Chapter 145
#<Episode 145>
The ladies beside her sighed.
“They say a woman’s life can change in an instant. Just look at those jewels.”
“It’s not just the jewels. Her face is radiant. Her husband must adore her.”
“They say he chased after her like a man possessed before the wedding. I’m seeing things I never thought I would. I thought Miss Pendleton was destined to be a spinster.”
Among the ladies gathered there, one, who had two unmarried daughters, wore a bright expression.
“I always thought she was a kind and lovely young lady. She was diligent in caring for my grandmother and helped her friends a lot. God must have seen her goodness and blessed her. You see, it pays to live virtuously.”
“Oh, when that Price fellow was bothering Miss Pendleton, you were the one saying you didn’t know why she was stubbornly holding out.”
“Well, that was because…”
The lady swallowed the words she was about to say: ‘I didn’t know my daughters would become spinsters.’ Even she felt her true feelings were vulgar.
She subtly revised her inner thoughts.
“I was wrong then. Mothers with daughters become terribly foolish, obsessed with marriage. Miss Pendleton, or rather, Mrs. Dalton, was different from women like us. She always maintained composure regarding marriage. That’s why she met such a wonderful husband. We should all emulate Mrs. Dalton’s attitude, especially mothers with daughters. Only then can we raise our daughters correctly with a balanced perspective.”
The ladies nodded, but they had no intention of taking the poor lady’s speech seriously. An unmarried daughter was still a disgrace to the family and a failure of the mother.
Just then, the bell in the hall rang. It was the signal that the ceremony was about to begin.
The guests all took their seats, and soon a pastor in his robes stood at the altar.
The sacred ceremony to unite Mr. William Fairfax and Miss Dora Lance in marriage was finally beginning.
* * *
The reception hall was as crowded as the chapel.
Ian, sitting at the most lavish table reserved for the most distinguished guests, picking at the parsley on his steak plate, turned to Laura, who was elegantly cutting her meat beside him.
“Is the meal alright?”
Laura nodded, putting a small piece of meat into her mouth.
“Is it not to your liking, dear?”
“Too much commotion, can’t even taste the food. That William has gathered all of London here.”
“He probably wanted to show the world his beautiful bride.”
Ian shook his head.
“I don’t understand. Shouldn’t a man want to keep his woman’s beauty to himself?”
Laura chuckled.
“Is that why you invited so few people to our wedding?”
“Of course. If I could, I would have wrapped you in a veil, exchanged vows, and taken you home. To be seen only by me in my bedroom.”
He stared intently at Laura.
“Honestly, I still feel that way.”
Laura laughed in disbelief.
“And here you were, telling me to dress up so everyone would stare.”
“This is different. The people of London have long underestimated you. Thanks to that, you were alone until you met me, which is fortunate, but still infuriating. Like the foolish masses in the Bible who mistreated angels and prophets. The residents of Sodom…”
“Here, eat this. Ah.”
Laura put a piece of meat she had cut into his mouth to stop her husband’s grand praise. As always, he willingly accepted the food Laura offered.
Laura wiped his mouth with a napkin and said,
“Mr. Fairfax probably invited so many people for Miss Lance’s sake. Seeing Mrs. Fairfax walking down the aisle in her beautiful attire will prevent them from associating her with scandal. That’s probably why he spent so much on the wedding.”
Ian swallowed the meat.
“They both looked great. William said he sold some of his land for the wedding.”
“It’s worth it for the woman who will be his wife. It certainly had an effect. Everyone at the reception is busy praising the new Mrs. Fairfax’s beauty.”
He fell into thought for a moment.
“Shall we have another wedding?”
Laura, who was sipping wine, almost spat it out.
“What did you say?”
“I think it wouldn’t be bad to have a big one. You were dazzlingly beautiful on our wedding day, but I didn’t get you anything as extravagant as the dress Miss Lance is wearing today. And the veil was British-made.”
“There wasn’t enough time. Someone was crying and fussing that they couldn’t wait any longer than two months. Ugh, I was so embarrassed in front of your brother and the children.”
Ian’s cheekbones flushed red. Laura giggled and lightly stroked his cheek with her finger.
