"Oh Anne, you look stunning!" Henrietta gushed, with Louisa nodding enthusiastically in agreement.

Standing in the center of the room, Anne beamed radiantly. Her dress, constructed from white satin with a net overlay accented by white embroidered flowers, richly contrasted with her dark brown hair, upon which lay a bonnet with an exquisite Mechlin lace veil hanging down the back.

"Every bride is beautiful on her wedding day," Mary sniffed.

Henrietta, Louisa and Anne exchanged knowing glances. Today was proving to be a trying day for Mary. Usually Anne attended to her, comforted her, and helped her. Mary did not like seeing Anne raised to the center of attention, even if it was her wedding day. Moreover, once Anne was married, she would be restored to her rights of seniority. At least Mary could console herself with the fact that she married before either of her older sisters, and she had a future landed estate ahead of her.

The door knocked and a servant entered, handing a small package to Anne. It was simply wrapped with brown paper and twine, with a sealed card placed on top.

"Oh, it must be a gift from Frederick!" Louisa exclaimed. "James gave me gold earrings on our wedding day."

"And Charles gave me this lovely cross pendant," Henrietta added, lifting the piece around her neck.

Mary said nothing; either she received no gift from her husband when they wed five years ago, or she could not remember.

Anne inspected the seal; it was indeed from Frederick. She excitedly opened the card.

My dearest Anne,

I have dreamt of this day for almost nine years. Today, you will make me the happiest of men. I cannot wait to begin our life together as husband and wife.

For you I will always burn, my beautiful fire.

Yours forever,

Frederick

Anne smiled, slowly removing the twine and pulling apart the paper to reveal a jewelry box. Upon opening it, she found a long strand of perfectly matched, creamy white pearls. The necklace clasp was shaped like a flower, with fire red rubies in the center and small diamonds scattered against gold to form the petals. Elegant, tasteful, perfect.

Louisa and Henrietta gasped in unison as they admired the gorgeous necklace, both desiring to study it more closely. As they marvelled at how the pearls seemed to glow from within and the gemstones glittered in the sunlight, Mary intently brushed imaginary dust off her dress.

Once her maid fastened the pearls around her neck, Anne turned to the mirror and saw the giddy expression on her face; she felt like a nineteen year old in the throes of first love again.

"Come, Anne, it is time to go downstairs and meet our father," Mary said impatiently.

Anne picked up her bouquet of peonies in varying shades of pink and together they went to the staircase. At the bottom, Sir Walter stood in full dress, his hair perfectly combed and his clothes with not one wrinkle on them.

"Ah, Anne, you are looking very well. Your skin and complexion are glowing. Indeed, I shall not be ashamed to be seen with you today."

Knowing it was the highest praise her father could muster and unwilling to let anything dampen her joy, Anne simply replied, "Thank you, father."

"Shall we go to the church?" He asked.

Nodding, Anne took her father's arm and they walked to the carriage waiting outside.

~~END OF CHAPTER~~