Author's Notes – Housekeeping Detail: In this story I have referenced, in different chapters, two distinct garden areas at the Big House. The Sun Dial Garden, and the Gazebo Garden.
In my mind the Big House front façade faces west, and the back side faces East. The Sun Dial Garden is parallel to the French doors outside of the study – accessible by a flagstone path. The main barns are diagonal to the garden and the house.
The Gazebo Garden is at the rear of the house and would be accessible through the main hallway. The garden is framed by a small boxwood hedge, with the corners having magnolia trees. Each corner showcases different flowing shrubs, and a wrought iron bench to sit upon. There is a main pathway from the house to the gazebo, which will be the route for the bridal party.
Chapter Fifty
The music changed to the Minute in G Major. Priscilla and the Lt. Governor arrived at the same time. The change in music was the signal for the ceremony to start, and Liam offered his arm to Elspeth. They walked down the aisle, and took their seats on the left side, with chairs closest to the gazebo.
Jarrod watched Priscilla and her escort walk down next, and he turned to Victoria. Before they started down the aisle, he gave his mother a hug. He was so glad to see how well she looked. He had been concerned about her all fall and winter, as Heath's debacle played out. Now though she was refreshed, knowing that Heath had found happiness.
"Duchess, I think you should have worn a tiara." Jarrod bowed to her, in honor and love. She had been through so much but always held her head high. On some level he knew his ability as a trial lawyer was because of the example she had always set.
"Really? It is my garden, five o'clock in the afternoon; it would have been too much." Victoria hugged him back, even as she laughed at his comment. For her part, it was such a relief that her children were all settled, happy, and doing well. Tom would be proud, she thought to herself.
"Well then we should get down the aisle, so the wedding can occur." Jarrod offered his arm and Victoria took it with pride. He thought that she looked like a queen walking down the aisle, and it touched him when their friends all stood up in her honor, as she went past.
Heath, Nick, and Reverend Peterson made their way from the side and climbed up the stairs to the gazebo. The smell of flowers was overwhelming – the roses decorating the structure, and the magnolia trees in the corners of the garden that were in full bloom.
"I think your wedding is as pink as Audra's was; you definitely have more flowers." Nick observed to Heath, as he winked at the Reverend.
"Last month, when Grace Chaffin married" the man smiled "her mother and sisters had decorated the church with every white flower they could find." He shook his head at the memory.
"Do you have the ring?" Heath asked Nick, who rolled his eyes in reply.
"Yes, for the third time I have the ring." He patted his pocket where the ring was.
Heath was surprised that he was feeling nervous about the ceremony. It was all for show and did not mean anything. It was not like he had not been married before, even if it was under different circumstances.
"I have to wonder how much input your bride had on all this." Nick indicated the flowers and ribbons that covered the gazebo. "This looks more like our sister, and my wife. Priscilla adores bows." He smiled, as his eyes twinkled, in private memories.
"My understanding is that Sharon oversaw the reception, but Audra and Priscilla did the wedding." Heath offered, silently agreeing with Nick. It had taken him aback when Sharon had talked about the wedding dinner, which sounded like a very formal event. He had not thought Sharon would choose something like that, and it made him wonder, yet again, how well he knew her or had ever known her.
"We are ready to start gentlemen. It is a good sign that your bride is not keeping you waiting." Reverend Peterson looked at Heath as he made the comment. The music had changed to a light, delicate tune and Heath turned to look at the walkway.
Elspeth and Liam came down the walkway, looking distinguished and very English. Liam's suit was perfectly tailored from Savile Row and Elspeth was elegant in a dress of cornflower blue silk. She wore her Clan's Tartan sash, secured by a stunning gold brooch with a center stone of an emerald the size of an egg. Elspeth had emeralds at her ears, and on her wrists over impeccable kid gloves.
"Just so you know, Priscilla and I think that they make quite the happy couple." Nick observed in Heath's ear before going on "we are hoping they hit it off".
Heath mentally sighed, as heard Nick's comments. He was not in Granny Elspeth's cheering section, because of her nursery policies. It galled him because the rest of his family, along with Maud and Olaf all had no problems with said policies. He then thought that if Elspeth remarried, she would not be so involved with the nursery.
"Now we have the Lt. Governor and Priscilla" Nick commented, as Priscilla and a tall, well-dressed man came down the aisle. "The Governor sent his regrets, but he has been busy in Sacramento with the Vice President. They will all be in San Francisco the same time you are."
