Page 85 of The Odd Riddle of the Lost Duchess
Pressing her lips firmly, Emmeline nodded–she understood that her mother was not as hardy as her brother was and that the shock of seeing her alive could do much harm.
Emmeline then stood in the furthest corner of the foyer, waiting with soft anxiety for her mother’s appearance. When she heard footsteps on the flight of stairs–the heavy ones of George’s boots and softer ones of her mother’s kid slippers–she sucked in a breath and looked up.
Her mother, holding onto George’s arm, was dressed in a black mourning gown, and her hair was pulled back harshly. The Duchess’ face was gaunt and her frame visibly frail.
Lady Emmeline felt acute pain that in saving her own life, her mother’s fragile condition was made that much worse. She vowed she would do anything and everything in her power to make it right once more.
“George,” his mother said softly as she twisted to look at her son, “Why are we going to the foyer?”
Lady Emmeline couldn’t keep her presence hid for any longer, “For me, Mother.”
George quickly grabbed a hold of the older woman in case her start would send her down the stairs, but the Duchess only grabbed at her son even as her head snapped to the bottom of the staircase.
Lady Emmeline held out her hands as her mother, now with tears dripping down her face, descended the rest of the few stairs and went right into her daughter’s opened arms. “I’m home, Mother, and I’m so sorry for your heartbreak…”
A soft warm feeling curled into Lady Emmeline’s chest at the memory. She and George had spent the next hour telling their mother what had happened, reassuring her over and again that she was now safe, that the demented Dowager Duchess of Newberry was being restricted to her rooms, with no possible contact with her evil henchmen.
The Duchess had sat quietly through the whole explanation with tearful eyes and when everything had been told, she gifted Lady Emmeline with the most beatific smile the young lady had ever seen. “Such extreme suffering for us all–may your future happiness be as tremendous. From this resurrection, let much goodness flow and encompass your future life.”
“The Duchess of Newberry was responsible for saving my life,” Emmeline added.
“She has my eternal gratitude,” the Duchess of Leverton smiled while reaching out to hold her daughter’s hand.
“Emmeline?” A soft voice came from the doorway, snapping the young lady out of her musing, “Are you well, Daughter?”
Both Duchesses, her mother, and one step behind, her very soon-to-be mother-in-law, entered, walked to either side of the bride-to-be, and looked at her with concern.
“I’m…” Emmeline said quietly, then laughed under her breath, “I am…frankly–terrified.”
The two ladies shared a look over her bowed head, one that Lady Emmeline barely caught out of the corner of her eyes but was too mired in her anxiety to mention.
“Emmeline,” her mother said tenderly. “It is natural to be nervous. I was when I was marrying your father. And you were there when Ann was marrying George–she nearly fainted, but you were there to tell her it would be fine–do you remember that? You’ll be the same.”
“I do,” Emmeline sighed, while her gloved fingers still twisted, “But I am still not eased.”
“Neither is Noah,” his mother said from Emmeline’s other side, “That young man is pacing the room so hard that it is miracle he hasn’t created a furrow in the floor.”
Light golden eyes flew up to her future mother-in-law and something like hope, tinged with humor, surged into Emmeline’s system. “Truly?”
“Truly, you will see it for yourself,” the lady smiled, elegant in a gown of cream silk. “His hair is standing on end from how hard and frequently he has raked his hand through it. I can confess, Emmeline, I have never seen my son so anxious in my life. I have no doubt that he loves you.”
Emmeline smiled, as her mental eye pictured a frazzled Noah, his hair askew, his eyes wild with worry. Instantly, her own worry evaporated. “I…I’m ready now.”
“That’s wonderful, my dear,” her mother smiled and kissed Emmeline’s forehead, “I will go tell the priest.”
Sitting there with her soon-to-be mother-in-law’s hand holding hers, Emmeline took comfort that everything would be well. Hearing the joyous sound of the organ and choir, she stood and smoothed her hair, a glorious cascade virginally flowing down her back.
Suddenly George stood at the entrance of the room. Her brother was so smartly dressed that Lady Emmeline knew he had invited royals to witness the wedding.
Without a word, George extended his arm to her. Emmeline placed her fingers lightly on it and they walked into the chapel. Its vaulted arches, high overhead, and many windows of glorious stained glass gave an air of the magnificence of the Creator. Emmeline felt her breath catch when she spotted Noah, standing with his groomsmen, Lord Bexley, and Lord Alford, alongside the Archbishop.
Both men cut fine figures in their formal clothing. Noah was impeccably dressed, the quality and cut of his ensemble rivaled any of Beau Brummell’s efforts. The dusky gray matched the hue of his hypnotic eyes, that had latched onto her person and never left.
“Welcome,” the Archbishop smiled. “Your Grace, please take Lady Emmeline’s hand.”
Silently, Emmeline held out her right hand and when Noah took it in his own, the warmth there felt so solid and secure, she barely heard the Archbishop intone, “Dearlybeloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocence.”
The words describing the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church were listened to but not fully concentrated upon as Emmeline was trapped by her beloved’s loving gaze. The ordinances passed unheard, and then she suddenly again heard the Archbishop’s voice, “…if any man does allege and declare any impediment, why they may not be couple together in Matrimony, by God’s Law, or the Laws of this Realm…” his voice again faded as Emmeline, locked in Noah’s gaze, lost sense of time and place.
