The wedding of Charlotte Lucia Colombe to Charles Emerson Winchester III took place on the sunny mid-morning of September 12th, 1953, in the sunken garden at Jedidiah Hastings' Back Bay home. Pastor Henry McHugh of the Church of the Covenant officiated, and the bride was given away by her father amid much mutual sniffling.
Frankly Charles was a little damp-eyed himself, well-aware of how amazing the moment was. All the flurry and fury of the last two weeks had been worth it, he realized. A handful of dear friends were here, and judging from the telegrams piled on the gift table, several absent ones were sending their good wishes as well. Honoria was beaming, his mother was red-eyed with joy and standing next to him, Charlotte shone like the angel she was.
Pastor Henry, a round little man with heavy glasses smiled at them both and began the ceremony, his low voice carrying through the garden. As he did so, Charles felt Charlotte's cool fingers seek his, and he wove his with hers as they stood, waiting for the proper moment to give their responses.
He was nervous, Charles realized. Not about getting married, but about making sure things went well. After two years of living in uncertainty and constant anticipation for the worst, the very idea that he could have everything he wanted all in one fell swoop was . . . almost worrying. Too good to be true.
A little squeeze to his grip broke his thoughts and he shot a sidelong glance to see Charlotte returning it through her veil, a sweet smirk on her lips. Instantly Charles came back to the moment in time to rumble his 'I do," to Pastor Henry's question about whether or not he would take this woman in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer as long as they both would live.
Charlotte's voice trembled a bit in her response but her "I do" came through clearly, and then it was the moment for him to slide the half-carat heart-cut diamond onto her finger. "With this ring I thee wed, Beloved." Charles murmured pleased to see how perfect looked, and he'd nearly forgotten he would be receiving one himself until Charlotte caught his hand and gaze. She in turn took the beautiful band from Honoria's thumb and slipped it onto his finger, twisting the hammered gold band up it as she murmured, "with this ring, I thee wed, Charles."
As the pastor pronounced them man and wife, Charles felt a wave of dizzy joy surge through him, leaving him dazed.
Married.
Good Lord.
"A-hem," Pastor Henry cleared his throat, and with alacrity, Charles caught the edges of Charlotte's veil, lightly flipping it over her coronet of pearls to reveal her delighted smile. He bent to kiss her as she stretched up to do the same, meeting halfway to the light applause of the assembled, but Charles barely heard it, caught up as he was in the soft press of Charlotte's mouth against his.
When they reluctantly parted, he caught her small hands and kissed each one, wanting to keep the moment just a little longer. Pastor Henry presented them as "Doctor and Missus Winchester," and after a quick closing prayer it was done, people coming forward to them.
They moved around the garden, shaking hands and hugging people; at least Charlotte hugged them. Charles accepted the claps on the shoulder and firm hand grips of his father and Cousin Alfred as well as Hastings before being suddenly engulfed in a bear hug by Francisco Colombe.
"Blessed!" his father-in-law blurted, his eyes red but his grin infectious. "I'm so blessed to see my daughter married to such a good man!"
"Francisco," Charles soothed a bit, trying not to laugh. "I'm the blessed one."
"That too," Francisco agreed. "Such a joyous day!"
Charles nodded and gently disengaged himself, directing the man towards the garden table of champagne glasses before turning to face Catherine Edgemont. "Cathy."
His former crush looked tall, elegant, and by his professional judgment, about six months along.
"Charles," she murmured, kissing his cheek lightly. "It's so good to see you, and married! I never thought-" she stopped suddenly, stricken at her near faux pas.
He gave her a chuckle and an easy out, feeling generous. "You weren't the only one, and isn't it nice to be wrong?"
Her relief was palpable. "Yes. Your bride seems utterly charming."
"Charlotte is," Charles agreed. He studied Catherine for a moment, pleased to see her looking fairly content herself. "I'd be delighted to introduce you once my mother releases her. How is Nathan these days?"
Catherine rolled her eyes. "Caught up in politics, as usual. He sends his regrets but we got you a nice pair of Adirondack chairs, hand-crafted."
"Thank you," Charles nodded at her belly. "So congratulations! When is the, er, blessed event?"
Catherine gave a shy smile, dropping a hand to rub the rounded curve of her dress front. "Doctor Colman says in three months, so a Christmas baby most likely."
"Colman, Colman . . . Aubrey Colman?" Charles asked, mentally running through the roster for Boston General in his head. "Blond, tends to blink a lot?"
Catherine giggled, "Yes, but he's a good obstetrician. Your mother tells me you're going to be head of thoracic surgery at Boston General by the by; congratulations again."
Charles thanked her once more and after some small talk she toddled away towards one of the tables with chairs, leaving him to smile at Honoria, who brought him a flute of champagne.
"You n-n-need this," she informed her brother saucily.
"You're right," he agreed. "I do." Charles sipped it and looked at his sister, who looked adorable in her pale blue Maid of Honor tea dress. "All right let's have it; you're clearly dying to tell me something, 'Noria."
"A-A-Alfred is trying to get Father to ap-p-point him to the board," Honoria whispered, her expression merry. "And he's w-w-wheedling for the yacht."
"Oh that won't happen," Charles growled. "Not in a pig's valise."
Honoria nodded and added, "B-B-But it's fun to watch him t-try. Going to t-t-take Charlotte out soon?"
"Possibly," Charles admitted. "I'm not sure if she likes sailing. Still, Alfred is not going to get a single grubby digit the Salem Breeze as long as you and Father draw breath."
Honoria nodded, and Charles rubbed her shoulder lightly in support. His sister adored the yacht and was the best sailor of the three of them, often taking the helm during the weekend jaunts out in the harbor when they were younger. With a pang Charles realized how much he missed those trips. "We'll have to go out soon," he told his sister, who nodded.
He joined Charlotte over at the gift table, speaking quietly to her as they were being herded by the photographer for a few pictures near the bird bath on the other end of the sunken garden. "So, holding up all right, Missus Winchester?"
"Fairly well, Doctor Winchester," she snickered. "I've fielded questions about my dress, my education, my religion and my social standing. Oh, and your mother offered to give me a little chat on what to expect on my wedding night."
"What?" startled, Charles stared at her and nearly put his hand in the birdbath. Fortunately Charlotte caught it and prevented the minor disaster.
"All right, I'm going to set up the tripod, so don't you two go away!" the photographer chirped, stepping a few feet back.
Charlotte giggled. "Well she knew my mother had passed away years ago, and felt it was important that I know just what to expect . . . really, it was a very sweet offer on her part, and good practice for when she's got to give the talk to Honoria eventually."
"Please tell me you and my mother did not actually . . ." he couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence, aghast at the entire idea.
"We did not. I assured her that as a nurse and a morgue attendant I was perfectly familiar with male anatomy and that I was very touched by her concern for our happiness," Charlotte replied, her own cheeks pink.
"Oh thank God," Charles spluttered. "There are still some aspects of our life I'd like to keep to ourselves."
"Smile!" the photographer commanded and they did, blinded for the moment by the flash. Charlotte took his hand and squeezed it.
"I did promise her I'd be gentle with you," she teased. Charles pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist and practically pinning Charlotte to his side.
"We'll see about that now, won't we?" he replied, shifting his grip to goose her just as the next flash went off.
