Page 107 of My Gentleman Spy
Chapter Forty-Two
“All set?”
Hattie gave Edgar an encouraging smile. “Yes,” shereplied.
Her long white gown took up a good deal more of the carriage than she had expected. Initially she had opted for a simple design for her wedding gown, but Miranda had convinced her otherwise. There was only one time a woman walked down the aisle at St. Paul’s cathedral to bewed.
The crowd outside the cathedral when the carriage drew up had her heart thumping in her chest. As she stepped out onto the pavement, she could see many friends who had been pushed away from the family over the past fewyears.
Standing alongside them was one who she now also called friend. Reverend Retribution Brown stood among the well-wishers, his hands calmly by his side holding his beloved bible. She released her hand from Edgar and went tohim.
“Thank you for coming. This means a great deal to me,” shesaid.
He kissed her hand. “He is a good man your Mr. Saunders. You have chosen well,” hereplied.
“Joshua sends his apologies for not being able to make your wedding. He did not want to leave his mother. He asked me to give this toyou.”
He opened his bible and took out a piece of folded paper which he handed to her. Tears formed in Hattie's eyes as soon as she unfolded the paper and saw Annie’s simple drawing of a tree and ahouse.
“Mr. Saunders has found them a place in the country. Somewhere they can all live safely. Mrs. Mayford can spend the remaining time she has left on this earth happy in the knowledge that her family has a future. Joshua is to be apprenticed to a local blacksmith, so he will be able to provide for Annie and Baylee in the years tocome.”
Hattie folded up the piece of paper and tucked it into the sleeve of her gown. She knew she would never be able to save all the poor of London, but with the Mayford family she had succeeded in giving at least one family a betterfuture.
“Will you come inside and see Will and I get married?” sheasked.
Reverend Brown looked up at the towering magnificence of St. Paul’s cathedral and grimaced. St. John’s church was nothing like London’s grandestcathedral.
“Well, I don't expect anything untoward will come of it. Besides you are about to marry the Bishop of London’s nephew, you might be able to put in a good word forme.”
Hattie took Edgar’s hand oncemore.
“I am ready to take another leap into the unknown,” shesaid.
Hand in hand her brother led her up the stairs and into the cathedral to where Will and a new lifeawaited.
TheEnd
