As many of Edmund’s family as possible, whether out of genuine affection, the desire to suck up to the new head of the family, or outright curiosity, crammed into Bellevue’s fifty bedrooms. Others of society, prepared to be newly charmed by the bucolic pleasures of Oaksley, either on their way to London for the little Season, or leaving early for their Christmas holidays at their estates, descended upon the village, filling up every bedroom in Appleby Manor and Malford House, graciously thrown open for the occasion. Combined with the publicity over the capture of the counterfeiters and tourists come for the pageant, several hundred people were on hand as the Lady Katherine Thoreau graciously bestowed her hand in marriage to the Marquis of Granville.
The festivities began at St. Agatha’s with a short ceremony (“Papist,” informed the Countess of Malford to no one in particular during the service. “Half the village, of course, is a holdover from before the Reformation.”), followed by a carriage ride down the street to the other side of the green at the ancient All Souls. Throngs of well-wishers lined the street, waving ribbons and handkerchiefs of grey as the happy couple retired to the tents erected on the field outside the green for a wedding breakfast.
Immediately on the stroke of one, only an hour later than scheduled, the pageant began and it was all a pageant should be. Inspired by the excitement of the wonderful day, Roundheads clashed furiously with Royalists, Mr. Harrison exhorted his son to keep on with the cause, so that many women in the audience touched their handkerchief to their eyes and the men to cleared their throats. Edmund, hastily changed from his wedding garments to his Cavalier suit, dallied with duchesses, bandied with barons, caused unending inconvenience for Roundheads, and was eventually, to the tears and cheers of the crowd, hanged, as Kate, in the role of the lascivious marchioness, wept.
After the pageant, the grounds of Bellevue were thrown open to the masses. Huge tents on the lawns sheltered the crowds, while the families and friends gathered in the ballroom to eat lobster patties, dance, and toast the happy couple. (“I’ll have to go on the bridle-lay again in order to afford all this,” said Kate, rather happy with the idea. “Never again," said her groom. “Oh,” she said, disappointed. Then she brightened. “Perhaps Lord Sidmouth will give us another mission.” Edmund, alarmed, drew him close to her side and held her there all night, lest she escape from him to rob someone or catch a felon or try to fly to the moon.)
Outside, guests exulted in the masses of food, the Morris dancers, costumed performers still reliving their roles here and there about the lawns, and Oscar, The Amazing Prancing Pig. Then as the revelry quieted and the dusk deepened into night, the fireworks exploded into the black sky as the Marquis and Marchioness of Granville stole away in a carriage to begin their treacle moon.
Thus it is that when you visit the village of Oaksley today, you will find that 19 October is still celebrated with a pageant commemorating the community’s favorite son, the Lady and the Scamp offer wedding packages for those who wish to marry on what has become that traditional day for happy couples, and if you listen quite hard on a crisp, clear evening, you will hear the ancient echoes, “For King and for country!”
THE END
If you enjoyed this book, you may like this short story by Lydia M. Sheridan:
Ventre a Terre: A Sweet Regency Short Story
In which Miss Rosamund Hilliard sings for her supper, and flees the attentions of two suitors. (A Lord Philip story)
The Counterfeit Cavalier, Volumes One Through Four: The Complete Edition Page 18
