Chapter 12
I am getting married today.
Lily attempted to calm her breathing as she watched her reflection in the vanity mirror.
Her maid worked tirelessly behind her, pinning her curly hair into pretty spirals at the back of her head with pearl clips.
She could hardly recognize herself under all the powder and rouge, but she had to admit that she looked quite pretty in her champagne gown with embroidered lace finishings and a high bodice.
Her mother, aunt, and even Julain’s mother had spared no expense in the planning, despite the guest list being small.
“You look absolutely gorgeous!” Arabella cooed as she floated into Lily’s chambers at her aunt’s London home.
“Thank you, dearest Arabella. I do not know what I would have done without you here in England. Is that a note for me?” She glanced down at the slip of parchment in her friend’s hands.
“Oh, yes, your mother said to hand you this note from your father, and also to tell you that the rest of your mail has been placed in your valise. You may look at it all once the wedding is over.” She cheerfully handed the note to Lily and began to assist the maid with Lily’s hair.
Tears welled in her eyes as Lily read the short message.
Congratulations, my dearest daughter. I am sorry that I could not be there to see you married, but I know that you will be the most beautiful bride. With all my love, Papa.
Lily quickly placed the note on the vanity in front of her and plucked at her tears, careful not to ruin her powdered cheeks.
She had known that her father would not make the wedding, as the passage from America to London took more than two weeks, but it had been sweet of him to send her a note to her mother before the time.
He must have included it in his last letter to her.
“How are your nerves holding up?” Arabella asked as she gently squeezed Lily’s shoulder.
Taking a deep breath, Lily looked at her reflection once again and smiled at her friend. “They are holding, a little frayed, but they are holding.”
“That is understandable but just remember that Julian will care for you. You may not know each other that well yet, but he is a kind man,” Arabella offered before returning to the finer details of her friend’s elaborate hairstyle.
“I know.” Lily took another deep breath, thinking of how different things felt from the first time she had been engaged.
It had been her father who had pushed her in the direction of Oliver. She had not disliked him, but her father had liked him more because of the name his family would have provided.
Her father’s own fortunes were never extravagant, and having her marry into an old family with even older money would only help their name. She had never blamed her father for things going wrong. After all, he had been just as duped by Oliver as the rest of them.
That is all in the past now.
She squared her shoulders and lifted her head high. None of that mattered anymore, not now that she was marrying Julian. And with Julian, she had no worries of things going awry. They were purely marrying each other for convenience, and that suited her just fine.
“Are these not just the loveliest flowers you have ever seen?” Arabella gasped, drawing Lily’s attention back to the present just as the maid finished with her hair and began to attach her veil.
She smiled at the bouquet in her friend’s arms that had been lying on the bed. “Julian picked them for me himself. They are all my favorite flowers from back home.” She felt her heart warm at the sight of the white and red cardinals surrounded by tulips and sprigs of greenery.
“Is he not the sweetest?” Arabella and the maid sighed happily at the same time, just as Lily stood.
“All set, my lady,” The maid said before hurrying from the room.
“My lady, that is something that I will need to get used to,” Lily sighed, feeling her nerves begin to flutter in the pit of her stomach.
Coming forward, Arabella placed the flowers in Lily’s arms. “Well, by this afternoon, you will be Lady Barnard, and I will be lucky to call you my peer as well as my friend.” She reached up and pulled the veil over Lily’s face with a bright smile. “Shall we get going?”
“Yes,” Lily breathed as her heart began to stutter along with her nerves.
***
Lily’s heart continued to stutter as she alighted from the carriage and faced the closed doors of the chapel. They had opted for a smaller ceremony with just a few guests, but everything still seemed so daunting to her as she readied herself to walk down the aisle.
Two footmen opened the doors, making Lily’s breath catch in her throat as she climbed the stone steps and stepped inside.
All of their family and friends turned to look at her with tearful smiles, yet Lily could not help but focus on Julian at the end of the aisle.
