Chapter 23
“No, Phyllis I’m not wearing a white dress. White is for purity.”
“But your heart is pure.”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “I’m not wearing virginal white. I won’t be believed. I want to wear a light blue that’s on the purple side of the spectrum not the green side. Blue is the colour for loyalty and faithfulness. That’s what I am going to promise to John.”
Lily finally intervened. “She’s right Phyllis. We don’t want to give Maggie Donlon and her friends any more ammunition.”
Phyllis huffed and said, “It makes sense but I don’t like it.”
Lucy patted her shoulder and said, “It will be fine.”
Phyllis leaned forward. “Do you have bridesmaids picked?”
“Only Zara. John’s friend Mike will be the best man.”
Lily smiled. “Good. Zara is a real sweetheart. I’ll bet it took her every ounce of courage she had to propose to Zack.”
“Absolutely. She’s always wanted someone strong she could trust to take care of her. Zack will do a good job of that.”
Phyllis nodded agreement. “She’s stronger than she looks.”
“I know that but it’s nice to have someone you can depend on. Her first fiancé broke it off ten days before the wedding and he married her former best friend on the same day their wedding had been scheduled. Since then she’s had a hard time knowing who to trust.”
“Like you?”
“Not really. I always knew who I could trust. I just didn’t let myself do it. Until recently.” Lucy shrugged. “Habit, I suppose.”
“Are you still okay with a pot luck supper in the church basement?”
“It feels right. John and I will be part of this community for a long time. This isn’t about a perfect party to impress the rich uncle. This is about our friends and family having a good time. And I’ve told Jack that he can do what he wants with the music in the service.”
“No preferences?”
“I’m sure John will give his opinions but I don’t know the hymn book well enough. I did ask him not to have them play ‘Here Comes the Bride’ when I enter. The ‘short, fat and wide’ line will go through someone’s head. It isn’t quite true but I am wider than I used to be and I’m starting to waddle.”
“Have we received RSVPs from everyone?”
“We might get a couple more next week.” Lily was looking down the list she’d carefully prepared. “Oh, we got one this morning that I wasn’t really expecting, Lucy.”
Lucy looked up. “Oh?”
“Yes. Your sister accepted for herself and Mr. Howard and two more guests. She signed herself Ginny Howard. She also enclosed this.” Lily extended a small airmail envelope.
Lucy opened the envelope and read the note.
Dear Lucy
I was so pleased and surprised to hear from you after all these years. Mother told me that I had a sister named Lucinda in Canada and I always thought that life would be so much better with a sister. I’ve tried to locate you for several years with no success.
I took the liberty of informing Mother and Grandmother of your wedding. You should plan for them to be there which is why I accepted for four of us.
I’m so looking forward to finally meeting you and helping to celebrate your wedding. I hope that we can become friends at the very least.
Your sister,
Ginny
“My sister is coming with her husband and my grandmother.” Lucy’s tone was flat.
“I expected you to be more pleased than that, Lucy.” Lily’s voice was faintly critical.
“I’m not sure what to expect. We’re strangers with exactly one thing in common.”
Phyllis said, “Don’t forget that you’ll have John there with you. And he’s back to being charming John since you’ve come into his life. He’ll smooth things over if need be.”
At the reminder of her fiancé, Lucy sighed. “I suppose he will.” She tapped the list. “We only have five days until the wedding. Will we have everything ready?”
Lily said, “We have the church, the minister, the license, the two of you and enough witnesses to make it legal. Everything else is gravy.”
“Well, let’s go over everything again. We don’t want lumpy gravy, do we?” Lucy said.
The two older women laughed and started to recheck their lists.
“Why did you put the wedding at five-thirty in the afternoon?” Sally asked.
“So that Alec and Jessica could attend. There won’t be a photographer or anything like that so we’ll go right from the service down to the basement for supper. We’ve asked about forty people to bring a pot luck dish. Anne MacDonald said she’d bring her fiddle and ask around to see what other musicians will help her play for dancing.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“Will you be able to come?”
“I might have a hard time getting a ride.”
