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“ Y ou’d think after all of her hemming and hawing Mama would be here with bells on but instead she is stalking around the vestibule like a caged animal.” Sarah said as she brushed the wrinkles out of Beatrice’s dress.

Beatrice looked over to the vestibule where her mother was pacing back and forth, wringing her hands as she muttered to herself. Beatrice grimaced. Her mother did look distraught.

“Leave her be. There’s a lot to process.

” Eleanor added before kissing Beatrice’s cheek.

“She has spent the last twenty years of her life worrying over the fate of her three wayward daughters and now her youngest is getting married. I’m sure she’s feeling a lot of emotions today.

” She cupped her sister’s cheek. “We all are.”

Beatrice smiled at her two sisters. “I’m so thankful you are both here today. I’m not sure I could do this without you.”

Her mother yelped from the small entryway. All three women turned to see her mother disciplining one of her grandchildren.

Eleanor and Sarah exchanged a look. “Whose child do you think is in trouble?”

Just then Sarah’s youngest came toddling into the room licking his jam-covered hand. Charlotte followed with a small purplish handprint on the front of her dress.

The three sisters tried their best to hide their laughter but failed.

“Devon! What did you do to Grandmama?” Sarah had a long way to go to get that motherly discipline in her voice but she tried. Her son’s blue eyes and cherub cheeks made it difficult for anyone to punish him.

Although, it looked like Charlotte was willing to try.

“I swear Sarah, I told you to make sure he didn’t have any sweets with him.

Now look at what he did!” Charlotte walked over to a vase of flowers and dunked a handkerchief in to wet it.

She began to blot the stain as Sarah hurried her child out of the waiting room.

Once Sarah got into the vestibule she let out a loud groan. “Um, Eleanor? Could you help me? It seems my child decided the vestibule needed some color.”

Eleanor and Beatrice laughed before Eleanor kissed her younger sister’s cheek again. “I’ll see you out there. You look beautiful.”

Beatrice watched her sister leave before turning to her mother who was attacking her dress with the wet handkerchief.

“Here, let me help you, Mama.” Beatrice said as she took the cloth.

“Oh, it’s no use, Beatrice. The dress is ruined. Although, I don’t know why I bother. We don’t have the best luck the first time around.” Her mother said as she rubbed her brow.

Beatrice straightened. “What do you mean?”

Charlotte sighed and looked into the vestibule before returning her gaze to Beatrice.

“Mama? What is it?”

Beatrice’s heart began to race. Did her mother find out about her list? About Ezra? She pursed her lips as her mind started to come up with excuses, reasons, anything that could help ease whatever storm was about to hit.

“It happened with Eleanor and Sarah, it might as well happen with you.” Charlotte sat down into the chair in the corner in a wave of lace and chiffon.

Beatrice titled her head. “You lost me, Mama.”

Charlotte rested her head on the back of the chair. “We can’t do anything right the first time around. Both of your sisters walked down the aisle twice. Twice, Beatrice! I’m surprised people even showed up to this wedding and just didn’t wait for the next one.”

Beatrice heaved a sigh of relief before breaking into a fit of giggles.

“Mama. There will only be one wedding for me. And considering I didn’t want any at all, I say one is enough.”

Charlotte looked unconvinced. “Both of your sisters thought the same thing. Both of them walked down the aisle to men they barely knew or didn’t want, only for the man they did want to come barreling into the church and whisk them away while I’m left to explain to the congregation.

” She looked up to Beatrice with wide eyes. “I can’t do that again!”

Beatrice swallowed. She never gave much thought to how her sisters ended up with their husbands but her mother was right. They both denied themselves of the truth and at the last minute fate stepped in and they married the man they were meant to be with.

Her lip began to tremble. “There is no other man for me, Mama.” She moved to the table where the vases of flowers stood. She needed to keep herself busy or unwanted thoughts would ruin what little hold she had on her emotions.

“That’s what I thought with your sisters.” Charlotte added.

Beatrice took a deep breath to steady herself. Her eyes drifted to the window and out to the beautiful summer morning. It looked so peaceful outside. Far different than the turmoil that was crashing around within her.

Soon, Beatrice. Get through this and your peace will come. You will be outside in the free air soon.

