Chapter Eighteen - The Duchess of Hastings

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"Dearly beloved, we are gathered to join together this man and this woman in holey matrimony," The archbishop smiles toward both Daphne and Simon before continuing, "it is said that marriage hath in it less of beauty but more of safety than in single life..."

I look over at Frederick, who was watching with a fond smile as his old school friend- who was known for his aversion to marriage- get married in front of his eyes. He glanced over at me and smiled, looking down at my engagement ring and fiddling with it for a moment, before looking back up at Simon and Daphne.

"...in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. I now pronounce you man and wife."

Almost instantly, both Daphne and Simon started towards the clergy office, ready to sign the official documents that would ensure they were truly man and wife. Anthony and Will stood up and quickly followed after them to serve as witnesses. Hopefully, if they were quick enough, they were able to marry before Cressida or anyone else could be able to let loose their secret.

After a few moments, they appear back out of the room and officially walk down the aisle as the Duke and Duchess of Hastings.

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"Are you excited?" Cressida asked, an honest smile appearing on my face when she saw my ring. "Oh, I cannot wait to see you get married!"

I let out a small chuckle before nodding my head, "I will admit, Cress, I always thought that I would watch you get married first..."

"I just haven't found my match," she says, rather bitterly, before quickly waving it off and looking back at me with a beaming grin. "But none of that for now... my friend is getting married!"

We continue talking in hushed whispers for a few more minutes before Cressida suddenly spots Daphne through the crowd. With her brow raised, she suddenly stops mid-way through our conversation and starts to stroll through the crowd towards the newlywed, leaving me to follow behind her, hoping that she wasn't going to start anything with Daphne on her wedding day.

"I suppose congratulations are in order," Cressida says, swooping in front of Daphne with a knowing smile. "We being friends, after all."

Daphne smiles warmly at the girl, knowing that there was no way that she could ruin anything now that she and Simon were married.

"I do hope you will remember my kindness in keeping secrets and repay me someday," Cressida continued, "enjoy your triumph, Your Grace."

I pause, watching as she makes her way back into the crowd and towards her mother, before turning towards Daphne, a true smile appearing on my face once again. "Congratulations, Your Grace. The wedding was simply beautiful, you and the Duke are lucky to have each other."

"Thank you, Florence," Daphne says, smiling back at me, "I am looking forwards to you and Frederick's wedding... only a few days, yes?"

"Yes... will you and Simon still be in town?" I cock my head to the side slightly in confusion, "I thought that you two were planning on leaving soon?"

"When Simon heard about your wedding he simply couldn't leave," Daphne said warmly, "we decided to delay our leaving until after your wedding."

"Well then, I look forward to seeing you there," I say, nodding my head at her before starting off towards Frederick, who was locked in a conversation with Simon and Anthony.

"-kind eyes," Penelope says, pointing to Lord Wetherby. I slow down my walk and watch as she turns to Marina, who seemed slightly distracted.

"A fine enough husband, I think," Penelope continued, looking towards Marina hopefully.

I sigh but continue on towards Frederick, whose smile grows wider when he notices me.

"Ren! I was just looking for you! Did you hear, Simon and Daphne are attending our wedding?" Frederick looked from me to Simon with a wide grin, "pushed back his departure to Clyvedon a few days so that he and Daphne could be here when we married?"

I smile and giggle slightly at his excitement at the news. "I just heard! That is wonderful! Thank you so much, Simon, I know how much it means to Frederick that you and Daphne will be there."

Simon nods his head and offers Frederick a small smile. "It is the least that I can do after all these years. Ah- I think that someone would like to see you..."

We both turn our heads in the direction that he had motioned towards with raised eyebrows.

"Your Majesty!" Frederick exclaims, practically dragging me behind him as he rushed over to the Queen, an excited smile appearing on his face yet again. "It is so wonderful to see you!"

"I am looking forward to your upcoming marriage," the Queen says, looking at Frederick fondly, "ah! Yes! I remember Friedrich wanted you to have something whenever you decided to marry... wanted it kept it in my position until that day came. And I wanted to offer you both something as well..."

"Fred?" Frederick asked, "he never told me-"

"He didn't want you to know until you were engaged..." the Queen said simply, waving him off and becking one of her guards forward. "It wasn't for you anyway... it is for your so-to-be wife. A present from our family to you."

The guard offers me both of the boxes before stepping back behind the Queen.

