So that was the way the wind was blowing. “I’m so glad you think so. I agree. He is a very nice man.”
Spyer was dressing Henrietta’s hair when her mother, grandmother, Lady Fotherby, Dorie, Georgie, and Adeline strolled in, followed by Martha.
“Adeline! You did not even tell me you were coming.” Henrietta tried to jump up, but her maid’s hand was firmly on her shoulder, holding her down.
“I would not have missed it.” Her friend came over and pecked her cheek. “I finally told Fritz that I was going even if he was not.”
He did not want to see her wed? “Why didn’t he want to come?”
“Do you remember Gertrude, the cow I told you about?” Henrietta nodded. “She is getting ready to give birth. Ergo, we are here for your wedding and traveling directly back.”
Dorie clapped her hands. “Henrietta, we had to coordinate how we would do this.” Her friend smiled at Martha. “We will begin with you.”
Martha stepped up to Henrietta and handed her a light-blue handkerchief embroidered with bluebells. “I made this for you. It is blue.”
Tears started pricking her eyes. How she was to get through this without crying, she had no idea. “Thank you, sweetie.”
Dorie, Adeline, and Georgie took Martha’s place. Dorie held out a long box. “Unfortunately, the something old cannot be your combs. This is new.”
Henrietta gave a watery chuckle and took the box. “I suppose not.” In the box lay three combs made of white gold and pearls. “Thank you so very much.”
Her mother was next. “Your friends could not give you something old. Therefore, your grandmother and I decided we would do that part.” Mama put a large rectangular box on the toilet table. “This has been in our family for years.”
Henrietta knew it was some sort of necklace, but what would it look like? She opened the box. A plain chain of white gold held one large ruby at the end of it. Below the necklace were matching earrings. “This is so much like my ring.”
“That is what we thought,” her grandmother said. “I knew at once it should be yours.”
“This is not part of any tradition,” Lady Fotherby said. “However, this bracelet belongs to the parure that matches your ring. Fortunately none of the jewels are part of the estate. It was waiting for you.” Henrietta’s grandmother cleared her throat. “You may borrow it for now,” Lady Fotherby said hastily.”
Chuckling, Henrietta dabbed her eyes. “Thank you.”
“No need.” Dotty hurried into the room. “I am sorry I am late. She handed Henrietta a pearl bracelet. “This is something borrowed.”
She hugged her sister. “Thank you.”
“Come along now or we will be late,” Dorie said. “And Henrietta, no crying.” Mimicking what she used to say.
“Yes, ma’am.”
They arrived in the hall to her father, waiting patiently. “Which one of these ladies is standing up for you?”
“I am, sir.” Dorie moved beside Henrietta.
He held out both of his arms and grinned. “It’s time to go to church. Your young man is probably on tenterhooks.”
“There is no reason for him to be. I am not late.”
“Neither was your sister.” Her father’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “But Merton was fit to be tied.”
“Nate will be fine.” He knew she would soon be his wife.
* * *
Nate reached up to grab his cravat, and for the third time Merton slapped his hand away. “Leave it alone. You’ll mangle the thing, and we don’t have time to get you another one.”
“I’m more nervous than I thought I’d be.” Nate rubbed a hand down his trousers. “I don’t understand why we just couldn’t come here together.”
“I understand the feeling, but this is what her family wants.” Merton stilled, as if remembering something. “It will all be worth it when you see your bride at the door.”
Henrietta’s brothers, sisters, mother, grandmother, and his mother arrived. That was progress. He’d known the ladies had something to give his betrothed before coming here. “It won’t be long now.”
The next to enter were Georgie and Turley, and a couple he hadn’t met. He glanced around the chapel. “Where is she?”
“There.” His friend pointed toward the side door.
Lord, she was beautiful. Her deep pink gown was covered by silver netting and sparkled as she walked toward him. The ruby she wore on a silver chain stopped just above her breasts. Damn! He was going to fantasize about tasting her breasts until they could be alone. Silver slippers adorned her small feet and she carried a posy of red and white roses with greenery. “She is exquisite.”
“She is,” Merton murmured, but he was looking at his wife.
Finally, she was next to Nate, and he took her hand.
“Not yet, my boy.” Sir Henry laughed. “I’ll give her to you when the vicar says it’s time.”
That was when Nate saw the young-looking vicar standing in front of them. “If you are ready, we will begin.”
“Yes, please,” he and Henrietta said at the same time.
His almost-father-in-law handed her to him when the vicar asked who would give her to him. Gazing into each other’s eyes, they said their vows in strong, firm tones. Finally they were pronounced man and wife and signed the register. After that, pandemonium broke loose. Everyone had to hug both of them. He was introduced to Adeline and Fritz Littleton, a pair Nate had heard a great deal about.
When he led her outside his carriage had been decorated with pots and pans and flowers and ribbons. So much for sneaking back to his—their house. “Who did this?”
His three newest friends looked over his shoulder and grinned.
Henrietta—his wife—pulled him toward the gaudy coach. “If we do not go, my grandmother will lecture us.”
“I suppose we don’t want that.”
“No. We do not.”
“In that case, come, wife.”
“Husband.” She smiled up at him. “I am so happy we are married.”
Ouse Tower
Nine months later
“Push now, my lady.” The mid-wife looked beneath Henrietta’s shift again. “I can see a head.”
She squeezed Nate’s hand and pushed as hard as she could. After talking with Turley, Littleton, Exeter, and Merton, Nate had planted himself in her room and refused to move. When his old nurse asked what he thought he could do, he said he’d be there for Henrietta. “Did that do it?”
An indignant squall was her answer. “Boy or girl?”
“It’s a boy.” The mid-wife handed her baby to Nurse. “Once more. We need to get the afterbirth out.”
Again Henrietta pushed with all her might. She knew how dangerous even a piece of the afterbirth could be.
“Excellent, my lady.” The mid-wife beamed. “I don’t think I’ll have any trouble making sure it’s all there.”
Her dresser wiped her forehead and cleaned the rest of her. Nate lifted her up, and new linens were put on the bed. As soon as she was in a new chemise, she held out her arms. “I want my son.”