Georgie gazed at herself in the cheval glass. Camelia truly had made her the most beautiful gown. It was traditional blue, rather than the more fashionable whites and creams that so many women chose, but its rich hue suited Georgie much better. She would have looked quite washed out in something so pale – as she had in her coming out gown all those years ago. “You truly are a beautiful bride,” her Mama said as she entered the bed chamber.
“I am so glad you and Papa were able to come,” she admitted. She had sent eh invite, not ever expecting anyone from Providence to join her and Martin as they made their vows.
“Because we were so rarely there when you really needed us?” Mama said pointedly. Georgie squirmed, but her mother put her hand out and clasped her arm. “Don’t you feel bad about that Georgie. It is your Papa and I who bear the guilt for it. We have not been the best parents to you my darling. But we do love you. We are both just so terribly selfish I’m afraid.” Georgie laughed at her mother’s unexpected candor.
“Oh Mama, thank you,” she said and flung her arms around the tiny frame of her Mama. She was delighted when she felt her mother’s arms wrap themselves around her waist too.
“There was somebody else who joined us on the journey here,” Papa said as he stood in the doorway. Georgie rushed over and kissed him on the cheek. He accepted her embrace awkwardly and then stepped aside. Georgie gasped as she saw the figure on the stairs.
“Cammy, you came!” she cried. The two women rushed to hold one another close. “And I missed your wedding too. You always were the better friend. Now, let me see your ring.” Camelia brandished her solid gold band, and the elegant solitaire diamond engagement ring she wore above it. “You look quite as smug as a cat with all the cream,” Georgie said approvingly.
“I cannot tell you how happy I am, and your father has agreed to be an investor in our company, as has Callum’s father too. You will very soon be able to purchase all your ladieswear needs through mail order as you suggested. The market is vast,” Camelia said enthusiastically.
“And Cammy is a very quick study,” Papa said admiringly.
“But, you always seemed to disapprove of my wanting to have a career in business and finance Papa,” Georgie said feeling a little perplexed.
“Oh my darling daughter, I always knew just how stubborn you are. If I put a barrier in your way I knew you would do whatever was in your power to find a way to hurdle it. And so you have. I had a visit at the hotel from your future husband last night. He formally asked for your hand, which I was more than happy to give, and also told me of how spectacularly well you have taken to banking. I have never doubted that one day you would rule the world.”
“Or at least a tiny part of it,” Mama said with a smile.
“I am beginning to wonder if I can ever take anyone at their word any longer” Georgie said, pouting just a little. It seemed that her entire life had been a collection of unknowns that she had never even realized were things she should have been aware of. But she was too happy today to ever hold it against any of them.
“We should get you to the church before Martin begins to think that you have jilted him my love,” Papa said offering her his arm. She took it gratefully, and smiled as he bent his head to kiss the top of her head. “He is a very lucky man.”
Matthew was waiting outside with the carriage. He grinned at her, as Ellen hurried out her hands clutching at her swollen belly. “Are you sure you should come? What if the baby decides it is time to make an appearance?” he said through gritted teeth. In the time she had been here in their home she had been constantly touched by how much love and care the two of them had for one another, and she hoped that as their beginnings had been so very similar to hers and Martin’s that it was a good omen.
“If he or she does, then Dr Piper and Marie Masters will both be at the wedding so I will be in the best place,” she said reaching up on tip toe to give him a kiss. “Do stop fretting, you are worse than an old woman – and it doesn’t help either of us one bit.”
Everyone laughed and Ellen began ushering everyone into the carriage. “But what about us?” Georgie asked as there was nowhere but the dashboard left for her and Papa to take.
“Well, Marty thought you might like to drive yourself, but not in this,” Matthew said as he put his fingers between his lips and gave a long, loud whistle. The sound of hooves and wheels made her look up as Dylan drove into view in the phaeton.
“Oh, that man knows me far too well,” she sighed as she scratched the noses of Allegro and Scherzo.
“I am sorry,” Papa said giving her an odd look. “Did that young man say you might like to drive yourself?”
“He certainly did Papa. You might want to take off that lovely top hat and hold on tight Sir,” Dylan said. “She drives better than anyone I have ever seen – and faster too!” Mama peered out of the window of the carriage, her face a picture of shame. But Papa guffawed.
“Then you had best show me just how good you are,” he said as he hauled his large, but solid and stocky body up into the passenger seat. Dylan helped her to hitch up her skirts and get onto the perch.
“I’ll follow on with everyone else,” he said with a smile. “The road is all yours.”
He was clambering up onto the dashboard of the carriage beside Matthew as Georgie whipped the horses into a canter and headed off along the road to town. She had been feeling a little nervous, but the feel of the wind in her hair and the reins in her hands steadied her in a way nothing else ever did. The drive was over too soon though, and she pulled the fancy little carriage to a halt outside the church. She turned to see her Papa applauding her. “That was very exciting. Who taught you to drive like that? Martin?”
“You promise not to chastise whoever it was?” she asked cautiously. He nodded.
“I swear. Whoever it is should be training horses and riders. You could make a fortune at the races my love if only you were a man.”
“It was Albert,” she said. “Now, promise me you will not fire him. It was all my fault – not his.”
“Fire him? I am going to give that boy a raise, a new job title and a stable full of thoroughbred stallions to train!” he joked. She flung her arms around his neck.
“Thank you Papa. He will enjoy that so very much.”
He jumped down from the carriage, and held out his arms to her. She leapt into them and accepted his warm embrace. She had always wondered what it might take for her parents to show her love. She now knew that in their own way they always had. They had let her become herself, by never being there to force her to be otherwise. They watched as the carriage pulled up and everyone inside bundled out and hurried into the little church. “Shall we?” Papa asked as he offered her his arm.
“I think we should,” she said as she took it and fell into step beside him.
The organ was playing the strains of the Wedding March from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Every pew in the church was full. Martin stood at the front near the altar, with a loving look in his eyes. She forgot about everyone else, seeing only him as she walked towards her future. He took her hand from Papa, and they made their vows. She did not notice another soul until he kissed her and the church erupted in cheers around them. She grinned at him and he grinned back at her. “They came,” he whispered. “Every one of them came.”
“I knew they would,” she said as they turned and he pointed out his family, his friends and Alice’s parents.
“They don’t hate me, you were right.”
“You had best get used to that. I often am,” she teased. They walked together down the aisle, and he grinned from ear to ear when he saw the phaeton parked outside.
“So you liked your wedding gift?” he asked.
“It is mine?” she asked incredulously.
“Well you do drive it better than anyone else ever could,” he said offhandedly. She flung her arms around him and kissed him all over his surprised face. “I take it you like it.”
“I do, but I have one question. If you felt that your taking Alice out in the phaeton was what had killed her, why ever did you wish to keep it?”
“To remind me of her, how much she loved to feel the wind in her face – just as you do. It was my link to her, to love. I condemned myself to it being the only love I would ever have, until I saw your advertisement.”
“I love you Mr Shaw,” Georgie said wrapping her arms around his neck.
“I love you Mrs Shaw,” he replied, claiming her lips as his own.
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The End
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