Nodding, Julian forced a smile, but a seed of doubt had begun to take root in his heart. Would Miss Prescott be able to handle the pressure that came with being part of the aristocracy? She had said that she had wanted freedom to be herself. Did that mean that she would not conform to playing by their rules in England?
Chapter 12
I am getting married today.
Lily attempted to calm her breathing as she watched her reflection in the vanity mirror.
Her maid worked tirelessly behind her, pinning her curly hair into pretty spirals at the back of her head with pearl clips. She could hardly recognize herself under all the powder and rouge, but she had to admit that she looked quite pretty in her champagne gown with embroidered lace finishings and a high bodice.
Her mother, aunt, and even Julain’s mother had spared no expense in the planning, despite the guest list being small.
“You look absolutely gorgeous!” Arabella cooed as she floated into Lily’s chambers at her aunt’s London home.
“Thank you, dearest Arabella. I do not know what I would have done without you here in England. Is that a note for me?” She glanced down at the slip of parchment in her friend’s hands.
“Oh, yes, your mother said to hand you this note from your father, and also to tell you that the rest of your mail has been placed in your valise. You may look at it all once the wedding is over.” She cheerfully handed the note to Lily and began to assist the maid with Lily’s hair.
Tears welled in her eyes as Lily read the short message.
Congratulations, my dearest daughter. I am sorry that I could not be there to see you married, but I know that you will be the most beautiful bride. With all my love, Papa.
Lily quickly placed the note on the vanity in front of her and plucked at her tears, careful not to ruin her powdered cheeks. She had known that her father would not make the wedding, as the passage from America to London took more than two weeks, but it had been sweet of him to send her a note to her mother before the time. He must have included it in his last letter to her.
“How are your nerves holding up?” Arabella asked as she gently squeezed Lily’s shoulder.
Taking a deep breath, Lily looked at her reflection once again and smiled at her friend. “They are holding, a little frayed, but they are holding.”
“That is understandable but just remember that Julian will care for you. You may not know each other that well yet, but he is a kind man,” Arabella offered before returning to the finer details of her friend’s elaborate hairstyle.
“I know.” Lily took another deep breath, thinking of how different things felt from the first time she had been engaged.
It had been her father who had pushed her in the direction of Oliver. She had not disliked him, but her father had liked him more because of the name his family would have provided.
Her father’s own fortunes were never extravagant, and having her marry into an old family with even older money would only help their name. She had never blamed her father for things going wrong. After all, he had been just as duped by Oliver as the rest of them.
That is all in the past now.
She squared her shoulders and lifted her head high. None of that mattered anymore, not now that she was marrying Julian. And with Julian, she had no worries of things going awry. They were purely marrying each other for convenience, and that suited her just fine.
“Are these not just the loveliest flowers you have ever seen?” Arabella gasped, drawing Lily’s attention back to the present just as the maid finished with her hair and began to attach her veil.
She smiled at the bouquet in her friend’s arms that had been lying on the bed. “Julian picked them for me himself. They are all my favorite flowers from back home.” She felt her heart warm at the sight of the white and red cardinals surrounded by tulips and sprigs of greenery.
“Is he not the sweetest?” Arabella and the maid sighed happily at the same time, just as Lily stood.
“All set, my lady,” The maid said before hurrying from the room.
“My lady, that is something that I will need to get used to,” Lily sighed, feeling her nerves begin to flutter in the pit of her stomach.
Coming forward, Arabella placed the flowers in Lily’s arms. “Well, by this afternoon, you will be Lady Barnard, and I will be lucky to call you my peer as well as my friend.” She reached up and pulled the veil over Lily’s face with a bright smile. “Shall we get going?”
“Yes,” Lily breathed as her heart began to stutter along with her nerves.
***
Lily’s heart continued to stutter as she alighted from the carriage and faced the closed doors of the chapel. They had opted for a smaller ceremony with just a few guests, but everything still seemed so daunting to her as she readied herself to walk down the aisle.
Two footmen opened the doors, making Lily’s breath catch in her throat as she climbed the stone steps and stepped inside.