Can’t Buy Me a Duke by Bianca Blythe
EPILOGUE
Several Months Later
“Isabella and Lord Brooke are inside,” Mama announced. “The place is quite full.”
Normally, Lucy might have given a nervous giggle like she would have done in London, but instead, Lucy merely smiled. “Oh, good. That means we can start soon.”
“Let’s practice one more time.” Mama grabbed Papa’s arm and practiced striding down the aisle.
“I know how to walk,” Papa grumbled.
“Yes, but this is walking on an aisle when everyone sees you. It’s different. It has to be in rhythm to the music,” Mama explained.
Papa grunted. “It’s not difficult. I taught Lucy and Isabella how to walk. Most people leave it to the nannies, but no, I taught them myself.”
“You just waved to them from their nursery from time to time,” Mama said.
“And they came walking to me,” Papa said proudly.
“They were always too fond of you,” Mama griped, but she didn’t seem incredibly upset. “Still, we need to practice it.”
She started humming the wedding march song. “Now, at this beat, you lift your leg this way, and at that beat, lift your other leg that way.”
“It’s just walking,” Papa said.
“Not just walking,” Mama insisted. “Explain, Lucy.”
“I’m sure you’ll be good at it,” Lucy said smoothly.
“Ha,” Papa said with pride. “She can see that I’ve mastered the art long ago.”
“Well, she can certainly see your gray hair, that’s for sure,” Mama said. “There’s still time to put some shoe polish on it.”
Papa shuddered.
“When the portraitist comes, don’t complain to me that your hair is gray.”
“You’re getting a portrait done?” Eliza asked, as she lifted a mirror to the back of Lucy’s head so she could examine her hair from that angle.
Lucy nodded. “This is something we always want to remember. Besides, I want a portrait of my family at the new townhouse.”
“How nice.”
“Yes,” Lucy agreed, “it is.”
“The wedding is beginning soon.” Mama fluttered around and waved her hands as if it was her personal duty to ensure each and every flower was perfectly adjusted.
“It’s happening!” she cried. “Can you believe it, Mr. Banks?”
“I would hope it was happening, considering the amount of visits Harrison has been making to our townhouse.”
Mama rushed toward her. “Are your stays tight enough?”
“Yes,” Lucy said firmly. “They don’t need to be any tighter than this.”
Mama scrunched her lips together, as if wondering whether she should suggest that Eliza put a foot against Lucy’s back to tighten them a tiny bit further.
Lucy glanced at Eliza. “I think we should hurry.”
Eliza nodded and helped Lucy up. She nearly toppled under the weight of her gown. Perhaps Harrison no longer had money, but her parents still did.
“Oh, that looks lovely, dear!” Mama exclaimed.
“I hope so.” Lucy stared at the massive swath of fabric.
Was there any chance that the seamstress had managed to make something three times too large? All this fabric didn’t seem necessary, but after Eliza continued to assist her, it looked nicer and nicer until finally Mama exclaimed and clapped her hands.
“Oh, my dearest darling. You look beautiful! Ever so beautiful.” A wide smile burst onto her face, and her eyes sparkled. “Perhaps we could do something about your freckles. Perhaps some lemon juice now?”
“There’s no time to start trying to hide my freckles,” Lucy said. “Besides, I don’t think Harrison minds them. In fact, he said he’s quite fond of them.”
Eliza smoothed the dress, so there were no wrinkles, then she fluffed the puff sleeves.
“Very stunning, my dear,” Papa said.
Lucy took her father’s arm, and they exited the dressing room. The organist spotted them and smiled. They waited as the organist sat down and started to play.
Mama had ensured that huge vases filled with flowers adorned the aisles, and long, generously sized garlands swung from other portions of the church. She inhaled the floral scent, closing her eyes. This was spectacular.
Rows of immaculately dressed women and men, sporting patterns she recognized from the top fashion houses in Paris, stared. They wore large hats adorned with flowers and feathers and fruit.
“Last chance to change your mind,” Papa said, as Mama hurried down the aisle to watch from the front.
Lucy giggled. “That will never happen.”
“Good. I’m quite fond of him too.”
“I know.”
The music played, and they walked elegantly, if not always precisely, down the aisle. Harrison faced the altar, as he was supposed to, and she stared at his strong and sturdy back. Her heart warmed.
Mama beamed as they strode nearer. She did not appear the least bit critical of Papa’s strides or the fact he walked down the aisle with perhaps more speed than was necessary.
She reached Harrison, and his delicious cotton and citrus scent wafted over her. Happiness emanated through Lucy.
He tilted his head toward her.
“Are you ready for your new life?” she asked.
He grinned. “Absolutely.”
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THANK YOU FOR READINGCan’t Buy Me a Duke. I hope you enjoyed Lucy’s and Harrison’s story. The first book in the Duke Hunters Club series is All You Need is a Duke.
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