Chapter 1: The Wedding Morning
Bellamere, England.
1810
Winter had settled over the countryside in a blanket of white.
Snow drifted lazily from the pale morning sky, gathering along the stone walls and the bare branches of the ancient oak trees surrounding the Harriet estate. Beyond the tall windows, the fields stretched endlessly beneath the frost, their usual green swallowed by winter. The world outside was quiet and beautiful.
Inside the Harriet household, however, there was nothing quiet about the morning.
The grand house had been awake since before sunrise.
Maids hurried through the corridors carrying trays of freshly baked bread, roasted meat, fruit, and steaming pots of tea. Others climbed and descended the sweeping staircase with armfuls of linens and flowers, while servants called to one another from opposite ends of the hall. The scent of lavender, warm bread, and beeswax filled the air, mingling with the faint fragrance of roses arranged in silver vases throughout the house.
Today was Eleanor Harriet’s wedding day.
And everyone seemed determined to make certain the entire kingdom knew it.
“I can’t find my blue ribbon!”
A young voice echoed through the corridor.
Alice Harriet, fourteen and already dressed in her pale blue morning gown, emerged from her bedroom, frustrated. Her brown curls were only half arranged, several strands falling messily around her face.
“Has anyone seen my ribbon?”
No one answered.
Alice huffed and hurried farther down the corridor.
Across the hall, her older sister Eleanor sat before a large gilded mirror while a maid carefully worked through her long hair. Eleanor’s golden gown shimmered beneath the soft morning light, the delicate embroidery catching every movement. Her hair had been arranged elegantly, with small pearls woven between the curls.
She looked every bit the bride.
Mrs. Harriet stood behind her daughter, watching the final touches with a proud smile.
“I am so proud of you, Eleanor,” she said softly. “You look beautiful.”
Eleanor’s lips curved into a shy smile as she studied her reflection.
“And I am certain he can hardly wait to make you his bride.” Mrs. Harriet’s smile widened. “This wedding will be the most talked-about event of the year. The Darcys are one of the most respected families in Bellamere, and Lord William is an excellent match for you.”
Eleanor lowered her eyes, her cheeks warming.
Mrs. Harriet reached forward and gently touched her daughter’s shoulder.
“I could not be more fulfilled.”
Her voice held the unmistakable satisfaction of a mother who believed everything had finally fallen into place.
Then she glanced toward the door.
“Come. We must begin moving. We have a church full of guests waiting for us.”
She swept from the room, her skirts trailing behind her.
The moment she entered the corridor, she spotted one of the maids.
“Is everything ready?”, she asked.
“Yes, Mrs. Harriet”.
“Excellent”, Mrs. Harriet began, descending the staircase, gathering the folds of her gown as she descended. She had barely reached the middle of the stairs when she suddenly stopped.
Her expression changed, “Where is Sarah?”
The maid beside her blinked, “Miss Sarah?”
“Yes. Sarah.” Mrs. Harriet’s eyes narrowed. “She isn’t in her room, is she?”
The maid hesitated, “I… I don’t know, madam.”
Mrs. Harriet turned toward the tall windows overlooking the estate, walked to them, and pulled one curtain aside.
The snow-covered grounds stretched before her.
No Sarah.
Her mother’s shoulders dropped, “Find her.”
“At once, madam.” The maid hurried away, muttering nervously beneath her breath.
Mrs. Harriet closed her eyes for a moment.
Of course.
Of all mornings.
Behind her, light footsteps approached.
Eleanor had finished dressing and was carefully making her way down the stairs, with Alice following close behind.
“Is Sarah missing again, Mother?” Alice asked.
Mrs. Harriet turned sharply, “Don’t say that as though it is amusing.”
Alice’s lips twitched and before she could answer, a voice came from the kitchen.
“Missing? Who’s missing?”
Everyone turned.
Sarah Harriet stepped into the hallway.
She was biting casually into a red apple, her dark hair tangled from the wind, her cheeks flushed from the cold. Snow clung to the hem of her gown and one of her boots was muddy.
For a moment, she simply stood there, then she looked around.
She saw Eleanor dressed like a bride.
Alice was already ready.
Her mother was dressed.
Everyone was ready.
Sarah’s eyes widened, “Oh, fuck”, She swallowed the bite of apple, “The wedding is this morning!”