He looked utterly handsome in his black tails and cream breeches with shining black boots. His hair had grown out a little in the weeks she had known him, and she realized that she rather liked the look of his curls rather than the short-cropped hair.
Her walk seemed like an eternity, but everything sped up when she reached his side, and he took her hand in his.
Warmth seeped through her glove, and she felt a wave of security washing over her.
Julian will protect me.
She breathed easily through the first part of the ceremony and smiled while exchanging their vows.
“I, Lily Prescott, take you, Julian Sinclair, Viscount of Barnard, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.” Her voice rang out true and clear in the tiny chapel.
And when he recited his, something in the pit of her stomach coiled with an unknown feeling.
“I, Julian Sinclair, Viscount of Barnard, take you, Lily Prescott, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.” He slipped a small gold band with a single diamond onto her finger, and Lily felt as if she could burst.
There was no mention of love between them, yet their mutual understanding drew her toward him like a moth to a flame. All seemed right as the elderly vicar pronounced them husband and wife.
They turned to the congregation, and not a dry eye could be seen. It did her heart good to know that everyone they loved cared for them so deeply that their union had made everyone cry. Even Miss Everet, who had mentioned her supposed union with Julian, smiled at her as tears fell down her cheeks.
Gratitude washed over her as she nodded to the young woman in passing. It could not have been easier for her to hear that Julian was engaged, but she had shown up and borne the event with grace.
They were quickly whisked away in carriages back to her aunt’s house, where food and drink was being served.
And before Lily knew it, she was being whisked onto the dance floor by her husband.
“And how are you feeling, Mrs. Sinclair? Or should I say, Lady Barnard?” Julian smiled down at her as he led her in a graceful waltz.
“My nerves are absolutely frayed,” she confessed.
“Better your nerves than your dress,” Julian joked as she spun her under his arm and pulled her back on. “I have heard it said that tearing one’s dress is a bad omen, but thankfully, yours seems to be intact.”
Lily laughed softly as she shook her head. “Are all Englishmen this superstitious?”
“Only the ones who are worth trusting. Never trust a man who opens an umbrella in a house.” He said determinedly as his eyes sparkled mischievously.
Rolling her eyes, Lily shook her head as she suppressed a laugh. The conversation between them always flowed so easily. “And why is that? Will I be chased by bad luck if I do?”
“Not at all, opening an umbrella in a house shows poor judgment and decision-making skills. An open umbrella can knock over all kinds of expensive vases and knick-knacks. Therefore, one should never trust someone who makes such bad choices.” He laughed openly.
Joining in the mirth, Lily could not help but feel freer than she ever had before. She trusted Julian, and more than that, she was beginning to like him.
Couples began to join the dance, and one by one, the floor was soon filled with dancers who made the festivities seem brighter.
It was not until Julian mentioned the others that Lily tore her eyes away from his gaze. “I think we may have another wedding on our hands soon enough,” Julian commented with a subtle nod of his head.
Turning discreetly, Lily looked to the left, where Arabella and Benedict Southampton were chattering away as they danced. Arabella’s cheeks were flushed with color, and Benedict seemed to be paying rapt attention to all that she said.
“I had noticed that Arabella had taken a liking to your friend. Do you think them a good match?” Lily turned her gaze back to Julian.
Nodding, Julian smiled at them with a single glance. “I do, Benedict is a noble man, he will look after her.”
“And what of love?” She felt a strange compulsion to ask him as her heart skipped a beat.
Julian’s fingers tightened slightly on hers. “I cannot say that I believe in love as a basis for marriage, but I do think that it is possible, for others,” he added the last part more carefully with a stiff smile.
For others.
She felt a strange pang in her chest but quickly pushed the feeling aside. “Of course, it is always possible, but we are lucky enough to have escaped that fate.”
A strange look flashed across his eyes, yet it was quickly replaced by a smile once again. “Absolutely.”
