goddess | b. bridgerton

chapter 24

Dearest Gentle Reader,

Preparations are underway for another Bridgerton marriage already! Will the pairing of Benedict Bridgerton and Miss Athena Crauford prove more successful than the royally sponsored wedding that was up in flames before it even began? Let us pray that the Bridgerton name can reclaim it's respect with a fresh start underway.

-

"Whistledown has published again!" Violet wanders into the room, "We are once again mentioned."

"Oh, I hope she has not tarnished our wedding before we even have it!" I say,

"She has mentioned your engagement," the woman hands me the slip of gossip. I take it from her and read the first paragraph,

"I can't tell whether or not this is a good or bad sign!" I exclaim, passing the paper to Benedict for him to read, "Eloise, do you not wish to read Whistledown's latest issue?" I look towards the girl who is engrossed in her book,

"I wish nothing more than to be rid of her!" she exclaims, not looking up.

I give her a confused stare, but immediately brush it off, because I have a wedding to plan.

"We must continue with our preparations, we cannot let Lady Whistledown deter us!" I declare, rising from my seat, "Let us go!" I take both Benedict and my future Mother-in-law's arm.

We prepare a carriage, I have a checklist prepared for us. "First on the itinerary is the florist! We have to prepare the bouquet, and I want Hyacinth to sprinkle rose petals along the aisle, so we need to order those, my wedding dress of course, we must also visit the baker to order the cake, then we must visit the chapel."

"Slow down dear!" Violet urges, "We have two weeks before the wedding!"

"I know, we're cutting it fine. I am, annoyed that I did not do all of this sooner!" I exclaim,

"My mother is right Thena, we have time." he clams me by placing his hand upon my shaky leg.

"Ok." I smile, he is the only person who can really help calm me, and his mother watches as we just smile at one another.

-

Checking off the items as we went along, the florist and bakery went smoothly, but problems arose when we came to the modiste. Benedict had warned me of his short-lived relationship with Madame Delacriox, so I wasn't walking in completely blind to the awkward tension that may arise. Especially due to the fact that she would be designing my wedding dress to get married to him.

I wished my Mama were healthy enough to come with us to all of these wedding preparations, but although she was getting better every day, she was still bed-bound. Violet has been amazingly supportive of my big day, and very helpful.

We looked at a lot of different fabrics, before settling on a beautiful golden trimmed lace for my veil, and a gorgeous white satin for my dress. There was to be golden thread weaved into the bodice too, completing the dress.

Benedict stood outside the drawn curtains as Madame Delacroix re took my measurements, to ensure nothing had changed. She drew out a simple sketch of how the dress would look once completed, and it was nothing short of spectacular, a dress fit for a princess no doubt.

"It is gorgeous! Do you think so Violet?" I ask her, showing her the gorgeous drawing,

"It most certainly is." She smiles, "You know your mother's wedding dress looks quite similar to that one, I remember the day she was married. It was magical, she looked so much like you now, absolutely radiant."

"You knew my Mama before Daphne and I were friends?" I ask, curious, I didn't know much about my Mama before she had me.

"Oh, yes I was quite close friends with her. I recognised you that first day you bumped into us as her daughter, you are the spitting image of her."

I smile, I love being compared to my Mother, she was a beautiful woman. "I had not seen her for a long time before you showed up, but we still talked regularly."

"I never knew that." I grin,

"It is normal for children not to know much about their parents before they have children." she reassures me.

-

I take Benedict's hand as we enter the chapel, it is quite stunning, the pews freshly cleaned sparkled off the light reflecting through the stained glass windows.

"Archbishop!" Violet says to the the man at the end of the aisle, "Have you received the Viscount's deposit for a marriage to take place two weeks today?"

"Yes, I have Lady Bridgerton." the old man grumbles, "You may decorate it to your will, 48 hours before the wedding is set to take place. No earlier, it is church policy." he smiles at her,

"That is brilliant!" Violet claps her hands together, and turns back to the couple behind her, "Right, we might return home now, finally."

She pushes the two of us out, she might seem weak, but that woman had strength alright. "But, what about catering?" I argue,

"I shall take care of that, do not worry about it!" she helps us into the carriage, and we drive off back to Bridgerton house.