Priscilla was wearing a deep rose silk dress, ornamented with silk chiffon ruffles, and inset lace bands in the same color. The whole outfit was trimmed with ribbon in the same deep rose. Heath noted the décolleté of the dress that showed off a pink pearl choker inset with diamonds. It was a series of interlocking circles and had matching bracelets and earrings.
Heath looked out into the yard, and saw Jarrod and Victoria start down the aisle. He noticed that everyone stood up as she walked past, looking like a queen. It had nothing to do with her clothes, but rather her regal bearing as she carried herself. Victoria was tiny only in statue – in every other way she was mighty. He watched as Jarrod helped her to sit down, and the sat next to her.
The music changed to Pachelbel's Canon, and Heath saw everyone turn slightly in their chairs to look at the walkway. Tara and Simon were walking down, and Heath's heart filled with pride and love. Tara looked like a fairy in her pink dress; she had told him she had never owned anything so nice before. He had replied that from now on there would be lots of nice dresses.
As Heath looked at his son, he was sure that Magda was there, smiling down on them. Suddenly he did not regret the night, all those years ago, and within his heart he forgave Magda for what she had done. Heath felt a loosening in his heart as he made the silent admission. Only then did he realize the anger he had been festering inside him since that September night.
Tara was carrying a small basket, decorated with pink ribbons. She was tossing flower petals from it, which scattered on the white cloth, while Simon stared straight ahead.
"Because we do not have enough flowers already" Nick whispered to Heath, who nodded his head. He admired Simon's poise and was sure that Magda would have been proud of the boy. The pair walked up the stairs and entered the gazebo. Tara walked over to the left, while Simon went and stood next to Nick.
Audra came down next, and Heath admired how lovely she looked. The beauty had always been there, but marriage and motherhood had matured and enhanced her features. She was in pink also, but her dress was simpler than Tara's.
His train of thought was broken as the music changed to Here Comes the Bride, and Heath saw everyone stand up. Sharon and Sean were walking down the aisle, and Heath was taken aback as he looked at them. If it were not for Sharon's hair, and Sean being with her, he would never have recognized her.
Sharon looked like a princess – something you would see in a storybook. As she came closer, he could see her dark blue eyes; her hair was formally put up with flowers scattered in it. Heath noted that the pearl drop earrings glowed against her skin. His brain turned to mush as he felt a welling up of an emotion he had not felt in a long time.
"Your bride is beautiful, and you are very lucky" Nick whispered in his brother's ear. "You will have to keep a close eye on her; just so you know the Lt. Governor is quite the ladies man." He noted the shocked look on Heath's face and had to nudge him.
Nick was watching Heath's reaction to Sharon, and it gave him hope that the marriage could be a love match in the end. Heath was looking at Sharon the same way he had all those years ago when they were first courting. Priscilla will be glad to hear this, Nick said to himself as he nudged Heath again. Sharon and Sean were standing in front of them, waiting on Heath.
"Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?" Reverend Peterson intoned as he lifted his prayer book. In fact, he had seen Heath's reaction to Sharon and said a prayer of thanksgiving that the couple had found each other.
"I, Sean Flynn, give my mother's hand in marriage to Heath Thomas Barkley." The boy said in a very serious tone of voice, sounding older than six years old. After Sean had extended his mother's hand to Heath, he had bowed, looking very happy.
For Heath, having heard Sean's words, and still in awe by how beautiful Sharon looked, he was overwhelmed. The whole ceremony, the love of his family – which now included Sharon, Sean and Tara left him speechless. When he had come up with this arrangement, he had not had any idea all the emotions it would release.
"Heath, take Sharon's hand, turn to Sean and say thank you." Nick thought back to his own wedding, and the emotions he had felt as he saw Priscilla at the altar. He had teared up with just beautiful she was, and the fact that she would be his wife.
Sharon was having her own overwhelming emotions, and only how tightly her corset was laced was keeping her composed. The memory of her first wedding – she had known in her heart and soul that marriage to Paul was wrong. Paul – and the mad Priest – not liking the greenery she had decorated the church with. And then when Paul was beating her the cleric blamed it all on her.
Those memories were interlaced with the fact that she was dressed in the most expensive dress she had owned. Sharon suddenly wished that Lady Emily were with her because they would have giggled and swooned over the dress. Her children were guaranteed a secure future, and to top it all off, the Lt. Governor was at the wedding.
