Page 103 of The Legend of the Betrayed Duchess

“Will you still visit me when you are Duchess?” Lucy’s bridesmaid, Isabell, asked as she helped Lucy with her bridal gown the day of the wedding, as she was being dressed in a hotel room in Wells.

“I see no reason why not,” Lucy responded.

“People with power can change.”

“Power? What power shall I have? His Grace is basically a farmer and an artist. I am a humble writer, still waiting to be published. I hardly think any of that will go to my head and cause me to become a tyrant.”

Isabell laughed. “Hold still. I cannot believe how many buttons there are on this gown.

The soon to become Dowager Duchess was sitting on the side of the room, with Flossy standing beside her, scrutinizing every move, and spoke up at Lucy’s statement of modesty. “Lucy, you are soon to become the Duchess of Sutherland. I can assure you it is not a modest position, and I urge you to take your duties and responsibilities seriously. You are about to become married to one of the highest peers of the realm, and you must obliterate all thought of your humble beginnings and rise to the station to which my son has risen you. I beg you not to take this matter lightly.”

Lucy turned to her Grace and said, “Thank you for your kind admonition, but please let me beg to differ with you. I have always believed that power and status must be tempered with compassion and understanding of those who are not of one’s class. I hope that my humble beginnings might serve as a counterbalance of modesty to the power that my husband yields, for I believe wisdom always serves the greater good of all.”

Her Grace took up her fan and pointed to her drops which Flossy began to prepare.

Lucy stood before the tall mirror and gazed at herself. Betsy was standing by with the white gold and diamond coronet to place on Lucy’s head. Charlotte Goodwin waited with the bridal bouquet of white and light pink roses.

“How lovely you look,” Isabell said as she stood back and admired her friend.

The gown was the simplest of dresses. Bone-white sheer layers of delicate fabric fell from just below the bust to the floor creating a train. A decorative belt of diamonds and pearls were sown around the dress where the skirt met the bodice. Simple, sheer sleeves fell from the shoulder to the wrist. She wore a pink and white diamond necklace George had given her just yesterday.

“Oh, my…” Lucy said, “This is really happening. She turned to Betsy, and said, “I guess it is time.”

Betsy came forward and placed the coronet on top of Lucy’s beautifully prepared hair. Charlotte came over, gave Lucy a hug and handed her the flowers.

Again, Lucy looked at herself in the mirror, now fully dressed and ready for the altar.

“Very well, dear friends. I believe we have a wedding to attend.”

The End?