The Visitor (45 page)

Richmond

“Back from Lizzy’s, are you?” Aunt Penelope wished to know.

“Yes.”

“When are you getting married?”

“Not for some time, it would seem.”

“What do you mean?”

Morland took a chair, sitting down slowly, his face distracted.

“It seemes Lizzy feels she needs time.”

“What kind of time?”

“To prepare.”

“Well, what day have you set?” The elderly aunt was growing testy.

“Sometime in August or September.”

“That’s just two months away, Morland, if that! What did you expect?”

“I didn’t expect two months.”

“Gracious, Morland! Did you really think Lizzy could snap her fingers and put this wedding together?”

Morland had to admit that he must have thought that very thing. Either that or he was utterly unaware of what a wedding entailed.

“So tell me,” Morland asked, a little testy himself. “What exactly has to be done?”

Penelope calmed in an instant. Her favorite nephew was never cross with her. Telling her about this situation had most definitely bothered him. Her voice, when she began to speak, held all the patience in the world.

“It takes some time to make dresses, Morland, especially when working in a small town like Collingbourne. If Lizzy were being married in London, it might be easier, but she’s not. And the dresses can be made only after fabric and design are chosen. Indeed, Morland, you’ll be needing a new suit yourself.

“And that has to happen before the wedding clothes are made. She’s going to want a new wardrobe for your honeymoon.
That
event will be planned by you, incidently. And then there are flowers to prepare, wedding hats with veils to be chosen, the pastor to notify, the church spoken for, and bans read.

“Morland,” she concluded. “There is simply no need to rush this. If you do, your bride is sure to be exhausted when you begin life as husband and wife.”

Morland could have kicked himself. Had he only stopped and asked a few questions, he could have figured all of this out for himself. He had been at Charlotte and Barrington’s wedding. It had not been an elaborate affair, but it never once occurred to him how it all happened.

“Thank you,” Morland said simply.

“Is it possible that you’ll be going back to Newcomb tonight?” Penelope asked, a distinct twinkle in her eye.

Morland smiled. “If Lizzy hadn’t gone shopping, I’d be leaving on the spot.”

Penelope smiled at him. “Never forget, Morland, she loves you. And all couples have these things to work out.”

Morland nodded, rose from his chair, and went to kiss her cheek.

“Go on now,” she said, shooing him away. “You’ll have me in tears, and it’s bad luck to cry at a wedding.”

“You don’t believe in luck.”

“I know that, but I had to say something!”

Morland laughed as he made his exit. He checked the clock, his mind making calculations. Even if the sisters weren’t back, he would head back to Newcomb in five hours and wait there. He’d speak to Lizzy the moment she returned.

“I know you want to work things out with Morland,” Cassandra said sternly from her place in the carriage. “And you will work things out. If I know Morland, he’ll be back this very night, but for right now we’re going shopping for the most special day of our lives, and you’re going to have fun!”

Edward turned in his seat to watch his younger sister. He didn’t think he’d ever heard her so bold. She noticed his appraisal and turned to spear him with her eyes.

“Don’t you agree, Edward?”

“Wholeheartedly.”

Cassandra looked back to Lizzy, her look pointed.

“I’ll work on it,” Lizzy said, her own eyes sending a message.

Cassandra let the matter drop. She was sorry that Morland had left before things were settled, but she knew they would work out. There was no point in crying about it now.

That she was being selfish and unfair occurred to her just moments later. She looked across at her sister and knew she’d been in the wrong.

“Or we can go another day, Lizzy,” Cassandra said softly. “I should haven’t pushed you. Just say the word, and we’ll go home.”

“Thank you, Cassie, but I think you might be right. It won’t hurt to look, even if I don’t spot anything I like.”

“But, Lizzy,” Cassandra teased, “aren’t you getting married in 20 days?”

Lizzy couldn’t help but laugh.

