She swatted at him as they came to a stop, but she was smiling as Walter placed his hand on her back and they took their position for the waltz. As they began to dance, he held her closer than was strictly proper but, as they were engaged and he did not take any obvious liberties, no one seemed to mind.
As she gazed into his eyes, she knew, no matter what they might go through in the future, they would always have each other. It seemed to hit her all over again that he was never going to leave her side.
“I love you,” she whispered to him.
“I love you, too,” he replied earnestly, their eyes promising they would love each other forever.
Epilogue
Both Lucy and Adelaide looked over Georgiana one last time, to make sure everything regarding her hair and dress was in place. Felicia, as her maid of honor, was getting ready herself at that same moment, or she would have been doing the same thing.
“Have I forgotten anything?” Georgiana asked the other two as soon as they had finished their perusal.
It was then she noticed her aunt seemed to be on the verge of tears. “You look so beautiful in your wedding dress,” Adelaide said, wiping a tear away from her face. “Have I ever told you about your mother’s wedding, dear?”
“Yes, and you were her maid of honor. You may have told me about it a handful of times,” she replied somewhat teasingly. “But really, please don’t start crying, Aunt, or I might start too!”
“Oh, I’ll try not to. But I just wanted to say how much you look just like she did in her wedding dress when she was getting married. So beautiful…” Adelaide reached up and placed a hand on Georgiana’s cheek.
The emotion in her aunt’s eyes sent a wave of emotion over her, as well, enough to make her eyes start to water. “See! What did I just say,” she said laughingly as she tried to brush away the moisture.
“I’m sorry, but there is a reason why I brought it up, I promise!” Adelaide replied as she went to retrieve a small velvet bag.
Georgiana was curious about what was in the bag, gasping at the beauty of the pearl necklace her aunt suddenly produced from within. “It is gorgeous.”
“It belonged to your mother,” came the reply, accompanied by a wistful smile. “I was keeping it safe for this very special day. I knew you would want to wear it for your wedding.”
“Yes, please,” Georgiana replied, turning so the pearls could be placed around her neck and fastened in the back. Her hands instantly went to touch them and to settle the necklace in just the right place around her throat.
“I think they go perfectly with your dress, Miss Georgiana,” Lucy told her.
“Thank you. And thank you, too, Aunt, for keeping this for me,” she told her.
“I hope you are all ready,” Felicia said from the doorway. “It is time for us to be in the carriage and on our way to the chapel. We don’t want to be late!”
“Of course! I am ready,” Georgiana replied as she started for the door. Felicia, looking splendid in a flattering dress of cream satin, joined her there. “Wait, I am ready, aren’t I? We haven’t forgotten anything, have we?” Georgiana suddenly said, momentarily flustered.
“No, you are perfect,” Adelaide replied as they linked arms and sedately walked out. “I am sure we have plenty of time. It wouldn’t do to twist your ankle in unneeded haste.”
“You’re right,” she replied as she took a deep breath to steady the butterflies starting to take flight in her stomach.
Soon, all three of them were in the carriage, with Lucy arranging her skirts carefully as she sat, so her wedding dress wouldn’t get wrinkled. Georgiana felt the need to take deep breaths to calm herself, not that she was having any doubts about marrying Walter, just because of the excitement of finally belonging to him in every way.
And there are so many changes that are going to happen today! I will not be living at Irvington Manor with my aunt and uncle any longer. I will not be either Miss or Montgomery, so I will have to get used to being called by a different name. And I am sure I shall probably forget and introduce myself incorrectly at times!
She was startled out of her thoughts by the carriage coming to a stop. Shaking her head in hopes it might