Page 88 of Tessa Cavendish Is Getting Married
“What’s all this?” I asked, hoisting myself up into a seated position.
“I thought you might like breakfast in bed.”
“Thank you,” I said appreciating his thoughtfulness.
Leo placed the tray on my lap. “Voila!”
As good as any start to the day that Gregbrook Manor could provide, I picked up the cup of coffee and taking a sip, savoured the taste. “Wonderful.” Turning my attention to the toasted bagels and marmalade, I dived straight in.
“How are you feeling?” Leo asked. He sat down on the edge of the bed next to me.
My eyes were drawn to the wedding dress that hung off my wardrobe door. “Happy yet sad, if that makes sense?”
He followed my gaze. “It does.” Leo turned back to me, his expression one of concern. “Any regrets?”
I shook my head. “Not really.” I carried on eating. “You?”
“Nope.” He leaned in and kissed the top of my head. “We made the right decision.”
I nodded. “I think so too.”
He raised his eyebrows and smiled again. “I’ve run you a bath.”
“Oooh, I am getting special treatment.”
Leo chuckled. “If I can’t spoil you on a day like today, then when can I?”
Chapter 53
Having parked up the car, Leo and I walked hand in hand through town. The weather gods were smiling down on us and the sun shone in celebration. Strangers smiled our way as we strode along and not used to such scrutiny, my cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. Some wished us all the best. Others simply cooed.
“Good luck,” one elderly lady made a point of saying.
“Don’t do it,” one chap called out.
At last, reaching our destination, Leo and I came to a stop. I didn’t think I’d ever felt so nervous as we looked up at the historic limestone building. Flower boxes filled with violet, yellow, and orange blooms adorned the tall sash window ledges, and ornate chiselled carvings framed the ginormous wooden double doors. The Town Hall’s edifice wasn’t just imposing, it proudly showed off its importance. Butterflies played havoc in my tummy as the two of us prepared to climb the steps that paved the way to the entrance.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” I said.
Leo squeezed my hand. “Not a bad way to spend a random Tuesday afternoon though, eh?”
I thought back to all those months earlier when Leo had suggested we get married on exactly that kind of day. Then, I might have found his proposition romantic, but I never thought we’d end up doing it. I smiled. “Not bad at all.”
I took a deep breath. “How do I look?” I’d spent the whole morning pampering and preening; luxuriating in the hot bath Leo had run for me and spending far longer than necessary styling my hair into rich side-swept curls. I might not have worn a lot of make-up, but perfecting what I had put on took ages.
Never one to dress up, by the time I slipped into Marianne’s creation and the blush pink Vivienne Westwood shoes, I looked and felt like a brand-new person. “My lipstick hasn’t smudged, or mascara run, has it?” I held the twined wildflower bouquet that Leo had made for me out to one side, so he could assess my whole ensemble uninterrupted.
“You look beautiful,” he said, his intense stare making my heart race.
I took in Leo’s attire. Going for smart yet casual, he wore suit trousers and a waistcoat. His tie had been fashioned into a loose knot, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up to just below his elbows. The man had obviously paid attention to our early conversations, because he looked exactly how I’d described following my Indian summer dream.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded. “Ready.”
As we made our way up to the registry office doors, I couldn’t deny our actions felt bittersweet. On the one hand, after months of setbacks and unnecessary stresses and strains, I couldn’t believe we were finally getting married. On the other, I wanted our families and Otis there to celebrate with us. Putting my sadness over absent friends and family to one side, I told myself the situation was what it was.
Leo paused at the entrance. “After you.” With an exaggerated flourish of his hand, he bowed and stood aside.
