Family Matters by Margaret P.
(A big thanks to my betas, Terri Derr and Cristy Wyndham-Shaw) (2017—Words: 2,773)
Chapter Five
"Pass me those dresses and I'll put them in the trunk so you have room for yours in the wardrobe." Katie pointed to what Olivia had left behind. With her cousin gone on her honeymoon, Julia was moving into her bedroom with Katie to give their cousin, Fanny, and sister, Victoria, more space. With so many people in the house, sleeping arrangements had been rather a mission for Aunt Anne to work out; all three of Katie's brothers were camping out on cots in her cousin Billy's room. The official guest room, which had been Katie's before everyone else arrived, was currently being used by her parents, and her grandparents were in what used to be her cousin Jim's room before he got married. Even a six bedroom house was stretched to its limits.
"I like this Worth. Do you think Olivia would mind if I borrowed it?" Julia held the green and gold evening gown against her and swished back and forth in front of the mirror. "I could wear it when I go to the theatre on Thursday with Mr Wagner."
"If you go to the theatre with Mr Wagner. Papa hasn't given his permission yet, has he?"
"It's so unfair. Papa never stopped you going out with young men you liked."
"Firstly, I'm over twenty-one, and secondly, you have already fallen in love with more young men than I ever looked twice at. Besides Papa probably will let you go as long as someone is free to go with you."
"I wish Scott wasn't returning to Lancer so soon, you and he could chaperone. Papa says Victoria won't do on her own, and I don't want Bob or Jamie there."
"What makes you think Scott and I would be any less attentive?"
Julia smiled and grabbed Katie, dancing her around the bedroom. "You, my dear sister, now know what it's like to be in love. You and Scott would be far too busy gazing into each other's eyes to worry about whether I was sitting too close to Mr Wagner."
The girls fell onto the bed laughing just as their mother popped her head through the door.
"How are you two getting on? The Lancers will be here soon."
"We've done the small stuff. Julia only has to get her dresses from Fanny's wardrobe. Do you need help with something, Mamma?"
"No, but I would like a word before our guests arrive."
Julia got up from the bed. "I'll go and get my gowns."
Beth came into the room as Julia left and sat down beside Katie. "I've been talking to Grandmamma about your wedding. It will take some organizing if you are going to have one on the scale of Olivia and Lachlan's."
"I'd be happy with something a lot simpler, but I don't suppose there's much choice. There are so many people to invite."
"If the wedding was held in California distance and the cost would make it impractical for as many to come."
"That's one reason why Boston in the New Year seems our best option. Scott insisted last night, but I know he's heartbroken that all his family can't be at the ceremony. It took so long for them to come together, and now I'm going to start my marriage by splitting them apart."
"Don't talk nonsense. You are not splitting anyone apart. You are going to live at Lancer for the rest of your life. Marrying in Boston is Scott's way of showing how much he appreciates the sacrifices you are making."
"But he wants Johnny as best man, and now he can't even have Bob as back up. I'd love Emily as Matron of Honour too, but you said it yourself, she won't go to Boston without Johnny. Murdoch has missed out on every other important event in Scott's life so everyone is agreed he must be at the wedding, but I obviously can't marry without Papa to give me away, and I want Grandmamma there too and Jamie. Apart from Aunt Dottie, I'm not so worried about my cousins and uncles and aunts, or Grandmother Eliot. Oh dear, that sounds awful."
"It sounds perfectly reasonable to me." Beth smiled with an air of mock innocence, and Katie laughed. Grandmother Eliot didn't approve of some of her mother's activities and on occasions felt the need to say so. "All joking aside, if you are happy not to have a big wedding, your grandmamma came up with another suggestion that I think could work." Beth took Katie's suntanned hand and caressed it in her own creamy white ones. "Why don't you get married at Lancer next month while we're all there?"
"Oh, Mamma, if only we could, but Papa would never agree to that. He's only just given his blessing to us marrying. Hardly anyone from his side of the family would be able to come if the wedding was held so soon. There'd be no time to send out invitations or prepare anything."
"Is that all?"
"Well, I admit I would like a proper wedding dress, and it takes time to get the right fabric and have a gown made, but I'd do without that in a second if I thought we really could get married so soon."
"Wait here." Beth patted Katie's hand and disappeared from the room. A minute later she returned with a large parcel wrapped in tissue paper. She laid it out on the bed and began to undo the ribbons and pins that held everything together.
"Oh, Mamma, it's your wedding dress." Katie touched the soft white taffeta silk gown with reverence. She had always loved it. When she was young, she used to try it on and pretend she was a princess. "But I don't understand."
