~Well everyone, this is the end. I hope you guys enjoyed this story. Here it is...enjoy!~
Sophia stood there, bemused and bewildered. All she was thinking about was James and what he just told her. How can this be possible? I thought...
“Sophia. Sophia, are you alright?” His concerning voice had pulled her away from her running thoughts.
Trying to pull herself together, she placed on a cheery smile for him, “You just asked me that.”
Raising a dark brow, James felt perplexed, “Didn't you hear a word I just said?”
“I did, but I must be going. I don't want Helena to worry after me.”
Without taking a word from him, Sophia turned her back and left the way she came from. Rounding the same corner from before, she stopped in her tracks. I can't do this. Not now. Not when I'm going to be wed. Then all of a sudden, Sophia felt her eyes tear up again. Slowly tears started to flow down her pink cheeks. Why, am I crying? I don't understand this at all. Everything in the past week has gone too fast. And now, I'm going to be married. It's all because of my father. Sophia hiccuped, while trying to brush her tears away. Maybe I should just leave and go back home. Life at home would be so much easier.
“Sophia! Where are you?” Realizing it was the voice of Helena, she pushed back the tears and walked off.
After hitting another corner, she found Helena. “Sophia, where were you? Mama was going frantic.” Helena stopped and looked closely at her cousin. “Were you crying? I can see that your eyes are swollen from crying? What's wrong?”
“It's nothing. Just happy, wedding tears.” Sophia gave a smile that seemed too odd for Helena.
“Alright. If you say so. We might as well go back because a Mr. Kingsford is here for you.”
“A Mr. Kingsford?”
“Yes, he came after the wedding ended. Why? Who is he?”
“He's my father's lawyer. He probably wants to know if I married, yet.” Sophia almost shrugged. Then again, it wouldn't be lady like to do so.
“Oh.”
“Come on, Helena. We must get back to the wedding.” Catching up to Sophia, they walked in silence, till they got to the crowd.
When they got there, everyone was up, talking and enjoying the refreshments. Sophia, again, scanned the crowd for her family's lawyer.
“He's over there by the fountain.” Helena whispered enough for Sophia to hear her.
Sophia glanced towards the fountain and saw Mr. Kingsford. “I'll be back in a minute.” She told Helena as she lingered over to him.
The family lawyer was nibbling on some pastries when he noticed Sophia by his side, “Why, Sophia. I'm glad to see you again.” He popped the last dessert into his mouth, then gave a tender smile.
“And I you.” She nodded in respect for him. He was always caring toward my family.
“Well, you know why I came here?”
“Yes, you came here to see if I married, yet.”
“That's correct. The week has ended and have you guessed your suitors?” If only he knew that they told me instead, without me guessing.
Mr. Kingsford didn't wait for a reply, “I came here with your father's fortune.” He patted the black folder in arms, “So have you come to a conclusion?”
“I have. I'm planning to be married within the hour.”
In response, his eyes widen with shock, “That's wonderful.”
“Well, I must be off. See you at the wedding, Mr. Kingsford.” Sophia placed a smile of accomplishment and left the lawyer.
The guests were slowly dispersing but knew they had to be back for the next wedding. Sophia saw Helena and lingered over to her, “Helena, it's time.”
Helena crunched her dark eyebrows in confusion, “Time for what?”
A little hushed sigh escaped her lips, “It's time for me to change.”
“Oh. Let me get mama.” While Helena went to get her mother, Aunt Caroline, Sophia was thinking. I know what I must do. Yet I mustn't tell anyone of my little plan. A plan that could, no, will change my life. Being overjoyed with her little scheme, her relatives came over.
“Are you ready, dear?” Aunt Caroline asked.
Her pink lips curved up in a slight smile. They have no idea what will happen. “Yes.”
With that the three ladies left back to their house, getting Sophia ready for her wedding.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The rays of the bright, yellow sun caressed Sophia's soft skin. The warm sensation brushed over her body, sending a shiver down her spine.
The corset that was secured tightly had gave her a flawless posture, so the gown would show every curve of her slim body. The white, cream colored muslin and pale pink roses around the neck was giving her a lovely outlook. The muslin wasn't up to the neck, but low enough to show some of her bosom. Her golden, blond hair was pulled up to the top, with having some of her wavy curls in hanging wisps. Her bangs weren't curly but wavy like her hair and there were no ringlets around her face. She didn't want to be like those fashionable ladies from London, but herself. There was no sign of jewelry on her, knowing she didn't want to look like she was rich. She looked simple and beautiful for the way she was.
The highly decorated guests were back and ready for the next wedding. Everything from the previous engagement was still there, except with more refreshments.
The clergyman opened his bible and everyone waited for the next moment. He began speaking, while Sophia glanced at her fiancé.
Richard Covington, known as the Marquess of Ellsworth was secretly fumbling with his fingers. He looks bored, but he'll have to see.
He was wearing a dark blue waist coat with white breeches. His over coat and boots shined black from the radiating sun. His hair was the color of coal as it was brushed back. He looked like the average gentlemen from the ton in London.