Dick Fogerty called over. “Where do you need to get to, Sally?”
Lucy answered for both of them. “My wedding in Kemptville.”
“There’s room in the van with me.”
“There’s no way I’m getting in a car with you, Dick. You can barely read the menu here and your shakes are almost as bad as mine.”
Dick rolled his eyes. “I asked my daughter-in-law to drive us because they’ve got that ten passenger van. The four of us are going. And I have to be there.”
Sally turned in her chair to look at him. “Why do you have to be there, you old fart?”
Dick sat proudly in his chair. “I’m giving the bride away. Lucy said one of us could give her away and I pulled the highest card from the deck. The queen of hearts.”
Barry, Stu and Frank all looked mildly envious that it was Dick who’d pulled the high card. Frank said, “She’s lucky, really. Dick there is the sharpest dresser among us.”
Sally considered. “Well, if your daughter-in-law doesn’t mind…”
“I’ll let you know tomorrow, if you’re in for breakfast.”
Sally brightened and sat up straighter. “I’ll be here, young man.”
Jessica beckoned from the counter. Lucy excused herself.
“Thank you so much, Lucy.”
“For what?”
“For giving them some things to look forward to.”
“They’re good people.”
“But they get lonely once in a while.”
“That’s something I understand.”
“But you’ve done something about it.” Jessica began to wrap cutlery. “You know that you’ll be helping Dick down the aisle rather than the other way around?”
Lucy felt a tear form. “But he’s also helping me. He’s going to remind me that people here care about me.”
Jessica gave Lucy a napkin to blot her tears. “I’m going to miss you so much when you leave.”
“I don’t think I’m going to be a stranger, Jessica. My daughter will need to know her honorary grandfathers. And I’ll have work in the area and we’re going to put a park model trailer out at the farm next spring so I can continue my research. So I’ll be in here at least once a week, I think.”
Jessica nodded but only said, “Good,” in a suspiciously husky tone.
“What are you plotting, Reenie?” John turned toward his sister and waggled a chef’s knife in her direction.
“What makes you think I’m plotting something?” Irene looked to the corner of John’s kitchen to make sure that her twins weren’t bothering Bruno too much.
“Don’t give me that innocent look, Mrs. vanVliet. I know you’re plotting something. Ernie knows you are, too.”
“It’s a surprise. And no I’m not giving you any hints.”
“Will I be embarrassed?” John turned back to slicing tomatoes for the salad.
“No. That I’m certain of.”
John relaxed. “Okay then. But if you’re wrong I’m getting you back.”
Irene relaxed too. “The wedding is tomorrow.”
“I know. I?
??m pretty excited about it. I wish Rob was here to be my best man.”
Irene sighed. “I wish that, too. But…”
John replied, “But if he was I might never have met Lucy or been forced to see her as a real person.”
“God works in strange ways.”
“He certainly does.”
Irene changed the subject. “Have you seen Lucy this week?”
“Only once. Phyllis and Lily are keeping her pretty busy with the last minute details and she’s still working. We’ve got the rehearsal at five then we’re going to dinner with Zack and Zara, Mike and Robyn, and Lucy’s family from England, and her cousin Harriet. They’re the only out of towners that are in town early enough.”
“I’d be happy to cook for that if you’d rather do it here.”
John pondered that for a moment. “That would be nice, sis. It would be quieter than anywhere we could go and would give us more of a chance to sit and talk.”
“How is Lucy doing?”
“Other than arguing with Phyllis about the dress and being anxious about meeting her English relatives, she seems to be doing well. She’s starting to complain about her ankles and sciatica and loose joints.”
“Sounds normal. Is everything okay with the baby?”
“We went together to the last ultrasound. It was pretty awesome to see the heart beating. The doctor said everything is going exactly as expected. And what about you?”
“I still have a few weeks to go before my first ultrasound. But other than some odd cravings everything’s good so far.” She patted her belly. “You know we were on the verge of adopting?”
John gave a sympathetic look over his shoulder. “Yeah. I remember.”
“I never thought I’d ever have any. And now I’m pregnant again.”
