The Summerfield Bride

by C. G Oster

  “So I heard,” Charlie said, almost petulantly.

  “Was he trapped into marrying Cornelia?” Dory asked.

  She could see the contempt in his eyes. He’d made no secret about his dislike for Cornelia and how it was returned. “Freddy tried to break it off, but she made such a fuss. There is a certain degree of debt involved.”

  “The Summerfields owe the Vellsteds?” Livinia asked. “Freddy didn’t want to marry her?”

  “I think he was resigned to marrying her,” Charlie said.

  Dory blinked. It was despicable forcing someone to marry you. Then again, everyone had more or less said that Cornelia wasn’t a very nice person, except for Freddy and his family. And clearly Freddy thought so too. Well, he had very much acted the grieving groom, hadn’t he?

  “Was he in love with Rose?” Dory asked.

  “Rose?” Charlie asked as if it was an absurd thing. “Have you met Rose?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, she’s thick as a plank. I mean, she’s a sweet girl and everything, but not the brightest.”

  “Did Cornelia plan to kick her out of the wedding party?” Dory asked.

  Charlie pulled out a packet of cigarettes and lit one. “Not that I heard. Maybe. I don’t really pay attention.”

  “Oh yes you do,” Livinia said. “So Rose was in love with Freddy, but he didn’t return the sentiments.”

  “Something like that,” Charlie admitted.

  “Did he toy with those emotions?” Livinia asked.

  “What are you asking?” Charlie said, but something sounded wrong with it. As if he knew exactly what they were asking.

  “Did he urge her to kill Cornelia?” Dory asked.

  “Of course not,” Charlie said, but he looked away as if not allowing them to see his eyes.

  “He did, didn’t he?” Livinia demanded. “Look at me, Charlie, or I swear I will tell Millicent exactly what you said about her that night as Sanford.”

  “As if I care,” Charlie said with a snort.

  “But he wanted out of this marriage, didn’t he?” Dory asked more softly.

  “Wouldn’t you?”

  “For whom?” she asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “For whom did he want out of the marriage? Prue?” Dory asked. “Prue who thinks she’s going to get married soon.”

  “Did she say that?” Charlie asked.

  “Oh, that’s despicable,” Livinia stated.

  “No!” Charlie said sharply. “I don’t know anything.” It was clearly a lie. It was obvious now.

  Dory crossed her arms. “Prudence is really who Freddy is in a relationship with, and they both used Rose to make that happen. They used her. Freddy pretended to like her, probably convinced her they were in a relationship. Meanwhile, Prudence is winding her up.”

  Bringing his hands up, Charlie shrugged. “I don’t know anything. Like I said.”

  “Did he sleep with Rose?” Livinia demanded. She reached into his shirt and twisted the flesh underneath.

  “Ouch,” Charlie yelped. “You’ll have to talk to Freddy about who he stuck his willy in. It’s none of my business.”

  “You’re a terrible person, Charlie,” Livinia accused.

  “I didn’t do anything. I swear. Besides, it wasn’t Prue or Freddy that stuck a knife in Cornelia, was it?”

  “They drove her to it.”

  “Oh really, could someone drive you to murder your best friend?” Charlie asked. “Rose is unhinged and she always has been.”

  “And they twisted the screws, tighter and tighter. Used her to get what they wanted. She’s probably going to hang for this,” Livinia said.

  “No, she won’t. They’ll put her in a nice sanitorium. She probably belongs there anyway. The girl was never right. Like I said, all conjecture, I don’t know anything. Never heard anyone say anything about it. As far as I know, Freddy was gaga over Corny and he’s distraught about all this. You’ll never get anyone to say anything differently.”

  There was nothing more to gain here. Charlie wasn’t going to say anything incriminating. “Let’s go,” Dory said, tugging on Livinia’s arm. He wasn’t going to give them anything more, but he had in a roundabout way confirmed it. Still, there wasn’t a single scrap of proof. Even if Rose confessed that she had been sleeping with Freddy, and that she was in love with him, he would probably deny it.

