CHAPTER 20
“I knew it! I bloody well knew that something was going on between the two of them!”
Daniel looked over at his mother who was in high spirits, “Tisk, tisk, Mother, language.”
Hetty laughed when her refined mother picked up a pillow from the settee and hurled it at her eldest born.
“I am so happy for you, Henrietta. I knew the moment that he brought you home in the rain. I just knew by the way he was watching you, and how angry you were. There was plenty of chemistry. I nearly expired from waiting for it to play out. And now you are getting married, my baby girl, a bride.”
Hetty allowed her mother to pull her close. There is nothing better than being in a loving mother’s embrace.
“Tell me, dearest, do you love him?”
“So very much, momma!”
The Dowager searched her daughters face for any sign of doubt. And then she smiled grandly, “A love match, all of my children have married the ones they love. That is all a mother could want.”
Daniel raised a brow, “I thought you said your granddaughter was all a mother could want?”
“Hush now, Daniel,” the Dowager waved him away, “It’s not your turn.”
Hetty giggled at Daniel’s scowl, it was nice to see that her mother could still take him to task.
“When is the wedding to be?” Daniel asked.
“In a fortnight, I believe,” Hetty answered.
“A fortnight? Good heavens, that is not nearly enough time. I have so much work to do. No—we have so much to do.”
Daniel grinned at Hetty’s look of dismay, “It’s not always fun being the favorite.”
He had to duck again when another pillow came sailing towards his head. “You need to work on your…”
The last pillow caught him square in the face.
***
“I am so happy for you!” Hazel squealed as she hugged Hetty close, “I have always wanted a sister! And to have a fellow Bluebell, it is a dream come true.”
Lillian and Juliana were in attendance for this meeting as was Samantha, Benjamin’s younger sister.
“This is terribly exciting,” Juliana smiled, “I have never been a part of the wedding before.”
“Neither have I,” Samantha added.
Hetty had decided that she wanted all the Bluebells to play a part of her wedding. After all, isn’t this where it all began?
“Thank you, thanks to all of you. I know that having nine attendants is not the usual thing, but I can’t leave one of my sisters out. You each mean so much to me.”
Eva, her sister in law, who had been feeling terrible with this last pregnancy was finally in attendance, “You can have whatever you wish for Hetty. This is your day.”
“Each wedding is different and wonderful in its own way,” Sophie added. She was holding little Sebastian in her arms, cooing and laughing, he couldn’t have been more pleasant.
Eden was also there holding her son, Auggie. Come to find out, he had been allergic to something they had been feeding him. Once it was removed from his diet, the cranky, screaming child became this lovely docile creature.
Lord Randall was still stating that they were never having another. But Eden had a surprise coming for his lordship. She was just waiting for the perfect moment.
“Do you have any questions, Hetty?” Hazel asked.
Hetty blushed, “About the wedding night?”
Bea grinned, “That or anything else that comes to mind.”
Hetty paused, “I have learned many things through our meetings. But I think that one of the greatest is that when it’s happening to me it’s different than how I thought it would be.”
Sophie smiled, “How so, Hetty?”
She shrugged, “I suppose we could talk about the kissing. I expected it to be terrible. I know you all said it was wonderful. But it was more than that. I felt swept away and overwhelmed. So happy that my heart could burst from my chest and so weak that I could barely stand. It was life changing, and perfect. How does one describe that?”
Samantha sighed.
Lillian looked up, she never spoke much, it was usually her older sister. But what she said eclipsed how they all felt, “I think you just did.”
“No matter what comes your way, Hetty,” Eden advised, “Remember your love for one another. These past few months with Auggie have been one of the greatest trials of my life. I couldn’t have made it without Phillip by my side. There were so many sleepless nights, and endless tears. I would love to say that this is where your happily ever after begins, but that’s not quite true. Life will still be hard. You will still have challenges. But together you can overcome them better than if you were trying alone.”
“I agree,” Sophie added. “It was very difficult for me when we didn’t have a baby right away. It seemed like everyone was having a child except me.”
Bea glanced up, “I am glad you said something Sophie. We need to be there for each other. Just because some of us are married and some are not. We are still Bluebells, always and forever.”
“Amen,” Eva lifted her teacup.
“I am so thankful for each of you,” Hetty lifted her cup, “To Bluebells!”
“To Bluebells,” they all toasted in solidarity. Sisters, bound by friendship, not blood.