Page 123 of The Curious Story of the Missing Lady
“Lizzy!”
“I’ll speak no lies on the matter, M’Lady.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to, I suppose, but govern your tongue somewhat. Excuse me.”
She left the room to go and find Peter, who was using the room previously occupied by Oliver, who was now downstairs mingling with the other guests, Emily by his side.
“Hello?” she said in the doorway.
“Ah, Madeline. What do you think?”
He was magnificent in his wedding attire, on loan from Oliver. The match was perfect.
“I think you look like a dream come true. In a way, I think that’s what you are. I feel as though I’ve awakened.”
He clapped his hands together. “Well, are we ready?”
“Not quite,” she said. “There’s a matter of the vicar.”
“The vicar?”
“Oh, it’s a long story, but he’s had a touch too much to drink. They’re sobering him up downstairs. It will take some time. Foster has asked the quartet to entertain the guests in the meantime, and Mrs Andrews is preparing morehors d’oeuvres.”
“Pity,” he said, then shrugged. “No matter, is it?”
She laughed. “I guess not.”
“Shall we go for a walk in your lovely gardens, wife of mine to be?”
“Indeed, husband, we shall.”
To keep things the way they should be, even at this late an hour in advance of their wedding, Madeline summoned Lisbelle to act as chaperone for their walk.
It was a beautiful day, and the sun would go down soon, but it would still be alright. They had each other, and the time left would be spent at each other’s side.
THE END
