaving for the country immediately to put the wedding breakfast together after she composed a guest list, which her husband approved. Invitations were delivered, and the ceremony would take place the next Wednesday morning. The rest of the family would follow her mother to Millvale in a few days.
Ariadne was pleased that her uncle and two aunts would be in attendance as well as Con. Val and Con would stand up with Julian, while she had written a letter to the twins, asking them to stand by her side on this special day. She also insisted that Mama invite Lady Alicia and her parents, telling Mama that she was good friends with Lady Alicia and anticipated remaining so.
Val had gone to Julian’s townhouse and scoured his wardrobe, declaring Julian must have a new coat, vest, and trousers made up for the wedding.
“My sister’s gown is an iced blue, so faint in color that you have to look twice,” Val told her betrothed. “I think if you are dressed in a dark gray coat and pale gray trousers, you would look well together. And of course, you will need a matching top hat.”
“I want to go with you,” she said. “After all, I have visited the tailor’s before.”
Con accompanied them, and they arrived at Mr. Dalglish’s shop the next morning shortly after it opened. Again, she had an odd feeling as if she recognized the tailor from somewhere and couldn’t seem to shake it.
Dalglish congratulated them after they shared their good news, and he was already working on pieces for Julian which would be perfect for their wedding.
“I shall move your order to the front of my line, my lord,” the tailor told them. “It will be my top priority. In fact, you may return for a fitting tomorrow. Everything will be close to being done by then.”
Con signaled Val and Julian. “Come look at these and see what you think.”
The trio of men left to look at some fabrics, leaving her with Mr. Dalglish. This was the closest she had ever stood to the tailor, and as she smiled at him, it was as if lightning struck her on the spot.
He seemed familiar because he had a look of Julian about him.
She recalled how Julian had shared with her that his mother was the daughter of a tailor. Could this man be related to her betrothed?
Eager to find out, she asked, “When did you become a tailor, Mr. Dalglish?”
“Oh, I trained under my uncle for several years. Originally, this was Uncle’s shop. He left it to me in his will, with the stipulation that I would care for my aunt, his wife. I lived with them since I was a boy because my parents died close together, leaving me an orphan. My uncle assumed the care of me, and shortly afterward, I began apprenticing with him.”
Trying to recall the name Julian had used, she asked, “What was your uncle’s name, Mr. Dalglish? Was he also a Dalglish?”
“No, my lady. My aunt was the Dalglish. She married Mr. Watts, my uncle.”
Hearing it, she knew Watts was the name which Julian had told her he had gone by. That meant Julian and Mr. Dalglish were related—and that Mr. Dalglish’s aunt was Julian’s grandmother.
Ariadne needed to make certain she was absolutely certain before dragging her fiancé into this, and so she asked, “Did your aunt and uncle have any children of their own?”
Mr. Dalglish looked uncomfortable. “Yes. A daughter.”
“Was she asked to leave home because she became with child?”
The tailor gasped. “How did you know this, my lady? It happened many years ago, far before you were born.”
She glanced to Julian and then back to the tailor. “Because, Mr. Dalglish, my husband-to-be is her son.”
His eyes cut to Julian. “Lord Aldridge is... no, it can’t be!”
Julian turned, frowning, and headed toward them. She knew Mr. Dalglish’ s raised voice had attracted Julian’s attention.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, gently taking her elbow, looking from Ariadne to the tailor.
Val and Con now wandered over, concern evident on their faces, as well.
“My lord, Mr. Dalglish trained under Mr. Watts.”
She paused, letting Julian absorb her words. His mouth moved, but no words came out.
“Mr. Dalglish came to live with Mr. and Mrs. Watts when his parents died. He knew your mother.”
Pain filled her beloved’s eyes. He turned his gaze to the tailor. “Is this true?”
Dalglish sighed. “It appears so, my lord. My mother and Mrs. Watts were sisters. I came to live with the Watts when my parents died. They had a daughter, but my uncle tossed her onto the street when he learned she would bear a child out of wedlock.”
“It . . . seems . . . we are related then,” Julian said.
The tailor looked at Julian with sympathy. “Your grandfather died several years ago. I inherited his shop and customers.” Dalglish hesitated. “But your grandmother is still alive.”
“Alive?” Julian echoed.
“Would you care to see her, my lord? She is upstairs.”
Panic filled Julian’s eyes. Ariadne reached for his hand, feeling how cold it was.
“You need to see her, Julian. If only this once,” she encouraged.
“No,” he refused. “She did not want my mother. She did not want me.”
Dalglish spoke up. “That wasn’t the case, my lord.”
