Page 43 of The Meaning of Love
Why hadn’t they thought of that?
Of course, by then, it was far too late. Plastering on bright smiles, with perfect sincerity, they assured everyone that the thought hadn’t crossed their minds.
Focused by Lady Osbaldestone’s decree, the mothers, aunts, and assorted female relatives took over. Melissa was instructed to sit in an armchair that placed her as the focal point for all the other ladies.
As she settled, the look she sent Julian had him sinking onto the arm of the chair; they would weather the storm together.
The suggestions flew, and even the gentlemen gathered around. Ultimately, after weighing reasons that stretched from the likely weather to the royal calendar, it was decreed that May 26 would be the most propitious for their wedding, which, by general agreement, would be celebrated in the chapel at Carsington Castle.
When, having declared that to be the best of all selections, the company looked to Julian and Melissa for approval, they shared a glance, then Melissa regally inclined her head. “That will suit.”
Reassured, the ladies immediately turned their minds to the date of their engagement ball. That necessitated much consulting of memorized diaries of upcoming events, but finally, the date of April 7 was nominated and put forward for approval.
Again, Julian glanced at Melissa. Resigned, she arched a brow at him.
He looked back at the waiting throng. “That seems perfect.”
Only he was close enough to hear Melissa’s half-suppressed snort of derisive laughter.
With the dates agreed, Melissa found herself drawn into the preparations for their engagement ball, which, after all, was only two weeks away.
“That said,” her mother declared, “given the entire ton have been waiting to learn the date, as long as we get the invitations out by Monday, I expect everyone we invite will be able to attend.”
Her grandmother snorted. “You won’t be able to keep them away.”
As Melissa had suspected, the entire ton had been hanging out for the news.
While the arguments about this and that raged, Julian remained beside her; she found comfort in his amusement over how deeply invested so many others were in their nuptials. Given he and she were not expected to contribute ideas but only to give their opinions when solicited, they fell into their habit of trading sotto voce observations and comments that, more than once, had her battling highly inappropriate laughter.
At one point, he observed, “Have you noticed? Your wily grandmama is using this exercise as a means of merging the families. More than anyone else, she’s in charge.”
Melissa smiled fondly. “She always is.”
Ultimately, with the tea brought in and duly drunk, and tea toasts raised to the mothers of the bride and the groom and, more generally, to the outcome of the evening, the company deemed it a night well lived and rose and said their farewells.
Melissa walked out to the front hall with her grandmother and a thoroughly excited Lottie. As this had been a strictly family dinner, Lottie had been allowed to attend.
“It was so exciting!” She all but bounced on her toes. “I’m so glad you chose this evening to finalize your dates.”
“Indeed.” As always, her grandmother’s black eyes seemed to see into Melissa’s brain. “I’m glad you’ve both agreed to move more decisively forward.”
She smiled and let the comment lie. “I just wish Mandy could have been here and been a part of it all.” Reference to her impending first great-grandchild could usually be counted on to distract even her grandmother.
“A pity, yes, given you and she are so close,” her grandmother replied, “but I’m relieved that Rufus has put his foot down. Your sister is too close to her time to endure the jolting journey to town.”
Smiling at the success of her deflection, Melissa merely inclined her head.
Only to have her grandmother lightly rap her arm with her furled lorgnette. “I predict this marriage will be the making of you both.” Uncompromisingly meeting her gaze, her grandmother informed her, “From the moment you two first met, this was meant to be.”
Grinning, Lottie nodded. “It truly was. We all knew it.”
Refraining from shaking her head, Melissa hugged them both, then watched them walk out of the front door, solicitously attended by two Carsely footmen.
Several gentlemen had been waiting to approach her and make their farewells, including Gordon, who bowed over her hand and insouciantly remarked, “Well, that didn’t turn out too badly after all.”
Melissa narrowed her eyes at him, then Julian appeared at her elbow, and Gordon promptly bid his cousin a reserved farewell and sloped off.
Julian humphed. “He might have unwittingly assisted, but he’s still a cad.”