John moved over to give Irene a hug. “It’s pretty good as everyday miracles go.”
Irene’s eyes were shiny as she repeated softly, “Everyday miracles. I like that, Johnny.”
“I forgot that Lucy was one when I was distracted by that lip ring. Now I get my own everyday miracle in about thirty hours.”
Henk squealed “Smugh” at the top of his lungs while Smudge raced across the kitchen floor to leap onto the table and yell at John. “Everyday miracles, indeed.”
An expensively dressed group waited nervously at the back of the church for the rehearsal to finish. Jack finished with a prayer of blessing and the wedding party began to make their slow way to the back.
Lucy looked up to see a younger woman with vaguely familiar features. “Ginny?”
Ginny quickly walked forward with her husband trailing a half pace behind. In a finishing school accent, she asked, “Lucy?”
They stopped a pace away from each other while everyone else waited. Lucy took both of Ginny’s hands in hers. “Welcome to Kemptville, sister.”
Two women, one middle aged and one who looked to be in her late seventies trailed behind them. There were tears in the eyes of the older woman as she said, “You look so much like Peter.”
Lucy whispered, “Grandmother?” She saw familiar features in the older woman’s face then decided to throw caution to the wind and gave her a hug which was returned with joy and many tears. After a moment they separated.
Ginny blotted her eyes as she watched the tableau unfold but was unsure how to continue. John stepped forward and extended a hand to the man. “John MacLeish.”
The man took it and said, “Tom Howard.” Pointing to Ginny he said, “Obviously this is my wife Ginny.” He took charge of the introductions from his side. “This is my mother in law, Lady Sarah Wilkinson and this is my wife’s grandmother, Lady Lucinda Wilkinson.”
John said, “As you may have gathered, this is my fiancée, Lucy Wilkinson. Another Lady Lucinda, I suppose.” Turning, he introduced the rest of the group.
Lucy took her sister’s arm and led the way out the front door as John made small talk with her grandmother and husband.
Ginny spoke first. “I wasn’t certain what to expect. You aren’t exactly as I’d pictured.”
“At least you knew about me. I’d only heard some vague rumours that my father had remarried and that I had a sister but I didn’t get confirmation until Mother finally gave me my father’s letter a few weeks ago.”
“You do know that we’re of the nobility?”
“Does it matter?”
Ginny snickered. “Not here. Nor in Texas, except at fundraisers. Tom is chargé d’affaires at the British consulate. I get to play diplomat’s wife and help organize various charity functions. Lady Howard is an occasionally useful role.”
“John is a master mason. Will that matter to the family?”
Ginny pondered. “An actual guild master? He seems quite young for that.”
“He is but his work is amazing.”
“Well, I’m certain that some of the cousins will sniff but Grandmother won’t care. Nor will Uncle Richard. He couldn’t take the time away from his Parliamentary responsibilities to come with us on such short notice. Aunt Anne is bursting with curiosity to meet you. When do you think you’ll be able to visit them?”
Lucy looked at her bulge. “At this point I think I’ll have to wait for the baby to arrive.”
“That’s famous then. Babies always make awkward meetings easier.” Seeing the uncertain look on Lucy’s face Ginny said, “I expect there’s a story behind this.”
“There is but it will have to wait until after supper. Speaking of which, John’s sister and her family are at John’s house making supper. We should be on our way.” Lucy looked back to see everyone watching them. “Thank you for coming.”
Ginny turned and gave Lucy a brief hug. “We wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” She stepped back and Lucy could see another tear forming.
“What’s the news from the university, Lucy?” Irene asked as the women assembled in the formal parlour with coffee while the men descended to the man cave to play pool and chat.
“Dr. Drake has been let go and the university wants me to meet with them to see if I’m ready to defend my dissertation. I told them that I was getting married this week but that I would be happy to talk to them about reinstating me in two weeks or so.”
At her grandmother’s look of confusion Lucy gave a brief synopsis of her academic career and future plans. She listened carefully and brightened considerably when Lucy began to talk about gardens.
