Simon Bonus Scene

“I told her she couldn’t come – well, not quite in those words. I said it would be far better for her to arrive with the children than worry herself about being here,” Alicia said, and Isobel smiled.

It was the day of her marriage to Simon, and Alicia was helping Isobel get ready. Lily had wanted to be there, too, but Isobel was glad Alicia had dissuaded her from being so – she wanted a moment of quiet reflection, and Lily’s presence would have been anything but that.

“Thank you,” Isobel said, as she gazed at herself in the mirror.

As a child, Isobel had not been given over to flights of fancy concerning her wedding. She had not been the sort of child to play at marriage, imposing herself on a cousin or reluctant playmate to act as groom, whilst she took the place of the bride. In truth, Isobel had almost resigned herself to never being married. But now, the day of her wedding, just a few short weeks after Simon’s proposal, Isobel could not help but feel a deep sense of happiness at the prospect of what lay ahead.

“You look beautiful, Isobel,” Alicia said, as a knock now came from the door.

It was Alicia’s father and mother, and as they entered the room, her mother beamed at her.

“Oh, Isobel – the bride adorned for her wedding day. What a blessing,” she said, as Isobel rose to her feet.

She was wearing an ivory dress, with lace sleeves and a high collar. There was no train, but over her shoulders she wore a cape, the hem of which would be held by Lily’s daughter, Emily, as she walked down the aisle. She was wearing her mother’s jewelry – an amethyst necklace with pearl earrings and a matching brooch.

“Thank you, Mother, and so do you,” Isobel replied, for her mother looked resplendent in an elegant silk gown with a yellow shawl around her shoulders.

“How I wish I could see you, my darling,” Isobel’s father said, and Isobel stepped forward, taking his hands in hers and raising them to her face.

“Oh, but I know you can see me in your mind’s eyes, Father. I’ve always known it, and what a comfort it’s been to me,” she said, and the duke smiled.

“I can see you, yes – I can picture everything, and how blessed I feel in having a daughter like you,” he said.

“And a daughter-in-law like Alicia,” Isobel’s mother said.

Alicia smiled.

“We’d better get going. They’ll be waiting for us at Saint James’ – we don’t want to late,” she said.

Saint James’ was the estate church for Burnley Abbey and the Duke of Lancaster had kindly agreed to allow Isobel and Simon to be married there. Guests were coming from far and wide, for there had been little chance of a more intimate occasion once word got out. This was to be the first time Isobel had met Simon’s father, the Duke of Burleigh, and she was nervous about the prospect.

“Yes, Alicia’s right – we don’t want to keep them waiting for us, do we?” Isobel said.

She took her father’s arm in hers, guiding him downstairs, followed by her mother and Alicia. Ernest was waiting for them, and he looked every bit the proud brother when Isobel appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

“You look…very grown up,” he said, and Isobel laughed.

“I’m not a child anymore, Ernest,” she said, and he smiled.

“I know you’re not. But sometimes it takes an occasion such as this to be reminded of how we change,” he said, offering Alicia his arm.

Outside, an open topped carriage was waiting for them, its sides bedecked with flowers, and liveried footmen standing on the boards. One of them jumped down to help them in, and they were soon making their way towards the church. It was a beautiful day, the sky bright blue, and the sun shining brightly. Isobel was now fully recovered from her illness, and any number of people had remarked how well she was looking. But it was not only her physical recovery that stood out, but more subtle change, too.

“You’re a great deal happier, Isobel,” Alicia had said, and she was right.

Isobel had not realized she was unhappy. But now she had come to realize there was something missing. In seeing so many others happily married, Isobel had felt she was missing something – the happiness of a shared life, and a happy future with another. She had wanted to fall in love, and now she had.

“Look at the crowds,” Alicia exclaimed, for a great number of people had gathered outside the church to wait for her, and as the carriage drew up, a cheer went up from those assembled.

“How wonderful. And look, the children are here,” Isobel exclaimed, as the footman helped her down from the carriage.

