Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO- DAHLIA
In a shocking turn of events, Dahlia's gown was not the only wedding dress she designed in the coming weeks.
Though there was great happiness in the Preston household for a variety of reasons, Dahlia found herself looking forward to her own wedding with more than a bit of impatience.
However, as most things are, the wait was worth the end result.
Luminous dupioni silk glowed in the soft candlelight of the small Devon chapel where she and William were to exchange vows.
The wide neckline of her gown showed off the clavicles that Dahlia was still so proud of, and it was edged in innumerable seed pearls that a jeweler in India had thrown in for free after William nearly bought out his store at an outrageous expense.
Dahlia had made a joke about marrying a foolhardy man after all, teasing William about spending his fortune on trinkets for his betrothed. He’d informed her that the entire purchase had been covered by only part of his first shipment to America.
His sisters were all in attendance—not only the four who’d shared the Season with Dahlia and Rachel, but also the four youngest. They’d recently returned from Paris and were looking forward to a Season of their own.
Though Dahlia was exceedingly happy to be surrounded by so many loved ones, she was aware of several little tremors that ran through the event.
Rachel seemed quite disturbed by something, though she wouldn’t admit what.
Percival fretted about Adelaide so much that Dahlia could barely stand to be near the fellow, though it all became clear when Adelaide took her to the side later and informed her there would be yet another addition to the Salisbury clan that year.
It was an exceedingly merry wedding luncheon, though Dahlia wasn’t sad to see the bizarre fruit clock chime an appropriate time for their absconding to William's country estate near Sidmouth.
It was several hours away by carriage, and William wanted to arrive by dinner.
They were leaving his unmarried sisters to the care of Percy and Adelaide; William and Dahlia would meet them back in London in a fortnight.
The guests merrily pelted them with birdseed as they dashed for the carriage. Rachel didn’t even bother to untie her burlap bag—she chucked the entire thing at William’s forehead. It would have landed if he hadn’t dodged it with a bark of laughter.
William helped Dahlia up the steps. She waved until they cleared the driveway. She might have done so longer, but her hand was much heavier these days with the addition of the ring William had chosen—a stunning, perfect white pearl flanked by two sparkling round diamonds the same size.
It was only once they were settled against the plush carriage seat, still breathless from laughter and the happiness of the day, that William turned to her.
“I love you, Lady Cavendish.”
“And I love you, William.”
The End.
But every end is a beginning of sorts… Find out what happens when Miss Claire Preston coerces an old friend into helping her make the perfect match in The Trouble with Tweed…