  Even if he admitted it, it wouldn’t prove culpability on his part. Whatever would happen to Rose would happen. Corny was dead, and after an appropriate time of grieving, Freddy moving onto Prudence wouldn’t causing an eyelid to bat.

  “You’re a terrible person, Charlie,” Livinia repeated as she walked away.

  “I didn’t do anything,” he called back.

  It might be true. He might not have been involved in any part of it, but he knew about it. Maybe he had put the pieces together, or Freddy had told him things in confidence. Charlie was going to protect his despicable friend no matter what.

  “Bastards,” Livinia said as they walked toward the house. “They’re going to get away with it too.”

  It was probably true. It could well be that their intention all along had been to drive Rose to murder Cornelia, but it was her that had taken the bait, her that had taken the knife and stuck it into Cornelia’s body.

  “We might be able to find where Prudence got the knife from,” Dory said.

  “And she will simply say she was suggesting it for the cake cutting,” Livinia said.

  “After she claimed she had no idea where the knife came from.”

  Livinia was silent in the car. “I truly hate people sometimes,” she said. “And I thought Freddy was one of the good ones. How can you be so wrong about someone?”

  Dory didn’t answer. What could she say? It always took her by surprise how callous people could be.

  “Well, they won’t get off scot-free. Gossip will do them more damage than that stupid policeman. People will know what they did. People who do such a thing should not simply be allowed to get away with it.”

  It was quite a turnaround from how Livinia treated her own mother’s culpability. Something she’d wished to sweep away and then to hide from. Perhaps her views on her mother’s crimes were still something that was developing for her.

  It wasn’t an enviable position to be in, coming to terms with one’s mother’s heinous crime. For a long time, Livinia had blamed Dory for the part she’d played in uncovering it. Although Dory suspected that Vivian had always known, and he had had to grapple with knowing his mother had done something awful. Maybe had even been relieved when it had all come out.

  Dory couldn’t imagine how she would deal with one of her family members being threatened by the hangman’s noose. One thing was for sure—they had no family connections to draw on to prevent it. That still mattered. If her connections would make it hard to secure a conviction for Rose remained to be seen. It would be even harder to ensure any punishment for Prudence and Freddy. Maybe the court of public opinion would be more effective.

  Plus they had to live with themselves and what they’d done. Dory couldn’t imagine starting a marriage that way. Having to do something so despicable to have your love. And she was glad she had no such impediments. As for right now, she needed to turn her attention to her own marriage rather than muse on the defects in someone else’s.

  Chapter 28

  LADY PETTIFER LOOKED completely out of place in Dory’s mother’s bedroom. In fact, seeing her in such cramped surroundings seemed strange. She made no comment on it. Lady Pettifer knew what background she came from. Her mother was downstairs chatting with her sister, who had come down with Lady Pettifer and Livinia.

  Dory was somewhat surprised that Livinia had come, although she didn’t exactly know where she was at this moment.

  “You look stunning, my dear,” Lady Pettifer said. The dress was so beautiful, it actually made her mother uncomfortable. But Dory loved it. Yes, it might be a dress beyond her means, but s
he was not allowing herself to feel self-conscious about it. It was her wedding day—the one day she could live beyond her means.

  And it was a treasured gift. She understood that Lady Pettifer wanted to give it to her, along with the feeling Dory felt when she wore it. Still, it was such a grand dress to be worn just once. One thing she had learned from being in Lady Pettifer’s, and Livinia’s, company, was that it wasn’t the end of the world to be a little grand once in a while. But not everyone saw it that way. Vivian, for example, who went to lengths to instill that she shouldn’t think herself above her station.

  There was too much concern about station. There was more to life than being concerned what station one belonged to. Perhaps the war had taught her that.

  “I will always love this dress.”

  “Your daughters will wear it one day,” Lady Pettifer said.

  Yes, it hadn’t even occurred to Dory. She would have to protect this dress well. “It will be a family heirloom.”

