“Are you quite ready?”

Amelia Seaworth, first daughter to the Duke of Westbrook, looked at herself in the mirror. She barely recognized her own reflection, taking in the beautiful dress she was wearing and the glow of happiness in her eyes.

“Yes,” she murmured, rising to her feet. “Yes, I believe I am ready.”

Harmonia, her youngest sister, smiled at her, tears sparkling in her eyes. “My dear Amelia,” she whispered, blinking rapidly. “I do not think I have ever seen you look so beautiful.”

Amelia smiled back and went to embrace her sister, holding her close for a very long time.

“I shall miss you,” she said, hoarsely, as her emotions began to run wildly through her. “I do not know what I shall do without you, in fact.”

Harmonia sniffed indelicately and pulled her lace handkerchief from her pocket as she stepped back, shaking her head a little. “Nonsense,” she said, a wobbly smile on her face. “You will be so happy in your new home that I am quite sure you will not miss us in the least!”

“Well, mayhap I shall not miss Jacintha and Jessica quite so much,” Amelia replied, a wry smile on her face as she thought of her two other sisters who were, at times, a little trying. “But you, my dear Harmonia, have been both a sister and a friend to me. There are times I can hardly believe we are so many years apart, for you have wisdom beyond your years. How I shall miss your company!” Tears threatened, even though Amelia practically burst with happiness and she was forced to pull out her own handkerchief and dab delicately at her eyes.

For a few minutes, the two sisters tried to get their emotions under control, laughing at one another’s efforts to stop their tears, only for more to fall from their own eyes. Eventually, Amelia felt able to put her kerchief away and, glancing at herself in the mirror, saw that she looked quite well regardless of her tears.

“I am so happy for you,” Harmonia said, as she delicately placed the veil over Amelia’s head. “I know that he will make you very happy.

“Indeed he will,” Amelia replied, a small smile on her face as she adjusted the veil. “A marriage with love can only be happy, I think.”

Harmonia said nothing, glancing away from Amelia as she fiddled with the locket around her neck.

“You must promise me not to do anything foolish, Harmonia,” Amelia said, firmly, grasping her sister’s hand to get her full attention. “Swear it to me. I cannot leave you without knowing that you will, at least, come and speak to me before you do anything.”

There was a long pause but, eventually, Harmonia nodded. Letting out a long breath of relief, Amelia smiled and patted her youngest sister’s hand. “Good, I am glad. And it means you will have to come and visit me very often.”

“As often as I can manage,” Harmonia promised, as a rueful smile tugged at her lips. “After all, with you to be a married lady, the responsibility of finding a suitable husband now falls to me.”

Amelia chuckled. “I do not think papa will rest easy until we are all wed.”

Harmonia’s smile faded. “Is he very sick, do you think?”

There was a short silence. “I do not know,” Amelia admitted, quietly. “Papa can be tired and need to rest, but that does not mean he is ill. It simply means he is getting a little older, although that gout of his does flare up from time to time.” Her heart wrenched as she thought of leaving her father’s home, aware that she would not be able to care for him in the way she had been used to doing. “You must look out for him. Encourage him to rest whenever he is tired and make sure he eats well.”

“Not too much brandy, then,” Harmonia replied, the atmosphere lifting at once as she laughed.

“Yes, precisely,” Amelia agreed, chuckling to herself as she recalled just how many arguments she had been forced to have with her father over his penchant for the best French brandy. “Although I am glad to know he is happy about my marriage. It would not have done to have him disappointed in my choice.”

Harmonia smiled gently. “You need have no concern in that regard, Amelia. Our father is more than content. In fact, I believe seeing you in such a happy state has made him quite satisfied.” She smiled at Amelia and lifted one eyebrow, her gaze running over Amelia’s dress. “Well,” she said, a little more briskly. “I think you look quite the picture of perfection, Amelia dear. We do not want to keep your husband to be waiting! Shall we go?”

Amelia turned to give herself one last look in the mirror, knowing that this would be the last time she would leave her bedchamber and leave her home. Her new bedchamber and new home would be with her husband, and life would be very different from what she had been used to.

“Yes, we should go,” she said, softly, a smile spreading across her face as excitement began to run through her. “I can hardly wait to say ‘I do’.”