Chapter XXXVII: Fitting

A/N: This wasn't the easiest chapter to write. There are quite a few time jumps in it. I don't know what I would do without cowgirlbookworm. Looking forward to seeing what you all think. SSD


Early August 1913

Cecily, Lucy, and Aunt Mina were off to the dress designer's studio today for the first fitting.

She was nervous. Dresses never fit her right and often took multiple fittings to even come close to looking right. And this was her wedding dress! So every last detail had to be perfect!

The moment they entered Nigel said, "Definitely not pure white. It'd wash you out. Make you look like a ghost my dear. Come along." The man dragged her in, the other two in her wake.

He and his team had gotten her measurements back in June. Two of his assistants ushered Cecily onto a platform in her undergarments that she was going to be wearing underneath the dress. Well, the closest approximation.

"Arms up Miss Lethbridge! Time for me to get to work," Nigel asked, his arms full of cloth.

First the skirt was dropped over her head, the bodice next. She was also wearing shoes similar in style to what she'd be wearing.

Whilst they were hemming the skirt Cecily suggested, "Could I have 3/4 length sleeves? So I could show off bracelets or a bouquet."

"Good point," Nigel made a note then marked where it would be on the sleeves.

She watched Lucy get up from her chair to circle around her on the platform. Grinning, her old friend began fiddling with the square neckline.

"What are you doing," Cecily yelped trying to swat the invading hands away.

"You don't want to hide your fiancé's favorite bits of you, do you? The neckline can be slightly lower," Lucy went back to messing with the neckline.

"More than slightly," Aunt Mina hooted behind her.

Nigel covered a snicker with a cough.

"The wedding is in early February, in a church, if my neckline is any lower I'll turn into an icicle," Cecily hissed at her oldest friend who would also be returning the favor.

"All the better for Harry to warm you back up!" Lucy cackled before asking, "Do you want him to tear the dress off of you?"

"That's what the second dress is for," she replied.

"Second dress," Nigel perked up.

"Yes, one for the reception. That one can be more revealing," Cecily smirked at the image she had in mind.

"What do you imagine this dress looking like," Nigel had produced a sketchpad seemingly out of nowhere.

"Mostly the fact that it's a dark pine green," she bit her lip before asking, "Are you familiar with The Portrait of Madame X?"

"I am." The man was sketching away with no judgement in his tone.

"I'd like something similar. It'll make my fiancé crazy. In a good way."

"You being in green alone will make Harry crazy. He'll be fighting the urge to haul you off straight away," Lucy remarked, smirking.

"My brother is going to skin you for this dress. He best not see it till the day of," Aunt Mina warned as the scratch wedding dress was taken off of Cecily, bodice and skirt.


Middle of August 1913

Finally a date had been settled upon: February 1st. Now they could get the more important things in focus.

Harry himself at least already had his RNR dress uniform to get married in. He knew Cecily had to get the dress made. And there was going to be a second dress for the reception. Cecily wouldn't tell him anything about it, but he had a very good idea about the color. Harry would love it for that alone.

"Thinking about your wedding?" Thank God it was Will.

"Among other things yes. The date's February 1st," he informed his best man.

"That'll give Ada more than enough time to find a dress. She's already fretting about it," Will groaned.

"Cecily and Aunt Mina have asked me to remind both you and Lights that little feet are more than welcome to come along."

"The Lethbrige's keep saying that. I expect we'll get banished after they get a whiff of Colin's nappies," Will chuckled.

"Speaking of that subject... I think Sylvia did or said something to Cecily. Cecily won't tell me what happened and about jumped out of her skin when I touched her arm," Harry stated hoping for some enlightenment on the subject.

"If Cecily was left alone with Sylvia for more than ten minutes... I'll ask Lights or Ada but don't count on any explanations or answers," Will warned.

"I'm just worried about her that's all," Harry replied.

"Your education on such matters will be delayed until the stag night. Charles already has some bright ideas so be aware."

Harry gulped. Lights with bright ideas? What had that man come up with already?

He decided to start praying to whomever would listen that no one would get arrested!


Still August

For the first time since he was born Ada let Colin out of her sight with someone not a family member. They were still trusted, but Ada was still antsy.

She and Sylvia were going dress shopping for Cecily and Harry's wedding. They could hardly bring the children around for that!

The two of them were going to Gamgees. It was not the fanciest, but it still had nice clothing.

"Has Cecily mentioned colors at all," Sylvia asked.

"She mentioned green and silver in a telegram," Ada answered.

"No surprises about the green. Now we have to find dresses that won't clash."

They were at it for hours it seemed. Just as Ada was about to start cursing Sylvia, the shorter Australian woman found her dress. It was a light rose pink silk with lace on the sleeves and ruffling on the skirt.

"Natural colors will go well with green," Ada felt revived.

"Now we need to find yours," Sylvia clapped her hands gleefully.

Both energized, they returned to their search. Ada was pleased by this for she soon found a dress to her liking.

It was saffron in color. There was a beading pattern of vines and the beads were a shade darker than the dress. Ada enjoyed how it shimmered.

Will would certainly like it on her. Some alterations were needed.

