Chapter Nineteen - A Runaway Bride is Never Good

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Lady Whistledown's

SOCIETY PAPERS

A march down the aisle may very well be the longest walk any young lady ever takes. It does not simply cover the length of the church, but rather, countless floors for dancing, and meandering paths for every afternoon promenade too. It is a wonder, then, that feet do not tire or, heaven forbid, trip under the scrutiny of all those attentive eyes keeping close watch, indeed.

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"Is this not the most exciting day, Frederick? Anthony and Edwina are to be married today!" I squeal. I glance out of the carriage and watch as the countryside passes in a blur.

"A rather eventful day it shall be indeed, darling," Frederick chuckles, glancing up from his work that was resting in his lap and smiling at me. "Do you remember the day that we got married?"

I chuckle and nod my head, sighing as I sat back in my spot. "Of course. It was a magical day... and everyone was there for us. Well, almost everyone, we still need to find a time for Friedrich to come back and celebrate with us properly."

Frederick sighs as he nods his head in agreement, "I've heard that he's been quite busy with all of his Princely duties... but I have managed to get him to agree to spend some time with us this summer... how long, I have no idea, but he has agreed, nonetheless."

"Wonderful! I shall need to start planning," I say, grinning over at him. "This going to be a good day... I can feel it."

"I certainly hope so, darling," Frederick mutters, "I don't know how much more scandal this town can take."

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"Do you think those are real men?" I ask, glancing away from the gold-covered statue (which is potentially a real-life man) over towards Fredrick, who sighs.

"With dear Charlotte in charge of the wedding, it is entirely possible. Speaking of Charlotte, I heard from her that Friedrich is planning a visit to London this summer... to visit both Charlotte and us before he has to go back to Prussia and attend to all of his princely duties.

"That would be nice. It's been quite a while since we have seen Friedrich. We certainly have plenty to tell him and vice versa." I say, nodding my head before letting out a gasp and motioning toward one of the multicolored animals that Charlotte had procured for the event. "Look at that animal! What a vibrant color and the feathers! It's like it has a thousand eyes," I say, pausing once again to stare at the rather small blue animal. "Oh, I know that I have heard of its name...Pealock? Pea... Pea-"

"Cock. It is a Peacock, darling," Frederick says, shaking his head as he chuckles. "Although I will admit, I do like the idea of it being called a Pealock, much more."

I gently hit him on the chest and scoffed, "oh, hush you."

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After a few rounds around the gardens, we greeted enough people to be considered polite and started to walk in. Frederick had caught sight of the Bridgerton's and we had all quickly fallen into step together, with Frederick starting a rather boring conversation with Benedict and Colin.

After a few more minutes, Colin split off with Eloise and started up a conversation with Penelope, who had lit up at the sight of them both. Benedict and Frederick continued to chat as they stood around in the aisle. Daphne was gone talking to Anthony, and Lady Bridgerton was beginning a rather heated conversation with Lady Danbury.

"Your Grace, it is an honor to see you again," Cressida called out, smirking over at me as she falls into a curtsy.

"Cressida, always a pleasure to see you as well," I retort, offering her a contagious smile. "How have you been? I know the news of Lord Featherington's engagement was a shock to you... I really did think that the two of you would end up married."

"Yes... well, with all that has transpired, I think that it is better that we did not match. After all, if we had married then I never would have known that Lord Featherington would be willing to marry his cousin," Cressida says, glancing over to the Featherington family, who had just walked in. Her face morphs into her infamous sneer as she watches them pass us, her eyes only narrowing further as they cross in front of us as they begin toward their seats.

Poor Jack Featherington looked dreadful as he was marched around by Prudence, who was talking rather loudly about the new and very expensive necklace that he had bought her.

"Yes... it is rather interesting news to find out about," I mutter.

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"Ren," Fredrick appeared next to me and offered me a small smile. "I think it is nearly time, shall we take out seats?"

"Oh, of course," I turn back towards Cressida and her parents and bid them farewell, promising to talk again soon, before starting off towards our seats, which were right next to Lady Danbury at the front of the church.

Benedict broke away from his family and made his way towards his spot, off to the side of the altar where he was designated to stand as Anthony's best man.

At his action, the entire room seemed to vibrate with excitement as every began to find their seats, finally quieting after a few seconds. Only a few hushed whispers floated through the room as we waited for the ceremony to begin.

As the string quartet begins to play, the few hushed whispers that were swirling through the room are immediately quieted.

The footmen take a step forwards and pull back the sheer curtains behind us, causing us all to turn in our seats and watch as Anthony steps forwards. He continues steadily down the aisle, stopping when he reaches Charlotte and offering her a bow of his head before moving to stand in his spot at the altar.

