1. Marry Christmas by Jane Goodger

Author:Jane Goodger [Goodger, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2008-08-29T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Fifth Avenue outside St. Thomas’s church was beset by an enormous throng of onlookers. It seemed as if every young woman in New York City was craning their necks to catch a glimpse of Elizabeth, likely wishing they were walking down the aisle to marry a handsome duke. Police officers, looking decidedly unhappy with their duty, held the crowd back from the cathedral’s broad entranceway. Sitting in her coach waiting for the crowd to clear, Elizabeth peeked at the crowd waiting outside the church, with its two-hundred-sixty-foot tower looming over them. The tower seemed almost sinister to her, and she hoped God would forgive such a dark thought about His house.

“Why are they all here?” she said to herself. “Why do they care?”

“Because you are a Cummings. Because you are becoming a duchess. It is every girl’s dream. They come to see American royalty,” her mother said. It was as if her mother, having planned this day all her life, was more than pleased with the turnout. It made Elizabeth feel slightly ill, knowing she had to step out of the carriage and be in view of hundreds of strangers. The press of faces along the street made Elizabeth feel more like a curiosity, a sideshow attraction. They were all smiling, as if it was a grand and happy day, as if they were somehow a part of what was happening. No one could call what Elizabeth was feeling simple nerves—she was terrified.

“My goodness, Elizabeth, you are not going to your execution,” her mother said, laughing.

“I’d gladly trade places with any one of them,” she said softly. Her mother pressed her mouth tightly, likely restraining herself from saying anything that would further upset her.

“There she is!” someone shouted from the crowd, forcing Elizabeth to pull back from the curtained window. She wondered if Henry were in the crowd waiting for a glimpse of her. She prayed he would do nothing foolish, like storm into the church and drag her away. And perhaps in a small part of her heart she prayed he would, if only to escape this madness. If he did, she wondered whether she would go with him or not? Or would she stand by the duke, dutiful and calm, and say her lying vows. She wasn’t certain if she still loved Henry or if she loved the idea of the freedom he represented. She was still so angry with him for tormenting her heart. And yet, she wore the necklace beneath her wedding dress. Oh, just imagine what her mother would do if she knew she wore a gift from Henry beneath her gown. That thought, at least, made her smile.

Though Elizabeth longed to run into the church like a woman being chased by an angry mob, her mother put a restraining hand on her arm and hissed, “Turn and smile at them.”

So she turned. And smiled.

It wasn’t until she stepped into the church to walk to the room where she would make the final preparations that her fear hit her full force.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.