Authors: Ellen Gable
“Very well.” The
priest stepped back and allowed him to leave.
“Thank you,
Father. This has been very informative.”
When David
returned home, Caroline met him in the foyer. “What did Father Flaherty say,
David?”
“That he needs to
speak with you to determine whether there was a marriage at all.”
“You mean we’re
not really married?”
“Most probably
not. According to Father Flaherty, if we entered this marriage without full
consent, meaning that we honestly meant the words we said and that we intended
to. . .consummate our marriage.”
“Oh.”
“Then we need to
take part in another ceremony in order to enter into a sacramental marriage.”
“I see.”
“We will be
meeting with him later this week.”
Caroline nodded,
then leaned into him. He embraced her and kissed her forehead. He felt a
powerful yearning to take her in his arms and carry her up to his bedroom, but
banished the thought and held her away at arm’s length. “I think it is best
for us to avoid any affection other than a chaste kiss or a hug. And that
means staying in your bedroom at night, Caroline, until we are truly married.”
“But. . .”
David explained
to her why they couldn’t marry until the second week of January. She lowered
her head.
“Caroline, I feel
compelled to do the right thing. After all the mistakes I have made, it is
important to begin our marriage, our true marriage, properly. Besides, three
weeks will give us both time to make sure that we’re making the right
decision.”
Chapter 51
Caroline tossed
and turned in her bed, then sat up and lit the oil lamp. Today, she and David
would meet with Father Flaherty. She got out of bed and stood in front of the
fireplace, drawn by its warmth and mesmerizing flames. As much as she tried to
convince herself their marriage was true, she knew that it wasn’t.
Do you,
Caroline Martin O’Donovan, take David O’Donovan to be your lawful wedded
husband
?
At the time, it
took every ounce of effort she possessed to say yes to what was being asked.
She remembered pausing, regretting, dreading what was about to happen. Then
she muttered “I will” as quickly as possible. Of course, it didn’t matter what
the words were, they were a meaningless jumble all the same.
What about now?
Several nights ago, Caroline would have given herself to David had Kathleen not
woken up, although that aspect of marriage was not one that she greatly
anticipated. She did, however, very much look forward to deepening her
relationship with David. Her “duty” was something that she could give to him
selflessly.
The fact that
David had all but pushed her away demonstrated how resolved and committed he
was to entering into a true marriage. She saw tremendous irony in his
attitude, considering the man he once was.
Later that
morning, Caroline sat in front of her vanity brushing her hair.
“Do you want me
to put your hair up, Miss Caroline?”
“Which do you
think would be most appropriate for a meeting with a priest?”
“Definitely up,”
replied Jane.
“Very well.”
Jane proceeded to
pull Caroline’s hair up into a fashionable hairstyle when Hallie appeared at
the bedroom doorway.
“Miss Caroline,
your uncle and cousin are here to visit with you.”
“Good gracious.
With everything that’s going on, I forgot about their visit.”
“What should I
tell them, Ma’am?”
“Tell them I’ll
be down in a few moments, Hallie. Ask them to wait for me in the parlor.”
“Very well.”
A short while
later, in the parlor, Caroline greeted her uncle and cousin.
“Well, my dear,
you are looking beautiful as always.”
“Yes. Thank you,
Uncle.”
“My, Carrie, I do
agree with Father. You are absolutely ravishing. You have this glow about
you, like you’re in love. Isn’t that absurd?”
Caroline
controlled an urge to laugh. Elizabeth probably didn’t realize how close she
came to describing Caroline’s present condition. She and David had initially
kept their romance hidden from anyone outside of the O’Donovan house. But with
their upcoming possible re-marriage ceremony, David had instructed her to
inform her uncle and cousin as soon as possible.
“It’s interesting
that you should mention that.”
“Mention what,
Carrie?”
“That I’m in
love.”
“You’re in love?”
“My dear, what
are you talking about?” Uncle asked.
“Well, Uncle,
Lizzie, David and I are. . .well, we have a meeting with the priest today at
the Cathedral to plan for our upcoming marriage.”
“Carrie, you’re
already married to David. And do you mean to say that you’ve fallen in love. .
.with David?” Elizabeth’s eyes were wide and her mouth was open. Uncle Edward
was shaking his head.
“Yes, I have.
And David has evidently loved me for quite some time.”
“Well, that’s
been the gossip for the last year or so, Carrie. I overheard Patsie talking
about it. But, of course, servant gossip isn’t always reliable. Mind you,
David has changed much for the better.”
“Yes, he
certainly has.”
“Why must you get
married again?”
“Our marriage is
not considered a true marriage in the eyes of the Church. We will likely
schedule the wedding for early January, if you would both like to come.”
“Carrie, that’s
wonderful news. I’m so happy for you.”
“We would be
honored to attend your wedding to David,” Uncle offered.
“Thank you,
Uncle, Lizzie. Unfortunately, I’m unable to stay and chat with you because
David will be arriving home at any minute to take me to the city.”
“Well, my dear,
we’ll be on our way then. And congratulations,” Uncle said, and kissed her
cheek.
Chapter 52
The afternoon of
January 8th was cold and snowy, but full of excitement. In front of the
Cathedral rectory, the group emerged from the carriages. A soft snow had begun
to fall as David and Kip assisted Caroline and Jane, who carried Kathleen, with
Kip following close behind. Uncle Edward and Elizabeth’s carriage pulled in
behind theirs.
