Page 42 of Beyond Montana's Sky
Edith had to swallow a sudden lump of tears. “In the beginning, I judged you. I was wrong to do so.”
“I know.” Maggie patted the back of Edith’s hand. “Meeting your relatives makes it clear why.” Her smile lit up her face. “But you couldn’t withstand the wiles of my daughter.”
A few days ago, Aunt Agatha had, indeed, discovered Maggie’s Gypsy background. She’d cornered Caleb to berate him for his choice of bride, although she couldn’t decide which solution was worse. A groom calling off a wedding at the last minute and jilting his bride practically at the altarjust wasn’t done. However, marrying a half-Gypsy woman and mingling her blood with that of the illustrious Livingstons alsowasn’t done.
Caleb had given Aunt Agatha short shrift, and later he accounted the conversation to Edith.
At least since then, their aunt appeared to bow to the inevitable. Not long after, Maggie’s and Charlotte’s Gypsy magic once again melted her reserve. This morning, she was almost giddy, in an-Aunt-Agatha-refined way. She also dropped a few pointed hints that she hoped Hermione’s wedding would be next, for her daughter had been a spinster long enough.
With a chuckle, Edith took the tiara from the box. “No onecan withstand the charms of your daughterorher mother. Charlotte bowled Aunt Agatha right over. So did you.”
They both laughed.
“Edith, thank you for everything you’ve done for me—for us. I know you did far more to organize this wedding than I did.”
“I enjoyed everything.”Without those invitations, I wouldn’t have met Cai.Even with her conflicted feelings for the rancher, she couldn’t imagine not knowing him.
Setting the box back on the top of the dresser, with two hands she gingerly placed the tiara on Maggie’s head, careful not to pull any strands from her chignon, and positioned the piece just so.
Then she moved to the bed and gathered the long veil, draping the filmy lace to spill down Maggie’s back to the floor and in the front over her face to her stomach. Stepping away, she surveyed the bride. “Beautiful. I can’t wait to see Caleb’s face when he catches sight of you.”
Even through the lace, Edith could see Maggie’s blush. With a chuckle, she picked up the bridal bouquet resting in a vase and handed the flowers to Maggie.
Her brother commandeered fall blooms from greenhouses all around Sweetwater Springs and several towns over for this wedding. Maggie’s bouquet held white roses, anemones, and gardenias with mint for a little green color and more sweetness. Since orange blossoms were impossible to obtain at this time of year, wax replicas were used instead.
After picking up her own bouquet of pink roses, purple-pinkish calla lilies, and astilbe, she tucked a handkerchief among the stems. With no pockets, long sleeves, or reticule, Edith had no place else to hide the lacy square, and she knew she’d need it.
She slipped a gloved hand around the arm of her sister—for so this woman truly had become to her—inhaled the scent of roses and mint and tilted her head toward the door. “No longer will you bear that odious man’s name. Come, let’s go downstairs. It’s time for you to become Mrs. Caleb Livingston.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sitting in the hotel lobby in the midst of chattering Andersons, Cai eagerly waited to see Edith again. Hoping to spot her, he eyed the crowd flowing into the enormous room, smiling and nodding if he recognized anyone who looked his way.
On one side of him closest to the center aisle,MormorandFarfarheld a quiet conversation, while on the other side sat Bear, whose burly shoulders took up more than his fair share of space. Not wanting to talk, Cai listened to the hum of several hundred voices and inhaled the scents of soap and perfume and horse.
More minutes passed, and the lobby filled.
To contain his impatience, Cai looked around. Aside from a quick peek when the hotel first opened, he’d never been inside. Trips to town usually meant pick up what he needed and then getting back home.
He had to admit, the banker had done an excellent job on the design of the hotel. Large glass windows across the front let in abundant light. Even though the wedding took place in the early afternoon, the electric crystal chandeliers hanging from indented squares in the high ceilings already glowed. A broad staircase draped in flowers and ribbon led to a landing and then twisted up to the railed balcony of the second story.
Today, rows of church pews lined the room, each one already full. A swath of fancy white fabric lined the aisle like a carpet runner, almost covering the blue Persian carpet underneath. He was glad they’d arrived early and taken seats about one third from the front on the groom’s side, for latecomers had to stand in the back and began to crowd along the second-floor railing, as well as down the staircase and on the landing.
In the front, a narrow table covered with a white cloth held the biggest flower arrangement he’d ever seen, taking up much of the surface. The cross, usually resting on the altar in the church, stood next to the flowers. Two towering silver candlesticks held unlit white candles.
A grand piano, the top propped open like a swan’s wing, and a cello and a harp were positioned in the left front corner. He looked forward to hearing the music—a treat he’d missed at Christmas. Aurie had been too ill for them to attend the fancy shindig Caleb Livingston threw for the hotel’s grand opening. But many of the Andersons had gone and didn’t stop talking about the event for days. He’d heard all about the beautiful opera singer, Sophia Maxwell, and harpist, Blythe Robbins—now Mrs. Peter Rockwell—and their angelic-sounding carols.
Cai couldn’t help feeling a pang of missing Aurie. She would have been old enough to wear her hair up and her skirts down and would have badgered him into buying her a new gown.I hope you’re watching from heaven, little sis.
Surreptitiously, Cai pulled out his pocket watch from his vest pocket and checked the time. Fifteen minutes until the start. Impatience buzzed within him, and he took a slow breath lest he start fidgeting and give away his state of mind. He’d already heard enough teasing from Bear and the others about Edith. Nor did he need a sharpbehave yourselfglance fromMormor, as if he were a wiggly child.
He couldn’t help another glance around for Edith before giving up, figuring she was probably behind the scenes, organizing the bride or other aspects of the ceremony. He had no doubt the indomitable woman had everything in hand.
The elder Reverend Norton walked in front from the side, skirting the piano to stand by the altar, holding his prayer book. Caleb Livingston and a young man, who, judging from the resemblance to uncle and mother must be Edith’s son, followed the minister to stand at the right side.A well-favored lad.Both wore formal clothing that made Cai’s best suit look shabby in comparison.Another reason Edith and I aren’t well matched.
* * *
Edith and Maggie took the newly installed elevator down to the lobby. They remained silent in the presence of the operator, a shy, wizened man in the navy-blue hotel uniform.