"It's the same style as the one Queen Victoria wore. It's not right for today of course, but fortunately we used more fabric in our gowns in those days, not less. I thought a good seamstress could take some from the front and use it on a train, maybe add a little more lace." Beth's eyes softened as she fingered the skirt and straightened the lace on the bodice. "I had no idea of an early wedding when I brought it with me. I wanted you to have the option of using it though, and I thought there was a chance you might not return to Boston without Scott." She looked up. "Now it could solve a problem. If you did wear this, you wouldn't have to order fabric or have so many fittings. What do you think?"
Katie couldn't say anything. Her eyes filled with tears and she hugged her mother. Picking up the dress, she held it against herself as Julia had done earlier with Olivia's gown. "I saw a veil made of Honiton lace last week that would go perfectly. Oh, Mamma, thank you. I want to wear this dress no matter where we marry."
"But you'd prefer to marry at Lancer?"
"If only we could, but Papa will never agree." Katie plumped down on the bed; it had been a lovely dream, but it wasn't going to happen. "He thought we rushed into our engagement."
"Your father was just being cautious. He loves you."
"Oh, I know he always has my best interests at heart, Mamma. I didn't mean..."
"I know you didn't." Beth squeezed Katie's hand. "Surprising as it may seem your father can remember what it's like to be young and in love—we both can. He knows it's not easy to wait."
"No." Katie could feel herself blush, but her mother just smiled.
"This way you wouldn't have to wait very long at all, and even Bob could be at the wedding."
"Oh yes, he could. I hadn't thought of that." Katie and Bob were close—he was the big brother who had always looked out for her. He'd given her the cameo ring she wore on the ring finger of her right hand. Next to Scott and Papa he was the dearest man in her life, and she'd cried herself to sleep the night she'd learned he couldn't be at her wedding.
"And for the record, your father likes Scott a lot more than he'll admit. You are his little girl; the only daughter he had for five years. He doesn't like the idea of giving you away to anyone, but I'm more than hopeful that by mid-October he'll be able to place your hand in Scott's without frowning."
"Do you really think he might say yes?"
"He should be back from the medical school by twelve thirty. There's only one way to find out."
*L*A*N*C*E*R*
"I'm starving. What's for lunch?" Robert Eliot walked through the door after his morning lecture as Katie and Scott came out of the study, arm in arm. They stopped talking immediately. "Oh dear, two young people looking excited and furtive; I smell trouble."
"Not at all, sir." Cupping his hand over Katie's, Scott forced confidence into his voice. "But we think we may have a solution to our problem. If all parties agree, of course. We were just about to sound Murdoch out. If it's convenient, we could talk to you at the same time?" He wasn't sure if that was the best idea or not, but it had been what Beth suggested, according to Katie.
Robert's eyes narrowed. "Like that, is it? Well, lead the way."
They entered the parlour to find Beth had already arranged things for a private tête-à-tête between the main players. She and Murdoch were waiting for them by the unlit fireplace, while everyone else was in the garden, drinking lemonade and chatting until luncheon was ready.
Murdoch shook Robert's hand. "Do you know what this is about? Beth won't tell me."
"No, but I have a feeling I'm the one being ambushed, not you." Robert looked meaningfully at his wife as he took a seat beside her.
"Sir, we don't want anyone to feel ambushed, but Beth and Grandmamma McIntyre have come up with an idea for our wedding that Katie and I would very much like to pursue. We're hoping you and Murdoch will give it your blessing."
"Let's hear it then."
Scott breathed in; there was still something inexplicably uncomfortable about the way his future father-in-law looked at him—rather like he was a beetle under a microscope. "As you know, you and the family are planning to visit the ranch in a couple of weeks. Well, we thought…the suggestion is that it would be a good idea to get married at Lancer next month while you are all there." Damn, he didn't mean to blurt it out in such a rush.
Katie squeezed his hand and sat down next to Murdoch. "We know it's a lot to ask, Murdoch, when the ranch is busy, but we promise we'll arrange everything. Friends and most relatives could stay in local hotels. The only extra guests at the hacienda would be Mr Garrett and maybe Grandmother Eliot and Scott's Aunt Winifred."
"We wouldn't have time to sort out another venue, sir, and the hacienda worked well for Johnny and Emily's wedding."
