Chapter 6
Wedding Plans
Bridget wished she could stay in bed all day, but that was not an option. Still, she remained in bed far longer than necessary in the hope of missing breakfast and not having to face the Duke.
She did not mind the banter, and it had been enjoyable to mentally spar with him, but after the incursion of her father, the day had been ruined, and she knew the slightest quip from the Duke would set her off. She would rather keep the peace for the sake of her sister.
Finally, she got out of bed and ventured out into the main house. She glanced at the breakfast room from afar and saw the maids cleaning up. That brought her some relief, even if she was hungry. She could hold on until lunch and have a larger portion.
Someone touched her back, and she jumped. She whirled around, ready to fight with the Duke, only to find her mother standing before her.
“Where have you been?” Penelope asked. “I was beginning to get worried. I was about to send a maid to rouse you.”
“I must have been tired,” Bridget said.
“And you are jumpy. Are you feeling well?” Penelope asked.
“I am feeling fine.”
Penelope placed a hand on Bridget’s forehead, and Bridget had to push her mother’s hand away gently.
“I am fine,” Bridget claimed.
Physically, she was, but she was not sure about mentally or emotionally.
“Well, I have tried to calm your sister, but she is a little angry that you skipped breakfast. She thinks it might be some form of protest, and she won’t tell me how she has reached that conclusion.”
“Where is she?” Bridget asked.
“In the drawing room,” Penelope replied. “His Grace and Lord Michael have gone into town for the afternoon, and the Dowager Duchess is sitting on the veranda with a book.”
“And Father?” Bridget asked.
Penelope sighed and shook her head. “I assume he is still sleeping in a guest room at east wing of the house. I tried to put him as far away from everyone as possible, but I know he will have forgotten everything I said to him last night by the time he wakes up.”
“I will talk to him,” Bridget said.
“It is not your problem to solve,” Penelope told her daughter.
“Neither should it be yours. Why don’t you go and relax like the Dowager Duchess, and I will take care of it for now?”
Penelope looked anguished. Her shoulders slumped, the fatigue catching up with her. She could only nod her head. Bridget patted her mother on the shoulder and then went off to find her sister.
Let’s deal with one problem at a time.
Bridget was glad the Duke was off the estate, and it eased some of her stress. She looked into the drawing room and saw her younger sister sitting at a table and folding paper.
“Good morning,” she said.
“Good afternoon,” Margaret replied sarcastically.
“I was tired,” Bridget explained.
“Is this to do with His Grace?”
Bridget felt her eyes widen. It was all to do with the Duke—or mostly to do with him.
“No, it has nothing to do with His Grace.”
“I know something is going on. You were acting very strangely yesterday, Bridget. Did he say something to you? Should I have Lord Michael talk with him? Oh, do I have to put the wedding on hold?”
Bridget went quickly to her sister, trying not to laugh. “Margaret, stop this nonsense. Nothing is going on, and the wedding will not be delayed. I am here to make sure everything goes ahead as planned. I thought yesterday was wonderful, and I am looking forward to another amazing day. And seeing as your betrothed and his brother are both out, we can spend some quality time together.”
Margaret hugged her sister. When they came apart, Margaret was smiling.
“I would like that,” she said.
“So, what are you doing?” Bridget asked.
“I’m folding invitations to be sent out by the end of the week,” Margaret told her.
“Show me one, and I will get started.”
“You don’t have to,” Margaret informed her. “I know you don’t like this sort of thing.”
“Normally, I don’t, but I love my sister, and if she is happy, then I am happy. So, let’s do it together, and we can discuss your wedding. I want to hear all about it.”
Margaret hugged her sister again. “You are the best!” She went to the table and picked up an invitation. “So, you need to crease it here and fold it over, and then add a crease here, but not on the other side, or it will not work. Then, fold here, tuck it back, fold again, and it should look like a heart.” She held up the invitation to show her work.
“I can do that,” Bridget said, hoping she could.
“Fantastic.” Margaret smiled. “If you can work on that, I can finally figure out this seating chart. Now, I did enjoy your conversation with His Grace on the veranda yesterday evening. Would you like to sit next to him for the wedding?”
“No, I will sit next to you,” Bridget replied quickly. “I mean, anywhere is fine, and you know best, but I would like to sit next to my sister on her wedding day.”
“Alright,” Margaret agreed.
Bridget began folding, and while the first one did not turn out exactly how Margaret folded hers, the second one was pretty close.
“Hmm, it could work…”
Bridget had heard that tone of voice before. It was a statement, but Margaret made it sound like a question.