Almost immediately, Frederick takes the boxes from me and holds them for me, his eyes never leaving his old family friend, who offered me a minuscule smile.

"Congratulations on your engagement... and your upcoming wedding."

"Thank you... Your Majesty," I say breathlessly, looking up at her with wide eyes.

She nods her head at us once more before continuing through the party, stopping only to talk to a select few people, one in particular that made me do a double-take being Eloise Bridgerton, before eventually taking her leave.

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After a few more hours, most of the guests had left. Those who weren't were being politely kicked out by Anthony, Benedict, and Collin.

"Oh, Miss Huntingdon!" Rose, Daphne's maid, stops me in the hallway, hands full of bags. "Is there any way that you could tell Lady Bridgerton and the Duchess that the carriages are being brought around? I still have more bags to bring and I don't want them to be late on their drive."

"Of course," I nod my head at her and start up the staircase towards Daphne's room, where Rose had informed me they had gone.

"Daph?" I poke my head into the room after knocking and offer Lady Bridgerton and the new Duchess of Hastings a small smile. "Rose wants you to know that they are bringing the carriages around... she's still putting your things into the carriage to take with you."

They both nod their heads in acknowledgment and I pull my head back and close the door, letting them have a few more seconds together before Daphne leaves with the Duke to their temporary house.

Frederick and I stand to the side, watching as Daphne says goodbye to her family- at least for the time being.

"Hastings... I'll see you soon," Frederick says, offering Simon a small smile and nod of his head, "enjoy your... well, have a nice... um, I'll see you later."

Simon shakes his head at Frederick's words but nods nonetheless, "I'll see you soon."

"Daphne," I step away from Frederick for a moment and smile at my friend. "I know that you have already heard this a thousand times today, but congratulations... you and the Duke are going to be wonderful together."

Daphne pulls me into a hug, wrapping her arms around me for a few seconds before pulling away, "thank you, Florence. I shall see you at your wedding."

"I'll look for you in the crowd." I retort, winking at her playfully before moving to stand beside Frederick, and watching as she starts towards the carriage, pausing to look back at her family and familial home once more.

Simon silently moves to stand beside her, opening the door to the carriage and helping her step in before stepping in himself.

In a mere few seconds, the carriage is nothing more but a shadow moving along the streets. Carrying inside it, a new couple, who, despite the horrid terms that brought them together, are made for each other.

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What is it that dear old Lottie wanted to give you?" Frederick asks, peering over my shoulder and looking down at the box.

"I was rather intrigued about that myself," mama says, peering over my other shoulder with a raised brow. "I think that it is the first time that I've ever seen Her Majesty offer someone a gift before..."

I sigh and hesitantly reach towards the latch on the box and flip it open, gently opening the wooden box to reveal the diamond tiara that was carefully placed inside.

"It's beautiful..." mama whispered, looking down at the diamonds and emeralds with wide eyes.

"I didn't know that Fredrich wanted to give us something," Frederick confessed, glancing over at me and shrugging sheepishly. "I knew that Lottie wanted to give you something, but I didn't know what it was..."

"It's stunning," I whisper, fighting back the urge to reach out and touch the sparkling jewels that were intricately placed in the metal frame.

"What did Prince Friedrich offer you?" Mama asked, glancing towards the other box with another raised brow.

"A surprise for another night, I think," I say, still looking at the diamond and emerald tiara in wonder.

Mama opens her mouth to continue but shakes her head and offers me a smile, "alright, darling. Shall we get going then? We have a rather busy day coming up and you need to finish getting ready for it."

I wordlessly nod my head and stand up, gently shutting the box and re-latching it shut.

"I can look after it for now," Frederick offers, "both of them, I mean. Until we get married so that nothing happens to them until then."

"Would your mother mind?" I wonder.

"Ah, yes... where is Uriana?" Mama asks, the disdain clear through her voice as she said the woman's name.

"Out of town, I believe," Frederick says, "she'll be back tomorrow in time for the wedding. After that... well I don't really know... she will most likely go back to the county home that father left her."

Mama let out a little huff and nodded her head before starting towards the door, "Florence?"

"Coming," I reply, standing up and glancing around the room for anything that I may have forgotten. When I was satisfied that I had gathered everything, I turned towards Frederick and offered him a small smile. "I shall see you tomorrow, then?"

He nods and offers me his own small, blushing smile. "Tomorrow."

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-T