Coupled Betrayal

Chapter 9

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August 21, 1879

The bells ring with lace of white. Attend Miss Katherine Dograce's union to Lord Bea.

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The days to come trudged, and I could not speak to Charlotte. She caught a cold and was still confined at her home by her physician. She could not go out, and no one could visit her. I didn't tell Emily, though I trusted her with my life, because I feared her telling anyone. Not because she was a gossip, simply because she was a terrible liar.

Lady Burks did visit us the day before the wedding and told me Charlotte would be well enough to attend the grand union.

Since the only one I could confide in was myself, I spent a lot of time thinking of Claude. He did not send another letter and neither did I. That and what happened in the garden made me anxious, and I couldn not think of what would happen when I saw him again.

I concluded that, yes, I was attracted to him. He was a handsome man, but my interest in him certainly had nothing to do with his personality.

Claude was a friend, and that was that.

How could I like the man?

He was rude and reveled in teasing me. He was arrogant at times and- and-

Giving up, I shook my head and reached for a book to distract myself. It seemed to work for a chapter or so. He was just in every corner of my mind, never disappearing.

However, my mother's trips to town were most helpful to distract, especially the dress fittings. A salmon dress with gold trimmings caught my eye and the modiste said she would have the dress with a matching bonnet prepared and delivered in my measurements before the wedding.

A few days passed and the morning of the wedding went as usual with Emily helping me get ready and my mother's encouragement to find a husband, preferably the Marquis. He was a top contender in her eyes. If only she knew.

In the carriage, my parents conversed about the soon to be married couple, and I fixed my bonnet grudgingly, hating the way it felt. The only use of the bonnet was protecting my ears from the wind outside.

My mother scolded me with a calculating look, and I left the bonnet alone. I watched my father who ignored my mother's chitter about Miss Katherine and wondered what he was hiding. His business had me completely baffled.

At least, I could finally tell Charlie. Then, I planned to enjoy the party, eat well, dance, and have fun. Soon, we arrived at the church, and it teemed with people.

"Where are we to sit, Arthur?" My mother held my father's arm as he scoured the benches in front of us, packed to the brim.

"Follow me." He pulled my mother, and I hurried behind. I realized we were walking towards Mr. Fergusson and Claude who had open space around them. With every step, my heart beat more and more erratically. After the required greetings, I found myself sitting beside Claude.

"You're wearing a bonnet," he pointed out.

"It's mandatory," I defended, "every woman here is wearing one."

"Hm." His response ended our conversation, and we both settled into silence.

Although Claude was so close to me physically, he felt distant and far. I felt so awkward as we spoke no words, and I waited for him to say something. Anything. But he did not.

The priest appeared on the stand, and everyone around us grew silent. The groom appeared at the front with the bridesmaids clad in white dress as we all waited for the bride who stood outside the building. The door opened, and Miss Katherine entered with a long veil that could not hide the bright smile on her face.