  Lady Pettifer smiled as she sat in the chair by the bed. “So from today, you will be a resident of Pimlico. It is a nice neighborhood.”

  “It seems so.”

  “Not too much damage.”

  “You heard what they had done to Rose?” Dory asked. “And Cornelia?”

  “Yes, Livinia told me. It is unconscionable.”

  “Can’t something be done?”

  “Have you spoken to Captain Ridley about it?”

  “No,” Dory admitted. That morning, she had briefly seen him as he’d arrived. It had been lovely seeing him arrive. For a moment during the night, Dory had feared everything would go wrong and he’d had some realization that this wasn’t what he wanted after all, but he had smiled this morning and asked how she’d been.

  There had been a moment, where she had considered telling him of the developments, but it was their wedding day, perhaps not the right time for such talk. It was his work, after all, and it just hadn’t seemed appropriate.

  Mrs. Ridley, that was to be her name from today. Obviously, getting married had always been something she’d intended on doing, but now it felt so… imminent. In a way surreal.

  Of course she would be happy. Why wouldn’t she be? He was a kind and honest man. The best she could think of. This was just nerves she felt, because this signified such a change. No longer the daughter living under her mother’s roof. Granted, if she hadn’t spent so much time living under other roofs, including a coal barge, maybe this would be more daunting. It was just another move. One with a husband.

  “I think it is getting close to time,” Lady Pettifer said, checking the fine gold watch on her wrist. “I remember my wedding day, how nervous I was.”

  “I think all brides are nervous,” Dory said. She certainly was right now. It had been a while since Dory had heard Lady Pettifer speak of her late husband.

  “And somehow we must get Andrew down the aisle at some point too,” Lady Pettifer said. “He’s just so fussy, seems to go from one girl to the next, like a butterfly.”

  “He’s still young.” In fact, he was older than her, but things were different for men, weren’t they? They were older when they settled down. “I think he is simply waiting for the right one.” As of yet, Dory still hadn’t met Lady Pettifer’s son.

  “Vivian seems the only one who has someone meaningful, but he is thousands of miles away.”

  The image of his girlfriend, Olivia, entered Dory’s mind. She was the kind of creature Dory could see him with, she supposed—beautiful, confident and cool.

  “Cedric has that girl, dreadfully dull creature,” Lady Pettifer said. This was news to Dory, not that she kept any kinds of tabs on Cedric. “I suppose he might marry her someday. She will be the future Lady Wallisford. Quite a title to live up to.”

  “Perhaps it is a good thing if she is a little on the reserved side.”

  Lady Pettifer chuckled. “Bad taste, the Fellingworth men, always have had.”

  Dory’s thoughts immediately went to Olivia again, wondering if they would make each other happy, or if they were simply lofty enough for each other. With a shake of her head, she dismissed the thought. It wasn’t for her to say, and it wasn’t for her to think about.

  Dory’s mother burst in the door. “I think it’s time. Everyone ready?” she said expectantly, wringing her hands. Maybe her mother was even more nervous than she was. Her finest dress had been brought out of the wardrobe and aired. She looked lovely, and Dory wished she was somewhat interested in catching some man’s eye. Her mother had been too busy raising them to even consider romance. Maybe that would change now that Tom was getting older.

  Behind her stood Gladys, also dressed as finely as Dory had ever seen her. “I suppose we had better get to the church, then.”

  “Can’t dawdle on such things or Reverend Tully will be upset,” Dory’s mother said.

  “Should we take the car?” Gladys asked.

  “We can,” Lady Pettifer said. “I’m sure we can find Livinia somewhere.”

  “No, I don’t think it is necessary. The church is just around the corner,” Dory said.

  The dress made shifting noises when she moved. Dory took one last look in the mirror and marveled at the beauty she saw. That was her. She looked smashing, if she were to say so herself. Then she wondered if Ridley would like it. Would he think her a vision? She wanted him to.

  Awkwardly, she walked down the narrow stairs and to the door. A warm breeze blew outside. The wispy veil caught in the wind and flared, catching her grandmother’s earrings.