She let Sean take her hand and extend it to Heath, who took it after a not so discreet nudge from Nick. In truth, Sharon, noting how Heath was looking at her, was back at Kilkenny Farm last year, by the paddock. Sharon felt breathless, as he was looking at her, which had nothing to do with a business arrangement. She felt herself go stiff; what if Heath would want to exercise his rights after all? Sharon remembered that she had not signed any agreement, holding Heath to his word. Once she was married Sharon knew that other than the money, she was at his mercy.
Heath saw Sharon's countenance take on a fearful expression. It took him aback because he could not imagine what there was to be afraid of. He took a deep breath, stood up straighter, and forced himself to remember this was a marriage for outward purposes only.
Thank goodness, he thought to himself, no one had been able to know the feelings and emotions that had welled up as he gazed at Sharon. Heath inwardly scolded himself about losing control and ruining his life for love. It had happened once too often, and he was determined that it would never happen again.
The marriage ceremony was solemn, with the vows, and Heath slipping on Sharon's finger a fine gold band, made from a nugget of gold from the family's first mine. Saying the vows had been hard, because of the situation, but Heath reminded himself it was for the right reasons.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife" Reverend Peterson announced. He turned to Heath "you may now kiss your bride." The minister was beaming – this was always a special moment in the ceremony.
Heath froze for a moment, as he realized what was expected of him. The last thing he wanted, after the emotions he had felt when he had gazed on Sharon, was to hold her in his arms. Everyone though, he saw, was looking expectantly at him, so he took a deep breath before putting his arms around Sharon.
For her part, Sharon had seen how stiff Heath looked, along with an almost grimace on his face. She knew she should be sad at his reaction; after all he had made it very clear why he was marrying her. Sharon though was secretly relived that her earlier fear – that Heath would want his martial rights – would not come to pass.
Sharon saw Heath move to take her in his arms, and she moved close enough to make it easy for his arms to enclose her shoulders. She was taken aback when Heath brought his lips down to hers. The kiss was soft, but Sharon felt old feelings stirring inside her.
Heath had meant to barely touch her lips, but holding her in his arms, and the feel of her body had overwhelmed him. It was easy to kiss her, and Heath had to force himself to pull back. He decided he would have to be more careful of his interactions with her.
He heard clapping from the guests, as Sean and Tara came up to greet the couple. Among the hugs Heath noticed that Simon hung back, before bowing to Sharon, who reached over and took his hand.
"I hope that I can count on a dance with you, Simon?" She laughed, her dimples showing. "Us redheads have to stick together!" She inclined her head, and Heath saw the young man flush with happiness.
"Yes of course, Senora Heath." Simon reverted to his formal manners, which gave Heath pause. The young man had always addressed Sharon as Senora Flynn until today.
"Would you drop the Senora honorific?" Sharon looked at Simon, who was standing so upright and proper. She had, because of his friendship with Sean, had come to appreciate the boy's character. "Please call me Tante Sharon? That is German for Aunt, and I am sure that your mother would approve. God rest her soul." Sharon crossed herself as she made the announcement.
Heath was taken aback at Simon's reaction, as he crossed himself also, and it touched him that Sharon had honored Simon's mother. He felt himself start to feel all the emotions he did not want to. The memory of Sarah throwing porcelain figurines, while screaming loudly, before she kicked them out of the house flashed into his mind.
"Thank you Tante Sharon." Simon bowed, and then turned to Tara, who took his hand. That broke Heath's train of thought, as he looked around the gazebo.
"If you want to have dinner, and dancing we need to move this along." Nick shifted his feet, his booted heels hitting the wooden boards. He would later tell Priscilla that this was the best thing that had ever happened to Heath.
After the couple had done the processional down the aisle, to the "Wedding March" Priscila directed the couple over to the eastern side of the garden, where a receiving line formed. The first half hour was given to the special friends who had been invited to the ceremony. There was champagne and canapés, served by Pedro and the household staff.
Heath had insisted that Silas, other than baking the cakes, was to be a guest at the event. He had been happy too that Violet, who was staying at the house with Sharon, had been helping with the preparations for the wedding. They were waiting in the line with the other guests.
