Hey Folks! Eliza and William's wedding day has arrived! Both are a little nervous and some break with traditions. I figure if they are going to be a more modern couple they deserve to have a more modern wedding ceremony. Not too modern, though, need to keep some traditions. Thank you! Love - Carebearmaxi.
Funny Meeting You Here
Book 3/Chapter 24
April 24th – Wedding Day – William's preparations:
"Oliver, I got it!" William exclaimed as Detective Fitzroy was trying to help William tie his suit tie as he prepared for his wedding to Eliza. For some odd reason, William's hands just did not want to work properly.
"Of course, sir. I'm sorry. I just want you to look your best." Oliver apologized.
William turned from the mirror with his tie still unknotted. The beautiful tie pin that Oliver had given William as a wedding present was meant to be worn today. The pin engraved with an "E" and "W" in large, scripted letters linked on the face of it. Oliver just wanted to be sure that William wore it because Eliza had not seen it yet.
"I apologize. Thank you, Oliver. My hands are not functioning this morning."
"Well, it's not unusual to be perfectly nervous when one gets married."
"I'm not nervous," William snapped. "I don't get nervous. I lead mean into danger every day. I'm not nervous."
"Yes, whatever you say, sir," Oliver said turning away his mouth turned up with a smile.
William growled in frustration.
"Here sir. Let me," Oliver volunteered and button his vest properly as William had gotten the buttons all misaligned.
"You're marrying a wonderful woman in Eliza if I do say so myself," Oliver comforted.
William smiled then and visibly calmed.
April 24 – Wedding Day – Eliza's preparations:
"Hattie! I'm so happy you're here. So, you're my Matron-of-Honor?" Eliza asked as she opened the front door as Ivy was upstairs repairing a snag in Eliza's veil which had caught on the heel of her wedding high button shoe.
They hugged and Hattie who looked a bit different without her glasses and a little plumper belly with the coming of her first child surprised Eliza. Hattie had written back that she would was unable to make her wedding as her aunt and her husband both thought she should not make the long train ride from their new home in Northern England.
"Yes, Eliza, I brought my gown and everything. Now you get upstairs and get out of that robe, and I will help you get into your gown. I'm sure it's beautiful especially with the special thread that my aunt put into it for you."
Eliza was touched that Hattie had come, but Eliza had momentarily forgotten how she could ramble at the least little provocation.
"Halt, Hattie," Eliza said as she was halfway up the stairs.
"Yes, Eliza, my aunt paid for the special seamstress and thread for your train. We swore Ivy to secrecy. We knew we would be here anyway, so we wanted to see your face when you're wearing the train in the church."
"Thank you, Hattie. The workmanship is absolutely beautiful and means so much to me," Eliza said as she hugged Hattie.
"Now," Hattie said taking charge. "Let's get you dressed."
Oliver and William were in the vestry of the church. They had walked the short distance from William's house as Mrs. Rowe scooted them out. She would walk to the church in a bit. At the moment, she was reviewing and coordinating the finishing touches with Arabella's caterers for the wedding breakfast immediately following the ceremony. Eliza's house was a little too small to accommodate the 30 people who had been invited. Most of the people invited were William's officers and their wives.
William had a visitor while he was in the vestry giving himself the fortieth onceover. He was smoothing his curls back over the side of his head when Charlie Phelps breezed in.
"Duke," Charlie greeted in his gruff voice.
"Charlie," William said shaking Phelp's hand.
"Just wanted to talk privately with you. Maybe give you some advice about being a married man."
William smiled. "Well, Charlie coming from you that would be most helpful. Would you like a drink?"
"They let you drink back here?"
"Seems so. I was surprised myself, but the Vicar said it was there for the taking.:
William poured Charlie a drink in a new small glass and William refilled his.
Charlie nodded his thanks to William and took a seat and William sat across from him.
William grimaced and pulled at his outfit as if he was rather uncomfortable.
"Well, Duke, if the suit seems to be uncomfortable now, wait until you're married a few years and the kids start comin'," Phelps jibed.
"How many children do you have again, Charlie? Five?" William asked glad for someone other than Oliver to keep him company. William was fond of Oliver, but he acted more nervously than William. William had a hard time expressing to himself or anyone how much he would miss him both professionally and personally when he and Eliza moved to America. Today they board the train to take them to the harbor where tomorrow morning their steamer leaves for New York.
"Five. I've got five Duke. I don't know how it happened. One minute I just get married and then, before you know it, my wife pushing out the fifth kid!"
William laughed and took a sip.
"Charlie, can I ask you a question?"
"Are you a happily married man?"
Charlie looked at William like he had grown four heads. Then Charlie sat forward as if he were giving William a secret.
"Don't tell anyone, but my Missus was the makings of me. I don't know really know what I'd be without her and my kids. So I guess, I'm recommending marriage."
William smiled and clapped Charlie on the back.
"Don't worry, Charlie. Your secret is safe with me."
Eliza stood on the other side of the church in the Sunday School room and looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She had no words. All she could think of was that after today she would be in New York and William would be her husband.
