Chapter Twenty-Nine

The whole day had flown by in a dream. Ruth didn't know how it had happened. She spent the night at Leister Palace with her father, spending the evening looking at photos of her mother and reminiscing softly with Dad before going to sleep in her childhood bedroom. And then she was woken early in the morning and everything was something of a blur after that.

There were about a dozen people doing her hair and her makeup and getting her dressed. That wasn't too unusual, since all of that happened when she had a formal royal function to attend. But those never happened first thing in the bloody morning. She was scolded about a hundred times for ruining her nails trying to eat toast and messing up her lipstick by drinking coffee. It was stupid to be wearing lipstick so early in the morning. But then again, it was her wedding day. There was nothing at all ordinary about today.

Ruth had been told many times what the requirements were, though at six in the morning, the reason they were required had escaped her. But she had to be made up and ready to be photographed in the grand foyer of Leister Palace while avoiding all the servants setting things up for the wedding.

A number of options were presented to Ruth for the royal wedding—ignoring the fact that Harry was not a royal and Ruth was a second rate one at that. Both she and Harry had been adamant on not being married in some horrific cathedral, so that narrowed the options. Grandfather had offered the royal palace, but they had politely declined that as well. Only the reigning monarch and his immediate successor was entitled to be married there, and Ruth wouldn't have felt right about it, not even counting the fact that the last wedding held there had been Uncle Edmund and Juliet. And in the end, Leister Palace, where Ruth had been born and lived all her life before leaving for university, was the perfect place. Plus, with Dad's illness, it was best he did not have to travel far.

After the photos of her alone, posing in all sorts of ways that made her absolutely hate herself, Dad appeared in all his beautiful royal regalia. That was the first genuine smile she'd had so far.

"You're missing something, I'm afraid," he said. He revealed a box from behind his back and presented it to her. "This was the one your mother wore when we got married. You've got a diamond from your grandmother's ring, I thought you'd like to have something of your mum's too."

Ruth's eyes widened, even with the fake lashes weighing them down, when she saw the exquisite tiara that he'd presented to her. She knew this one very well. It was in all the best pictures of her mother, including her parents' wedding photos. The diamonds glittered like new.

"I had it polished and ready for you. Let's see if one of those brilliantly talented women can fix it in your hair properly," he suggested.

Three women, in fact, appeared as if by magic and secured the tiara into the beautiful hairdo that they'd created for her. They then hurried out of frame so father and daughter could have their photos taken.

It seemed all Ruth did all morning was take photos. The maid of honor, Catherine, arrived a little while later for their photos together. She looked so beautiful in the long-sleeved blue lace gown. Their dresses actually went really nicely together with the matching sleeves and lace, though of course Ruth's dress as white and much more opulent than Catherine's. She was just glad she'd gotten the powers that be to agree to letting her wear a dress that did not make her feel like a pavlova.

And then, as though an entire day had not passed just in the preparations and photos, it was time for Ruth to get ready. Apparently Harry and Graham—the best man—were already in the ballroom in their places. The guests had all arrived, and Catherine and Dad were there waiting with her. Music started playing and Catherine walked down the aisle. She was so elegant, so confident for someone so young. Not like Ruth at all, and Ruth admired the young woman for it. But she could not see much, as she could not peek without being spotted before it was time.

Someone fixed Ruth's skirt and veil and handed her the bridal bouquet and suddenly Dad wrapped her arm around his. "Ready, dear?"

Ruth had never been more ready for anything in all her life.

The ceremony was a whirlwind. She could recall quite clearly the feeling of the room all filled and everyone standing to watch her walk down the aisle. All she saw, though, was the way Harry smiled at her, the way his eyes were a bit watery as he watched her walk toward him. Thank god Dad was holding onto her or she'd have tripped and fallen, what with the way she wasn't paying attention.

Grandfather stood from where he sat in the front row and walked her up with Dad the last few steps to the makeshift altar. He used his most regal voice to proclaim the royal consent to the marriage of Louisa Ruth Emilia Catherine, Princess of Leister, to Sir Henry James Pearce, Major of His Majesty's Royal Army.

Dad lifted her veil and kissed her cheek, and Harry finally took her hand. "You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," he whispered. Ruth felt herself blush, as he'd said those same words to her when they had made love the first time and again when she had surprised him with the burgundy dress and he'd ended up spontaneously proposing. The memory of those occasions filled her heart with joy, but having him say them now, when they were about to be wed, meant everything.

Before she knew it, she and Harry had both said "I do," and put the wedding rings on each other's fingers. Unbeknownst to Ruth, her father had given Harry the wedding band that had been her mother's. The tiara and the wedding band that had once belonged to her dearly departed mother were now with her on the day she married the love of her life. She could not have asked for anything more.

But oh, then Harry kissed her! A round of applause and cheers meet their first kiss as husband and wife, this time from the crowd of people and not just ringing inside her head. And they were married.

"Everything alright, darling?"

Ruth turned to see Harry watching her curiously. "Yes, sorry, I was just thinking back on the day. It's been quite a lot."

"Catherine had to be here at nine in the morning for photographs and the ceremony didn't start until one. What time did they get you up?" he asked.

She stabbed a carrot on her plate in annoyance. "I had curlers in my hair at six in the morning. That was the first time I noticed the clock. I don't know what time they dragged me out of bed."

Harry chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Well, make sure you have some coffee because I'm going to be keeping you up all night," he whispered.

Ruth knew that tone. She knew exactly what he meant. After all, it was their wedding night and Harry had promised her he'd planned it and their honeymoon to perfection. And Ruth had gone all by herself—mercifully not with Catherine—to a very fancy shop full of naughty lacy things and bought something to surprise her new husband. She certainly wanted to be awake enough enjoy it.

She turned and smiled to her husband. Oh how she loved to call him that! All around, people were drinking and eating and dancing and enjoying the party. She was so glad they'd stood firm on not having as much of the silly formalities at their wedding reception. It was a happy, easy affair, despite being in a royal palace.

The evening was starting to wind down. After the official wedding portraits with the whole family and the wedding party and just the bride and groom following the ceremony, there had been a cocktail hour in the grand foyer with all the beautiful toasts to the newlyweds from Ruth's father and grandfather and from Malcolm and a very sweet joint speech from Catherine and Graham. Then they'd all gone back to the ballroom, transformed from rows of seats and an altar to tables surrounding a dance floor, where the band was starting to play. Harry and Ruth had the first dance together, then Harry with Catherine and Ruth with her father. They danced and danced with everyone they could possibly find. Ruth only had to suffer one dance with Uncle Edmund and thankfully Dad had danced with Juliet so Harry wouldn't have to speak to her. Ruth also danced with Graham and with Malcolm and a few other cousins. Poor Harry was passed around between some of the countesses and duchesses with Ruth danced with their husbands. Finally they'd been allowed to sit for dinner, which was now starting to end.

"Harry," Ruth said quite suddenly.

"Yes, Ruth?" he responded.

She smiled. "Dance with me."

"You're not tired of dancing?"

Ruth shook her head adamantly. "I only got to dance with you once. And I'm the bride and people keep telling me that means I can get whatever I want on my wedding day, and what I want right now is to dance with my husband."

Harry stood, beaming and holding his hand out to her. "I promise you, darling, I shall never turn down an opportunity to dance with my wife."

The band started playing a gentle foxtrot, and Harry twirled Ruth around the floor. They laughed and kissed as they danced. Ruth had never been so happy in all her life. It was the first time she'd ever really felt like a princess.