Chapter 23 before the wedding
"I think I have a fever." I said putting my hand to my forehead.
"Nonsense dear!" assured Mrs. Stone winding another curl into my hair. "Its just the usual pre-wedding jitters"
I winced as the stem to another artificial rosebud was poked into my hair. "I always thought I would have more than two hours to prepare for my wedding." I said as I tried to gain my nerves, all the while powdering my face, neck, chest and shoulders. Mrs. Stone laughed. "Darling, I had seven months to prepare for my wedding and it still wasn't enough time."
I took in another deep breath just as my mother was entering with a bouquet of ruby poinsettias with hints of white baby's-breath like tiny snow-flakes tied into it. My mother frowned and set them on the vanity. "I looked everywhere for roses." She explained kneeling before me and playing with the front of my hair. I took the flowers in my hand and grinned. "These are beautiful!" I exclaimed. "There not roses!" my mother repeated. "I wanted you to have roses." I then took my mother's hands. "Mama, its fine." I assured.
"I found it! I found my wedding dress!" Announced milady bursting into the room holding a box with pride, she tore off the lid quickly unfolding the tissue paper and with a swoosh pinning it to her.
I put it on. The dress felt almost as if it was made for my body, despite it being a little big in the waist. But maybe that was a good thing; the ball gown silhouette, with the skirt of an empire dress, flattered my figure nicely without showing too much. The rosettes on the shoulders looked slightly ludicrous, but I did not mind. And the beautiful white color... though I was almost as pale as the dress itself, I did not disappear within its ivory satin and chiffon. They only seemed to make me glow brighter than any vermillion, lavender, or emerald had ever done. I felt more beautiful and rich then the queen of England herself.
"Oh lovely!" milady cried circling me. "Lovely, lovely, lovely, lovely!"
I then looked to my mother who held the veil. She stood there with tears welled up in her eyes like a dam about to burst and send a river of tears down her cheeks. I turned and she gently pinned the veil in my hair with two rosebuds and adjusted it. I looked in the mirror and gasp, I could not believe I was not dreaming all of this.
Katrina with her scarlet dress then entered and knelt before me. "Stick out your leg!" she ordered. I blinked. "What?" I questioned, she rolled her eyes. "Lift up your skirt and give me your leg." She demanded again. In disbelief I shook my head. "Why?"
"Because I said so little miss innocent!" and so I obeyed. Katrina then slid a daring blood-red with black lace garter up my thigh and her mother gasped. "Katrina Elizabeth that garter is much to risqué to be worn by a young lady."
Katrina smirked darkly and responded. "I know and I imagine the captain will thank me for it later!" she then winked as the clock struck 11:30 and so grabbing my choker and flowers we rushed off.
Chapter _ I do
We were met outside the church by lord Griffin. My mother, Mrs. Stone, Katrina and milady gave me a kiss for luck and entered the chapel. We waited a moment to be sure everyone was seated. I adjusted the gloves upon my hands, as white as the snow around me before facing lord Griffin. I placed my hands upon both of his shoulders and stood on my tip-toe to kiss his cheek. "Thank you for being such a good father to me." I stated, he nodded with mist in his eyes whispering a your welcome before lowering my veil over my face, and placed my hand in the crock of his elbow.
The church doors opened and all at once I remembered my past…as I walked to my future. The church was aglow with holiness, candlelight and love, my feet gently stepped upon red and white poinsettia peddles that rested upon glossy white silk. Feeling my train dragging behind me, I studied the pathway of peddles before at last looking up, I saw my family, both ladies who had served me as a mother, a cook who had been both my grandmother and aunt, a best friend who was my sister, a librarian who was a friend, a wine vineyard who was a brother and a captain…who was my world.
As softly as the twinkling of stars the piano played Clair de lune, but in my mind it was a whole orchestra; meshing together in one beautiful swell of music. It was the music of my heart strings that I heard, so harmonized, so gentle.
I met the eyes of my groom, he did not move but I could see mist in his eyes, love's joyous mist that met the same in my eyes as the world blurred and then fell away leaving only he and I in this wide universe. I smiled through my tears as I at last approached him. His hand moved slightly as if going to wipe his eyes only to change his mind.
The minister held up his hand. "Who gives this girl away?" he asked.
"I do sir." Answered lord Griffin giving my hand to Gideon before going to his place between milady and mother. My eyes locked on Gideon and his eyes upon me...
The minister cleared his throat and read.
" Dearly beloved, Love is not selfish or demanding, yet it is not equal, husband and wife must be willing to give and take for each other's happiness. For through love we see the light of God and ourselves, and through love I bring this man and this woman together in holy matrimony. Face each other."
We did and smiled.
"Repeat after me."
"I Gideon Wrath…."
My captain echoed the minister effortlessly with a rumbling of his voice.
"I Gideon Wrath do promise thee Jezebel Bernice Wilder, my fidelity, a share of all my earthly possessions and my everlasting love. To be thy medicine in sickness, thy joy in health, thy light in darkness. For better or for worse, in good times and bad as long as we both shall live."
It was my turn.
" I Jezebel Wilder do promise you Captain Gideon Wrath, my fidelity, a share of all my earthly possessions and my everlasting love. To be your medicine in sickness, your joy in health, your light in darkness. For better or for worse, in good times and bad as long as we both shall live."
Then taking the ruby ring he said. "With this ring, I thee wed." I smiled, only to realize I did not have a ring for him. Momentarily I panicked before an idea struck. I turned to the minister, slipping off my shoe.
"I do not have a ring." I said. "but I do have a symbol of my love." I then reached down for the coin and placed it in Gideon's palm. "This coin was given to me by someone very dear to my heart." I smiled. "a man that would later be my husband…with this coin, I thee wed."
"Then by the power vested in me I now pronounce you man and wife."
My husband slowly lifted my veil, savoring the moment and kissed me with a gentle passion. Our on lookers applauded us as we walked back down the aisle.