"If your father were here, he would be in tears. Lizzie…you are the image of your mother," Ivy said to her looking in the mirror and wiping away her own tears. "William will ignore all else in the room when he sees you." Ivy kissed Eliza's cheek and wiped a tear away from Eliza's cheek.
Eliza grasped Ivy's hand. She turned and hugged her. Then Hattie came to break them up and straighten her veil and long train.
She turned back to the full-length mirror. She looked at her full-length high-necked gown lace from top to bottom. Her bodice was pulled in at the waist and there was a satin drape from hip to hip which bustled in the back to the lace bodice with the special gold stitching of her and William's first initials intertwined in gold thread. On her right hand she still wore her mother's thin gold wedding band. Eliza had contemplated taking it off now that she would have her own, but William had told her to wear it if it made her feel that much closer to her mother.
Eliza's long veil spilled from a prim box hat perched on the top of her upswept curls. Ivy's pearl drop earrings hung from Eliza's ears. Eliza looked down and lifted her skirt carefully to see the new laced tie high button boots. Soon she expected to get the call from Mrs. Rowe who was standing guard outside in case William should get curious to see the bride before the wedding. He did once Mrs. Rowe had said, and she quickly corrected him that it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.
In what seemed only a matter of minutes, Eliza was helped off the little stool she was standing on and handed a large bouquet of yellow roses, pink rosettes and a few red roses thrown in for good measure. Hattie held Eliza's train and they paraded out of the Sunday School back room.
"Now William should already be at the altar waiting for you," Hattie had chattered. "Eliza don't cry! You are beautiful."
"If I don't get to do it, Hattie, thank Mrs. Parker very much for the help with my train. I love it and could not mean more to me."
All of a sudden Hattie's cousin, Rupert Parker appeared decked from head to toe in a morning suit.
"Rupert!" Eliza exclaimed.
"I know I am unexpected, but I was there when William first appeared, and I saw the attraction that fine man held and I just knew that I had to be the one to give you away."
Holding out his arm, he said, "Shall we?"
Eliza's smile was large. She was so amazed that these people who were not exactly her closest friends had traveled such a long way to participate in her wedding to William. She was so moved that she felt she was going to weep again.
Buck up, Eliza! William is waiting for you, and he will immediately wonder if it is he that is making you weep! Not in that way my darling! I am so happy and cannot wait for our life to start!
William was being pushed out of the vestry and into the sanctuary. He had crept out to see if he could get a glimpse of his bride before all the frippery took place, but he only ran into Mrs. Rowe who scolded him for wanting to see Eliza before she became his wife. He took his punishment on the chin and returned to the vestry for additional orders.
When the word came that all was ready, William turned to Oliver and said, "You have the rings, right? Eliza will kill me if she thinks I purposely lost a wedding band I haven't worn yet."
"Oh yes, I have them safe and secure in this pocket, sir," Oliver said as he stuck two fingers into his jacket pocket and pulled out the two gold wedding bands.
"I see you have them inscribed," Oliver said as he placed them back in his pocket. He had almost dropped one, but he caught it before it hit the floor. William gave him an impatient look. He was still nervous one could tell even if William told himself he was not.
"Yes, the jeweler did them for free. He said it was because I was the Inspector of Scotland Yard and I had protected his establishment many times," William stated as they made it to the altar door.
"I'm sure he's correct, sir."
"Sounded awfully suspect to me," William answered as he opened the door and proceeded to the altar at the front of the church.
He took a look around and noticed that the small church was filled to capacity with people and flowers from wall to wall. Eliza loved flowers, and he was sure he was one of only a handful of people who knew that pink roses were her favorite!
"Inspector Wellington, Detective Fitzroy, please come over here and stand here on this step. The bride will proceed through the doors at the back of the church in just a minute or two," Vicar Bowman, a bespectacled older balding man of sixty, said as he led the men to their correct place.
William and Oliver stopped on the front step to the left of next to where the Vicar stood in the center of the tier. Oliver watched William take a few deep breaths and pull at his morning coat.
"It's fine sir. Wait until you see her," Oliver murmured. He had no idea what Eliza would look as a bride, but Oliver had always thought her beautiful.
"Yes," William muttered and then smiled as the thought about her.
Then a young man who resembled Rupert Parker began to play "Here Comes The Bride" on a cornet. William only heard the few notes as he anticipated and watched for Eliza's entrance.
As Hattie was the only attendant she came first. She looked very pretty with her baby bump concealed in a lace and satin draped skirt with a jacketed top. The jacket flared at the waistline and the lace concealed anything resembling a belly.
The cornet flourished again as Eliza on Rupert Parker's arm walked into the church at the top of the aisle.
The processional….William's Point of View
Eliza! Soon to be Mrs. Wellington. She did say she would take my name. How beautiful you are with your lace veil covering your shining blonde hair. Even under that veil, I see your eyes shining and focused on the duty at hand.
Tonight, we celebrate being husband and wife and tomorrow we start our new adventure. I love you and I look forward to spending my whole life with you.
If your father could see us now, he would be smiling.
Oh Henry! She's a handful, Henry, but I love her, and she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Thank you for taking me in that day and letting me see your daughter.