The dance finished with applause from the rest of the guests, and Lily found herself being ushered off the dance floor and toward the table of refreshments.
“If you do not mind, my lady, I would like to have a quick word with Benedict. He is overseeing some of the renovations for our new home. Would you mind?” He waited patiently for a reply.
“Of course, not, my lord. I shall catch my breath before joining you again. I am practically parched after our dance.” She offered him a reassuring smile before turning to the splendidly decorated table and reaching for a glass of champagne as he walked off.
“Oh! Lady Barnard, you have ripped your dress!” Eleanore Everet came forward with her mouth agape as she lifted her hands to her cheeks.
Turning around with a start, Lily attempted to look back, but could not see anything at all. “Where?” She felt a pang of disappointment at having ripped such a fine dress.
Coming forward, Eleanor stepped behind her. “It is here at the back. It must have happened while you were dancing, but do not worry, I shall pin it in place so that nobody will notice.” She began to fidget with the back of the dress while Lily looked around.
Thankfully, nobody else seemed to have noticed as they either danced or chattered away happily.
A loud rip made Lily freeze as she slowly turned to Eleanor.
Looking a little bashful, Eleanor chewed the inside of her cheek. “Oh, dear, I seemed to have made matters worse. I am not sure we can pin it in place now. I did not realize that the fabric was that delicate. I am ever so sorry, Lady Barnard…”
“What happened? I heard a rip.” Arabella came rushing over and gasped when she caught sight of Lily’s dress.
“Is it that bad?” Lily asked as her heart began to race. The day had been so perfect that she had thought nothing could go wrong.
Arabella glanced at Eleanor before forcing a smile. “I am afraid that it is. We will have to take up upstairs and change. Luckily, your mama and aunt brought a similar colored dress just in case.”
“That is a good thing.” Lily turned toward Eleanor. “Thank you for attempting to help me, Miss Everet, but I shall go and change.”
Taking a step back, Eleanor nodded gracefully. “I should have been more careful when trying to help. My apologies again, Lady Barnard.”
Arabella quickly whisked Lily away, taking care to hide the back of her dress as she muttered under her breath. “She really ought to have been more careful.”
Lily led the way up the stairs and into her bedchambers.
“Did you see how big the tear was before Miss Everet came to help you?” Arabella asked in an even tone.
“I am afraid that I did not. It must have happened while we were dancing. Why do you ask?” She walked to the floor-length mirror in the corner of the chambers and gasped when she saw the size of the tear.
A torn wedding dress is a bad omen.
She quickly pushed the thought aside and turned to her friend.
“No matter, I shall quickly go and fetch the extra dress. I know exactly where it is. I do think that Miss Everet should have been more careful, but I guess there is no sense in pressing the matter now.” Arabella slipped from the room, leaving Lily to her thoughts.
Pressing the matter?
The statement seemed off to Lily as she watched her friend hurry from her chambers. It was not as if Eleanor had done it on purpose. She did not know the young woman very well, but it did not seem as if she would be so blatantly cruel.
Looking around the chambers that were no longer hers, she quickly spotted her valise that had been neatly placed in the corner.
Making her way over, she opened the clasps and reached for the stack of letters at the top. There were a few letters of congratulations, yet the writing on one note made her heart stop. Her fingers trembled violently as he unfolded the parchment.
Dearest Lily,
I have arrived safely in Liverpool and will be arriving in London within a few days. Please find it in your heart to meet with me. There is much that we must discuss.
Your forever,
Oliver King.
Feeling as if the wind had been knocked from her sails, Lily sat back on the bed, allowing the note to hang limply on her lap.
“What am I to do?” She looked from the note to her wedding dress as hot tears spilled down her cheeks. Everything had seemed so perfect at first, but bad luck seemed to chase her faster than she could run.
She would need to come up with a plan to rid herself of him once and for all, and hopefully, the news of her marriage would do just that.