She immediately dropped the apple onto a nearby table, gathered the skirts of her gown, and rushed toward the stairs.
“Sarah!” Were you out swinging swords again?” Mrs. Harriet called after her. “How many times have I told you that…”
“I’m going to be dressed in five minutes!” Sarah shouted over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Mother!”
“Five minutes? You cannot possibly….”
“Lydia!”, Sarah yelled out her maid’s name, totally ignoring her mother.
“Lydia!”
Her personal maid appeared at the top of the stairs, already looking as though she knew precisely what kind of morning this was going to be.
“Miss Sarah?”
“Help me!”, Sarah groaned as she flew up the staircase.
As she passed Eleanor, she suddenly stopped.
Her expression softened.
She looked her sister up and down, and despite the chaos surrounding her, a genuine smile appeared on her face.
“You look beautiful, Eleanor.”
“Thank you”, Eleanor answered calmly, her voice gentle as always.
“I’m sorry I’m such a terrible sister. I completely forgot”, Sarah sighed.
Eleanor laughed softly, “Just hurry, Sarah. Even our whining little sister is already dressed.”
“I’ll be back!” Sarah said as she disappeared upstairs.
Mrs. Harriet watched her second daughter vanish.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she sighed deeply and lowered herself onto one of the chairs in the entrance hall.
“How am I ever going to stop that girl from swinging swords and make her understand what is expected of her?”
Eleanor sat and gently took her mother’s hand.
Mrs. Harriet shook her head, “How can a young lady as beautiful as Sarah spend her days handling swords? It isn’t proper. It isn’t feminine. What respectable man is going to want to marry a sword swinger?”
Eleanor squeezed her hand, “Don’t worry too much about Sarah; when the time comes, she’ll adjust.”
Mrs. Harriet looked at her daughter, “Will she?”
Eleanor smiled reassuringly, “She’s clever. She’ll know what is right when she needs to.”
Her mother leaned back against the chair, “I hope you’re right.” Her gaze wandered toward the staircase, “You and Alice are the only two daughters who have ever listened to me. After your marriage, Sarah should be preparing herself for suitors. Instead, she disappears into the fields with a sword in her hand.”
Eleanor tried not to laugh, “She is a little messy, isn’t she?”
“Messy?” Mrs. Harriet repeated. “She forgot her own sister’s wedding.”
Eleanor’s smile grew, “She remembered eventually.”
After a short while, the household finally began moving.
Cloaks were gathered. Gloves were passed around. The maids carried the last of the flowers and wrapped gifts toward the waiting carriage.
Outside, the snow continued to fall.
A row of dark horses stamped impatiently against the frozen ground, their breath rising in white clouds as the Harriet family climbed into the carriage.
Eleanor sat beside Sarah.
Alice squeezed into the opposite seat.
Mrs. Harriet settled beside Eleanor, making certain the delicate lace of her daughter’s wedding gown remained untouched.
The carriage pulled away from the estate.
For a while, there was only the rhythmic sound of the wheels rolling over the snow-covered road.
Sarah turned toward Eleanor, “Are you happy?”
Eleanor looked at her sister then smiled, “Of course I am.”
Alice immediately leaned forward, “I would be happy too if I were marrying such a rich, handsome man.”
Sarah turned toward her, “You’re fourteen, Alice.”
“So?”, Alice snapped.
“You are far too young to know anything about men”, Sarah rolled her eyes.
“And you are eighteen, old enough to be thinking about men! Plus, my friend is fourteen, and she’s already promised to be married”, Alice said as she crossed her arms.
Sarah stared at her in disbelief.
“I am old enough to know what handsome looks like”, Alice muttered.
“You know what foolish looks like”, Sarah answered sharply.
“I do not.”
“You do.”
“I don’t.”
“Enough, both of you”, Mrs Harriet said.
Alice turned toward the window with a dramatic huff.
Sarah shook her head before looking back at Eleanor.
“Truly, though. Are you happy?”
Eleanor’s teasing smile faded, for a moment, she looked down at her hands then she looked at Sarah.
“I’m fine, Lord William is so caring and kind to me”.
Sarah held her gaze for another moment, as though trying to decide whether she believed her.
Finally, she smiled, “Good.”
The carriage continued toward the church, carrying them through the snowy countryside toward the life Eleanor had chosen.