“What do you mean?” Julian pressed, anguish in his voice.
“My uncle was a hard man,” the tailor admitted. “He expected perfection from everyone. He was an excellent tailor who worked long hours, creating the perfect wardrobe for men of Polite Society. That need for flawlessness consumed him, even in his personal life. Uncle was the one who threw your mother out. My aunt never wanted that to happen. I remember how distraught she was. She wept for days after it occurred.”
Ariadne squeezed Julian’s hand. “See? She would want to know you are alive, Julian.”
“You think so?” he asked hoarsely.
“I know so,” she said firmly.
Uncertainty clouded his eyes. “Will you come with me?”
“Of course, my love.” Glancing to Val and Con, she said, “We will return shortly.”
“We will wait for you in the carriage,” Val told her as she and Julian followed Mr. Dalglish through a set of curtains and then ascended a staircase.
The tailor opened the door at the top of the stairs and then turned to them. “She has been bedridden for the last two years. Her health is now failing, and she is very weak.”
“I understand,” Julian said.
“Wait here,” Dalglish said, crossing the parlor and disappearing.
Ariadne and Julian stood silently, their fingers entwined, until Dalglish appeared again.
“I told her who you are, and she wants to see you.”
They let Dalglish take the lead, and he entered a bedchamber. Ariadne saw the woman in the bed, looking old and frail. She had the same pale blue eyes as her grandson, though, and tears spilled down her cheeks as they approached the bed.
Reaching out, the old woman took Julian’s free hand, kissing it over and over. “I am so happy,” she repeated several times. “I never wanted your mother sent away, but I was powerless to do anything.”
Ariadne released Julian’s hand, and he perched on the bed beside his grandmother.
“Tell me about my girl,” she pleaded. “Was she a good mother?”
“She was the best mother a boy could have,” he shared. “We did not have many material possessions, but I always knew how much I was loved.”
Julian talked with his grandmother for several minutes, telling her a few stories about his growing up and how his mother supported them with her sewing.
“She was a talented seamstress. Better than her father. Oh, I am so sorry about everything.” The old woman smiled. “But look at how you are dressed now. Your father must have claimed you.”
Only Ariadne saw Julian stiffen slightly as he said, “I am the Marquess of Aldridge now, Grandmother. If there is anything you need—medicine, a doctor—I can see you get it.”
She shook her head. “I haven’t long to live. The doctor has told me this much. I can die peacefully now, knowing you have gained your rightful place in the world.” Her eyes closed, “I am tired. Will you come again?”
“Of course, Grandmother,” Julian replied. “I am to wed Lady Ariadne next week in Kent. I promise I will come and visit you before I leave town.”
“Do that,” she mumbled, falling fast asleep.
Dalglish guided them from the bedchamber, and in the parlor, Julian said, “I meant it. Whatever you need is yours. If you want to move her into my townhouse, I am agreeable to it. You may come yourself, Mr. Dalglish.”
“Thank you for the kind offer, my lord, but this is the world I know. I have a skill and am good at it. I like being useful. I fear the doctor would tell you not to move her. The last time he came, he told me she only had a short time to live.”
She spoke up. “Would you like us to postpone the wedding?”
Her betrothed shook his head. “No. I refuse to lose any time with you. This may sound callous, but you are my future, Ariadne. She is my past.”
Dalglish said, “She would want you to be happy, my lord. I say wed your lady love. My aunt will be happy because you are.”
“May I see her again when I come for my fitting tomorrow?”
“Of course, my lord,” the tailor replied.
The next day when they arrived at the tailor’s shop, a clerk greeted them, saying, “Mr. Dalglish’s aunt passed away during the night, my lord. He asked that I see to your fitting, but he would like to speak to you before you leave the shop.”
Ariadne’s throat thickened with emotion, knowing how hurt Julian must be to have found his grandmother, only to lose her so quickly.
He turned to her. “Do not worry about me, love. It was enough to see her and know the truth.”
They spoke with Dalglish once Julian’s suit had been fitted, and the tailor said he had arranged for the funeral service to be held the following afternoon.
Ariadne, Val, and Con accompanied Julian to the service and burial, delaying their departure from town by a day. She was thankful they had not already left for Millvale and was proud to stand by Julian’s side as he said goodbye to his grandmother.
When they left for Kent the next morning, her betrothed saw them off, saying, “I am grateful I was able to meet my grandmother. She reminded me of my mother in many ways.”
She took his hand. “You will see her—and your mother—in our children,” she promised.
He kissed her softly before she boarded the carriage. “You are a balm to my soul, Ariadne—and the light of my life. I look forward to speaking my vows with you.”