Afterwards she picked Colin up to make her way home.

Once Ada had put Colin in his cot, two hands pulled her backwards and around. Before she could scream she saw Will's smiling face.

"Shh! Don't wake him up!" Her husband scooted her out their son's room, managing to shut the door quietly before kissing her soundly in the kitchen, pinning her to the counter.


Early September 1913

The baby was a girl. All the fuss and waiting and the baby was a useless girl.

A noisy, colicky girl. With brown hair and murky eyes. She wasn't even pretty.

Paul hated having to wait for anything, but the doctor said two months of no sex at least. It would hurt Jocelyn if they went back at it sooner.

Leah, as their child had been named, was finally sleeping so he could think!


September 1913

Albert was looking over the bills for the wedding. And yes, Mr. Buchanan was making it hurt.

However when he looked over the current bill he called out, "Mina why are there two dresses on the bill?"

Once she entered, his devious sister replied, "Because Cecily decided, wisely I might add, on wearing a second dress for the reception."

"Dare I ask what it looks like? It better not be dark green!" Albert groaned the last part.

"Then you'll be happier not knowing the specifics of it till you see Cecily in it brother mine," she giggled.

He didn't like the gleam in his sister's eyes. It promised mischief. Directed at him. And wished the wedding was just done and over with.

"Mina one last thing. Thank you for doing all of the mother of the bride things," Albert stated.

"It's no trouble. I'm enjoying it," she replied before looking at his desk, "What are those real estate listings for?"

Pushing them out of sight, Albert replied, "I'll tell you when you tell me where the honeymoon is!"


Mid September 1913

On a rare break, Charles slipped into the house unnoticed.

The boys were at school, Mavis was sleeping, and he could hear Sylvia moving around in their room.

Tiptoeing up the stairs, he barely managed to avoid the creaking ones.

Once Charles was outside his room, he could tell Sylvia was at the closet and humming her favorite song.

So as to not give away his presence, he didn't let the doorknob go.

His delectable wife was brushing her hair. Hanging on the closet door was his RNR uniform.

"So darling, why is my uniform out? You're not wanting to play randy officer and tavern wench are you," Charles flirted. She had more than recovered from Mavis's birth in April.

"Not that I'm not objecting, but there are more important matters to deal with at the moment. The reason I got your uniform out is because Mina wants it over there to spruce it up."

"No, I don't want to be the only one in a monkey suit," Charles argued.

"Will is going to be bringing his over for sprucing up, Harold is getting married in his, and I imagine Cecily's brother will be wearing his uniform as well. You'll be far from the only one in uniform," Sylvia replied.

"Aunt Mina will know well enough to keep the sprucing up within regulations, given that she has two sons in uniform," Charles stated.

"I'll be sending your measurements along with you. Don't you dare lose them. Now get into that uniform. Your tavern wench has need of you!" Sylvie's eyes were alight with desire.


Late September 1913

Matt detested shopping for clothes but at least this time he had a specific mission and purpose: Getting a blue suit for Harry and Cecily's wedding.

Why a blue suit? Because Harry wanted to get married in his RNR rig. This led to Roland, Will, and Lights also deciding to wear their uniforms for the occasion. This would lead to him looking like a turd in a punchbowl standing up with Harry at the ceremony. So a navy blue suit it was.

He'd begged his sister in law Evelyn to come along for this. She had an eye for clothes and was much better at this sort of thing than he was!

"How tight do you want your pants to be," Evelyn asked whilst circling him.

"Not as tight as Harry's will be," Matt cackled.

She swatted him on the arm muttering, "Men. Just like your brother. You'll get room for... that."

"I'm not worried about the waistcoat or suit jacket. I just don't want to look like a fool next to the rest of them in their uniforms!"


Early October on the Adriatic

Will was on his way back to his own bunk from the officer's mess. He'd poked his head into Harry's room to speak to him for a moment.

Will found the room to be empty, and decided to wait for him there. Until his eyes turned to the now 4th Officer's desk.

Something he had no desire to see were pictures of Cecily with little to nothing on.

"Bloody Christ," he muttered. That was something he could have lived without seeing and shoved them neatly in a stack into a drawer.

"Please tell me you didn't look," Harry begged from the doorway.

"They were right there for all to see. I could hardly miss them," Will retorted.

"Why were you in here?"

"I was looking for you!"

"I don't hide in my desk you know," his younger friend stalked into his room.

"I've got those teabags for you. Just when did you get those?"

"They were an early birthday present last year. I think Cecily had some help coming up with the idea," Lowe smirked as he sat down at his desk.

"I just wonder what Cecily will come up with for this year!" Will chuckled.


October 1913

Now Cecily knew why Roland and Ghislaine had nearly gone mad before their wedding. So many minute details and she had to attend to them personally.

More and more often she caught herself wanting Harry around. Especially to help with all of this.

There was just so much to do! And less and less time to do it in.

There were also other reasons why Cecily wanted Harry around. But it wasn't like she could say them to anyone!


A/N 2: Phew, I'm glad this bit of typing is done. Looking forward to seeing what you all think! SSD