‘He has a fine cottage, Miss Hester, and a smallholding with a cow and a pig and a good flock of chickens and a large vegetable garden. And he’s a hard worker.’
‘The vicar vouches for him and his lordship has spoken to him and seems satisfied he is good enough for you, which is what matters to me. Oh, come here and stop looking as though you expected me to ring a peal over you for courting! A fine case of the pot calling the kettle black that would be.’
Emerging pink cheeked from Hester’s embrace, Susan perched on the edge of the bed. Hester could feel herself blushing under the clear regard, but she met her maid’s eyes squarely. She might ache oddly, feel quite light-headed and still be half-persuaded that she was dreaming it all, but she was not going to apologise for loving Guy.
‘Is it all right, Miss Hester? I mean, his lordship pinched my cheek on his way out through the kitchen this morning and said I was to look to my needle, but I didn’t like to ask.’
‘Lord! What time did he leave? Maria and Jethro didn’t see him, did they?’
‘No,’ Susan reassured her. ‘Miss Prudhome’s just getting up and I sent Jethro off down to Ben’s for more eggs. Mr Parrott’s looking after most of the wedding breakfast, but I did think as how I ought to make the cake at least.’
‘Wedding breakfast?’ A haz
y memory of Guy saying something about Christmas Day floated into Hester’s mind. ‘He isn’t thinking of marrying me on Christmas Day, is he? That’s tomorrow!’
‘You had better get up.’ Susan paused at the door. ‘We had all of yesterday to plan things and Lady Broome and Miss Prudhome have had that smart modiste from Aylesbury settled in over the way sewing your dress.’
‘But that means he knew I’d say yes even before the party!’ But Susan had vanished and Hester was left staring at the door. She gulped the chocolate, jumped out of bed and then back in again when she realised she was stark naked. By the time Susan came back with the hot water she was out of bed, wrapped in her dressing gown and attempting to think coherently-not that that was helped by finding Guy’s cravat on the floor, tangled with her discarded nightgown. If Guy really believed she could be ready to marry him by tomorrow, he must be made to see reason. It was impossible.
But she came downstairs to find Lady Broome already ensconced in the drawing room with the modiste, Parrott and Jethro in earnest consultation in the kitchen and Annabelle Redland and Maria in the dining room creating a bouquet and decorations for the church. It seemed that she, as bride, had nothing to do other than to approve a gown of cream silk with a spencer of holly green, and submit to endless fittings.
‘Now, I have brought some gold velvet, and I could make that up in a trice, if you would prefer, Miss Lattimer,’ Madame Lefevre offered through a mouthful of pins. ‘Although the green does look charmingly.’
‘I found bonnets to match either choice and kid half-boots,’ Lady Broome added from her position at the side of the chair upon which Hester was standing for the hem to be pinned. Oh, yes, and gloves and a veil. Now if you are sure about the green, I think this twisted floss trim at the hem would be best.’
Hester agreed to the green and waited before the modiste had left the room before jumping down and taking Lady Broome’s hands in hers. ‘Thank you so much! Do you truly not mind me marrying Guy? Only I love him so much-’
‘I am delighted, I could not hope for a better wife for him. I have had my heart in my mouth ever since I read his note where he told me what he was going to do. He had to tell the Buntings, of course, but I only told Mrs Redland and Annabelle this morning because I knew we’d need some help with the flowers.’
‘I keep pinching myself,’ Hester confessed. ‘I know Guy is inclined to take charge and just get his own way, but this leaves me breathless.’ She bit her lip, then decided to risk asking. ‘Lady Broome, would you be my matron of honour?’
‘My dear, of course, and you must call me Georgy. Now, what about bridesmaids?’
Hester cast a glance at the other room where Annabelle could be heard talking nineteen to the dozen. ‘I think I have just the two.’ The mound of greenery on the table was being ruthlessly ordered into wreaths by Maria, who looked up with an anxious smile when she saw Hester. ‘Do you think these will be all right for the pew ends?’
‘Delightful,’ Hester assured her. ‘I came to ask if you, Maria, and you, Annabelle, would be my bridesmaids.’ Maria promptly burst into tears, but Annabelle cast down the bow she was fashioning from gold gauze and hugged Hester.
‘Oh, yes, I would love it above all things! Oh, please don’t cry, Miss Prudhome, we have almost finished here and then we can decide what to wear. Isn’t this wonderful?’
Hester turned back to find Jethro in the hall, Parrott looming behind him. ‘We’ve found another turkey, Miss Hester, and a goose, a fine piece of beef and a pickled salmon.’
Hester looked around the chaos that was the Moon House and smiled. ‘It seems I have a wedding breakfast, bridesmaids, a wedding gown and flowers. Now all I need is my bridegroom.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Guy stood at the altar rail and tried to recall if he had ever felt quite so nervous in his life before. Beside him Major Neil Carew, the friend who had braved the weather in answer to a plea delivered en route to Doctors’ Commons only two days before, murmured, ‘Stop worrying.’
‘Have you got the ring?’
‘In the same pocket it was in when you asked me ten minutes ago.’
‘Is my cravat straight?’
‘Immaculate.’
‘She’s changed her mind.’
‘All brides are late, it is traditional.’