The only fly in the ointment, in Heath's opinion was the Lt. Governor. It had surprised him that the man was here, because it was common knowledge that the current governor, George Stoneman, had wanted Jarrod on the ticket. Lt. Governor Marcus Snell had been second choice, which did not seem to bother the man.
He had been left a widower in his thirties, and after a suitable period of mourning he became quite the man about town. Heath had not needed Nick's warning about the man, since he already knew the facts. As Heath stood at the head of the receiving line, he was not happy with the fulsome comments the man was paying to Sharon. Not only was it unseemly, but it was holding the rest of the guests up. The man, because of his rank, had been first.
"Marcus, I want a drink and that is not going to happen until after we get through this line." Jarrod gave the Lt. Governor a hard look as he made the comment.
"Heath you are a lucky man." Marcus Snell announced, as he bowed to Sharon, before letting go of her hand.
Sharon thought privately to herself that she was glad she had worn gloves, as the man was just on the edge of impropriety in his attentions to her. She had also noticed how Heath was regarding the Lt. Governor with narrowed eyes, which made her want to roll her eyes.
Heath had been very dismayed at the twinge of jealousy that came on him, as he watched Marcus Snell hold Sharon's hand. He told himself that it was just a business arrangement, and he had no personal feelings for Sharon. Heath was not jealous, he rationalized, rather just rightly annoyed at another man paying too much attention to his wife.
After everyone had been greeted in the receiving line there was a half hour interlude in the garden. The Chamber group played, champagne and canapés were passed by white gloved house attendants. Heath had, when the outdoor dining had been proposed, envisioned a barbecue, served buffet style.
Instead, a bell, rung by Pedro, announced it was time for the main meal. Heath saw the round tables, which sat six people each were draped with white linen tables clothes. There were candles set in hurricane lamps, and the tables were decorated with greenery interspersed with pink flowers.
Heath, as Sharon escorted him over to the main table – a rectangle instead of a circle – saw that finely written place cards had been set atop the porcelain plates. He also noticed three different types of etched crystal wineglasses, and a large assortment of silverware.
He was all set to make a comment about how over the top it was, when he realized that everyone else was in awe of the presentation. As people made their way to the respective tables, they all came up to compliment Priscilla and Sharon. Heath felt like window dressing; the only cheerful thought is that the Lt. Governor was at the end of the table.
As the bridal couple they were in the center, with Audra next to him, and Nick next to Sharon. Victoria was next to Nick, while Jarrod was next to Audra; the Lt. Governor was next to Victoria, while Priscilla was next to Jarrod. Carl, along with Elspeth, Liam, Silas, and Violet were at a table close by. Heath was glad to see that Simon, Sean and Tara were also there.
The meal had nothing to do with a barbecue, but he was impressed at how well done it was. There was wine for each course, and Heath noted that while Sharon took a small sip of each vintage, she left the rest in her glass. For his part, he forced himself to smile – this evening was not to his taste at all.
However, he understood his duties as the bridegroom, so he refrained from drinking all the wine put in front of him. Heath reprimanded himself, as he was the one who had put the farce into place. His heart softened though, as he saw the children laughing with Liam. The man had taken his napkin and folded into a replica of a horse. Heath was cheered too, as he saw how Elspeth was talking to Silas and Violet with affection.
Heath noted how the sun was starting to set, as the tables glowed with candlelight. There were torches around the perimeter of the garden that were now being lit. The air was warm and scented with flowers – the garden took on an aura of a fairy garden.
It came to him that he would never have thought of all this, but he remembered Nick's words about Sharon doing the reception. She had created magic – Heath realized that yet again his bride was someone he did not know at all. He thought back to eight years ago, at Kilkenny Farms – what had happened to the simple Irish girl he had known?
He had made his arrangement based on the Sharon he had known all those years ago. Heath thought back to their evening at the Gaiety Theater, and how worldly Sharon was now. His eyes narrowed as he recalled the Lt. Governor paying way too much attention to her, as she took it all in stride. Heath yet again pondered what he had set in motion.
Author's Note: George Stoneman was the Governor of California during this period, but Lt. Governor Snell is fictious. Interesting tidbit about Governor Stoneman; he is immortalized in the song "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down" in 1969 by the song writer Robbie Robertson of "The Band". They did not achieve success with the song, but Joan Baez did, in 1971. She substituted the words "Stoneman's Calvary" for "so much calvary". She later stated that when she had heard the original recording, she had misunderstood the words.