How to Claim a Governess’s Heart - Bridget Barton Page 0,99
on the outside, Bridget was sure her own enthusiasm was bursting to glow out of her.
Like Bridget, Betsy was wearing a matching ivory dress with a pink ribbon sash and pink ribbons and dried baby’s breath woven into her golden locks. Though this was Bridget’s wedding day, she wanted it to be special for Betsy too.
Certainly, today was a day of union between her and Lord John, but it was also more than that. Today was the day that they would officially be solidified as a family unit.
“Thank you for coming today and helping me. I don’t know that I could have done it without you,” Bridget said to her new friend.
“I wouldn’t have dreamed of missing it. Plus, this will be the first time my brother is to preside over a union, I would be remiss if I missed it.”
Bridget cocked a questioning brow at her new friend.
“Just think, if he makes a mistake, I will be able to tease him mercilessly about it,” Lady Eugenia clapped her hands together in merriment.
“Higgins is already nervous about it, I’m sure he won’t appreciate hearing you plan on teasing him,” a male voice announced from the bedroom door.
All three ladies turned to discover the intruder on their small moment. Bridget caught her breath at the sight of the man who stood in the doorframe before her.
Lord John had done well in picking his navy-blue tailored jacket and matching pantaloons. He was wearing the high black boots that always made him seem a strong, imposing figure.
His golden hair reflected the light that shone in through the window on this unusually bright autumn day. The only thing that seemed to light up the room brighter than his locks was the smile that split across his face as he beheld his bride.
Lord John made his way across the room and, taking Bridget’s hand into his own, he delicately kissed it.
“My dear lady, Thou art as beautiful as thou art wise,” he mused with his lips against her hand.
“I think you got that one backward, sir,” Bridget blushed and giggled.
“A minor correction that I think Mr. Shakespeare would be agreeable to. Now, my fine band of ladies, I have come to announce that Lord Thorpe is waiting with the carriage for you downstairs, Eugenia, and secondly, our trappings too await us,” he finished.
“I still haven’t decided if it is well for a husband to ride to the church next to his wife,” Bridget chided as the group made their way from the room. “I am sure there should be a moment of expectation where the groom must wait in anxiety for the bride to appear.”
“Perhaps, but I think you will like what I have in mind instead,” Lord John said.
Bridget gasped in surprise to see the carriage that waited for her outside.
“Uncle John, it looks like one of my fairy tale picture books,” Betsy exclaimed.
Lady and Lord Thorpe entered their own carriage and made their way to the church that could be seen over the stretch of hills. It was deep into autumn now, and all the harvest had been collected and piled high to dry like their own little hills atop larger ones.
“How did you come by all these flowers? They must have cost a fortune, John. This is too much,” Bridget exclaimed.
Even from a distance she could smell the sweet aroma of flowers that decorated every inch of their open-air carriage, from the spokes of the wheels to the tops of the frame. It was decorated with small bunches of deep red roses with a burst of yellow goldenrods dripping down like waterfalls and every shade of red and orange chrysanthemums bursting between the roses.
“It’s like Titania’s fairy bed where she was lulled to sleep,” Betsy chimed in.
Like her guardians, she had enjoyed many re-readings of Shakespeare’s most romantic play.
“I think it is just the right amount,” Lord John responded to Bridget before helping both ladies into the carriage.
The ceremony itself was perfect, and much to Lady Eugenia’s disappointment, Higgins did a perfect job presiding over it. The small party returned from the country church back to Lord John’s cottage for a glorious wedding feast.
The house was of humble means, only supporting one maid and a cook, but it was more than enough for the happy new couple. Lord John had already an idea for his next novel and had begun to process of writing it, much to the delight of the publishing agent back in London.