“It’s so beautiful. You are like a princess.”
Susan reached down and placed her hand on the top of Elizabeth’s head. “Thank you, dear. And you are going to be so beautiful too as my flower girl.”
“Oh, yes. And I love my pretty dress,” Elizabeth enthused.
There was a knock at the door and Fiona came in. But she stopped and gasped, putting her hand to her mouth. “Oh, Susan. It’s so lovely.”
“Thank you. Aunt has helped fashion the perfect dress, don’t you think?”
Fiona stepped forward and studied the gown further. “I’m going to look like a beggar compared to you.”
“But she is the bride after all,” Clarissa said. She had not yet warmed to Fiona the way Susan had.
“Of course. Of course.”
“Did you want something?” Aunt asked.
“Ah… yes. Susan, Simon asked me this morning at breakfast to ask you if you were planning to visit the school today? He said there was an issue or two he wanted to go over with you, but needed to show you in person.”
“I doubt it. My cousin is coming shortly and I need to be here to greet her.”
“Very well. I’ll send word to him then,” Fiona said.
“Thank you.”
Jessica and her husband, Ronald, stepped out of the carriage where Susan was waiting to greet them.
“Oh, precious one, I can’t believe you’re about to become the Duchess of Lennox,” Jessica greeted, throwing her arms around Susan.
“Your Grace To Be,” Ronald said, with a sly smile.
Jessica stood back and looked Susan over. “I believe you look even prettier than when you were in London.”
“Good afternoon, Ronald,” Susan said turning to him briefly.
Ronald was a little older than Jessica and looked exactly like what one might expect a London businessman to look like. He was buttoned up—prim and conventional. But he had a twinkle in his eye and she remembered he had a wry sense of humor which set him apart from most of his stuffy colleagues.
“Come inside. There’s a nasty wind,” Susan said.
Standish and the footmen were standing by to take the luggage.
Susan led her guests to the library and opened the door.
“You haven’t met my fiancé, have you?”
“Never,” Jessica said, as the three entered.
John stood.
“John, this is my cousin, Jessica, and her husband, Ronald Bradley.
“Welcome,” John said, as Jessica and Ronald bowed their heads to the Duke.
“Your Grace,” they both said.
“I hope you enjoy your stay. And I know Susan has been looking forward to your visit,” he said.
“Come, we need to let John continue his work. He’s getting ready for the next sheering in a couple of weeks, and I want you to meet the adorable Elizabeth.”
“His daughter?” Jessica asked as they headed up the staircase.
“And now my daughter too. But first let’s get you settled into your rooms, and when you’re ready, to come down to tea. You must be parched after your journey?”
Susan was sitting with Elizabeth by the fire when Jessica and Ronald came into the drawing room.
Introductions were made, tea served, and after the refreshment, Jessica turned to Ronald and said, “Dear one, it is time for girl talk. Go take a walk or something.”
“Yes, dear,” Ronald said with a sigh.
Elizabeth spoke up. “Would you like to go see Scrawny?” she asked Ronald, taking his hand.
“Who’s scrawny?
“My pony. She’s three years old.”
“Sounds enchanting,” he said with another sigh and followed Elizabeth out of the room.
With the room cleared, Jessica leaned back in her chair, spread out her arms, and said. “My dear. I remember the little waif that came to see me in London about six months ago. Whatever became of her?”
“I don’t understand,” Susan said.
“You’ve become a strong and commanding woman. No longer the shy and hesitant young girl.”
Susan giggled. “Oh, that waif.”
“I can hardly believe you’re about to become a Duchess. What does it feel like?”
“Just like being me, only different.”
Jessica laughed. “And it’s just like you to say that. What? Tell me. Are you excited? Apprehensive? Confused? What?”
“Hmm. All of that—but also, happy, expectant and delirious.”
Jessica smiled. “And speaking of expectant…”
Susan didn’t understand at first, and then it hit her. “Expectant? You’re expecting?”
Jessica nodded. “September.”
Susan clapped her hands together. “Jessica, how wonderful. But somehow I thought you never wanted children. I thought they might get in the way of your London life.”
“Not true. It was all a façade.”
Jessica smirked. “And you… You have a child before marriage.”
Susan was shocked until she realized what Jessica was saying, then she laughed. “Well, yes, I guess I do. And Elizabeth is the loveliest child imaginable.”
“Yes, I can see. Susan, you are truly blessed.”
Epilogue
On the day before the wedding, the guests started arriving in droves. And fortunately, Haverford House was large enough to accommodate them all.
The first to arrive was Susan’s family. Not only Mamma and Papa but Louisa and Jacob and their families.
Mamma immediately went into her panic mode and began to try and manage all the details of the wedding, even though everything was well in hand. Susan had to urge Louise to take her mother aside and persuade her to just enjoy the event with no need to do anything. Not an easy task.
Katherine and her family were the next to arrive. And Katherine’s offered help, as her chief bridesmaid, was most welcome.
The Earl of Pembrook and Hester arrived and immediately focused their doting attention on Elizabeth as her grandparents.
