Read Online The Wedding of the Century & Other Stories by Mary Jo Putney, Kristin James, Charlotte Featherstone - Free Book Online

point out that her mother should have thought of that before accepting the proposal of a foreigner. “I’ll miss you, too. You must visit us at Swindon soon.”
    Augusta shook her head. “Eventually, but not right away. I know that I’m a strong-minded woman, and I don’t want to cause trouble between you and your husband.Marriage is a difficult business, and you and he must have time together with as little interference as possible.”
    At moments like this, Sunny loved her mother with painful intensity. It was true that Augusta was often domineering—yet her love for her children was very real. She was a woman of formidable energy; if she had a railroad or a bank to run, she might have been less absorbed in her daughter’s life.
    â€œI’ll be fine,” Sunny said with determined optimism. “Thornborough is a gentleman, and I am a lady. I’m sure that we can contrive a civilized marriage between us.”
    She wished that she was certain that was true.

CHAPTER FIVE
    T EARS FLOWING DOWN HER face, Sunny stood patiently while her maid laced up her white brocade bridal corset. Then Antoinette dropped the wedding gown over her head. It was magnificent, with foaming layers of Brussels lace and billows of white satin spangled with seed pearls and silver thread. Augusta had been so confident of her daughter’s future triumph that she had ordered the gown from Worth when they visited Paris in March, before Sunny had ever set foot in London.
    When the gown was fastened, Antoinette lifted the tulle veil and carefully draped it over the intricate coils of Sunny’s hair. As the gauzy fabric floated down to her knees, the bride bleakly wondered if it was dense enough to conceal her tears.
    Antoinette secured the veil with a coronet of orange blossoms, saying soothingly, “Don’t fret, mademoiselle. Every girl is nervous on her wedding day. Monsieur le Duc is a fine gentleman, and he will make you very happy.”
    Sunny’s shoulders began shaking with the force of her sobs. Antoinette frowned and gave her a handkerchief, muttering, “Madame Vangelder should not have gone ahead to the church. A girl needs her mother at a time like this.”
    As Sunny wept into the crumpled muslin square, a knock sounded at the door. Antoinette answeredand returned with a large white flower box. “For you, mademoiselle.”
    â€œYou can open it if you like,” Sunny said drearily.
    Less jaded than her mistress, Antoinette opened the package, disclosing an exquisite orchid bouquet nestled in layers of tissue paper. “There is a card for you, mademoiselle.”
    Sunny’s puffy eyes widened when she read, These flowers are from the Swindon greenhouse. If they are suitable, perhaps you might wish to carry them. Fondly, Justin.
    Oblivious to the fate of her five-yard-long train, Sunny dropped into a chair and wept even harder.
    â€œOh, mam’zelle,” Antoinette said helplessly. “What about the orchids makes you weep? They are very lovely.”
    â€œYes, they are.” Sunny made a desperate effort to collect herself. “I was…touched by Thornborough’s thoughtfulness in having them sent all the way from England.”
    Though it was not something she could say to her maid, she was even more moved by the fact that he was actually letting her choose whether or not to carry them. Every other detail of the wedding—the trousseau, the decorations, the extravagant reception—had been determined by her mother. Even the eight bridesmaids—including two Vangelder cousins, a Whitney, a Jay and an Astor—had been selected by Augusta for reasons of her own. Sunny had been swept along like a leaf in a torrent.
    But Justin had given her a choice. Surely with such a considerate man, she could be happy. Unsteadily she said, “I must look like a fright. Please bring me some cold water and a facecloth.” She glanced at the enormous