Page 117 of The Heiress's Daughter
She took a few more steps then faltered, spying among the sea of elegant hats, one very familiar straw hat covered with red silk poppies. It couldn’t be—but it was! Nanny in her favorite hat. Nanny, who had always refused to travel all the way up to London. Nanny, whom she hadn’t seen in an age.
Her face crumpled. Nanny gave her a watery smile in return, and waved.
Leo leaned closer and murmured, “Izzy’s idea. She knew you’d want your old nanny here for the day.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, and put a hand behind her to catch and squeeze Izzy’s hand. They continued the long walk down the aisle. She couldn’t see Race’s face now. He was just a tall, handsome blur. All her friends, and now Nanny.
They reached the altar. She felt a tear trickling down her cheek. She quickly dashed it away, passed her bouquet of roses to Izzy, and held out her hands to him, her beloved husband-to-be.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to cry, but—”
“You look lovely.” He raised her left hand, kissed it, most romantically, and then kissed the right.
A sigh ran through the watching congregation.
The minister cleared his throat, and they turned to face him. “Dearly beloved,” he began.
The wedding breakfast was to be held at Leo’s house. It was one of his last duties as her guardian. Their flower-bedecked carriage pulled up in front of his house, and there was Matteo, beaming at the door to welcome them. Clarissa hastily tried to straighten herself—she and Race had been kissing all the way from the church.
Race chuckled. “Don’t worry, you still look beautiful.” He handed Clarissa down and they entered the house together.
After receiving Matteo’s effusive congratulations, they turned to climb the stairs to the reception rooms, but Matteo stopped them. “No, no, this way, milor’, milady.Prego.” He swept out a dramatic arm and ushered them toward the back of the house.
“Is such a beautiful day, we ’ave the wedding breakfast in the garden, no?” He grinned and waved them on.
Clarissa gasped. “In the garden? What a lovely idea.”
“Race’s suggestion,” said Leo, coming up behind them. “He said you would love to have it in the garden, and as you know, Matteo enjoys a challenge.”
Clarissa turned and hugged Race. “Oh, it’s perfect, Race. I couldn’t think of anything nicer.” She turned and thanked Leo and Matteo, who modestly waved her thanks away.
They stepped out into the garden. With the spate of warm weather they’d had recently, the garden was in full bloom, heralding the imminent onset of summer. The air was redolent with the scent of freshly cut grass and a multitude of fragrant flowers.
They strolled down the path, turned a corner and found a sea of tables set out on the lawn, each one covered in a white linen cloth and laid with gleaming silver cutlery and crystal glasses. Every table bore several tiny crystal vases containing rosebuds and a collection of other flowers.
A short distance away a raised dais had been set up. On their arrival, a string quartet began to play. Clarissa gazed around. It all looked quite magical.
The other guests started to arrive and soon they were surrounded, exchanging greetings and receiving congratulations and thanking people for their gifts. Under Matteo’s supervision, footmen circulated, bearing drinks, and all sorts of delicious-looking dishes.
“Oh, lovey, what a beautiful, beautiful wedding.”
Clarissa turned and embraced her beloved old nanny.
Nanny continued, “I could hardly believe it when you walked down the aisle, looking so much like your dear mama.”
Clarissa felt a pang at Nanny’s words, but Race came up beside her and took her hand, saying, “Her mother must have been a lovely woman, then.”
“Oh, she was, she was,” Nanny agreed. “I raised her, you know, my lord, and then raised Clarissa and Isobel.”
“You did an excellent job then, Mrs. Best.” Nanny beamed up at him.
Clarissa was amazed that Race had remembered her old nanny’s name, and she could tell Nanny was flattered by his attention.
After a short conversation, Race excused himself and strolled off. “What a handsome and charming man, Clarissa,” Nanny declared, watching him chatting with the guests. “I must say, both you girls have done extremely well with your husbands. Lord Salcott has been so very kind to me. Do you know, he sent his own carriage to bring me to London, and oh my, he spared no expense! Every comfort provided along the way.”
Izzy joined them, and it transpired that she was going to show Nanny some of the sights of London, and then she and Leo would take her back to the cottage where she lived on Leo’s estate.
A short time later, Nanny retired inside to a guest room in Izzy’s house. The excitement, she told Clarissa, was wonderful but exhausting and she needed a nap.