"Mamma and I thought we could send invitations by telegram," Beth added, ignoring the frown on her husband's face. "If the date was set for the very end of our stay, I'm confident Mr Garrett would make the effort, and I'm sure he would be happy to escort your mother, Robert. Certainly, it would be too short notice for most others in Boston, but it would be a lot easier for our friends and relatives here in San Francisco."
"I think it's a marvellous idea." Murdoch slapped his knee and grinned. "Robert?"
"My mother won't come at such short notice. She dislikes travelling at the best of times, and her social calendar is set months in advance. She will see setting such an early date as a deliberate ploy to exclude her—or worse, an attempt to hide something."
"Oh, Papa, no. She couldn't possibly." Katie looked horrified.
How dare her father…He knew damn well… Scott bit his tongue and breathed in and out before daring to speak. "I'll write to her, sir, and explain."
"You will do no such thing," Robert growled like a cornered bear, and Scott straightened.
Shit. Why hadn't they spoken to him alone? He wouldn't like something like this sprung on him in front of a friend, and let's face it, none of them had really thought Murdoch would object. Katie's father had always been seen as the challenge.
"I could still bring Katie to Boston in the spring."
"Oh, yes, Papa, we could do what we thought of doing at the ranch if we married in Boston and have a party for everyone not able to attend the wedding."
"I could ask your mother to help me arrange things. You know she would enjoy that, and it would do away with any ridiculous notions she or anyone else might have."
"Early March?"
"Yes, sir. The snows should have cleared from the railroad by late February, and it would mean we could be home again before the ranch got too busy."
"If we get married at Lancer, Papa, Johnny can be Scott's best man, and Emily can be my Matron of Honour. It would mean so much to both of us." There were tears in Katie's eyes. Scott moved to her side, placing his hand on her shoulder.
Her father turned away, crossing his legs and staring at the floral tiles on the fireplace. "I suppose the idea has some merit. I wouldn't need to negotiate any more leave, and we would escape the endless preparations that seem to accompany weddings these days."
"Yes, Papa. And it would mean Bob, Jamie and Grandmamma could all be there."
"But none of your Eliot uncles, aunts or cousins. Nor in fact almost anyone from back east who isn't already in California."
"Possibly not." Katie hung her head and twisted her cameo ring. "I'm sure Aunt Dottie would try her best to come. I do hope she can come—and Grandmother."
"My brothers will think it is punishment for the Sir Bertram debacle."
"Well, it's not." Katie flared, raising her eyes to her father's. "But I won't be sorry if they can't come. Papa, you can't blame me for being angry?"
"No, my dear, and it would serve them right if we didn't invite them—but we will." Robert got up and rested an elbow on the mantelpiece, looking down at Murdoch. "I'm still paying for everything."
Murdoch chuckled and relaxed back on the sofa. "I'm only providing the venue, and Scott owns a third of that, but I'll send you a bill if you insist."
"Oh, Papa, does this mean you agree?" Katie jumped up.
Her father gave a muffled grunt and small, dismissive wave, and she threw herself into his arms.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. Oh, this is wonderful: my sisters, Emily and Teresa can be bridesmaids and my brothers and Johnny can stand up for Scott."
"Thank you, sir." Scott offered his hand and failed miserably at suppressing a grin.
"A wise man knows when he's beaten." With his left arm still around his daughter, Robert slapped his right hand into Scott's and shook it firmly. "Your time will come."
Exchanging some expressive but thankfully good humoured looks, Robert and Beth then led the way out into the garden. Scott called for everyone's attention and relayed the news.
"Oh, I'm so glad." Emily pressed Scott's hand between hers and hugged Katie as others came over to express their joy.
"I'm not wearing a monkey suit, brother," Johnny said in a low voice as he and Bob did the rounds with bottles of good Californian wine.
"I'll see what I can do." Scott laughed. He knew what Katie would say. "But I've told you before: the bride decides what everyone wears at a wedding."
"Pfft." Johnny scowled and moved on.
When everyone's glass was full, Murdoch raised his. "A toast: to the second wedding at the Lancer ranch in the space of a year." Clearly, he couldn't be happier.
"It turned out better than anyone could have guessed." Scott smiled down at Katie as they said their private goodbyes some hours later. He and his family would catch the train back to the San Joaquin early the next day, so he was taking full advantage of the now deserted garden. He'd even checked behind the lilac bush. "Last chance to change your mind, Miss Eliot."
"Not on your life, Mr Lancer. Come October 12th, you're mine."
Notes:
5. The House of Worth, 1858-1952, was a French house of high fashion that specialized in haute-couture, ready-to-wear clothes and perfume. See wiki/House_of_Worth