Ada and James married on Saturday 15th October 1910 in the parish church of St Mary's. Present were their parents, Lady Burbridge, Ethel as Maid of Honour, James' friend and colleague Timothy, a tall, fair-haired, blue-eyed ruggedly-handsome house surgeon, as best man, and Miss Luckes. Ada's dress was made of satin and lace, in a shade of pale blue not unlike the Sister's uniform she once wore with so much pride, and she had walked alone up the aisle with a bouquet of white roses in hand. Ethel followed behind her, her satin dress in navy. James and Timothy wore matching grey morning suits, blue cravats and roses in their buttonholes.
Whilst they had consented to be present, Ada's parents had not spoken to her before the ceremony, and had chosen to stay in the coaching inn in the village rather than take up Lady Burbridge's offer of accommodation at the hall. She had looked to where they were seated as she slowly stepped towards the altar. She could not fathom their expressions, but she assumed that pride and approval did not feature amongst them.
The wedding party returned to Burbridge Hall, Ada and James, Ethel and Timothy, in Lady Burbridge's own carriage, the rest of the party slightly cosily balanced on Reverend Smithfield's pony and trap. As the bridal party entered the house, Ada skipped down the hallway, peeked around the door of the dining room, and gasped in awe. It had been bedecked with flowers, the finest linens were on the table and the best crockery, glassware, and silver sparkled in the light cascading through the sash windows.
Before returning to the best parlour where Sanders and the other staff were serving champagne, Ada darted up the servant's stairs and across the landing to her room. There she found Adelaide gently rocking Sarah, who had been dressed in a new white smock and a bonnet decorated with embroidered blue flowers to match the colour of her mother's bridal gown.
"I think she's hungry, Nurse Russ…, I mean, Mrs Walton, ma'am," Adelaide tripped over words.
"I'll feed her now, before she meets her grandparents."
Adelaide handed Sarah over to Ada, and helped her adjust her dress in order to feed.
"Will there be anything else, Mrs Walton?" Adelaide asked.
"Only to tell you that you have the afternoon off, and there is a place set for you at the table." Adelaide's jaw dropped. "You have been a friend to me since I arrived, and I would like you to be my guest. Lady Constance has seen that an appropriate gown has been sent to your room," Ada added before Adelaide could add further comments.
"Thank you Mrs Walton," Adelaide replied as she left the room. Ada could not help but smile as she heard Adelaide's feet dance down the corridor in the direction of the servant's quarters.
Having seen to Sarah, Ada carried her downstairs and stood for a moment outside the door to the best parlour. She gazed at her wedding party, who, even in this relatively small room, looked lost and seemed to rattle around. No-one was really talking to each other, apart from Ethel who was trying to engage her parents in conversation. She took a deep breath and made to step into the room. It was at this point James noticed her approach and called out,
"Please put your hands together for my wife and daughter!"
Timothy, Ethel, Miss Luckes, Lady Constance and Adelaide who had just skipped through the door in her new imperial-purple gown, applauded with great gusto, adding the occasional whoop and cheer. The two sets of parents however did not look amused by this announcement. James' father's mouth gaped open and his eyes shot daggers at his son. Ada came to his rescue.
"Mother, father, William, Rosalie, allow me to introduce you to Sarah Constance Ethel Walton, née Russell. Upon our marriage, James has become her adoptive father. I hope that you grow to love your granddaughter as much as her parents do."
Without another word or a moment's hesitation, Ada strolled across the room and placed Sarah into her mother's arms, before silently retreating to the chair opposite. Helena Russell stared between her daughter and her granddaughter, the latter a spitting image of the former.
"At least we can be thankful that she looks like you," Helena remarked.
Ada's breath caught in her throat and she rapidly blinked back the tears that she knew were coming.
"Don't upset her on her wedding day," Edmund Russell replied in admonishment, "I'm glad everything's turned out alright Ada dear."
"Thank you father," Ada replied, getting up and putting her arms around his neck.
The wedding luncheon was served with no expenses spared, venison, and game pies, and wild salmon, and shellfish, preceded tarts, and syllabubs, and fruits, and jellies. Champagne, the finest wines from Burbridge Hall's cellar, and a bottle of the Late Lord Burbrige's vintage port flowed liberally throughout the room. By the time the cake was brought into the dining room, a towering concoction of fruitcake, marzipan, and royal icing that had only just dried in time, the party was full of life, and Ada and James could not help but beam from ear to ear.
The night drew to a weary, if merry, close. They had danced the night away to Davies the second footman on the fiddle and Ethel and Adelaide taking turns to play the piano. As the rest of their guests drifted off to bed, James and Ada sat on the steps of Burbridge Hall, much as they had done when they were first reunited all those months ago. The night was clear but cold, the stars sparkling above them and their whispery breath rising into dark. Ada rested her head on James's shoulder, and his arm found her waist. They sat in silence for a moment, listening to each other's breathing, lost in contentment and pleasure in the company of the other. Then, putting her hand across his chest, Ada whispered,
"I'm ready, James."
Her words, and the fine-wine induced stupor that he found himself in, confused him for a moment. Then, suddenly remembering the conversation they had had the night they proposed, he looked at her, planted a kiss on her lips, got to his feet, helped Ada to hers, and gently guided her up the stairs to the room that was now theirs.
Closing the door behind them, James threw off his tailcoat and, standing behind Ada, wrapped his arms around waist and kissed her neck. Ada unpinned her hair, allowing it to brush softly against James face. With two fumbling pairs of hands, they managed to release Ada from her dress, which was casually draped across her desk chair. Standing in her underwear, facing her husband, Ada loosened James' cravat and shirt buttons. James felt his heart beginning to raise, his breath coming rasping, and a hitherto inexperienced surge of passion.
"Oh Ada," he breathed, guiding her onto their bed, "I want you."
"Have me," Ada moaned in reply, unhooking her corset and throwing it off the side of the bed, "I'm yours."
James threw his remaining clothing off and rolled onto Ada, kissing her mouth and fondling her breasts with one hand. He looked at her for reassurance, before running his other hand down her abdomen and stopping between her legs. Ada gasped slightly at his touch, but her eyes begged him to continue. He was desperate now, aching for her. He felt her move slightly below him, permitting him entry. Fighting against every urge that was gripping him, James moved slowly, carefully, gently filling Ada.
"Oh James," she gasped, "please don't stop."
Ada found herself in heaven. All the horrors she had felt with a man that night would never hurt her now. That was just a nightmare. James could control himself no longer and together their bodies found their natural rhythm, they were one body, one flesh, man and wife.
When ecstasy had been reached, they slumped back onto the pillows and mattress of the four-poster bed, enveloped in each other's embrace, their breathing slowly returning to normal. After a moment, the two of them looked at each other, and with a childlike innocence, they asked each other,
"How was it for you?"
Giggling at their awkwardness, they both replied.
"Like a dream come true."
A/N I hope you have enjoyed this tale of Ada's life and love post-series. If so, please leave a review!
