Happy Is The Bride (10 page)

"Here's the ruffle." Rachel handed over a long
piece of gathered China crepe.

Beth didn't say it looked as if it had been fashioned
by a drunk or a child. Instead, she took it and sewed
it in place of the satin one she'd removed. "Make a
couple of crepe bows to go at each side of the pannier
puffs. Then I think you can try it on, and we'll see if
it's going to look all right."

Beth remembered. "But that party's not a pleasant
memory, so it's just as well we were able to make use
of the crepe. I don't think I'd have been able to force
myself to wear it again."

Rachel took a deep breath and gulped. "I-I've said mean things to you. I want to apologize."

Beth couldn't have been more surprised if Rachel
had declared she intended to run off to join the circus.
She waved a hand in dismissal. "It's not necessary."

Beth had no idea what to say to her cousin's reve
lation. She decided honesty always worked best.
"Sometimes when people say mean things to me, or
about me, I want to lash out, but I can't let myself. It—
it isn't something I ever learned. Hours later I think
of the perfect thing I might have said, but then it's too
late." Beth sighed. "Besides, you're my cousin, and I
guess you're as close to a sister as I'll ever have."

Rachel turned, and tears ran down her face.
"You're a better person than me, and I guess that's
made me resent you even more. I'm truly sorry, Beth.
I'll be a better cousin in the future."

"Rachel Bigelow, don't you dare drip tears on that
fabric." Beth rushed to a drawer and pulled out a
handkerchief. "Let's get you changed and eat some
lunch. You can help with the rest of the preparations.
I've yet to make the bouquets. The flowers are cut and
waiting in the kitchen."

The two cousins went downstairs. The rain battered
against the house relentlessly. They each took a seat
at the kitchen table while Beulah and Emma worked
and Mrs. Pendleton picked at her plate.

Beth thought of Mason, who usually worked out-of-
doors. "I'm glad Mason planned to go to his folks so he won't be out in this weather."

"Mason? You might have a thought to me." Mrs.
Pendleton glared at Beth. "All this rain will make the river and creeks too high to cross. Some guests won't
be able to get to the chapel in spite of all my plan
ning. There'll be only a handful at the reception."

"It's hardly my fault, Mother." Beth took a helping
of the potato salad and ham Beulah had set out.

"Don't either of you eat a lot or your dresses won't
fit. A corset can only do so much, as Rachel found
out."

Rachel took a healthy helping of potato salad.
"Don't worry, Aunt Louise. Beth left plenty of room in the new bodice."

Lightning flashed and thunder shook the windows.
Beth and Rachel arranged containers of flowers
throughout the downstairs, then came back to the
kitchen to make their bouquets.

"Daddy will let us use the closed carriage, but it'll
be a tight squeeze for all five of us." Beth laid out her
undergarments.

"And Beulah. She has a new dress."

"You're having your maid at the ceremony?"

"She's not a maid; she's our housekeeper. Has been
as long as I can remember, and she's a part of my fami
ly."

Usually Beth conformed to society's stilted rules,
but on this one thing she didn't care what folks
thought. Beulah had been more a parent than either
of her real parents. Beth wanted Beulah in the chapel
to see the vows.

"Do you have a fancy nightdress?" Rachel's brown
eyes sparkled.

Beth didn't want to display it, but she nodded. Rachel rushed to open the satchel. The lace and
batiste nightgown lay on top.

Beth blushed. Valenciennes lace trimmed the neck with narrower lace at the armholes. A ruffle trimmed
in the wide lace circled the hem. "It's scandalous,
nothing more than a long chemise. Mr. Henri assured
me it was proper for a bride, but I included a modest gown in case I lose my nerve and can't wear the, the
thin one."

Rachel dug into the bag and tossed the long-sleeved
gown with a high neck onto a chair. "You won't need
that. This is the one that will please your husband."
Rachel cocked her head. "Has he kissed you?"

Beth nodded.

"Did you like it?"

Heat suffused Beth's face, but she smiled. "Yes, I
liked it a lot."

"That's a good sign. And what else did he do?"
Rachel rose from her perch on the floor and came
closer.

Rachel smiled. "How did that make you feel?"

"I tingled all over, and had the most scandalous
thoughts. I had the feeling he shared those ideas."

"Oh, of course he did. Men are randy as goats most
of the time. I expect Mason can hardly wait until
tonight."

Dare she ask? Beth took a deep breath. "Do, um, is
there anything you can tell me about your wedding
night? I mean, all Mother says is that it's something a
woman has to suffer through and for me to endure it
as best I can." Beth took another deep breath. "Th-
that doesn't sound at all encouraging."

Rachel looked surprised. "Do you think I'd have six
children in eight years if it was that unpleasant? If
Mason's as caring as Ben, you'll be in heaven before
morning."

Rachel stepped into her dress and turned for Beth
to do up the buttons. "I'm not surprised, but knowing how Uncle Howard and Aunt Louise hate his folks, I couldn't believe it when they agreed you could marry
Mason."

"Well, of course. When you love a man you tell him
everything. But he won't tell anyone because I asked
him not to." Rachel had cinched the corset and tied
it.

Beth stepped into the mended wedding gown.
"Rachel, what do you suppose Sally does to please
men?"

"Well, Ben told me she does lots of things, some of
which I'd guessed. Some surprised me. One is, she sometimes puts their, um, you know, right into her
mouth and sucks on it." Rachel started fastening the
thirty buttons down the back of Beth's dress.

Beth almost stumbled. "You can't mean it? Men pay
her to do that? Why, I wonder?"

"I couldn't believe it myself." Rachel looked smug.
"At least not at first. Ben told me lots more she does—
and showed me. I was mad at first that he'd ever
visited Sally, but maybe it's good because he learned
things I like."

"Do you suppose she enjoys the way she earns her
living?"

"Maybe some of the time, if the man is nice and
clean and handsome. But can you imagine being with
Old Mr. Handley?" Rachel finished the last button
and stepped away.

Beth made a face. "Eeuww, no."

"You can count on Mason. He'll be there."