Molly-Jane Walter

Chapter Nineteen

I wake to the sound of knocking on the door. I try to ignore it because I am so tired from all the excitement. The knocking gets louder. "Gilbert, you'd better get that. I don't think they're going away." I mutter groggily. Gilbert got up from the bed and picked his pants up on the way to the door. "Just a moment!" He said as he pulled up his pants. He opned the door, and Mrs. Harding, Laura, and two maids come in. "What on earth?" Gilbert asked, as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Sorry darling, but we've got to get Molly ready!" Mrs. Harding chirped. "Mother, it isn't even seven in the morning yet!" Gilbert protested as I sit up in bed, pulling the sheet up to cover me. I muffle a yawn. "And we've got to make sure everything is perfect!" Laura grinned at Gilbert before she winked at me. Gilbert shook his head, an amused expression on his face. Mrs. Harding shooed Gilbert out of the room, telling him to go to his father and Robert as they were waiting to spend some time with him while the girls got me ready. "I'll see you at the alter," I smile at Gilbert as he walked over and pressed his lips to mine. "Alright, alright, go on now! We haven't got much time to get her ready!" Laura laughed. Gilbert waved as he walked out, and Laura and Mrs. Harding looked at me and grinned. "Makeover time!" They sang together, making me laugh. 

I was pampered and so relaxed that time felt like it was flying by. At midday, Mrs. Harding had two maids bring up a tray of sandwiches cut into triangles. They had cheese, ham, bacon and sausage on them. Believe it or not reader, but getting ready for a wedding is apparently a long process of makeup and hair and lotions and creams. I couldn't begin to imagine who would use all of these things as well as what they could all possibly be for. Under the careful eye of Mrs. Harding and Laura, the maids applied creams and lotions to my skin. After that, I was instructed to practise walking in my wedding shoes again. Laura and Mrs. Harding held my hands as I walked around. The heels weren't massive, but they weren't tiny either. Walking was a little difficult, but I soon got the hang of it. I practised for about an hour before Mrs. Harding and Laura made me go lie down to rest before the wedding. "We'll take care of everything else, don't you worry, Molly!" Laura said. I nod my head and make my way back to my room. Carefully putting on my nightgown so as not to rub any of the creams and lotions the maids had put on me, I crawl into bed and fall into a deep sleep. Who knew getting pampered could be exhausting? I am woken from my sleep by Laura who told me it was now four o'clock and that it was time to start the final stage of preparing me. I jump out of bed excitedly and hug Laura, who wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. If we could, we would have jumped up and down like two little girls. Mrs. Harding came upstairs at that moment with the most BEAUTIFUL white butterfly hairclip with blue diamonds on the wings. The diamonds were the same blue as my engagement ring. "Oh! How beautiful!" I whisper in awe. "Mrs. Harding, where did you get them?" I ask, gently brushing my fingers over the butterfly clips. Mrs. Harding laughed. "My son is a man of many talents. He gave this to me a few moments ago and told me to put it in your hair." I laugh. Gilbert had tricks up his sleeve, that was certain! "Alright now, I'll just go and fetch Charlotte and Lillian, and then we can get started on the hair and makeup!" Mrs. Harding announced. 

 I sit in my room with two maids doing my hair and makeup while Mrs. Harding gave them instructions. Charlotte and Lillian sat on my bed. Both of them bounced with excitement were continuously giggling. "Can we see your ring again?" Charlotte asked. "Oh yes! Please?" Lillian pleaded. "Of course!" I laugh, holding out my hand for them to see as the maids fixed my hair. "Sparkly! When I get married, I want a ring just like that!" Lillian said as she placed the back of her hand to her forehead and pretended to swoon. "Me too!" Charlotte said, as she copied her little sister. Mrs. Harding and I laugh. Suddenly, there is a gentle knock on the door, and in came Laura. "Laura!" I gasp. "Oh, Molly! You look absolutely beautiful!" She cried. I jump up to hug her. "Careful!" She laughed. "We don't need you ruining your hair and makeup." I giggle. "Now then, your hair looks lovely, but my goodness your dress is stunning!" Laura said, as she walked over to the cupboard where my dress was hanging. "It's thanks to Mrs. Harding that I have such a beautiful dress. She insisted I be wed in style." I smile. "I did, I did!" Mrs. Harding chuckled. "After all, you only have one wedding!" "Indeed, so it must be PERFECT!" Laura insisted. "Now, while you finish up here, I'm going to check on how the decorations are going. Robert and the children are FINALLY ready. Goodness me, children who don't want to get dressed make the biggest fuss!" Laura said, as I grin. "Oh, my!" Mrs. Harding laughed. "I need to check that the food is all prepared." Mrs. Harding said quickly. Soon it was just myself, Charlotte and Lillian, and the two maids in the room. "Girls, why don't you go and get changed into your dresses?" "Oh yes! We have to put on our dresses!" The girls gasped, and ran off giggling. The girls would be my flowergirls, as I had already told you, reader, and would be trailing handfulls of white rose petals down the aisle in front of me.