Taming the Rakes

14

Lily was awoken early the next morning by her maid, Sage, to begin getting ready for her wedding. Sage helped her to wax all the hair from her body, leaving it pink and tender in places. She then had a long bath, full of fragrant oils and salts, designed to soften her skin from the wax and make her smell pleasing. Her hair was thoroughly washed, and then trimmed just a bit to rid her beautiful, dark chocolate hair of any dry and dead ends; Sage then set it in warm curlers, to make her natural curl more pronounced. Lily then had her skin thoroughly coated in lotion smelling of sweet honey and roses; everything from the top of her head to her breasts, and then down to between her legs and bottom, then all down her legs and to her feet. To match the beautiful, creamy embroidery on her lavender and violet dress, she wore a pair of cream, silk stockings with beautiful purple flowers as a clock on the ankles. Her corset was a beautiful cream, as most of hers were, because they complimented her deliciously caramel-colored skin, and the long petticoat she wore under her dress was cream as well. Sage then helped her into the beautiful, lavender dress; it held all of Lily’s curves beautifully, and the violet lace that covered her bust barely concealed her cleavage. The sleeves were skin-tight, buttoning from her wrist to her elbows with elaborately embroidered violet buttons. Sage applied a light layer of makeup to Lily’s pristine face, enhancing her beauty tenfold. Sage then beautifully weaved her hair into beautiful braids at the top, curling the mid-lengths and bottoms; they fell like waterfalls out of the bottom of the braids.

            Lily stood from her dressing table, looking at herself in the standing mirror that graced her room. “Sage, you have truly outdone yourself. Now, while the ceremony is going on, I need you and whoever you can get to help to pack my clothes and jewelry, my Religious Scrolls, and anything else you know we are going to need. I would also like you to ask Marigold to come with and be my second Lady in Waiting; all the women of the court have at least two, if not more. Marigold is young, and you will be able to train her the best possible to make a good lady in waiting if you ever want to get married and leave my service.” Lily had always been good at giving orders, and Sage quietly thought to herself if she would be able to take them from her new husband. 

    Lily waited patiently in her room for her father to come to her, to deliver her to her new husband. It took only moments after the young lady was ready for her father to come to her; they linked arms, the daughter getting a kind smile from her father, and they descended the stairs together. At the bottom of the grand staircase, her sisters stood side by side in matching, beige gowns with lavender flowers embroidered on the sleeves and corsets with lavender ribbons tying up their hair. Her future husband, Lord Iscor, stood with a man Lily did not recognize along with her new brother-in-law, Theo, who were all wearing charcoal gray suits and lavender ties. Father James was dressed in his traditional, black robes; her mother was wearing a lovely, rust-colored dress that complimented her father's soot gray suit and similarly colored tie. 

    "Amadeus James McEvoy, Fifth Duke of Iscor, High Admiral of His Majesty's Navy, Navy Representative to the High Prince's Privy Council, I present your bride, Lady Liliana Montgomery, Second Daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Aramoor. Do you accept that this is the woman who you have entered a contract with to marry?" Father James asked stiffly, looking at Lord Iscor patiently. 

    "It is, Father," Lord Iscor responded plainly, smiling kindly down at Lily. 

    Father James turned to Lily and smiled; he had known her all of her life, and was quite fond of the young woman he had the privilege of marrying today. "Lady Liliana Montgomery, Second Daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Aramoor, I present Amadeus James McEvoy, Fifth Duke of Iscor, High Admiral of His Majesty's Navy, Navy Representative to the High Prince's Prive council, and your groom. Is this the man you have entered into a contract to marry?" 

    "It is, Father," Lily responded, her voice faltering slightly with nerves. Father James nodded, joining their hand together in front of him.

    Father James cleared his throat, looking up to the heavens. "Those who protect us from the Heavens, look down upon this young couple with great blessings for their future. Keep them safe in thy holy eyes, help them prosper in their life, their love, and their future. Oh Holy Ones, allow them many wonderful years together in harmony, bless them with healthy lives, bless them with healthy children, and bless them in their endeavors to help Dechya thrive as a whole. Holy Ones, I ask that you bless Liliana and Amadeus, bless them from now until the end of time."

    "Amadeus McEvoy, do you take Lilian Montgomery to be your wedded wife? From this day forward, and until the Holy Ones allow you both to take your place in Heaven, no matter what comes between you in this earthly life?"

    Lord Iscor paused, looking at the man that Lily did not recognize; she saw a look of sadness pass between them for a moment, but when Lord Iscor looked back to Lily, he smiled again. "I do, Father." 

    Father James turned to look at Lily. "Lilian Montgomery, do you take Amadeus McEvoy to be your wedded husband? From this day forward, and until the Holy Ones allow you both to take your place in Heaven, no matter what comes between you in this earthly life?"

    Lily smiled up at Lord Iscor, her eyes full of hope and happiness. "I do, Father."

    "By the power vested in me by the Holy Ones and His High Royal Highness, the King of Dechya, I pronounce these two Husband and Wife. Lord Iscor, please kiss your new duchess," Father James declared.

    Lord Iscor leaned down a placed a tender kiss on her lips; it was brief, but not unkind. Lady Aramoor was in tears, Lord Aramoor holding her upright so that she did not collapse from joy and sadness at once. Almost the moment the ceremony was done, Lily was whisked into a carriage with Lord Iscor and the man she did not recognize, and they were off towards their new life.