Page 18 of Duke of Emeralds
“Lushton is already waiting at the altar,” Leonard said, leading her into a nearby office where her friends awaited her.
“I will come get you once it’s time,” he reassured her with a gentle squeeze of her hand before disappearing through the door.
The moment he was gone, Fiona gasped, her eyes widening as she took in Hester’s appearance. “Oh, you look splendid, Hester,” she gushed, her hands clasped together in front of her chest. “I am so sorry I couldn’t make it to the shopping. But I seeAnna and Nancy have done an excellent job of dressing you. You look like a bride straight out of a fairytale.”
Hester felt a blush creep up her cheeks at Fiona’s words. “Thank you, Fiona,” she murmured. “I must admit, I do feel rather like a princess in this dress.”
Fiona’s eyes welled with tears, and she burst into sobs, her hands flying to cover her mouth. “Oh, I’m so proud of you all. And I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am for you, Hester,” she managed to say between sobs.
“Oh dear,” Nancy said, patting Fiona’s shoulder gently. “Are you well, Fiona?”
Hester couldn’t help but worry, her eyes searching Fiona’s face for any sign of distress. “Yes, are you quite well, Fiona?” she asked, her brow furrowing slightly.
Anna waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, don’t worry about her. It’s only the nerves of a soon-to-be mother,” she said, taking Hester’s hands in hers and giving them an encouraging squeeze. “You look beautiful, dear.”
The emotion in Anna’s eyes nearly undid Hester. She felt a lump form in her throat, her fingers tightening around Anna’s hand. “Thank you, Anna,” she managed to choke out, her voice barely a whisper.
Nancy, ever the one to lighten the mood, rolled her eyes with a playful smile. “Oh, I cannot believe I am surrounded by married women now,” she quipped, her hands on her hips as she looked at them with a mock stern expression.
Hester couldn’t help but chuckle at Nancy’s antics, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “Almost,” she said, her lips curling into a smile. “I am yet to take my own vows.”
“Like it makes any difference,” Nancy replied, waving a dismissive hand.
Hester laughed again, feeling some of the tension ease from her shoulders. Nancy had a way of diffusing the atmosphere, of making even the most nerve-wracking situations seem a little less daunting. And Hester was grateful for it, for the brief respite from the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.
“It is time,” Leonard said, reappearing in the doorway. His eyes were soft with understanding, and Hester felt a fresh wave of nerves.
Her friends rushed to her side, their hands gentle as they rearranged the tiny pearls in her hair. “You look absolutely stunning, Hester,” Anna said, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
“We will see you inside, dear,” Anna whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to Hester’s cheek before she and Nancy shuffled out,preceding Hester and Leonard to the main hall where all the guests were waiting.
And her groom, she thought, swallowing nervously. She could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her, the reality of what she was about to do hitting her full force.
“Shall we?” Leonard offered her his arm, his eyes never leaving hers.
Hester nodded, her fingers trembling slightly as she placed her hand on his arm. She couldn’t trust herself to speak, not when her throat felt so tight with emotion.
They made their way to the great entrance of the nave, and Hester felt her legs grow heavier with each step she took. She could feel the eyes of the assembled guests on her, their whispers and murmurs filling the air. Her fingers dug deeper into her brother’s coat sleeve, her knuckles white with the force of her grip.
Her anxious gaze traveled over the seated guests, and she felt a pang of sorrow. Their father should have been the one beside her right now, about to give her away. And their mother, hale and hearty, should have been seated in the congregation, watching as she walked down the aisle, nodding her encouragement and dabbing at a tear or two.
Alas, fate had different plans for them all. They had decided, with heavy hearts, that it was best to exclude their mother from the ceremony. It was a risk they could not take, not when herhealth was so fragile. And neither was it healthy for her, not when she was still so deep in her grief.
Besides, it had been a while since Patience had mixed with any outsiders. Bringing her into a crowd of this magnitude would have been sure to upset her, to send her spiraling back into the depths of her despair.
As though her brother had somehow read her thoughts, Hester felt his hand gently squeeze hers, his thumb brushing against her knuckles in a soothing motion. “Mother and Father would have been proud,” he said, his voice steady and sure. “No, they are proud.”
Hester’s heart quickened as she and Leonard began their slow procession down the aisle.
Thomas stood tall and broad-shouldered, his tawny hair and beard setting him apart. His striking blue eyes seemed to belong to an ancient Grecian deity, and Hester felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach as she drew closer to him.
Leonard handed her over to Thomas, and she inhaled, holding the breath. Thomas’s fingers were warm and strong, but his stance was cold and somewhat foreboding.
As the vicar began a short sermon, Hester stole a glance at him. He looked more marble than man at this instant, and the light streaming into the cathedral emphasized the scar on his cheek.
“Hester Marianne Jensen…” Her eyes snapped to the vicar, and her heart picked up beat as she realized what was happening. “…wilt thou have this Man to be thy wedded Husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony?”
She swallowed and willed herself to breathe. Then, “I will.”
