Chapter Fifteen #2
Her mother scowled at her and waved a hand in her direction. “Oh, such tone from you! Don’t you realize if this marriage lasts—” they both ignored a snort from her father—“you will be the Duchess of Haltham?”
That was technically true, she supposed, though she hadn’t really thought much about what her future status as his wife would be. She was far too busy worrying about becoming his widow.
“I suppose so, yes,” she finally said.
Her mother clapped her hands together. “This is wonderful news indeed! Now,” she leaned forward, all serious business.
“We must have the banns read immediately. It wouldn’t do to risk any chance of anything—” She glanced at Selena as if just realizing her line of thought might not be the most sensitive.
“Well, you know,” she half whispered to her daughter.
Selena could do nothing but sigh. “Yes, Mother, I know. But I fail to see any reason to rush things. I’m sure all will be well. After all, as Jane said, Edward is quite healthy—”
“Hmm, so was Mr. MacLaren, as far as we knew. And yet, his heart was weaker than anyone knew. Ill fortune and accidents happen.” She frowned again, a line furrowing deep in her forehead as the accidents that befell her other husbands obviously ran through her mind.
“In fact, we must take care that the ceremony and wedding breakfast are held in safe locations. No standing bodies of water. Perhaps we should water down the wine, just to be safe. Though not so much it is noticeable, of course, that would never do. And all horses and carriages will be kept well away. Guests can walk. Indeed, perhaps it is better if we leave the proceedings as a small family affair. Yes, I think that is best.”
She stood and headed toward the door, muttering tasks to accomplish under her breath as she went.
“The banns must be read in multiple parishes, unfortunately, which might delay things slightly. Perhaps not. Surely Lord Lockhaven would be willing to obtain a special license?”
“Mother,” Selena said, stopping her just before she exited the room. “We do not need a special license. I have lived in the same parish as Edward long enough that banns should only need to be read there.”
Her mother frowned. “Have you? It is so hard to keep up sometimes.”
Selena ignored that comment. If ever there was an embodiment of out of sight, out of mind, it would be her mother.
“Besides which,” she continued, “well, Edward and I haven’t discussed yet when the wedding should take place…”
They had only agreed just that morning that it would take place, after all.
“Well, perhaps an ordinary license then,” her mother suggested. “That would at least allow us to dispense with the banns altogether.”
Selena frowned again. “Why would we need to do that?”
Her mother huffed as if Selena were being purposely obtuse. “It just seems prudent to avoid the opportunity for anyone to state an objection.”
Just when she thought her mother couldn’t surprise her anymore, she’d pop up with another astonishing comment that would leave Selena blinking in shock. “But Mother—”
“Though we’ll still need to place an announcement in the papers, of course.
There’s hardly any point in marrying if it isn’t in the papers.
And to such a prestigious groom.” Her mother’s eyes turned a bit glassy as she focused on her inner lists again, and she turned to wander out, her mind on the wedding, the bride forgotten.
“National and international papers, of course. Hopefully no one who was present at the others will see…We’ll need a new dress, the other is growing quite threadbare, and surely, it’s bad luck to… ”
Her mother’s voice trailed off as she disappeared down the hall, and Selena turned to her father, though she already knew it was hopeless.
Her mother had been like this with all her weddings.
A more formidable general had never been seen when there were nuptials to organize.
But this one was her last chance to marry her daughter off, and she knew it.
And with a groom of such stature? She wouldn’t squander such a miracle.
Selena doubted her mother would rest until she and Edward were before a clergyman plighting their troths.
Her father stood and came toward her with a knowing smile. “She’ll wear herself out eventually,” he assured her. Then he gave her cheek an unexpectedly sweet pat on the cheek. “Don’t worry yourself, poppet. I’m sure this one will work out.”
Selena forced a smile until he was out of the room, and then let her shoulders slump.
Jane was right there to wrap an arm around her waist with a reassuring squeeze. “They mean well.”
A laugh bubbled out of her before she could stop it. “I think that might make it worse.”
“They are happy for you,” Jane assured her.
“I know. Though, I do wish they could be happy for the future without bringing up the past. It feels like courting bad luck.”
“Ah now, none of that,” Jane said with another squeeze. “Your luck has changed, surely.”
Selena smiled though her stomach dipped with another wave of foreboding. If it was one thing she had learned about life, there was no surety about anything. Nevertheless…
One could but hope.