Then members of the aristocracy began to arrive. Numerous other dukes, earls, lesser counts, and even a representative of His Majesty were in attendance. Clarissa had needed to hire additional staff to help with the crush. And beside all of the guests, there were the guest’s servants to find places for—man servants, personal maids, and carriage drivers and their footmen—some of whom were housed above the stables.
Susan had given up on Elizabeth’s lessons during the week of the wedding and it was almost impossible to get her to take her naps in the afternoons with all the excitement.
It was late at night on the eve of her wedding and Susan was finally alone. No Jessica, no mother, no Katherine, or Clarissa or even Elizabeth. She rested in the nook of her window seat and watched the almost full moon wash the park in moonlight.
What a journey this had been. She remembered what Jessica had said about the young person she had been just six months ago. As she reflected on this past year she could not believe how much her life had changed and, tomorrow, she would be the Duchess of Lennox.
Then Daniel came to mind and she brushed a tear away as she remembered their fleeting and unsteady romance.
But most of all she thought about John and Elizabeth—her new life, bright and shining before her.
Tomorrow night she would no longer be sleeping in this room. She looked around and remembered the many moments she had experienced in this treasured room. But, and not for the first time, she thought about what her life would be like as John’s wife. She felt her passion rise as she thought about him holding and kissing her. She wrapped her arms around herself, laid her head back against the window seat, and closed her eyes.
She was awakened by a knocking at her door. She couldn’t believe she’d slept the whole night at the window, and she leapt up.
“Come in,” she called out.
The door opened and Clarissa and Katherine entered—Clarissa carrying a breakfast tray.
“It’s time to get ready,” Katherin
e joyfully announced.
But first, they made her sit at her table and take some breakfast, even though she was too excited to be hungry.
“I’ve been thinking a great deal about how to do your hair,” Katherine said, as she finally sat Susan down at her dressing table in front of the mirror.
Aunt Clarissa meanwhile laid out all of the garments Susan would wear and checked each item.
As Katherine was working on Susan’s hair, adding ribbons and fresh flowers from the estate greenhouse, Elizabeth, wearing her flower girl’s dress, burst into the room and dashed over to give Susan a hug.
“You’re going to be my official mommy today, aren’t you?”
“I thought you made that official already at Christmas,
Susan laughed.
“I did, but now it’s official, official.”
“Then I’m very pleased.”
Elizabeth squiggled up on the stool next to Susan and watched as Katherine worked on Susan’s hair and makeup. She was silent but captivated as she watched.
Clarissa guarded the door and kept curious guests away, except for Susan’s mamma, who insisted she be allowed to see her daughter before the ceremony.
“Oh, Susan,” she gushed as she saw her daughter’s face in the mirror. “How beautiful you are.” She put her hands on either side of her face in the wonder of it all.
“If I’d known you were going to be a duchess, we might have given you a more elegant name.”
“Mother, there is nothing wrong with just Susan. That is who I am, whether I am a duchess or not. I shall always be just myself.”
“And what a wonderful self that is,” Aunt Clarissa said with deep satisfaction.
When the preparation was finally done, Susan was helped into her dress and it was fastened up.
Mamma gasped at the sight. Then Aunt Clarissa took out the Belvedere necklace and placed it around her neck. The necklace hung about her slim neck and across her chest like an emblem of her excellence. Everyone was silent, awed by the person they saw reflected in the standing mirror.
Mamma came up behind Susan and put her hands on her shoulders.
“Oh, my darling child…” She was then too overcome to say anything more, and she stepped back and gazed in wonder.
Elizabeth took hold of Susan’s hand.
“Are you sad,” she asked.
“No, dear, I’m very happy.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“Because tears are the very essence of both sorrow and joy, and to tell you the truth, I am embraced by both.”
Katherine stepped up and took Susan’s arm, and patted it.
“Dear friend, it is now your moment.”
“Thank you, my dear,” Susan said.
Then Katherine said, “Now, don’t we have a wedding to attend? I’m certain there must be a groom out there somewhere.”
The End
Curious to read how Susan’s and John’s relationship evolved? Then enjoy this complimentary short story featuring the beloved couple.
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About the Author
Hanna Hamilton has been fascinated with the regency era ever since she was a young teen, first discovering historical romance novels by famous authors such as Jane Austen and Lisa Kleypas. She believes that love was just so much more magical back then, more like a fairy tale. She always daydreamed about finding love herself that way, but since that is impossible in the twenty first century, she decided to write about it instead!
Born in Texas, Hanna Hamilton obtained a degree in Creative Writing, and has worked as a literature teacher before becoming a novelist. When she isn’t writing, Hanna likes to explore the countryside with her husband and two children, gaining inspiration from the natural world around her.
So, come on a journey into love, confusion, and redemption all within the regency era. Hanna hopes that you will enjoy immersing yourself into her novels, and that you too will find a love for old fashioned romance, just as she has.
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Also by Hanna Hamilton
Thank you for reading The Governess Who Stole My Heart!
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The Lady and the Duke
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Hanna Hamilton
The Governess Who Stole My Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 27
