The Frozen Rose

EPILOGUE: Six months later...

Elizabeth looked at herself in the mirror. The first thing she saw was the proud smile on her face. She was so happy to be standing here, ready to finally wed the man she loved so dear.

It had been almost six months since William had asked her to marry him, and many people wondered why they waited so long. But the answer was simple. Elizabeth wanted to be certain she could fully trust him. And after all those months, she was certain she could.

He had proven to her that he would not leave her anymore. Every day, he had sent her a calling card attached to a red rose. She would accept every invitation and meet him at his estate. But when it was late, he was able to convince her to sleep there and go home in the morning.

They would never really sleep a lot. They would talk for a while, and they would laugh often. Once one of them started kissing the other, it did not take them long to be naked in the bed and show each other their love. Elizabeth had already lost her virtue, so making more love before the wedding would never be discovered.

Her eyes travelled up to her hair that was nicely tied up in braids and finished off with a tiara of flowers. A white, lace veil was attached to her hair, a family heirloom that her mother had worn on her big day.

Her hair was gorgeous, William always said when he let it down. He would move his hands through it like it hypnotized him. He had once said that it reminded him of a waterfall, especially when it was wet after she had taken a bath and drops of water were still falling off. He would only be around her at that time if he had taken a bath with her, and once he had broken through the daze of her "waterfall", he would kiss her. And eventually they would not feel the need to dress anymore.

As she caressed her hair, she saw the ring on her finger blink in the mirror. Holding it in front of her, she admired it once more. It was a bronze ring with a white diamond inside a black flower.

William had given it to her a week after she had said yes. He had invited her to his estate and walked her through his garden, telling her the meaning behind the red rose. She remembered how he had said that every flower had a meaning, and that colours were important too. But for her, he had said, every flower was not enough yet. Then he went down on one knee and asked her again if she wanted to marry him. He took out the ring and told her there was no bronze nor black flower in the world, meaning it was unique, just like her. She said yes - again - and stayed the rest of the day - and night - in his estate, making love more than once.

She looked down at her white gown. It was a simple dress with lace at the bottom and a light blue belt in which she had tucked a red rose.

She had asked Emily to join her and lady Anne for a search of the perfect dress. The lady had gladly left her child with her husband to walk from shop to shop. Once they had found the dress, both her mother and her new friend had shed tears.

Eventually, she lifted her skirts so that she could look at her feet. In those white shoes she would soon walk toward her fiancé and make him her husband. She would tell him she loved him, and that she trusted him. Just like he would say the same, and they would both be honest.

The door suddenly opened and lady Anne entered the room. She clasped her hands together in front of her.

"You looks so beautiful, my dear."

Elizabeth saw the unshed tears her mother was trying to hide, but felt her own coming upon her mother's proud smile.

"Do not cry, darling," lady Anne said while taking her daughter's hands. "You do not want to make them think you do not want this."

"They are tears of happiness, Mother."

Lady Anne shed some tears as well, but then wiped Elizabeth's away. "I am so proud of you. I had always thought you would be the first of my children to marry, but I never thought it would be this quickly."

"I am almost twenty-five, Mother. It is not that quickly."

She shook her head. "It is always too quickly for a mother."

Elizabeth smiled. "I will still live nearby, Mother. You can always come, whenever you wish."

"Of course I can," she responded. "And of course I will."

Laughing at her mother's jest, Elizabeth felt more tears falling down. Just like her mother, she could not believe she was about to be married. Soon she could call William her husband, and he would call her wife.

"Now, stop those tears," lady Anne ordered. "It is time to meet your fiancé in front of the vicar."

Elizabeth nodded, then took her mother's arm and allowed her to walk her to the church doors. With a final nod to her mother, the church doors opened and Elizabeth regarded the church for the first time. People were filling the church on both sides of the aisle and music started playing.

But Elizabeth's eyes were on the man waiting for her at the other side of the aisle. The man smiling at her with his gorgeous blue eyes and perfect smile. The man wiping away a tear that fell down his eye and trying to hide from everyone but his soon-to-be-wife. Her he blessed with the knowledge of his happiness.

With her eyes still on that same wonderful man, she calmly walked next to her mother. She felt the woman squeeze her arm and she squeezed back, but the smile never left her face.

Finally she arrived at the altar in front of which she bowed before she turned to the love of her life. His eyes were on her and filled with glimmers and shine. He reached out his hand.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

She took his hand and nodded her head. "I am ready."