Caroline shivered
and stuck her hands firmly inside her fur muff. David brushed the snow off his
coat and hat. He motioned for them to follow him into the rectory, a
brownstone building beside the church.
“Well, it is
certainly interesting weather for a wedding, my dear.”
“Yes, Uncle it
is.”
“Carrie, this is
so exciting!”
Father Flaherty
met them at the door to the rectory. “Welcome. Please do come in.”
They entered and
David and Uncle took off their hats and hung them on the rack near the door. The
foyer of the rectory was dark and small.
Kathleen’s sweet
voice said, “Papa, dark?”
“Yes, Kat, it’s
dark.”
“Father Flaherty,
may I present Mr. Edward Martin, Caroline’s uncle, and Miss Elizabeth Martin,
her cousin,” David said.
“I am pleased to
make your acquaintance, Mr. Martin, Miss Martin,” he said as he nodded toward Elizabeth and held out his hand to Mr. Martin.
“Come this way.”
Father Flaherty led them up several small steps through the door and into a
hallway. He stopped at the first door to the right and motioned for them to
enter. “This is where I will perform the ceremony.”
The room was a
fair size, the same as their downstairs study at home, with higher ceilings. The
blinds were closed.
“Don’t like
dark.” Her daughter’s voice sounded strangely low-pitched.
“I do apologize,
Kathleen, I should have opened the blinds well before you arrived,” the priest
responded. He walked to the windows and raised the blinds. Soon, the room was
bathed in early afternoon light. The wallpaper was a rather plain dark gold
design. A walnut desk and three chairs were situated along the right-hand wall
of the room and several religious statues lined the left wall.
“Don’t like
dark.”
“Why couldn’t I
be your maid of honor, Carrie?” whispered Elizabeth.
Father Flaherty
responded. “Miss Martin, are you Catholic?”
“No.”
“In a Catholic
ceremony, it is mandatory that Mr. and Mrs. O’Donovan have witnesses who are
Catholic. David and Caroline don’t know many Catholics. Dr. and Mrs. Carver,
their witnesses, were David’s sponsors for confirmation, and they also acted as
Kathleen’s godparents a few months ago.”
Caroline
cringed. She had hoped to tell her cousin about Kathleen’s baptism before now.
Elizabeth’s eyes widened and she glanced at Caroline, then lowered her head.
“Here are Dr. and
Mrs. Carver,” the priest said.
“Good day, David.
Good day, Mrs. O’Donovan. We’re delighted to see you once again, especially
for an occasion such as this.” Dr. Carver held his hand out to David.
“Yes, thank you,
Dr. Carver, Mrs. Carver.”
The housekeeper,
a middle-aged woman with graying hair approached the group. “May I take your
coats?” She gathered their coats and the women’s bonnets and left the room.
With their cloaks now removed, Elizabeth quietly offered, “Carrie, you look
lovely.”
“I must agree, my
dear,” said Uncle.
Caroline’s gown
was composed of a long-sleeved bodice which was intricately designed with
ivory-colored French lace, the neckline adorned with embroidered blue and
yellow flowers. The skirt was beige and bustled in the back.
“Thank you,
both.”
Caroline studied
her cousin’s expression and it became obvious that Elizabeth had lost her
enthusiasm for the day. Caroline made a mental note to speak with Elizabeth afterwards. Her cousin was trying hard not to reveal her disappointment at
being passed over for Kathleen’s godmother, but Elizabeth’s quiet demeanor
spoke volumes.
Mrs. Carver added
her own compliments. “Mrs. O’Donovan, your dress is one of the loveliest I’ve
seen.”
“Thank you, Mrs.
Carver.”
Caroline glanced
at David and his tender expression lessened her anxiety. He reached out and
held her hand. David leaned close to her and whispered, “Nervous?”
She nodded.
“If you and Mrs.
O’Donovan could stand in front of the window, then the witnesses to either side
of them and the rest can gather behind you.” Dr. and Mrs. Carver moved in
place next to the bride and groom.
The priest now
addressed the small group. “In a Catholic ceremony, we begin by making the sign
of the Cross and in Latin, we say, ‘In Nomine
Patris
, et
Filii
, et
Spiritus
Sancti.’”
Father Flaherty
continued to speak in Latin and Caroline stifled a smile. Thinking back to her
and David’s first ‘wedding,’ the minister could have been speaking Greek and
she would have cared less. Now, when she wanted to understand what was going
on and what was being said, she was unable to do so.
“Now, turn toward
one another.” At first, she didn’t realize he was speaking in English and
didn’t move. “Caroline?” David whispered.
She blinked and
responded, “I’m sorry.” She turned and faced David.
“David John
O’Donovan, wilt thou take Caroline Martin O’Donovan to be thy lawful wedded
wife, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health,
till death do thou part?”
David answered,
“Yes, I will.”
“Caroline Martin
O’Donovan, wilt thou take David John O’Donovan to be thy lawful wedded husband,
to have and to hold, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, till
death do thou part?”
“I will.”
Father sprinkled
holy water on the rings and recited more Latin.
David placed the
ring on her finger and repeated prayers which Father had recited, then Caroline
did the same.
“Ego conjungo vos in
matrimonium
in Nomine
Patris
et
Filii
et
Spiritus
Sancti
, Amen.”
The priest, David and the Carvers made the sign of the cross.
Caroline watched and followed their example, but she felt out of place.
Although she had been occasionally attending Mass with David for the past few
months and understood a few phrases in Latin, she wished that she could
understand what was being said.