“What are you thinking, Margaret?” Bridget asked.
“Well, it is just that I have known so many people who have met their partners at weddings, and if you were to sit with His Grace, especially after spending two weeks together, you could?—”
“I don’t wish to,” Bridget interjected. “I only want to… I must have all my focus on you for your wedding day. That is what I want most in the world.”
“I know you don’t wish to marry, but wouldn’t it be such fun to be married to brothers? And our children could grow up together, and it would be a dream come true.”
“It is a fairytale,” Bridget argued. “I know Lord Michael makes you happy, but marriage has passed me by. Even if I were to marry, I could never be with a man like His Grace. Still, I am happy that you are happy, Margaret.”
“I only want you to be happy,” Margaret said.
“I am happy,” Bridget insisted. “I don’t need a man to make me happy. I have so many other things that brighten my life, and helping you plan this wedding right now is one of them. Keep working on the seating plan, but I really do want to sit next to you.”
“Alright,” Margaret relented, as if she had made a considerable compromise. She returned to the table and picked up one of the folded invitations. “This is not half bad.”
Bridget laughed. “Why do you sound so surprised?”
“Because you usually work as if you have five thumbs on each hand.”
Bridget laughed again before she crumpled a piece of paper and tossed it at her sister.
“I heard that Father came home from his business early yesterday,” Margaret commented. “Lord Michael and I were sad to have missed him.”
“There will be other times,” Bridget assured.
“Her Grace said something about his behavior.”
“Oh?” Bridget raised an eyebrow, half curious, half anxious.
“She mentioned that he was acting strangely,” Margaret continued. “What did she mean?”
“I don’t know,” Bridget lied. “I do remember he was extremely tired when he returned. I think he might have knocked over a vase in the house. You know how hard he works to provide for us all.”
Margaret nodded, looking unsure about what she thought.
“I believe he has to go back to London today on more business,” Bridget added. “He wants to get it all out of the way before the wedding so he can enjoy the day with you.”
Margaret smiled and went back to the seating plan.
Bridget and her mother were not only worried about the Earl ruining things before the wedding but also ruining them on the day. If they could find a way to stop him from attending, they would do that.
“Mother and the Dowager Duchess might like to sit together. You should give it another day or two to see if they get on.”
“That’s a good idea,” Margaret agreed. “Mother and Father can sit next to the Dowager Duchess.”
“Exactly,” Bridget said before she picked up the next invitation to fold. “So, you are settled on lilacs.”
“Yes. Do you think that will work?” Margaret asked.
“They will work wonderfully. They will add so much color to the chapel and the great hall after. Oh, I don’t know if I asked. Where is the reception being held?”
“We have decided to hold it at Sheffield House,” Margaret replied. “Lord Michael has told me a little about his life growing up there, and it was hard at times. He wishes to bring some joy to the estate. It will be good for his mother. I don’t know how he can be so loving and joyful after what he has been through.”
It was not Bridget’s place to ask what Lord Michael had been through, but if there had been trauma in his past, it might have also been shared by the Duke. She did not need to pry into the family’s past. They were spending two weeks together, and she would not see much of the Duke after that.
“Because we are having the celebration on the Duke’s estate, Lord Michael and I thought it would be fun to bring in a lot of musicians. Do you remember how we would dance at the events hosted by Mother and Father when we were children?”
Bridget smiled at the memory. “I do remember.”
“We should do it again,” Margaret said. “For one afternoon, we can dance until we can’t dance anymore. That is what I really want. I want to see you dancing again, Bridget. You were always so elegant when you moved, and if a certain duke were to see it, then who knows what might happen.”
Bridget found some more paper and crumpled it to toss it at her sister. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Not ever,” Margaret replied. “I am as stubborn as they come.”
“And where do you think you got that from?” Bridget asked, putting her hands on her waist.
Margaret smirked. “I learned from the best. Now, you are not leaving me, are you?”
“I have to briefly,” Bridget said. It had been fun, but there was something to do that would go a lot further toward making the wedding a success than helping Margaret with the planning. “I need to go for a walk to clear my head. Then, I have an errand to run, and I will be back to help you plan. That is if you are not busy kissing your sweetheart.”
“Oh, my goodness!” Margaret gasped. “Bridget, you can’t say things like that.” Her face turned red.
“I really am happy for you, Margaret. You have found a good man,” Bridget said.
“Thank you,” Margaret replied.
Bridget left the manor to take a walk and think.
I can”t have Father causing a scene here or at the wedding. I only hope he listens to a word I say.