Page 49 of A Duke's Wicked Secret
It felt as though she had only been asleep for five minutes when she awoke with a start at the sound of her chamber door bursting open. Although it felt like it had only been five minutes, Penelope knew that it had obviously been more than that because the light was shining in from under the bottom of her floor to ceiling windows.
Georgina danced in and laughed when she saw Penelope. “How can you ever still be in bed now? I woke up before the dawn had barely broken, and you always wake before me, so I thought you would surely be up, today of all days!”
“Oh, I just had trouble getting to sleep last night and was in quite a deep sleep.”
“I did not. I was so tired by the end of last night and could not wait to blow out my candle! Can you believe it. Pen? Today is our wedding day!”
“I know. I am so thrilled! It has been so long in coming and finally today is the day!”
“Well, come on, it will soon be time for breakfast, though I am so excited that I will be shocked if I can eat a single boiled egg!” Georgina said.
“I am starving! I doubt I will be able to eat much for the rest of the day with all the preparations. I know I need to eat a decent amount to hold me over.”
“Well, do not eat too much. You do not want to feel sluggish later.”
“I am frustrated that I slept so late and will not have a chance to go riding this morning now.”
“Oh, Pen. There will be plenty of time for that. I cannot believe you are thinking of riding your horse on your wedding day!” Georgina said with exasperation.
The girls went down for breakfast and ate a lovely meal, and even though Georgina had claimed only to want an egg, it was all so perfectly prepared that she had just as full a breakfast as what Penelope finished.
As soon as they had finished, they were each pulled away from the breakfast table by their handmaidens and other servants to ready them for the wedding.
Hours later, they were finally ready. Penelope’s dress was made of intricate and delicate lace with small pearls embroidered throughout the floral pattern. The dress flowed like rippling water in a brook whenever Penelope moved and made her look like a forest fairy queen. Her curls laid on her head in a perfect arrangement of braids, intertwined with tiny pearls and diamonds.
Georgina wore a fine satin dress that gave her a regal appearance. Her ruby necklace and earrings were in such a dramatic contrast that when she turned towards someone’s direction, it would take their breath away. Both of their veils where long and so sheer they almost floated as the brides walked. The flowers for their bouquets matched in size, but Georgina had opted for red roses, and Penelope had selected white roses.
They walked down the stairs to the two chaises that awaited them along with each of their fathers. When Penelope saw her father dressed in his finest suite and the smile he had as he gazed upon her, she felt as though she could fly.
“My beautiful, angel. You look … Well, honestly, words fall short. You look as beautiful as your mother did on our wedding day!”
“Thank you, Papa,” Penelope said.
“Take my arm my dear, as everyone is waiting for us at the church already.”
As Penelope took her father’s extended arm, and they stepped over the threshold of their grand estate, Penelope looked back once more and looked at the home she was leaving forever. Tonight, she would have a new place to call home, and this would be a place to visit but would never again be home.
It filled her with a bitter-sweet emotion. She was so overjoyed that this day had finally come, and she was marrying the man of her dreams, but she also felt the heaviness that change often brought with it when one faced it, no matter how happily.
“Penelope, I must say how proud I am of you. You have taken your time and found a husband that is not only a good man but loves you endlessly. I know as a father and a viscount to boot it was my duty to see you married sooner than now. But to be completely truthful with you, I was happy that none had suited you before now.”
“Why do you say that, Papa?”
“Well, you are my only little girl, and I do not think I could have given you up to anyone that I was not certain you loved with your whole heart and that he cherished you above all others.”
As he said this, a single tear ran down his cheek, and Penelope thought this was the only time she had ever seen her father cry, and it touched her heart deeply that he would be so vulnerable with her.
“Oh, Papa. Thank you so much for telling me that. You are the most perfect father a girl could dream to have. I love you so much!”
“Well, you are the best daughter, and I love you, sweetheart.”
Penelope’s father kissed her cheek and looked away, which Penelope figured was to hide any further tears that might escape his eyes.
They drove the rest of the way to the church fairly quietly, and when they arrived, the footman helped her down from the chaise, ready to step into her new life.
Chapter 19
Theo felt his heart leap as the double doors of the church opened up. Theo stood on one side of the alter steps as he awaited his bride. The sun flooded into the church as the doors opened, and it took a few moments for his and everyone else’s eyes to adjust to the bright light. When Theo’s eyes did adjust, he thought he might be permanently blinded by the sight of this lovely woman walking towards him down the aisle.
