CHAPTER 17
After Papa consulted with the local bishop, and a wedding for Langsdene and Winsome was immediately arranged, Langsdene was sent to his mother to prepare her for a daughter-in-law. Her sister, Hestia, barely had time to pack a trunk and rush with her husband to the Carsten’s country residence. “A week,” she said when she walked into the hall. “I had no time to buy a new wardrobe for this great event.”
“Mama is barely managing. She has looked at everything she owns and has decided she must have a smarter outfit. Apparently John’s mother used to be the best-dressed debutante of the season. Mama says it’s the duty of the mother of the bride to be the best dressed. Never mind the poor bride who will probably be outshone by both the mothers.”
“Oh, Win. You’re so adorable. You will easily outshine us all. No one has a better dress sense than you. For a certain reason, I’ll have to wear my jonquil gown. I hope that won’t clash with your outfit.”
“I thought I would wear the dark-green silk slip with the paler green gown. Because ...” She showed her sister the enormous emerald betrothal ring presented to her by John. Apparently when his mother removed the set from the bank, she would also be the possessor of a diamond and emerald tiara and a matching necklace.
Hestia squealed and hugged Winsome.” Perfect. Green is your best color. It reflects the color of your eyes.”
“And what is the certain reason that you have to wear the jonquil gown?” Winsome settled her hands on her hips, challenging her own hopes.
“Can’t you guess?” Hestia looked coy.
“No! You’re not increasing?”
“I am. We didn’t want to say anything until it was confirmed, but within five months you will be an aunt.”
She grabbed her sister, kissed her on each cheek, and then leaned back. “John will be thrilled. I am too, of course, but you are proving him right and I wrong which is not a good idea in the beginning of a marriage. He will expect to be right every time we have a difference of opinion. Oh, this is wonderful, Hestia. I’m so thrilled for you.”
“Why were you discussing being an aunt?”
“In reference to me being a mother. I thought I couldn’t. Now, I possibly have a fifty percent chance.”
“Your arithmetic is atrocious. You have a hundred per cent chance. Of course you do.”
Of course she did. She decided to believe that. Without hope, she couldn’t marry the most wonderful man in the world.
Finally John and his mother arrived. The mothers eyed each other carefully and broke into pleased smiles. Winsome had to suppose that neither recognized the other as a challenger to the prize of the best dressed. Both wore suitably expensive gowns. Both looked gorgeous and happy.
The ceremony was mercifully short. The newlyweds piled into John’s travelling carriage with enough full trunks for a four-week stay in a secret place John would not divulge. Before the carriage moved off, Mama pressed a tiny parcel into Winsome’s hand, but she had to snuggle into John for quite a while and the parcel was put aside. “I can’t believe this is happening to me.”
“Nor I. When I decided to wife hunt, I had no expectations. I assumed I would settle for an obedient wife with whom I would live peacefully.”
“I see no reason why you shouldn’t live peacefully with me.”
He laughed. “You were put on this earth to keep me on the straight and narrow.”
“I certainly was not.”
“Who but you made me care for my tenants? Without your regular prods, I may never have attempted any good works. You’re going to have to keep me up with it, you know.”
“I don’t mind. I’ll have to do something now that I don’t need to keep reminding Mama what colors to use on her everlasting embroidery. This reminds me. Where did I put that package? Here it is, behind me.” Winsome untied the pink ribbon and opened the gift. She laughed. “I can’t believe what I am seeing. Mama has been working this for the past few years. I thought she didn’t plan to finish, but she has.”
“What is it?”
“A handkerchief pouch. My goodness. Every single leaf is done, every single flower is completed. It’s very pretty. She must have rushed to finish it for me in time for the wedding. Oh, the dear darling. I never thought she was making this for me. And what has she written?” She opened the billet. “I started making this, my dear one,” she read, “when you started lampooning Lord Langsdene. I said to myself, I wouldn’t finish until you had achieved your purpose, which I presumed was to remind him of his duty. I thought you had a reason and I hoped that one day I would see a happy ending. I’m pleased to see that your purpose ran along the same lines as mine.” Winsome stared at her new husband, shaking her head. “I didn’t mean to marry you.”
“I hope you did. We can’t take back our vows now.”
“I meant that my purpose in using you wasn’t to gain a proposal.”
“Perhaps not. But you were thinking of me while you were drawing me. And I was thinking of the person who was drawing me. We lost each other, but all the time you were there.”
“And luckily I was, my good man. Else, you would have turned into a wastrel.”
“What did I say I would do to you if you called me my good man again?”
“I can’t remember.” She gazed demurely at her clasped hand.
“In that case, I shall do as I wish.” He took her into his arms and gave her a thorough kissing.
That night in a quiet little inn, he repeated his kisses and more, but this time as her loving husband.