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“How exciting,” Ada exclaimed, “Oh Gigi I can just imagine how happy you are. I would have given anything for my mother to share some of the wedding customs of home. Richard did his best for me, but it wasn’t the same.”

“It is nothing grand, especially on such short notice, but honestly I never thought we would have the chance to do anything like this. I never imagined many things would be possible before Leo.”

“I respect what you said about marriage for yourself, Miss Walsh, especially when it comes to the dangers of childbirth,” Regina mused, “but I cannot imagine you would dismiss marriage out of hand altogether.”

“Isolde, Regina, please.”

Regina rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Oh very well, Isolde.”

“Why not? I have a good deal of savings from my salary, I shall make investments and support myself. Perhaps your husband could assist me there Ada.”

“Of course,” Ada agreed readily.

“Well what about companionship?” Regina asked.

“When it comes to companionship, I have my friends, and you girls if you don’t mind me being a nuisance.”

“That you could never be,” Regina assured her taking her free arm.

“Excellent then I shan’t be wanting at all. You know, you ladies are a credit to me and to yourselves. We have seen an uptick in enrollment lately at Miss Pollitt’s.”

“Have you really?” Ada asked.

“Oh yes. Two students of reasonably modest backgrounds by social standards at the very least marrying into a noble family on one hand and then you becoming a baroness. It’s all very good for our reputation as a school that produces young ladies of not only substance, but accomplishment.

Certainly good enough for even the most discerning of tastes. ”

Regina had never considered the effect of her marriage on her old alma mater. It was an unexpected pleasure to know that she’d have such a positive influence on the place which had allowed her to forge bonds with three of the dearest people in her life.

“Oh my goodness,” Ada declared as they reached the garden, and Regina couldn’t help but smile.

The fruit of her mother’s labor was a sight to behold indeed. When her mother had told her they would perform haldi, Regina had expected a small affair with her three friends, in her room. Clearly her mother had something grander in mind.

The entire area including tables and chairs had been decorated with flowers in every shade of yellow from sunshine yellow to deep burnished gold interspersed with small brass, lit deyas.

The gazebo where she danced had been draped in pale yellow gauze and nearly two dozen garlands of marigolds.

On a platform two gurus sat, one with a tabla and the other with a sitar.

Lillian darted back and forth in a yellow dress between the gentlemen assembled, bestowing marigold boutonnieres.

Her mother, clad in a mustard yellow silk gown stood in the center casting one last discerning eye on the preparations.

“I am delivering them to you, Mrs. Mason,” Elodia’s father said, and she turned to him before smiling and walking over to them giving him a nod of dismissal.

At some point she had reverted from a terrified immigrant back to the Marathi woman who had named her first born daughter for her favorite goddess and told her stories about Hanuman, Ganesha and Lakshmi while she oiled her hair.

“Aai,” Regina gasped out with tears in her eyes.

“Do you like it?”

“Like it?!” She released her hold on Isolde and hugged her mother tightly around her neck. Her mother laughed merrily, hugging her back for a moment before pulling away slightly.

“Surprised?”

“When did you do this? I finished all the prep last night this wasn’t part of it.”

“You weren’t the only one working on preparations. What is the point of having servants if they cannot be used for this?”

“How on earth did you get your hands on these marigolds?”

“Magic,” she replied with a wink.

“Where did you find the musicians?”

“Oh them, they’ve been here since your fiancé passed last year. Seemed to make more sense to keep them here just in case instead of sending them back to India.”

“Aai,” her eyes were burning.

“Hush now. Your guests are watching, what will they say.”

*

Leo followed the directions of his mother-in-law allowing her to sit him down on a cushion beside his future wife who was dressed in a yellow cotton dress, grinning like she had received all her birthday gifts at once.

He had been given strict instructions to wear no waistcoat or jacket, which seemed strange to him until he saw what Regina was wearing.

The onlookers were a combination of friends and family; Basil, Ada and Richard, Miss Hawthorne and her father, Miss Walsh who was apparently Regina’s former headmistress.

He wasn’t sure what to expect from the proceedings. He’d never actually participated in a proper Indian wedding before. He caught Regina’s and she wiggled her eyebrows at him.

“Hello,” she said.

“Hello to you,” he replied.

When her mother approached with a bowl of bright yellow paste the last thing he expected her to do was begin smearing it on Regina’s face. Leo glanced at her askance but noted the almost blissful expression on Regina’s face.

“What on earth is that?” Leo asked.

“You don’t know?” Regina teased peering at him with one eye as her mother smeared it lovingly on her cheeks and bare feet.

Little brat. He glared at her playfully, “No, devika I don’t.”

“This concoction gives the ceremony its name. It is haldi.”

“What’s in it?” Richard asked, watching with amused interest. “I can smell sandalwood, lemons and is that rose?”

“Yes, and tumeric, curd, rose water, milk, mustard oil, almond powder,” Regina’s mother replied.

“What is it meant to do exactly?” Leo asked as she approached him. He was still a bit leery, but he nodded his consent and tried not to think about the fact that he was sitting half dressed in a garden allowing a woman to smear goop on his face with witnesses.