Who are all these people? How did Rupert Parker get to give Eliza away? That must be a good story for sure.
The processional…Eliza's Point of View
William…there you are! It seems like an eternity since I've seen you. Aren't I a lucky woman? You could always fill a room but even this larger space is filled with you my love. Don't you look handsome in your morning coat. Oliver looks handsome, too! I will miss him very much as our "third" wheel.
Many women would be frightened at the prospect of marrying and then starting a new life abroad in a new country. I'm not frightened. I've never been frightened by anything in my life. Besides I am marrying my best friend, my lover, and my protector. I will protect your heart and soul as well.
My, who are all these people? Is that Rupert's younger cousin playing the music?
The Vicar asked who gives this woman to be with this man, Rupert spoke clearly with no hesitation "I do." He then placed Eliza's hand into William's hand. Rupert smiled and then bowed out of the way.
As William rubbed Eliza's gloved knuckles, he looked down at the beautiful satin gloves she was wearing. Then he looked into her eyes and smiled.
"Funny meeting you here," Eliza answered his smile with that statement and smiled widely back at him.
"Well, I was given this address and this disguise and told that I was going undercover as a bridegroom to the most beautiful female detective in London," William quietly joked back.
"Funny, I was told to get into this satin and lace monstrosity and pose as a bride to marry none other than the most handsome Inspector Wellington."
"Speaking of undercover, I can't wait until I can get you under the covers tonight," William growled.
"As soon as this frippery is over, I'll race you there," Eliza responded.
Then the Vicar who was finished arranging and getting to the correct page in his book, cleared his throat and began. "Dearly Beloved…."
…"If anyone should have reason for these two not to be joined in holy wedlock, speak ye now or forever hold ye peace….
The church was silent except for Ivy's sob which was audible in the silent church. William and Eliza smiled at one another. They would both miss Ivy very much.
"Willam James, do you take Eliza Henrietta as your lawfully wedded wife, wilt thou love her, cherish her, honor her, and in sickness, in health, for richer, for poorer, and keep only unto her until death ye do part?" Vicar Bowman asked.
"I will," William said loudly and with a big breath looking through the translucent veil into Eliza's eyes.
"Eliza Henrietta, do you take William James as your lawfully wedded husband? Wilt thou love him, honor him, cherish him, in sickness, in health, for richer, for poorer and keep only unto him until death ye do part?"
Eliza was thankful that the Vicar did agree with her that "obey" had no business in a marriage ceremony, so he did not mind omitting it.
She looked into William's face. Tears were escaping down her cheek, so William reached under the veil to hand her his handkerchief.
"I will."
"As William and Eliza have sealed their union by marriage they chose to symbolize it by the wearing of rings," the Vicar stated as Oliver handed William Eliza's band and Oliver handed Eliza William's ring. Eliza turned and gave her bouquet to Hattie to hold. She then took the ring from Oliver.
The Vicar asked, "Who's first?" as this process of getting the right ring to the right participant had become rather a monkey in the middle of sorts. Oliver handing Eliza William's ring while she had not handed off her bouquet to Hattie. William looking at Oliver like "it's not my turn" yet took Eliza's ring and eyed Oliver with one of his sternest looks.
"I'll go," Eliza volunteered.
"Let William go first, Eliza. I'm sure you will take control after the wedding," Vicar Bowman who had a wry sense or humor stated.
William laughed and thought how Vicar Bowman was the only one telling Eliza what to do on her wedding day.
The Vicar stated. "In a thoroughly odd break with tradition the ring exchange portion was written by the bride and groom. William, place the ring on Eliza's hand and say your peace."
William took Eliza's very small wedding band placing it on Eliza's finger spoke this Scottish Wedding Vow:
You cannot possess me for I belong to myself.
But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give.
You cannot command me, for I am a free person.
But I shall serve you in those ways you require,
And the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand.
I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night,
And the eyes into which I smile in the morning.
I pledge to you the first bite of my meat and the first drink from my cup.
I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care.
I shall be a shield for your back and you for mine.
I shall not slander you, nor you me.
I shall honor you above all others, and when we quarrel we shall do so in
Private and tell no strangers our grievances.
This is my wedding vow to you
This is the marriage of equals."
Eliza's eyes welled with tears because she had not heard what ring vows he had written. She knew that was a part of a traditional Scottish wedding and she was touched that he chose that one that ended with "This is a marriage of equals."
Her ring vows were not as elaborate, but it was original.
After the Vicar gave the same instructions to Eliza concerning William's ring, she poised over his left hand holding his large one in her tiny one and said, "William, I give you this ring as a symbol of my eternal love for you, my faithfulness to you in both body and spirit and as a promise to be the best wife I can for as long as we both live. May our love be as endless as this band of gold."
Eliza slipped the ring on William's finger which was still a tad tight even after the resizing of it.
"Now that Eliza and William have spoken vows to each other and sealed their union with rings, I now pronounce them man and wife. You may kiss the bride," Vicar Bowman said.
William slowly raised Eliza's veil and gave her a mock smile of surprise and then his face grew passionately intense, and he kissed her long and deeply. He held her tightly and Eliza responded in kind.
The church erupted into applause and cheers.