She watched as carriages pulled up and guests exited to make their way inside the small chapel. Lines of people in their best dresses and suits greeted each other and commented on the celebration.

People were completely oblivious to her heartache and the fallacy that was to become her marriage. She felt as if she were in the wings preparing for her biggest performance yet. She had played the curious younger sister, the coy debutante, the rebellious young woman, and now, the dutiful wife.

Her eyes landed on a lone carriage off to the side. The hired hackney looked out of place next to the prestigious and well kept carriages of the ton.

Beatrice cursed her heart for wanting it to be Ezra.

I am not my sisters. He is not going to come in at the last minute and save me.

“I wonder who that belongs to?”

Her mother’s voice made her jump. Charlotte was now standing directly behind Beatrice looking out into the courtyard.

Beatrice shrugged. “I have no idea. You took over the invitations. The Queen herself could show up and I would be none the wiser.”

Charlotte laughed. “Oh, could you imagine? That would be a sight. Still, I doubt the Queen would be traveling in a hired hackney.”

Just then the door to the hackney opened and a gentleman stepped out. He was about Ezra’s size and Beatrice’s heart stuttered.

Her chest began to rise and fall with her quickened breaths.

Could it be?

The man turned and extended his hand to help a woman out of the carriage. She was a petite young woman with a bright, beaming smile on her face.

The couple turned and Beatrice’s hopes were once again dashed. The man was broader than Ezra with lighter hair. He escorted the woman past the window and into the chapel.

Beatrice cleared her throat. “Who were they?”

Charlotte was back to blotting her dress with a freshly wet handkerchief. “Hmm? Oh, sorry, my love, was trying to salvage this dress before I go out there and everyone sees.”

“I was just asking who that couple was. I didn’t recognize them.”

Charlotte waved her off. “I promise you, I only invited people we know. I learned my lesson with Sarah’s first wedding. Inviting the whole ton ,” she scoffed. “Only to have them see her left at the alter. What a horrible experience.”

Charlotte walked over to the door and peeked her head into the vestibule that lead to the nave. From there she could see directly to the front of the church and the alter.

Beatrice smiled softly at her mother. “He still there?”

Charlotte turned and clapped her hands. “He is! We may be able to do this in one shot after all!”

Beatrice sighed and rolled her eyes. “Mama. I swear to you, I made no plans with any other man. Amos and I will be married today. I saw to it.”

Her words caught in her throat. It was not for lack of trying but she needed to respect Ezra’s wishes. He had his reasons she couldn’t deny or overlook. He respected her wishes and her list. It was only fair she gave him the same allowances.

“Well, then. I think everyone is here. Shall we get started?” Charlotte took Beatrice’s hands.

Beatrice took a deep breath and pushed it out. “What is it that you always say? Trust the process?”

Charlotte smiled, leaned in and enveloped her daughter in a tight hug. “Always, my love. I’m so happy that you have found a way to have the life you want. I’m sorry if I tried pushing you in a direction you didn’t want. I just always had you and your sister’s best interests at heart.”

Beatrice could only offer a tight lipped smile. The enormity and finality of the day was beginning to take its toll on her constitution. She wanted to see this day through, but she also just wanted to be tucked away in her tiny corner room and lose herself in her books.

In stories that had happy endings, where the hero came for the girl, or where the girl at least received a desirable outcome, satisfactory to her wishes.

But her life wasn’t a story and, when all said and done, the ending to this chapter was satisfactory for her.

She squeezed her mother’s hands. “I’m ready, Mama.”

Charlotte pinched her daughter’s cheek. “I love you, Beatrice.”

“I love you, Mama.”

Beatrice watched as her mother flittered out of the room and down the aisle to the front row.

Beatrice caught her reflection in the mirror.

She didn’t recognize herself. Her hair was perfectly coiffed, her dress was a bit too stiff for her liking, but this day was more for her mother than herself.

When Charlotte gushed over the dress, Beatrice accepted it.

The same as she accepted the flowers on each of the pews, the dinner menu, although she was looking forward to the desserts.

Her mother not only took care of the invitations, but every aspect of the day, which was fine for Beatrice. It gave her the time for her heart to heal somewhat, and wrap her mind around the changes that were happening around her.

With one timid foot in front of the other Beatrice made her way through the vestibule and stood looking down the aisle.