His smile faded. “No, my darling, I’m madly in love with you.”
Oh my.
Biting on my lip, I felt my father next to me before I saw him. “My darling daughter, it appears you have upset the delicate world of your mother.”
Turning, I looked at him. I raised an eyebrow as my father smiled and looked around the room. Always one to be discreet, my father kept his voice low. “Mr. Stowe and I think it best if you wed right away and head off for your honeymoon. A month away from your mother and fresh salt air will do you ... and the baby good.”
I sucked in a breath as my father looked down at me. “Daddy, how did you know?”
Smiling, he looked around. “How can one miss the glow on your cheeks, darling? I dreamed of seeing that same look on your mother’s face. I shall be satisfied with seeing it on my eldest daughter’s face.”
Danny cleared his throat, “Sir, I wish to—”
Holding up his hand, my father looked at Danny. “I dare not pass down judgment, son, when I once stood in your very shoes. I pray your outcome is far happier than mine.”
My heart was confused. I wasn’t sure if I should feel happy knowing I would be wed to the love of my life soon or heartbroken knowing my father was in a loveless marriage.
Looking at Danny, I silently prayed that I would never know what my father knew. A life full of nothing but regret and sadness.
Our wedding was planned within a week. Tongues wagged of course, but neither Danny nor I cared. It seemed the only person who cared was my mother, who happened to be ill the day of our wedding. The only people in attendance were my father and sister Annie, Danny’s brother Thomas, his parents, Nelly, and Richard. I loved that I was marrying Danny in the house I grew up in. There was something magical about it.
Lucy finished adjusting my ivory silk wedding gown and gushed with pride. “Miss Sophia, you are indeed breathtaking in Mrs. Stowe’s wedding gown. Too bad Mrs. Montgomery is feeling ill. She would also say you are breathtaking.”
Smiling, I felt my cheeks heat as I turned toward Nelly. “I have to agree with Lucy, Sophia. You are stunning. I will not agree with the comment about your wicked mother though.”
Gasping, my mouth dropped open. “Nelly, you are bad. Very bad indeed.”
Chewing on my lip, I smiled at Nelly as I glanced at myself in the mirror. The fitted boned-bodice dress had an off-shoulder neckline and short sleeve band. Danny would like that he could see my bare shoulders. Lace gathered in the front to form a delicate collar. Beads were applied on the bodice to complement the pleated sash ties in the front. The full gathered skirt with bustle was overlaid with beaded lace and medallions. Pearls and beaded tassel served as the trim. I was shocked it fit me like a glove. It was the perfect size. When Danny’s mother offered to let me wear her gown, I began crying. My mother would not even talk of the wedding. To her, none of it existed. Nor did the child I carried in my womb.
Nelly fixed a few curls that hung down, framing my face. “Are you ready, Sophia?”
Nodding my head, I felt the tear slip and roll down my cheek. Nelly shook her head and sniffled in a rather unladylike fashion. “No tears allowed today, Sophia Marie.”
My voice cracked as I barely spoke. “What if they are happy tears, Nelly?”
She smiled a beautiful smile as she let out a titter. “Tears of happiness are okay.”
There was a knock on the door and Nelly and I both looked over our shoulders. Mrs. Stowe walked into the room wearing an amazingly beautiful smile. I immediately saw where Danny got his smile from. One look at me in her wedding gown and she was crying. She brought her hands up to her mouth. “Oh, Sophia. Sophia you make a much more beautiful bride then I ever did.”
Feeling the heat move across my face yet again, I smiled. “I find that hard to believe,” I whispered as she kissed both my cheeks.
She fussed with my hair before moving her hand lower. Her eyes locked on her hands, which were placed over my stomach. Closing my eyes, I whispered, “Please do not think ill of me or Daniel.”
Opening my eyes, I noticed her eyes moved from my stomach.
“Sophia, darling, society places rules on us that make us think we have to behave a certain way. I certainly cannot blame you for falling in love. I was a young girl once, too. I found myself lost in the eyes of Daniel’s father.” Smiling, she glanced down as the blush moved into her cheeks. “There were many a time when that man talked me into sneaking away from my Abby to be alone with him. I never once regretted it. Sometimes love is very powerful and makes us … follow our hearts instead of rules others place for us to follow.”
Smiling, I stole a look over to Nelly. She smiled as well. “Was it a mad love, Mrs. Stowe?” I asked.
Laughing she replied, “First off, darling, you will shortly be my daughter, I insist you call me Irene. To answer your question, it was more a passionate, insanely romantic, mad love.” She raised an eyebrow and I found myself giggling like a schoolgirl. “His kiss could render me speechless for minutes.”
“Yes …” I whispered as I placed my fingers lightly upon my lips.
Smiling, she whispered, “His smile. Oh dear, his smile is still my undoing.”
Grabbing Irene’s hands, I held them in my own. “Danny’s smile does the same to me. My stomach takes flight with a million butterflies when he smiles at me.” Looking into Irene’s eyes, I whispered, “I love Daniel more than the air I breathe. I will love him until I take my last breath. I would do anything for him.”
“And he you. I’ve never seen such light in my son’s eyes as when you walk into a room. The first day he met you, in the park, he told me that evening he was going to marry you. Said he had met the girl whom he dreamed at night about. Then he whispered your name from his lips … Sophia.”