“Oh, Cousin,” she whispered, overcome with emotion. “You look so beautiful.”
Isabel giggled, pulling away to wipe away some of both their tears.
“Thank you, darling,” she said. “And so do you.”
Martha laughed, shaking her head.
“My dress is but a pale imitation of yours,” she said. “And it lacks that lovely cape and bonnet. And anyway, today is about you. Which reminds me…” she trailed off, pulling the box out of her dress pocket. “I almost forgot. This is for you.”
Isabel looked at her with amusement, taking the box out of her hand. She opened the box slowly, gasping as she looked inside. A second later, she pulled one of the dainty, glittering diamond earrings that Martha had selected for her out, holding it up and gazing at it with awe.
“Oh, my dear cousin,” she said, holding it tightly as she leapt into Martha’s arms. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. You truly are the best cousin I could ever hope for. No sister in the world could be more sisterly than you have been to me.”
Martha nodded, wiping fresh tears from her face and helping Isabel put on the earrings.
“Likewise, Cousin,” she said, sniffling. “Oh, I’m going to miss you so.”
Isabel positioned the earrings just the way she wanted them. Then, she took Martha’s hands and kissed her fingertips.
“We will still see each other,” she said. “I promise. I will not be too far away.”
Martha embraced her cousin, thinking about what Lily had said. She knew she would see Isabel again, and likely, rather soon. But it truly was like losing a sister to Martha. She and Isabel had stayed up late many nights, tiptoeing back and forth between their respective rooms. But now, they were both grown women. Martha supposed that all adults outgrew their childish habits. Still, her heart ached as she escorted her cousin down the stairs, where her parents waited.
Chapter Eighteen
Albert sighed heavily as Daniel finished fitting him into his crisp black suit. He had been invited to attend the wedding of Miss Isabel Elwood and Patrick Johnson. He wasn’t looking forward to it. But he knew it was expected of him, since by all accounts, he was courting Miss Martha Elwood. But that didn’t mean that he had to like it. And he certainly didn’t.
“Milord,” Daniel said as he was combing his master’s hair. “Forgive me for saying so, but one would think that you were preparing to attend a funeral, rather than a wedding.”
Albert snorted.
“Isn’t one the same as the other?” he quipped.
Daniel raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
“I should think not,” he said.
Albert sighed again.
“Of course not,” he said sullenly. “Forgive me. I just hate attending such events.”
Daniel nodded, studying his master in the mirror as he finished parting his blond hair down the middle.
“Because of your own upcoming nuptials?” he asked.
Albert shrugged, shook his head, then shrugged again.
“More because of the other people attending,” he said.
Daniel looked at him inquisitively for a second. Then, understanding dawned on his face, and he fell silent. Albert was glad. He knew that his valet meant well. But Daniel also didn’t understand what he underwent every time he left his home. However, it also wasn’t Daniel’s fault that he didn’t understand. The valet didn’t see everything he experienced, even when he went with him on social outings. Nor was it his fault that Albert suffered so. Thus, Albert simply smiled and gave the man a gentle nod.
“Forgive me,” he said. “I am simply being a stick in the mud. But you have done a spectacular job with my appearance. That will surely count for something.”
The valet gave one of his rare bright smiles, while Albert shuddered inside. Every valet in all of London couldn’t make him presentable enough to the public to keep away the glares of disgust. It was up to Albert to determine how he would handle them.
Soon after, Albert joined his parents downstairs to head to the carriage that would take them to the chapel. Albert put on his best smile, mostly to irritate his father, who was wearing a smug smile of his own. No doubt, he was thinking of Albert’s alleged upcoming nuptials. What he didn’t know, and wouldn’t until it was too late, was that Albert had no intention of actually getting married.
When they arrived at the church, Albert waited for his father to help his mother from the coach. He took his time exiting the carriage, glancing around at the trickle of guests who were entering the church. None of them seemed interested in him, and he allowed himself a modicum of hope. However, as soon as he and his parents entered the sanctuary of the church, those hopes were quickly dashed.
