Page 16 of Lady Beast's Bridegroom
Miss Weatherell had been talking, then. Peter had certainly spoken of his two sisters during the years he and John had served together, but he was fairly certain that he’d never mentioned the circumstances of Rose’s birth.
“Viv and Rose will stay with me and Arial,” he said, firmly.
“The lady doesn’t mind?” John asked. “I mean that… um.”
“That Rose is my father’s daughter by his mistress? She doesn’t hold that circumstance against the girl.” His irritationmust be seeping into his voice because John hastened to apologize.
“I beg your pardon. Even if it was any of my business, I’m the last person to hold a parent’s peccadillos against a child. What time will you need me tonight? And where?”
Peter gave him the address. “I sent a message to Lady Arial to let her know I would be back by six o’clock with the vicar and the license, so I imagine we shall marry shortly after that.”
John looked as if he had more questions, but if so, he thought better of asking them. Instead, he suggested that the two of them might go out for a celebratory drink. With over an hour to kill before he could pick up the license, Peter agreed.
*
After the shoppingparty left, Arial sent for her maid. She should have thought of her wedding when she told Nancy what to pack. She had brought several changes of clothes suitable for traveling, half a dozen round gowns, and a single more formal gown suitable for changing into for dinner. It would have to be that, then, though it was in a sober dark blue, and she’d worn it the evening before when she dined with Peter.
She supposed it didn’t matter. Peter was marrying her for her dowry and out of pity. What she wore would not change the reality of her ruined face and over-abundant form. Still, it was the only wedding she would ever have, and she wished her clothes to be pretty since she could not be.
But her maid Nancy had a surprise for her. She had exceeded her instructions, packing two other formal gowns, newly made to the current fashions by the village dressmaker, though with a higher neckline and three-quarter sleeves to hide the dark tracery of scars on her neck and arms. Clara, bless her, hadtalked Arial into purchasing one in a warm rose, and another in a shimmering gold.
Arial liked pretty dresses. She might tell herself it was futile—a monster in a silk dress was still a monster—but she had to be clothed, after all. So why not wear colors and styles that were pleasing to the eye?
She was delighted Nancy had thought ahead.
“I thought you might want to dress up if you are being courted, my lady. Either of these would be really lovely to wear for your wedding. And the new paisley shawl goes with both, if it’s a bit cold like.”
A message arrived from Peter to say all was arranged, and the wedding would be this evening. It was happening so fast. Peter also wrote that he wished to bring a friend with him—someone he knew from army days—so, there would be someone else to meet. A stranger who would stare, and who would perhaps disapprove of beautiful Peter throwing himself away on Lady Caliban.
Before she could fret herself to flinders, the shopping party returned. Rosalind’s eyes were red from weeping, and tears welled again when Arial asked whether they had succeeded in finding something pretty to wear for the wedding. “Oh dear,” Arial said to Clara. “Was there nothing available?”
“Yes,” Clara told her. “We found them a lovely dress each for tonight, and another two for day wear. We also ordered some other items. Miss Pettigrew tells me they have nothing fit to wear. They will each need a completely new wardrobe, from inside out, from top to toe.”
Rosalind wailed and buried her face on Vivienne’s shoulder.
Miss Pettigrew explained, “Miss Rosalind is just a little overwhelmed.”
Vivienne explained, “Rosalind has never had a new dress before.”
Rosalind sobbed something. The words “a whole new wardrobe” were all Arial could distinguish.
Arial was unused to comforting a weeping girl, but if it was her, she would prefer plain-speaking. “Rosalind, you and Vivienne will be living with me and Peter from now on. You will never again have to wear hand-me-downs, or clothes that don’t fit. You will be dressed and treated as befits the sister of a viscount. Now. Would you like to show me what you have purchased?”
They enjoyed a happy hour examining the new clothes. Clara and Miss Pettigrew had also purchased undergarments and stockings, and even a couple of sets of indoor slippers. “They will need shoes,” Clara said. “Vivienne’s are too small, and Rosalind’s are too large and through at the heel, besides.”
“My hand-me-downs,” Vivienne explained. “Lady Arial, if it is going to be too expensive, we could maybe pick something up from the barrows for me? Rose has never had a new pair of shoes.”
“The barrows?” Arial looked from Vivienne to Miss Pettigrew.
Miss Pettigrew blushed. “Second-hand clothes and shoes. They sell them in some of the markets. I couldn’t afford anything more, but I couldn’t let the girls go naked.”
Arial was tempted to hug all three of them: both girls and the generous governess. Not that she knew them well-enough for such a gesture. “You don’t need to worry about money, Vivienne. I can well afford to dress the two of you—or, after today, your brother can. It will give me great pleasure to make sure you have everything you need. Both of you.”
Thinking to lighten the atmosphere, she suggested, “Let us order some tea and biscuits, and take a look at what I have to wear this evening. You can help me decide.”
Discussing the relative merits of the rose and the gold, Rosalind recovered her balance, and shyly offered the opinion that the rose was pretty, but the gold was fit for a princess. “And a bride should be a bit like a princess, should she not?”
Vivienne’s agreement was enthusiastic. Clara said, “She is quite right. It should be the gold.” Even Miss Pettigrew and Nancy were nodding.