Ginny clapped and chortled. “Oh that’s too much of a coincidence. Grandmother has been working at restoring the formal gardens on the estate. Uncle Richard barely knows the difference between a rose and a peony and Aunt Anne is not much better.”
“Where are the family estates?”
“The main estate is between Exmouth and Dorchester. The big manor house is a museum now and Uncle Richard rents the surrounding land to local farmers. Grandmother is working with English Heritage to put the formal gardens back in shape. Uncle Richard lives on a small estate just outside of London and Grandmother shares the Dower House at the main estate with Mum.”
Zara, who loved reading Regency romances, mused, “So that means there are three living Countesses of Exmouth?”
Lady Lucinda smiled. “Five, actually. My eldest son’s widow Charlotte didn’t remarry and my mother-in-law is still alive. Lady Eunice is in hospice and isn’t expected to survive much longer.”
Lucy looked at Ginny in surprise. “We have a great-grandmother?”
Lady Lucinda answered. “Well, I’m not that old. I’m only seventy-two. Lady Eunice is ninety-three, I think.
“Are you okay, Lucy?” Harriet saw the look of shock on her face. Then she understood. “Oh. You’re surprised because Lady Lucinda is a year younger than your mother.”
Now it was Ginny’s turn to be shocked. “How?”
“My parents had an affair when my mother was teaching obstetrics in Kigali while our father was doing a tropical diseases rotation there. Mother thought she was finished with menopause but she was wrong. The Catholi
c order that ran the hospital insisted they marry, which they did eventually, but they divorced shortly after I was born. I think if she’d known that she’d be a Countess she might have stuck with him. But she was more than twenty years older than he was.”
Ginny’s eyes widened at the thought. “That would have been quite the scandal. It does explain why she didn’t keep in touch.”
Lucy’s tone was neutral as she said, “In part.”
Ginny knew to change the subject and said, “In any case, the original formal gardens were designed by one of Capability Brown’s protégés.”
“I’d love to get your opinion on what we’re doing.” Lady Lucinda’s eyes sparkled.
“Well, I’m sort of faking it at the moment even if the landscaping company I’m affiliated with liked what I did for them. I’ll be taking courses through the college in Ottawa to get some more formal training.”
“Formal training is good but you need to have a good eye to start.”
Irene pointed at two framed studies on the wall of the parlour. “She has a good eye. Those sketches are the concept art for Walt’s terraced gardens.”
Lady Lucinda got up to examine them with a critical eye. “The layout seems a bit, hmm, square.”
Lucy shrugged. “The primary goal was to slow down the runoff of fertilizer into the lake. Some of the water plants are starting to choke out the water course.”
“Ah. Well, I’m sure you’ll get better with practice. But I love the projection sketches at five, ten and fifteen years. This will be a lovely garden once it settles in and there are some upkeep advantages to square.” She turned to face Lucy. “Now I’m even more determined to get your ideas. Most of the administrators I’m dealing with don’t understand that trees and shrubs look differently in twenty years. If you’d be willing to do some sketches for me when you visit that would be marvellous.”
“Well, it will give me something to do while John prowls around all of the various piles of stone in the area.” She winked at John who was leading the men in to join them.
“Tom was telling me about some of the lesser known features of Howard Castle. He promised that he would ask his uncle the duke to let me see all of it including parts of the private apartments. I think we’ll have to make an extended tour of England after our honeymoon in January.”
Tom sat in a relaxed fashion next to his wife, who leaned in to snuggle with him. “His Grace is not the stickler that some of the lesser lights in the family are. I think he’ll actually enjoy having someone in the family who understands stonework and the importance and challenges of restoring heritage buildings.”
Lady Sarah smirked. “It would be interesting to see the reaction of some of the other family members, though. Imagine Aunt Victorine’s reaction to Lucy’s earrings or watching my Uncle Rupert try to make conversation with an actual commoner.”
Tom chortled. “I’d pay money to see it but I wouldn’t want to cause John or Lucy undue distress.”
Lucy shrugged. “I don’t see it being a problem. I won’t put up with anyone treating John with disrespect. He’s earned his good reputation.”