“It brightens your skin, and it wards off evil intentions.”

“Evil intentions, eh?” A mischievous glint lit Richard’s eyes. “How much of it did you prepare?”

“Thornfield,” Leo warned, shooting him a look before shutting his eyes as the cold mixture was gently applied to his forehead. The last thing he needed was for Regina to begin to worry.

“I did it for my wedding,”

“Did it work?” One eye popped open at the sound of Captain Mason’s voice.

“I’d say it worked a treat,” he replied.

A happy marriage, happy healthy children, an advantageous marriage? Yes, that seemed like someone up there liked Captain Mason.

“Mrs. Kingston,” Mrs. Mason reached for Leo’s mother.

“You can put more for both of them,” she said handing her the bowl.

Leo watched as his mother applied the paste to Regina’s forehead and nose before doing the same to him.

One by one the guests took turns smearing them with the haldi paste while Leo tried to stay as still as possible.

“This feels very strange,” he murmured as Captain Mason applied paste to his hands.

“Yes it does.” The older man agreed.

He glanced at Regina again after their guests had finished and fought back a laugh at the sight of her. “You look like you’ve gone face first into a vat of mustard,” he said, and she laughed merrily.

“But it smells much better than mustard.”

“I will agree with you there.” It wasn’t a smell he’d ever encountered before this, but it wasn’t altogether unpleasant, even if it was strange to have people rubbing paste on his skin while he sat there like a child. “So, what now, am I meant to wear this the whole time?” Leo asked.

“Yes, however the unmarried guests can get some as well, to bring them luck in finding their future spouses.” Mrs. Mason said, turning to Miss Hawthorne and Richard.

That was alright then, at least he and Regina weren’t the only ones. “And once we are all coated?” Leo asked as Ada smeared haldi paste on her brother and her friend.

“We enjoy the repast,” she replied, washing off her hands.

Leo stood and helped Regina up before leading her to sit at one of the tables.

He hadn’t been barefoot in a garden in an age, and it still felt odd, even if no one else seemed to notice.

But he had to admit there was something touching and comforting in having close friends and family take turns participating in a task meant to protect them from harm, and it was liberating to feel the grass between his toes and the sun on his face.

Elodia was now chasing Richard determined to cover him with the haldi paste, while Ada attempted to trap him in place.

Miss Walsh had settled into a quiet conversation with Viscount Melbroke, but she kept being distracted by Elodia’s antics.

The viscount was a tricky gentleman to pin down.

Friendly and polite, endlessly permissive with his daughter, but somehow he retained an air of distance.

Leo got the impression of a man who was very good at tolerance so long as it didn’t upend too much in his life.

He wasn’t certain if the man would prove to be an ally long term, but even he had to admit it was good to have him here for the sake of appearances if nothing else.

All that was before he got to Regina, who was in her element, with a light in her eyes he’d never really seen before.

If this brought her that kind of joy, he was willing to do much more, regardless of how strange it seemed.

Captain Mason and his wife were near Regina, the older woman carefully feeding her daughter with her hands.

The unique beautiful sounds of the sitar floating through the garden and the birds seemed to match its song.

The dishes brought out were a delightful mix of desserts and snacks full of flavor and spices.

Was this what he could look forward to? He could already imagine it, Regina dancing while the musicians played for her, her little sister playing with their children.

Her mother doting on her grandchildren and bringing out delicious dishes for them to enjoy barefooted on the grass.

A safe haven among the general intolerance of the ton.

It was a beautiful image, full of love and laughter.

“How are you enjoying it?” His mother asked sitting beside him.

“It’s an interesting experience.”

“That is for certain.”

“Thank you for helping to persuade her parents.”

“Not at all. Have you thought about what I said?”

“Yes.” And he still didn’t agree with her.

“And?”

He nodded towards Regina who was now playing with her sister. “Do you see how happy she is? If I can make that happen every day of her life it will be worth everything. I don’t need another reason.”

She sighed and shook her head, opening her mouth to argue but Leo noticed a servant approached them with a silver tray, and Leo watched him draw closer until he could see the letter on it.

“For you my lord,” he said with a short bow.

Leo nodded and took it, ripping open the seal to read the contents.

His stomach churned as he read the results of his inquiry at The War Office as to Harrison’s tenure in the army.

Contrary to what had been supposed, Harrison had left the army only two years after Leo under dubious circumstances.

He had been allowed to retain his rank under the agreement that he resigned his post immediately.

That had been at least two or three years before.

Where had he been? Had he stayed on with the East India Company?

How long had he been back in Europe or at least England since he’d discovered he was the heir?

“What’s that Leo?” his mother asked.

“Nothing much, just an answer to a question I’d been asking.” He slipped the letter into his pocket. Captain Mason’s gaze was fixed on his trouser pocket, however. Had he recognized the seal on the envelope? If he asked, Leo wouldn’t lie but he hoped the gentleman had the sense to wait.

There was no point in mentioning anything now. He still didn’t have an idea of what was at risk or what it all meant.