The children from the school were standing in two neat rows by the church door, and now, at a command from their teacher, they waved.

“Congratulations Lady Isobel,” Harriet said, stepping forward to speak on behalf of the others.

“Thank you, my darlings. Oh, I’m quite overcome,” Isobel said, as tears welled up in her eyes.

She had not expected the children to be there, but their presence was the final crown to the happiest of days.

“Well done, children, God bless you,” Isobel’s father said, as her mother now guided him to the door of the church, where the rector was waiting for them.

“Your Grace, my Lady, welcome – Lord Burleigh’s waiting for you inside, along with many guests from far and wide. It’s quite a gathering of the aristocracy,” he said, and Isobel glanced nervously at Alicia, who smiled.

“You’re only here for him – it was the same when I married Ernest,” she said, and Isobel’s brother raised his eyebrows.

At that moment, a shout came from behind, and Isobel turned to find Lily hurrying Emily up the path of the church.

“Nanny took sick – don’t worry, it’s not cholera. I had to get her ready myself. There we are, sweetheart, you take Isobel’s hem. Imagine you’re at the coronation – you might be one day. Walk slowly behind her,” she said, thrusting Emily forward.

Isobel smiled at Emily, who took hold of the hem with a solemn expression on her face.

“Let’s go inside, Lily,” Alicia said, beckoning for Lily to follow her.

The bells were ringing out a joyful peal, and the rector now told the verger to signal the organist to play the wedding march. The instrument thundered into life, and at the rector’s beckoning, Isobel and her father stepped forward.

“You’re the apple of my eye, Isobel – my mind’s eyes, that is – always know that,” her father whispered, and Isobel smiled.

“Thank you, Father,” she replied.

Entering the church, her hem held up by Emily, who clung to Isobel’s mother’s hand, Isobel was astonished at the size of the congregation. It seemed All of Simon’s extended family had arrived, and now she noticed the man who could only be his father standing at the front, dressed in a military uniform. As they passed him by, the elderly man turned and nodded to her with a smile on his face. Isobel smiled back, glad to know she had the duke’s approval, as Simon himself now turned to her from his place in the sanctuary. He looked very handsome, resplendent in the decorations of his privilege – Lord Burleigh, heir to one of the oldest and noblest dukedoms in the country.

“You look…beautiful, Isobel,” he whispered, as Isobel let go of her father’s arm and took Simon’s instead.

“And you look very handsome,” she replied.

Her mother now guided her father back to his seat, along with Emily, and the rector stepped forward, his prayer book open.

“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; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocence, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church…” he began, and thus the marriage was enacted.

Isobel and Simon promised to be faithful to one another in good times and bad, to love, honor, and cherish one another in times of sickness and health, and always to uphold marriage in its sacred gift. After the rector pronounced the blessing, Simon turned to Isobel and kissed her, and as their lips parted, he echoed the words they had promised in their vows once again.

“I love you,” he said, and Isobel smiled.

“I love you, too,” she replied.

Arm in arm, they made their way down the aisle, and Alicia, Lily, and Anne threw handfuls of rice and colored paper over them – much to the rector’s annoyance.

“Outside, please – it takes forever to clean up,” he said, in an exasperated tone.

Stepping out into the sunshine, Simon turned to kiss Isobel once again, and a cheer went up from the gathered crowd, as the congregation streamed out to offer their congratulations.

“What a beautiful wedding, you both look so happy,” Lily exclaimed.

“And didn’t Emily do well,” Isobel replied, smiling at Emily, who had carried the hem of her cape with the same solemn dignity she had earlier displayed.

“She did, yes – just like a lady in waiting,” Lily replied.

Others now came to offer their congratulations – Isobel’s mother and father, the Duke and Duchess of Lancaster, along with other friends and relatives, all of whom expressed their joy at this happy – and unexpected union. Last to come, and holding back until others had climbed into carriages for the short journey to Leamington Grange and the continuing celebrations, was Simon’s father, and he approached the happy couple with a smile on his face.