Tom nodded. “I’ll say. This house is a marvel, John. I’d dearly love to get the name of your window manufacturer. I’d bet your windows aren’t drafty.”
The mantel clock chimed nine. John stood and took Lucy’s hand to help her up. John said, “Unfortunately, Lucy has to go now because she has things to do before tomorrow but feel free to stay as long as you like. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.” Most of the group stood to give Lucy best wishes before returning to their conversations.
John and Lucy helped Irene and Ernie get the sleeping twins transferred to the car. “See you tomorrow,” Irene said with a broad smile and a wave as Ernie drove off.
“She’s plotting something, isn’t she?”
“She is but she said it wouldn’t embarrass us.” He drew her into a hug. “I was very pleasantly surprised by your relatives. Tom and Ginny are great people.”
“I was surprised, too. Did you catch it when Ginny said that Grandmother Lucinda is a year younger than my mother?”
John was startled. “Really?”
“Yes. She’s apparently only seventy two. And I have a living great-grandmother who’s in her nineties.”
“How are you feeling about this?”
Lucy took a deep breath. “It was nice to meet everyone but I’ll wait until next week to think seriously about it. Right now I’m thinking about what we’ll be doing in about twenty-six hours.”
John started to redden. “Twenty-six hours?”
Lucy gave him a long passionate kiss. “I’ll be blunt, John. I like sex. It’s a lot of fun and I like it a lot and I really miss it. And if kissing you is a hundred times better than kissing anyone else ever was, then I’ll never want to leave the bedroom if sex with you is that much better.”
John spluttered for a moment then said, “But what about the baby?”
She said, gently, “We won’t be able to be as vigorous as I might want but I’m sure we’ll be able to enjoy ourselves.” She gave him another long kiss. “A whole lot.”
“A hundred times better?”
“At least a hundred times better.” She gave him a brief peck. “Because it’s you.”
John answered her with another kiss.
A nervous looking John was waiting in the sacristy with Mike.
“How are you doing, boss?”
“I’ve never enjoyed waiting.”
“But Lucy’s worth waiting for?”
John smiled despite his nerves. “Oh, yeah. I didn’t think so at first, but now…”
“She’s a great girl.”
“So you’ll consider the partnership offer?”
“I’m still flattered you want me to do that.”
“I really do. I’ll need you and Shay both. I have to cut back on my hours so I have time for my family. And I need a sabbatical soon anyway to get some fresh ideas.”
“And you want to take Tom up on his offer.”
“I expect that having an uncle who is an earl and a duke in the family will open some doors for me.”
“I expect you’re right.”
Jack came in. “Lucy’s just arrived. Time to take our places.”
John and Mike walked to the front of the church to stand where Jack indicated. They saw Zack escorting Phyllis to the mother of the bride pew where she sat next to Lily Duncan and a trio of elderly gentlemen that he recognized from the diner. As Zack took his place in the pew behind Phyllis, Jack directed the congregation to rise.
John could barely contain his surprise as a string quartet struck up The Prince of Denmark’s March. He looked up into the choir loft to see a familiar head topped with unruly red hair. Beside Aaron, Julie was beaming at him with a ‘gotcha’ look in her eyes before she turned her concentration back to the music.
Zara led the way down the central aisle. Lucy followed on the arm of Dick Fogerty who looked inordinately proud in his veteran’s blazer with his Korean War medals.
The rest of the service passed in a hazy blur. The congregation laughed when both John and Lucy missed prompts from Jack but no one had any doubt of their love for each other. The first kiss as man and wife was a chaste peck but neither had any illusion that the dinner guests would allow them to stop with just that one kiss.
The English relatives were unused to the informality of a rural wedding but they got into the spirit of it quickly. After a tasty potluck meal of epic proportions the center tables were cleared and Anne, Julie, Monika and Irene began to play and teach country dances in between waltzes. To the delight of everyone, Ginny and her mother knew most of the dances and were kept on their feet most of the evening.
Eventually, John and Lucy were able to make their escape in the decorated Volvo with a pair of overnight bags.
“So where are we going?” Lucy asked.
