Her period of mourning was to last nine months. Aubrey now had organdie at her collar and cuffs instead of full black, given it had been a few weeks since Emmett’s death. His name was dear to the memory of his friends11: however, she had not attended the funeral because females were still largely considered incapable of maintaining composure at such an event.
A man12 who was unexpected was shown into the manor by Llewellyn. Llewellyn was in mourning dress, given by his mistress to wear for the same length of time as his master’s family. He refused to bow from the room. Richardieux would never have dared call upon Aubrey in his late master’s presence.
Richardieux offered his condolences in regard to her grandfather.
“His life was gentle that nature might say to all the world, this was a man13,” Aubrey replied meekly.
“I know what a lover of Shakespeare Mr. Kingston was, being an intelligent and elegant man,” he conceded.
In my life will his remembrance ever linger14, she thought in response. She asked Richardieux where he had been that morning. Since confession was his answer, she knew what was to ensue. Because he was divorced, and she was a daughter of a gentleman, both families refused to announce their engagement. An engaged couple could address one another by their Christian names, Aubrey started to call him Auré, as he was called for short. Auré had set the wedding for one month to the day after the proposal. His gift15 to her upon their engagement was a stunning sapphire, yellow gold ring, the epitome of Edwardian chic. Her court dress was turned into her wedding dress. The Laurentiens were the only family from the groom’s side, and there were no relatives at all from the bride’s side at St. Patrick Cathedral for the ceremony or at Chateau Laurier for the reception. Because neither of their families would greet them, the scandalous and imprudent match began in Niagra Falls for its honeymoon.