“A beautiful ceremony, and I’ve been made to feel most welcome. But this is the woman I want to meet,” he said, taking Isobel’s hand in his and kissing her on the cheek.

She smiled at him, not knowing quite what to say. She had thought a lot about the duke – wondering what he thought of Simon’s decision and feeling terribly sorry for the tragedies he had endured in the past.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, your Grace,” she said, and the duke shook his head.

“Oh, I’m just an old man,” he said, shaking his head.

“Father, really…” Simon reproached him.

“Truly – I’m so glad to make your acquaintance, and I want you to know… I’m truly sorry for your loss. Simon speaks to often of Eve. I can only imagine your sorrow. I want you to know we’ll always honor her memory,” Isobel said, and the duke nodded.

There were tears in his eyes, and Isobel placed her hand gently on his arm.

“It’s very kind of you to say so, Isobel. Eve was…my delight. When Simon left for medical school, I wasn’t sure what to think. I was disappointed at first – he knows that. But coming here, I’ve already heard so many stories of the things he’s done and the people he’s helped. It’s quite remarkable, and to learn of how the two of you came together – well, may God bless you both, and I hope you won’t be strangers at Burleigh House,” he said.

Simon shook his head.

“We won’t, Father. I promise. And you’re welcome here whenever you wish,” he said.

“Well, that’s good to know – I was going to ask you about my gout. It’s been getting worse lately,” he said, and Simon raised his eyebrows.

“Claret, Father – less claret. Red meat, Father – less red meat. Game birds, Father – less game birds,” he said, and his father sighed.

“What pleasures are their left to man of my age except claret, red meat, and game birds?” he asked, glancing at Isobel, and shaking his head.

They took the carriage back to Leamington Grange, joining the rest of the guests in a garden party on the lawn. It was a delightful affair, with an abundance of food and drink, served whilst a string quartet played. Later, there was dancing, and Isobel and Simon were toasted both by the Duke of Crawshaw and the Duke of Burleigh – both fathers telling their offspring how proud they were of them, and assuring them of their hopes for a long and prosperous future together. It was a delight to see their friends and relatives come together, and Isobel was introduced to any number of Simon’s relatives and friends from Burleigh and London.

“It’s been a wonderful day, hasn’t it?” Isobel said, when later, she and Simon slipped away across the garden towards the meadows by the river.

Dusk was falling, and a large, waxy moon was rising into the sky, its yellow light reflecting in the waters by the ford where they now stood, looking back towards the house. The sound of the music floated on the air, and Simon put his arms around Isobel and kissed her.

“The most perfect day I could ever had imagined,” he said, as their lips parted.

“I don’t want it to end, but I can’t stop thinking about all the happiness that lies ahead – as well as the hard work,” Isobel said, for it was now a certainty the two of them were to run the school together, whilst also maintaining the medical practice for the district.

Theirs was not to be an idle aristocratic life. They had chosen a different path, and they had chosen it together. Simon had promised to teach Isobel as much about medicine as he could, and together they had plans to expand the school and its provision for those children who found themselves without sight.

“Certainly hard work, but certainly happiness, too,” Simon said, and Isobel looked up at him and smiled.

“Did you ever think…well, when you first came here, did you ever think it would end like this?” she asked, and he shook his head.

“Not at all, no – I try not to think too far ahead – never. I want to live in this moment now, to savor it, to share it with you,” he said, and she rested her head on his chest, knowing she, too, wanted to live in just the same way.

They had shared so much, and there was so much for them to look forward to. But in the moment they now shared, all that mattered was their love – a love now sealed by the bonds of marriage.

“And I want to share it with you, too,” she replied, gazing up at him, as their lips met in a kiss.

“I love you,” he whispered, as their lips parted.

“I love you, too – and I always will, in every moment we share,” she replied, knowing she had found her happiness – a happiness to last forever.

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