“Someplace special.” John was non-committal. Lucy took his free hand and pressed it to he
r cheek.
“Did you like Irene’s surprise?”
“It was beautiful. I feel like a bit of an idiot, though, for not remembering to invite them.”
“They are more Irene’s friends than ours, but you’re right. We should have invited them.”
There was a brief silence. John spoke first. “I’m glad that your relatives will be staying on for a visit. They’re good company.”
“I was surprised that Lady Sarah joined in the dancing so enthusiastically. Though I shouldn’t be. Ginny and I like to dance, too.” She frowned at her bulge. “I had to sit out every other dance. But I got to talk with Grandmother at length.”
“I thought it was sweet the way that the gang from the diner cut in during the waltz you started with Dick.”
“I thought it was sweet of you to dance with Lily and Sally.” Lucy took John’s hand and rubbed her cheek with it. They fell into a comfortable silence partially filled with Vivaldi.
The lights of Smiths Falls came into view and John continued on toward Kingston on Highway 15. Lucy said, “Kingston?”
“Nope. Trust me. You’ll like what I have planned.”
“Okay. Is Irene okay with having Bruno for the weekend?”
“I’m not looking forward to prying him away from Lissa and Henk tomorrow night.”
There was more silence filled with the sound of gentle baroque music. John turned at the sign for Rideau Ferry then at the Old Kingston Road. Lucy began to get suspicious. “As much as I love the farm I’m not spending my first night with my husband in a tent.” She could see John smirking in the lights from the dashboard. “And it’s a bit cold today to go skinny dipping at the swimming hole.”
“Wait until I put a gate on the lane before you suggest that again, please.”
“Modest are you?”
“I don’t like the idea of being surprised by visitors.”
“You aren’t going to give me a hint?”
“Nope.” Then he smiled. “I knew it was going to be a problem to be married to a scientist. You are just too curious for your own good.”
Lucy humphed and crossed her arms. “Meanie.” This was said without any heat.
He turned into the lane. Lucy waited for the inevitable jostling but it didn’t happen. “Did you fix the road?”
“Among other things.” He sounded mysterious.
“If the lane is smooth then maybe you can go faster?” Lucy was getting impatient.
As he pulled into the newly gravelled parking area a set of floodlights came on. “Security lights on motion sensors. We can turn them off if we don’t want to scare the deer away.” Lucy still couldn’t see much beyond the porch. John came around to help Lucy out of the car. “I got you a wedding present, my love. I hope you like it.”
John led her up the stairs of the porch to the entrance of a brand new forty foot park model trailer. He opened the sliding door with a flourish and picked Lucy up to carry her through into the living room.
Lucy squealed then allowed the tears to flow as he put her gently down. “Washroom is through here,” he said, opening a door next to the refrigerator. “I’ll go get the suitcases.”
After freshening up, Lucy looked left into the bedroom to see a queen sized bed nestled in a slide out section. She went back to the living area to take in the kitchen counter, sofa and dinette and an open door to another small room. It had a lower double bed with an upper single bunk, a half bath and a desk with a computer and a fold down three quarter length upper bunk. John came through the door and nuzzled her from behind. “I had satellite service and a phone line put in. There’s a wi-fi router with high speed Internet. I did not, per your instructions, put in the buried power line but there is a propane generator running and it will kick in if there’s a power failure.”
“How did you manage all this?”
“I got Shay’s team to move the wreck to the meadow by the main road so we can cut it up for disposal. Then I had my favourite foundation company pour a slab for this trailer. David Mackenzie installed the electrics and Ernie dug the trench for a buried phone line. There’s plenty of room in the conduit to run a power line.”
Lucy turned and said, “I don’t know what to say.”
“Thank you would be enough.”
“Then here’s thank you part one.” Lucy reached up for a long tender kiss. Then she grabbed his hand and towed him to the master bedroom where she gave him another kiss, this time brief and hungry. “And here’s the start of thank you part two, husband of mine…” She loosened his tie and slipped his jacket off his shoulders while John’s hands began to undo the buttons on the back of her dress.