The Emerald Viscountess

~25~

The day of the wedding.

Eleanora could practically feel every cell in her body vibrating from anxiety and anticipation. Once again, she found herself in Edwina's bedroom, this time being assisted by Lady Danbury's maids in putting on her bridesmaid dress. It was a lovely color of a soft purple, and Eleanora's hair was put up in a bun as little flowers resembling the color of the dress were delicately placed in her hair. Her shorter pieces of hair that couldn't reach the bun resided on the sides of her face, mirroring Kate's hairstyle.

"Didi? What are those?" Edwina asked Kate, who had something in her hands.

Kate turned to her sister, revealing the bracelets she held, giving them to Edwina. "I brought them with us from home. I knew this season would be a success."

"They're beautiful," Eleanora awed, unable to take her eyes off the bracelets.

"They are quite beautiful, indeed," Edwina agreed, turning the pieces of jewelry in her hands. "How have I never seen them before?"

"They belonged to my mother," Kate said with a smile, making Eleanora surrender to the same expression. "Amma wore them on her wedding day and saved them."

"For you?" Edwina asked, looking up from the bracelets.

"I brought them for you," Kate confessed. Edwina shook her head slightly. "I insist," Kate said, putting the bracelets on Edwina's wrists. "Beautiful bangles for a beautiful bride."

"Didi, I know this has been a difficult time, and you never cared for the viscount, but I hope today, we may all find joy," Edwina said.

Eleanora couldn't help but notice that when Edwina said that Kate never cared for the viscount, the elder Sharma gulped awkwardly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other momentarily.

"I am happy if you are happy," Kate beamed, taking her sister's hands in her own.

~~~

"Benedict, see that he is well, I am sure the emotions of the day have somewhat confused him," Anthony heard his mother say as he turned the corner to reach the foyer.

"Mother," he acknowledged, in his wedding suit with a flower attached to his breastpocket.

"Wherever could Nora be?" Hyacinth wondered aloud.

"She is a bridesmaid, remember, dearest?" Violet reminded her youngest. "She is busy getting ready in Danbury House with the Sharmas."

Anthony wanted nothing more than for Eleanora to be with him to help him get ready, no matter how unconventional it would have been.

"Anthony," Violet acknowledged, turning to her eldest with a small smile. "You are ready?"

"Of course I am! Born ready, in fact," he said, forcing confidence into his voice. He turned to the rest of the family. "Shall we?"

~~~

"Good heavens, Nora, you're pacing as if this were to be your wedding!" Edwina teased, making final touches in the mirror, already in her bridal gown. The Sharmas were in the Queen's palace, in one of the extravagant roomes provided for the bride to get ready.

"I find myself quite antsy, that is all," Eleanora said, shaking out her hands. "First time being a bridesmaid, and all." She hesitated on a question that daunted her since she arrived in the palace. "Might I go check on Anthony? Knowing his stone-like personality, he must be confused in his emotions and needs some guidance."

Edwina laughed at the thought, and nodded, giving Eleanora permission.

"I will be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail," Eleanora promised, making a speedy exit from the room, grimacing at her phrasing. Two shakes of a lamb's tail?