Not noticing that the clergyman was speaking to her, Sophia's bright blue eyes raised in confusion. “What?” She murmured softly.
“Will you take Richard Covington as your beloved husband? Through sickness and health, in richer or poor as long as you live?”
Sophia glanced at Richard, who was giving her looks to hurry her up. Instead she knew what she had to do, “No.”
“No?” Richard's patience was no longer there as he was becoming very agitated.
“No.” She replied back. Then suddenly Sophia dropped her banksiae, pink roses and ran off through the crowd of gaping mouths into the garden.
Slowing her pace down, Sophia reached the part of the garden that was secret. Like a secret garden. Yet is wasn't secret as she found James there from before.
Sophia raised her hand to her chest, “James? What are you doing here?” She spoke through exasperated breaths from running.
His emerald eyes lit up as he went up to her, “Sophia, are you hurt? Alright? Why are you here and not at your wedding?”
Remembering what James told her about her fiancé, she forced herself to cry. I can do this. One by one, the salty tears ran down her pink cheeks. Perfect.
“I can't James. I can't go back there.” James pulled her in his arms as he brushed her tears away.
“You don't have to.” His warm breath lingered onto her face.
“Then what will I do?”
Raising his head up to the heavens he thought of a plan. A second later he looked back down at Sophia. “Stay here.”
Knowing that he would say that, she played the innocent, “What?”
He lightly let go of her and took a step back, “Stay here, I know what to do.”
“Please hurry.” With those words, James went up to her, took Sophia in his hands and gave her a rough kiss.
“I will be back.” With that he left.
Sophia, on the other hand, looked ever so happy. This is exactly how I planned this. I just hope this works. She wiped her tears away and walked back to the wedding.
Creeping behind a tall, green bush she waited for the moment to come out. Seeing James walking through the aisle, she came out. “Wait!”
Immediately everyone turned around at the sound of her loud voice. “Sophia, what are you doing?” James asked through a confused tone.
Ignoring James for the moment, she walked halfway up through the aisle for everyone to see her. “Richard Covington, how dare you lie to me.”
Richard, who was angry from before, raised his voice, “What are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I'm talking about. You and your mistress from London.” From her sudden words, everyone started whispering. Sophia was not acting like a lady, yet she didn't care one bit.
Before Richard could even speak a word, Mr. Kingsford spoke, “Lord Covington, Marquess of Ellsworth, I will not let you be married to Miss Selwood. I have searched about you, young man. All you are is fortune hunter, seeking out helpless maidens. Known by the law of England , you can not marry another woman if you are previously married. You are to leave back to London, to your wife. You are no longer welcomed in Bath.” His angry voice towards Richard made everyone taken back. This was the first time Mr. Kingsford acted angry and it shocked Sophia.
“Humph!” The crowd turned back and saw Richard step out of the gazebo and left the wedding.
“Well, Sophia, what are you going to do now?” The family lawyer asked.
Then all of a sudden, a secret smile curved up into Sophia's face, “I know exactly what to do.”
With that she walked up to the gazebo and looked at the clergyman, “You may begin.”
“Where's your groom?” He asked politely.
Sophia glanced back at the crowd and saw James, “He's right there.” As she pointed at him.
A surprised smile rose upon his face as he joined Sophia at the gazebo. “You may begin.” James also said.
The clergyman glanced at the both of them and began speaking, “Miss Sophia Selwood will you take James Bentley as you're beloved husband? Through sickness and health and richer and poorer, as long as you live?”
“Yes. Yes, I will.” Sophia was so happy she almost started to cry real wedding tears.
“James Bentley, will you take Miss Selwood as you beloved wife? Through sickness and health and richer and poorer, as long as you live?”
“Yes.”
The clergyman closed is bible, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss her.”
James took a step closer to Sophia and placed his hand on her cheek. “I love you.” He whispered as he lowered his head down and kissed her softly.
Everyone, including the twins, rose and starting clapping. James lifted his head from Sophia as they both looked at the overly happy crowd.
They glanced at each other, happily, and walked off the gazebo. The clapping died down as they approached Helena, who was of course with Simon.
“Sophia, I'm so happy for you.” Helena spoke through her wedding tears as she tried to wipe them away.
“Thank you.” Sophia said as she glanced up at James.
He looked down at his wife and spoke, “Please excuse us for a moment.”
“Sure.” Simon replied.
James gently took Sophia's hand and he led her to their secret garden.
When they got there, James took Sophia in his arms. “You've made me the happiest man alive.”
Changing the subject, Sophia smiled brightly, “You do look dashing with you collar points too low.” She murmured softly.
James leaned in closer and whispered in her ear, “You do look ravishing in white, Sophia.” He smiled wickedly.
Except Sophia didn't hear a word he said, because she was far too busy kissing him.
This was beautifully described. Beautifully, beautifully, beautifully described.
Gender:
Points: 890
Reviews: 208