“That one wedding was enough for me. I’ve never been happier in my life. I don’t need a French wedding dress or an Italian veil.”
Ian gave her a subtle, expectant smile.
“So, you didn’t care about anything as long as you had me?”
Laura lowered her gaze slightly.
“…Yes.”
Ian chuckled. And, regardless of who was glancing at them, he took Laura’s hand and kissed each of her fingers.
He rubbed his cheek against his wife’s small hand.
“I want to go back soon. To keep you in the bedroom and have you seen only by me.”
Laura laughed and poked her husband’s cheek with her other hand. Ian Dalton was a respectable and wonderful husband, but the emotion Laura felt most during their year of marriage was affection.
“Hey, what’s with the lovey-dovey act at someone else’s wedding reception?”
The two, who were chuckling and sharing light caresses, turned their heads at the familiar male voice.
A couple stood before the table. The handsome Mr. Fairfax, still in his white formal attire, and the angelic young Mrs. Fairfax, who had changed out of her wedding dress into an ivory chiffon dress, were smiling at them.
Laura quickly pulled her hand out of Ian’s grasp and stood up.
“Congratulations, Mr. Fairfax. And, Mrs. Fairfax.”
Mrs. Fairfax blushed slightly.
“Thank you, Mrs. Dalton.”
Laura smiled warmly at her.
Last spring, while preparing for her whirlwind wedding, Laura had received a letter. It was from Miss Dora Lance. The content was nominally to congratulate Laura and Ian on their marriage, but in reality, it was a letter apologizing for her previous inappropriate behavior.
Miss Lance went on to try to convey that the feelings she had for Mr. Dalton were merely light and fleeting, like affection for a character in a novel. Laura could read Miss Lance’s intentions. She wanted Laura to marry with a light heart, without being conscious of her.
Laura was very grateful to her, but also concerned. The letter strongly conveyed her distress over the past. There was regret, apology, and considerable embarrassment.
The four men and women at the reception exchanged stories about honeymoons. The Fairfax couple planned to go to Marseille. They would have a happy time boating and strolling around the harbor on the beautiful French coast.
When the small talk came to a natural end, Ian suggested to William that they go out for a cigar. Ian had noticed Laura’s desire to talk to Mrs. Fairfax at today’s wedding.
As soon as her husband disappeared, Mrs. Fairfax became restless. She seemed quite embarrassed to be left alone with Laura. Still, she readily followed when Laura said she had something to say.
They left the reception hall and went up the stairs. After climbing about two floors, they arrived at the ladies’ lounge. It was empty inside.
The two sat facing each other in the lounge. Laura praised today’s wedding to help her relax. How beautiful the decorated fresh flowers and drapes were, and how handsome her husband, Mr. Fairfax, was. Of course, the part she praised most lavishly was the bride’s beauty.
The elegance of the dress, the veil, the gloves, the bouquet. The graceful figure of Dora Fairfax, adorned with all of it. The lovely aura emanating from her whole body.
“I’ve attended at least a hundred weddings, but there’s never been a bride as beautiful as Mrs. Fairfax.”
Dora couldn’t help but smile at the outpouring of praise.
“If I had been able to attend Mrs. Dalton’s wedding, I would have felt the same way. You look absolutely beautiful today, Madam.”
“Thank you.”
The two exchanged quiet smiles.
“I’m afraid I sent a rambling reply to the letter you sent me last time. I was so busy at the time. Dress fittings, trousseau preparations, finding bridesmaids…”
Dora shook her head.
“Mrs. Dalton’s letter was impeccable. As always, it was proper and appropriate. I take it out and read it from time to time. I think, ‘This is how I should write a letter of apology to someone.’”
Dora responded with utmost humility. Laura felt relieved. She had not been a rude friend even before the wedding, but now she was treating Laura with much more respect.
Thanks to that, it became easier for Laura to bring up a difficult topic.
“Mrs. Fairfax, do you remember the story I told you once?”
“Which one?”
“The story of a lady who ruined her reputation with a foolish romance at the Lance family’s Ball two years ago, and eventually had to leave England as if fleeing, marrying a wealthy foreign man thirty years her senior.”