The curtains are pulled open once more, this time allowing Kate to walk through. The small bouquet that she was holding in front of her matching with the flower that Anthony had pinned to his lapel. She, like Anthony, continues steadily down the aisle pausing only when she reaches Charlotte, and offering her a curtsy before stepping to her spot, which, much like Benedict's, was off to the side of the alter, where the maid of honor normally stood.

At the mere sight of Kate, Anthony's jaw seemed to drop ever so slightly, causing me to raise my brow. When I caught the look that Anthony and Kate shared, I cocked my head ever so slightly to the side, my eyes narrowing as I continued to look between the two of them. If I wasn't so sure, I would think that it was their wedding taking place, not Edwina and Anthony's.

Finally, the music begins to quietly build. The curtains were pulled open one final time and Edwina and Lady Mary stepped out, beginning their walk down the aisle hand in hand.

The entire church stands from their seats and watches with bated breath as Edwina passes them, each person looking over her dress while muttering to their daughters, mother, husbands, or sons about the design or just about the event in general.

As the mother-daughter duo makes it further down the aisle, Edwina's smile only seems to grow in size. Her gaze switched from her mother, who was beaming right back at her, and Anthony, who seemed frozen in place at the sight of her.

When they finally reached the end of the aisle both Edwina and Lady Mary offer Charlotte a curtsy. Afterward, Lady Mary turns to her daughter, the two sharing a few unspoken words before she squeezes Edwina's hands and steps back toward her seat.

Anthony and Edwina take a step up and share a few quiet words before falling silent once more.

"Please be seated," the Archbishop calls out. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony. And therefore, it is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, and wantonly, to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly..."

I start to doze off after a few long minutes of the Archbishop speaking, although Frederick does gently prod me away if I start to show my tiredness.

"Ren, I think they are almost done," Frederick mutters, gently prodding me in the ribs.

I hum and subtly try to shake the drowsiness away as I look toward the Archbishop.

"My lord," the Archbishop calls, looking to Anthony expectantly, "my Lord."

Edwina looks behind her at whatever had caught Anthony's eye, her face falling slightly and her brows furrowing when she sees that it was her sister on the receiving end of Anthony's gaze. She slowly turns back towards Antony and softly clears her throat before looking up at him.

"The Archbishop would like you to repeat, my Lord, after him."

Anthony nods his head, but glances back at Kate "yes, of course."

The Archbishop seems satisfied with Anthony's answer and clears his throat as he begins. "I, Lord Anthony Bridgerton-"

Kate's bangle clatters to the floor, causing the entire room to jump back in shock at the sudden noise. Immediately, Kate's eyes rush to Anthony, while Anthony's eyes fall to the floor where the bangle lies.

Everything seems to freeze for a split second in the room, the only sound being the intense beating of someone's heart before reality comes rushing back to us. Both Anthony and Kate reach for the bangle at the same time and freeze when their hand's touch.

Anthony's gaze lifts to Kate as he holds the bangle in his hand, "allow me."

He hands the bangle to her before stepping back up beside Edwina. Kate does the same, moving back to stand beside her sister once more, the bangle still in her hand.

"Might I continue?" the Archbishop asks after a moment.

"My apologies," Kate and Anthony both say, bowing their heads as they rush back to their places and compose themselves once more.

"Viscount, repeat after me," the Archbishop starts.

Instead of watching Anthony, as the rest of the guests seem to do, I, instead, look to Edwina, whose chest beings to rise and fall rapidly. Her eyes flutter back and forth as Anthony continues to speak in front of her.

"Is Edwina alright, Lady Mary? She looks a little pale..." I ask, leaning over in my seat and glancing towards Lady Mary, who looks as concerned- if not more so, than me.

"I... don't know, Your Grace," Lady Mary mutters, watching her daughter with wide eyes.

Anthony looks toward Edwina with concern after she doesn't repeat what the Archbishop says, leaning in closer to her with a furrowed brow. "Miss Edwina, are y- are you-"

"WH- I need a moment!" Edwina shouts, taking a tiny step back from Anthony. She freezes, looking up at him in horror for a brief moment before turning on her heels and racing down the aisle and out of the church.

As she races down the aisle, the crow stands up and watches on with wide eyes, whispering rather loudly their shock at the action.

"Edwina?"

I, along with Lady Mary, am quick to stand up and race after her, both of us rushing after her and hoping that we don't slip on the well-cleaned floor as we go. After a split second, we hear another set of feet, who we can both only assume is Kate, racing after us and out of the church.

As we continue to race down the hallways after Edwina, the sound of fireworks popping above makes us gasp and glance at each other.

"Whoever decided to add fireworks to a wedding ceremony?" I ask breathlessly.

Lady Mary just shakes her head, wincing as yet another firework popped above us, before continuing through the halls after Edwina.

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merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all!

happy last update of 2022! onward and upward to 2023!

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-T