Before she put on her dress, her mother came into her room.
“Good morning, my darling. How are you feeling?” Lady Devon asked.
“Like I’m living in a dream.”
“It’s no dream, daughter. Today you’ll become a wife, and hopefully a mother soon.”
“Mama, I can hardly believe how happy I am.”
“You deserve every bit of happiness, my dear. I’m so sorry I wasn’t observant enough to see how unhappy you were during the Season.”
“It wasn’t your fault. You mustn’t blame yourself, because I’ve found the most wonderful man to marry.”
“Yes, you have. I quite like your Mr. Clifford.”
“And Papa?”
“Oh, I daresay he won’t admit it, but he admires Mr. Clifford a great deal.”
“That makes me very happy indeed.”
Lady Devon held out her hand. “I thought you might like these to thread through your hair.”
“Oh, Mama, what beautiful ribbons, and the exact shade of my dress. Thank you.” She turned to Selena. “Can you weave in the ribbons?”
“Of course, my lady. That will not be a problem,” the maid said.
“Well, I must go now and let you finish dressing. We’ll see you at the church.”
When Selena finished with the last of the buttons on her dress, Kathryn looked at her reflection in the mirror and was shocked by what she saw. No longer was she the mousy girl who hugged the wall, but a passably pretty young woman about to be married.
“Selena, you’ve worked a miracle.”
“Nonsense, my lady. I told you that you would be a beautiful bride,” she said, handing Kathryn her gloves.
Kathryn pulled on her gloves as she descended the staircase to see her father waiting for her.
“My darling Kathryn, how lovely you look.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
Lord Devon held out his arm and walked with her out to the carriage.
The carriage ride to the church didn’t take long, and soon Kathryn and Lord Devon were standing at the back of the church. Her sister would be one of the witnesses, and Sam had asked her brother to be the other one.
“Are you ready, my dear?” Lord Devon asked.
Kathryn nodded and took her father’s arm. Much to her surprise, the church was nearly full of well-wishers. “Papa, I didn’t invite all these people. I know you wanted a small wedding. I’m sorry.”
“Kathryn, there’s no need to apologize. The good people of Reading already love you. Lady Fletcher and Mrs. Wallings have told me of the good work you’ve done with the schoolchildren.”
“They did?”
“Indeed. I’m very proud of the woman you’ve become.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
Kathryn looked down the aisle to see Sam looking so handsome, and her heart filled with joy. She was glad that they’d waited until Peter recovered to marry. It wouldn’t have been the same without him presiding over the ceremony.