“Poor Morland. I do hope he’ll give me a chance to explain.”

Edward and Cassandra wished for the same thing but made the remainder of the ride to Collingbourne in silence.

The women went directly to the dressmaker’s shop. Edward did not join them but promised to meet them later. Lizzy had low expectations but did in fact spot a length of white silk that she was immediately drawn to. She fingered the fabric, smiling at the perfect texture.

“What do you think of this?” she asked Cassandra when the younger woman checked on her.

“Oh, it’s lovely. It feels marvelous.”

“Doesn’t it, though?”

“Will you go with that?”

“Yes, I think I will. I’m just so surprised to find something so swiftly.”

“What do you think about this fabric?” Cassandra brought out the bolt she’d found.

“I like it. Oh, I really like it. I want that.”

Cassandra began to laugh.

“Don’t start that, Lizzy. What you have picked out is perfect.”

Lizzy frowned down at her sister’s choice.

“But I like yours better.”

“Well, the styles of our dresses are sure to be completely different, so it doesn’t really matter what fabric we choose, does it?”

“No, probably not.”

But it was nowhere near that simple. The typically practical-minded Lizzy altered her decision with nearly everything they found.

Cassandra stuck with her first choice, and Lizzy ended up getting the same. Both were very content. They looked at patterns, but only Cassandra found something she liked. They spoke of looking at hats and accessories, but suddenly both were tired.

“Is Tate coming for dinner?” Lizzy asked, once they were on their way home. Edward hadn’t said what he had found to do.

“Yes, and then I’m invited there tomorrow night. Lizzy,” she asked, changing the topic, “what will you do if Morland doesn’t come this evening?”

Lizzy looked to Edward and then back to Cassandra.

“I’ll ask a certain brother if he can persuade him.”

This was the last word on the matter, and in the end it was of no consequence. Morland was there when they arrived, asking immediately to see Lizzy.

“Please forgive me, Lizzy,” were the first words out of Morland’s mouth.

“There’s nothing to forgive.”

Morland shook his head. “I can’t think when I moved off course. My expectations were utter nonsense.”

“You just didn’t know.”

Morland still looked contrite. “Aunt Penelope spoke to me.”

“Oh, no.” Lizzy laughed a little. “Was she very harsh?”

“A bit, but then she calmly explained it all to me.”

“I’ll have to thank her.”

“So what date did you choose?”

“Tate is coming for dinner, and we’ll work on it then.”

Morland nodded, still getting used to the fact that things could take as long as they did.

“I found dress material.”

“Did you?” Morland asked with pleasure, not having expected this.

“Yes. Cassie found material and a pattern, so she was pleased as well.”

“It sounds as if you’re off to a good start.”

Lizzy smiled at his understanding, even as she wondered if they could marry sooner. She didn’t want to exhaust herself, but in truth she was just as eager as he was.

“Tate is here,” Edward opened the parlor door long enough to say.

Lizzy thanked him, and the two went out to greet him. A short time later, they all went in to dinner.

“Has a date been set?” Henry asked over the meal.

“Not quite.” Morland took the question. “But we’re looking at the end of August or early September. We plan to settle the matter directly after dinner.”

“Will that give everyone enough time to prepare?”

There were nods all around before Henry lobbed his next question.

“Where will you and Lizzy live, Morland?”

“I’m still working on that. There are two properties in the area. I’ll probably take Lizzy to see them next week.”

“Tate?” Henry moved to him next.

“I’ve asked my aunt if we can use Pembroke for the first ten months of our marriage. I think that will give us time to decide where we want to be.”

Cassandra did not know this and found herself smiling. Tate caught her eye and winked. Cassandra bent her head over her plate to cover her blush, but her grin still stretched across her face.

And she just kept smiling, even after the meal. The four of them met together around the calendar, and in short order chose August 28, 1812. They informed Henry before settling down to cards. In everyone’s estimation, the evening passed much too swiftly.