  A man on the street stopped and smiled. Dory smiled back. Must be one of the few people her mother hadn’t invited. Maybe he was a stranger to the village.

  “Tom!” her mother yelled. “Come hold your sister’s dress. Here.” A bouquet of lilies was handed over, the stems still wet from the vase they had been resting in. “Have we got everything? Gladys?”

  “I’m here,” Gladys said, rushing out of the house. “Just checking on the cake.”

  Across in the square, Dory could see the tables and chairs that had been set out on the grass. There was furniture from across the entire village. Lanterns were strung between the trees. Everyone was coming to her wedding, or at least welcome to. Gladys had arrived with the cake in pieces and had worked to assemble and decorate it in the last hour. It would have been so much easier to bake in the large oven at Wallisford Hall than in their small oven here.

  “I think we are ready,” her mother said with a deep breath.

  “It doesn’t matter, Mother. It will all be fine. Nothing to worry about. There’s a cake, a dress and a groom. Everything else can be.”

  “You’re right, of course,” her mother said. Truthfully this whole wedding was a great deal more stressful for her mother than for her. “Oh, you’re getting dust on the dress. Tom, hold the dress higher.”

  As they got closer to the church, she could see Ridley’s car down the side and nerves accosted her again. Why did he want to marry her? There was nothing special about her, and he was so… wonderful. Strong and honorable, and just wonderful.

  “I think we had better go inside,” Lady Pettifer. “It will all be lovely.”

  With an unsure smile, Dory exhaled. She needed the assurance right then. “It would all be fine,” she told herself.

  “Are you sure you don’t want Mr. Potts to walk you down the aisle?” her mother asked, still nervously wringing her hands.

  “No, I think I can manage.” With her father gone, she opted not to have anyone walk her down the aisle. It was his role, but he wasn’t around to perform it. “I think he will walk me in spirit.”

  The statement made her mother smile. Her father had been gone so long now, Dory didn’t feel the loss so keenly anymore, but her mother still did. And she didn’t wish to replace him with some kind and well-meaning stand in.

  “Alright, you go sit down. I think we are ready,” Dory said and drew another deep breath. It was time to put nerves aside and just get on with it. Her mot
her snuck through the inner doors of the church and Dory was left standing on her own. This was the moment where her life would change irrevocably. A new person was to become the most meaningful in her life.

  Chapter 29

  RIDLEY SMILED WHEN he saw her. He looked as handsome as she’d ever seen him—not that he wasn’t always handsome. The pews were full. Mostly people from the village, but there were a few she had never seen before—people whom Ridley had invited to the wedding.

  Gasps and whispers met her as she walked down the aisle. The dress was admired, and why wouldn’t it be? It was the most beautiful dress Dory had ever seen and she felt proud to be marrying in it. Both Lady Pettifer and her mother had tears in their eyes. Even Livinia smiled, which Dory didn’t think had happened in any context involving her before.

  But she forgot all about them when she came to the front and Ridley stood there waiting. He wore his military uniform, decorated with medals. She’d never actually seen them and didn’t know what they were for. Something perhaps to talk about in the future.

  “You look beautiful,” he said and took her hand.

  For a moment, it struck her how surreal this all was. In some way, she still couldn’t believe she was marrying this wonderful man. He was to be her husband.

  Reverend Potts cleared his throat and then started his sermon, speaking of the importance of love and family. Dory was too nervous to listen, feared her knees would give. What was there to be nervous about? This was the happiest of days.

  The vows started and her nervousness amplified. Her fingers shook when Ridley brought her ring to her finger, and she barely knew what she was doing as she tried her best to repeat her vows, not entirely sure she had got it all right, but no one seemed to object. The ring even came as a surprise and she picked it up, again fearing that she would do something silly like drop it, but she managed to get it on his finger.

  Next thing she knew, Ridley kissed her and smiled. It was over. It was done. People were cheering. It had all happened so fast. She smiled. Everyone was happy. Her mother was openly crying.