“He’s those things, and so much more,” she said.
***
Isabel burst through the door to Martha’s bedchambers, startling both Martha and Lily as the maid was helping Martha into her white, rhinestone embroidered, silk pleated wedding dress with a lace piece covering her bosom and collar bone and lining the bottom of the sleeves. Both women jumped, giggling as they watched Isabel’s eyes widen and fill with tears.
“Oh, Cousin,” she gasped, rushing up to Martha. She stopped two seconds before she tackled Martha to the ground, tiptoeing back so that she didn’t bump into Lily. “Oh, you look so beautiful.”
Martha beamed at her.
“Thank you,” she said. “But the best part is that you and Mother were right. It was possible to find love in an arranged marriage. Albert and I have, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Isabel nodded, grinning.
“Aunt Sarah told me how happy the two of you are,” she said. “That’s why I’m here. I brought you something to ensure that you have all the luck in your marriage.”
Martha watched her cousin pull a box out of her dress pocket. A very familiar box, in fact. Isabel held it out and opened it for Martha to see.
“Your earrings,” she said softly, looking down at the earrings that Martha had bought for Isabel at her wedding. “Are you sure?”
Isabel playfully shut the box with a snap and raised her eyebrows at Martha.
“These are for you to borrow,” she said. “There’s no chance that I’d give away such a lovely gift.”
Martha laughed, earning her an exaggerated dirty look from Lily.
“Very well,” she said. “Thank you, Cousin.”
Isabel helped Lily finish dressing Martha and styling her hair. Lily was preparing to hold her loose waves in place with silver and rhinestone combs when there was a knock on the door. Isabel went to answer it, and Sarah Elwood walked in. She smiled fondly at her daughter, just as she had at Isabel on her wedding day.
“My beautiful Martha,” she gushed, tears filling her eyes. “I’ve known you were getting married for a month. And yet, I still cannot believe that my little girl is to be wed.”
Martha beamed at her mother, standing to embrace her as soon as Lily was finished with her hair.
“I can’t believe it either, Mother,” she said. As she hugged her mother, she noticed that the viscountess was holding something with one hand. “What’s that?”
The viscountess gasped and laughed.
“Oh, dear,” she said. “You look so beautiful that I almost forgot. I bought you something.”
She handed Martha the box, which Martha opened promptly. Inside lay a silver, rhinestone encrusted tiara.
“Mother, it’s beautiful,” she breathed, hugging her mother again.
The viscountess shook her head, surveying her daughter again.
“You will certainly make it so, my darling daughter,” she said.
Lily gingerly took the tiara and secured it atop Martha’s head. She pinned loose waves around the back of the tiara with bobby pins, and added one comb against a loose bun at the back. Then, the women walked together, as Martha had always dreamed, to the carriage that would take her to her perfect wedding.
***
The five-day journey to Albert’s countryseat was a blissful one. It would have only taken four days, but they stopped each night at inns along the way. They also enjoyed little strolls through the increasingly beautiful country scenery to stretch their legs for four of those days. As far as Martha was concerned, it was the most perfect wedding trip she could have ever imagined. The trip went by in a flash, and soon, they were at the home they would share together as loving husband and wife.
One week after their wedding, and two days after they had reached the country manor, Martha slipped down the stairs while Albert still slept, hunting down the first of the footmen to awaken for the day.
“Excuse me,” she whispered. “Do you know where that special wrapped white package went?”
The footman thought for a moment before he beamed at her and nodded.
