Chapter 25
Wedding Bells
LANIE
“You ready?”
I appeared in Chloe’s doorway sporting my outfit of choice—a white and pink tweed Balmain dress with a low-but-tasteful neckline.
“I am… wow. You look amazing,” Chloe stopped, looking me over. “Sorry. I was just getting my camera and good portrait lens.”
She flipped through her wardrobe and tossed a couple of things in a camera bag.
“You went full va-va-va-vintage,” Chloe said. “And you’re bringing the hat?”
“We’ll pin it on when we get there,” I answered. “We’re not trying to draw attention to ourselves.”
“He’s actually going to be there, then?” Chloe asked.
“If he stands me up, it’s his fault. He would be the one who stands to lose.”
“True.”
A Bentley waited before our house. I climbed in quickly, setting my hat box down.
Chloe followed with her camera bag in one hand, and my bouquet in the other.
I reached out for the bundle of beautiful pink peonies I’d chosen to match my dress.
Chloe grabbed my free hand as the car drove away and squeezed it tight.
“This is all insane, and your mother will lose her shit. However, I am always here for you, babes. No one is going to take that away.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Chlo. I promise it will be okay.”
I honestly had no clue. When I spoke to Baz early this morning, he’d missed his connection in Paris and was chartering a flight into London City.
I didn’t know if the groom would show, if we’d go through with it, or what life held.
It was stupid and ridiculous and yet I couldn’t get out.
To leave would mean admitting my harebrained scheme was a silly idea, and I acted impulsively.
At the Old Town Hall, we departed. We rushed the steps and fled to the bridal holding pen. Mrs. Bramble met us. I listened to her directions as Chloe pinned the bright pink pillbox to my head.
“You look so lovely, Miss Delphine,” Mrs. Bramble said. “Soon to be Mrs. Osgoode.”
“Lady Osgoode,” I said, “before I know it.”
Chloe pulled the small birdcage veil down over my face and positioned the mesh to frame my face.
“Oh, yes. Lady Osgoode. Well, you are very lucky. Where is the groom waiting?”
“He is still on his way,” I said. “He got stuck… in traffic. He will be here.”
“Well, given that he’s running late, I’ll come get you when he’s ready in the room.”
“Or you can just take me up there?” I said.
“Well, but that would throw off the reveal.”
“I’m not walking down an aisle. I’d like to just assemble, do our vows, and then sign things,” I said.
“Oh, well, if you and your future husband don’t mind, I can take you up. This dress is lovely on you with the pink shoes and hat. How darling!”
We went up one more floor to find the small room where the ceremony was slated to occur in only five minutes. The officiant waited patiently. Introductions were made, but they couldn’t slow my pulse. I found myself sweating, worried he might have planned to miss this. I’d be mortified.
“I just need some air,” I whispered to Chloe as she attached the flash to her camera.
“Gotcha,” Chloe said. “Don’t run without me.”
“I’m not.”
I stepped outside and paced, wondering what my future held.
As I stood against the wall, I looked down.
I heard feet approaching. Baz appeared, face pulled in stress.
Despite his cross-continental trip, he looked handsome as ever in a dark grey suit.
I worried he was about to tell me the worst news.
I wanted him to smile. I needed that affirmation.
Instead of a smile, he swept me up in a kiss—the type that ran from my lips down to my toes.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned into him.
I couldn’t think about anything else. As quickly as he disappeared Friday, he was now back.
I felt comfortable as ever in his arms. I’d somehow taken on the role of Lady Osgoode in more than just appearances.
Baz pulled back, holding my face in his hands. “I am so fucking sorry. The whole thing was a nasty mess but I’m here now. And you… you look absolutely beautiful.”
I smiled, unable to hold back. “Thank you.”
“Are you sure this is okay?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Let’s do it.”
I turned to pull him back in and found Chloe holding her camera.
“Are you ready now?” She called.
“As ever,” I answered. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
BAZ
As I held Lanie’s hand, I was dazed. I was sleep-deprived, but also confused.
Lanie looked like she’d taken the assignment seriously.
In her own way, she looked pitch perfect.
While a short dress didn’t usually strike me as wedding attire, she did it her way.
Lanie never did anything half-assed and never doubted herself.
Lanie declared without hesitation, “I, Delanie Beth Carlisle-Delphine, take you, Basil Callan Osgoode, to be my wedded husband.”
I followed. “I, Basil Callan Osgoode, take you, Delanie Beth Carlisle-Delphine to be my wedded wife.”
The statement wasn’t a lie. Lanie was my wife.
But the symbols of fidelity, love, and devotion I slid onto her tiny ring finger was a farce.
A pang of guilt hit. Women wanted grand gestures and beautiful weddings, and I only granted her scraps.
As I took in her beautiful smile, I winced.
She deserved the world. Unfortunately, by the point I had regrets, it was done.
The officiant announced, “It therefore gives me great pleasure, to pronounce you are now husband and wife. You may now kiss!”
So, we did. Or rather, Lanie kissed me. And it was a hell of a kiss. She had thrown all of herself into being the head-over-heels bride. The least I could do was match a bit of her enthusiasm.
“Lanie, let the man go,” Chloe said.
“I figured it was worth it for the picture. Can you confirm you at least got a photo?” Lanie asked.
I fought laughter.
“I’ve got your fucking photo,” Chloe confirmed.
Jeremy stared at Chloe with confusion. He did not understand these Americans.
We signed the register and were free.
“That’s it?” Lanie asked.
Our officiant beamed. “That is it, Mrs. Osgoode. Congratulations!”
“Lady Osgoode.” She swiftly corrected.
“Correct,” I added, rubbing her back for assurance.
“Well, may you have many happy years,” Mrs. Bramble swooned.
She was moved to tears at some point. Lanie had asked her to please stay. That was Lanie for you. She’d go out of her way to make other people happy.
“I do have your engagement ring here, too, Lady Osgoode,” Jeremy was altogether formal, and unsure how to address her.
“Oh, Lanie is fine,” Lanie insisted. “And shit! I totally forgot about it.”
Jeremy shot me a look of uncertainty.
Jeremy handed her the second ring. It occurred to me it was the first time she’d seen it fitted for her hand. She grinned and held it out.
“That will do, I guess,” Lanie said.
We filed into the hall where Chloe began to disassemble Lanie’s hat., which took some doing. It seemed unnecessary but from a standpoint of the press finding out, it made sense.
“She is… a cyclone,” Jeremy remarked. “Just… not at all as I expected.”
“I said that, Jer. I told you.”
“Well, she holds her own, but is also a child.”
“She’s not. I promise,” I said.
“Well, if you think you can manage, I will get out of your hair. Your reservation should be good. I will go back to the office.”
I winced. “I get the feeling she will be cross when she finds out I leave again in the morning.”
“She doesn’t know, Basil?” Jeremy’s jaw dropped. “You married her, and you didn’t tell her. But also, you haven’t offered to bring her.”
“What? So, I could dump her in a hotel room and spend hours unfucking what Karl did?” I scoffed. “She’s better off here with her family and friends. Besides, she must work, too.”
Jeremy’s face didn’t show confidence, but it was the truth.
Lanie, finally sans-hat, asked, “Alright. Where to?”
“The world’s most sorry honeymoon,” Jeremy whispered.