[1]prelude to a wedding

A white dress was appropriate at least, Pearl thought humorlessly as she gazed in the mirror. The white satin sat cleanly on her pale complexion, causing her gray eyes to seem overly defined. Her mother fussed with the trim, resetting the way it would fall by flouncing the fabric briskly. Today was the final fitting for her wedding dress, and Pearl felt more obligated then relieved to be standing where she was.

“All right, the dress is perfect. Now,” Her mother pulled a box from her bag. She opened the velvet container and pulled out her most prized possession.

“Your mother’s opals. Oh, I couldn’t possibly wear them.” Pearl twisted her fingers nervously against each other.

“You need something old. These are the oldest items I still have. Did I ever tell you the story about how your Grandmother came to hold such a precious thing?”

Yes, Pearl thought to herself, but remained silent as her mother continued. It had become a favorite past time for her mother to reminisce about what once was. The habit made Pearl uncomfortable, but she humored her mother as she sighed and began to tell the story.

Pearls’ grandmother had met the mysterious man at a carnival in the summertime. He had fallen for her the moment he saw her, and she him. They’d wed one month later, running away to make their own home and place in the world.

“Your Grandfather was a businessman above all else. His family had profited greatly from the gold rush in the west, and he had learned through his life what it took to be something.” She made no attempt to hide her bitter tone.

“My father was a smart man who made his money the way a person should.” She shook her head as she rearranged Pearl’s train once more. “If your father hadn’t been a criminal, we would be just fine right now.”

Pearl flinched at her mother’s casual statement. Though she could never voice it out loud, Pearl had always felt as if she were blamed for her father’s debauchery . Though she did her best to look fondly at her him, the trouble he had left them in clouded every thought she could hold of his face.

It was better not to focus on such a sad thing, Pearl decided, and changed her expression to a carefree smile. She was a bride, after all. This would solve all of their problems.

“Go change, I’ll take care of this with Christine.” Her mother ordered, and left the room. Pearl hesitated, looking in the mirror one final time.

“It’ll be just fine. You’ll see.” She spoke quietly, looking directly into the stormy eyes staring back with uncertainty. With her stomach in knots, she quickly changed and left the dress with one of the young seamstresses.

“I don’t believe it would be such a difficult thing for the dress to be delivered tomorrow. The altercations are finished, and there is little more to do then sew the finishing touches on.” Pearl listened to her mother’s voice.

“I’m terribly sorry, Mrs. Hunter, but we won’t be able to send the dress out for two more days. I realize it’s not usual for us to disagree, but we have several young ladies getting married this month.” The woman reasoned. Her mother scoffed in a disapproving sound.

“Very well.” She turned to marched out of the door. “Come along, Pearl.”

Pearl ducked her head to avoid the woman’s gaze, moving quickly and quietly to follow her mother into the car. It hummed noisily as they drove from the seamstress.

“We’re nearly late for tea with Mrs. Gregory.” Her mother sneered.

“Mother, I wish you wouldn’t fret about so many things. They will still be at tea if we are a moment or two past our agreed time.” Pearl spoke softly, remembering the rules that her mother had instilled in her since birth. A lady never spoke louder than that of a gentle whisper. A lady never talked back. A lady never gave her opinion without being asked first.

“I need to worry,” Her mother interrupted her mental checklist. “What are we to do if I don’t worry about our well being? This marriage is what will save us from the horrible embarrassment your father left us. All we have to offer is our bloodline, nothing else.”

“I know, Mother.”

“I don’t believe that you do, Pearl. This wedding must happen. It is essential to our survival. Your father was a crook, a gambler, a womanizing fool. He lost the fortune my father left me in a matter of months. It was God’s own justice when he was lost at sea travelling to England.”

Her mother grabbed her sharply, holding her arms with intensity.

“He left us nothing, Pearl. We’ve only managed so far because of the trust people have in my father’s name. Now that our luck is running out, we must secure our future.”

Pearl felt her mother’s eyes slicing into her. She expected so much of the one chance meeting she had had with Thomas.

“He comes from a good family, a respected family.” Her mother interjected as the car came to a stop. “You will thank me for what I’m doing.”

It was the final say in the matter as the chauffer opened the car door and offered a hand to her mother. Pearl followed suit without question—she couldn’t protest if she’d wanted to, and walked quietly behind.

This lunch had been on their social calendar, and the talk of many others, for some time now. The very news of a Gregory marrying was simply the sweetest juice on the gossip vine. Thomas Gregory, along with his older brother Marcus, was the most sought after bachelors in the state of Connecticut.

Tea with Mrs. Gregory on the Gregory estate was something of note in every well known circle. As the servant led Pearl and her overly eager mother to the elegantly decorated room where the Mrs. Gregory was seated, Pearl felt as if everyone were watching her. It felt as though every person in the room had turned to stare at Thomas Gregory’s fiancé, and see if she really was worthy of such a catch.

Pearl had begun to wonder that very question herself.

“Mrs. Hunter, Pearl. I’m so glad you could join us.” Mrs. Gregory smiled from her seat. She didn’t stand to greet them, but gestured with her hand for the two women to join her.

“I am very sorry we we’re nearly late. Today was Pearl’s final fitting for her gown.” Pearl watched her mother’s face transform into a light, friendly smile.

“No need to fret.” Mrs. Gregory lifted her tea and sipped. “I trust your plans are progressing smoothly before the wedding?”

“Yes, Mrs. Gregory.” Pearl replied. Something in the way Mrs. Gregory looked at her made Pearl want to squirm in her seat.

“Wonderful. Diane,” Mrs. Gregory turned to Pearl’s mother with guarded, beady eyes. “Are you planning on giving Pearl all of her somethings for her wedding, or may I intrude to offer an item?”

“Certainly.” Mrs. Hunter’s voice sounded unstable. She was worried, Pearl realized. She was afraid this was something to fear.

“Thank you.” Mrs. Gregory motioned for a servant to step forward. The young lady had rectangular box, which she handed to Pearl without further instruction and stepped back against the wall.

Pearl lifted the lid slightly, peering inside, then sighing with adoration.

“My future mother-in-law gave me a garment similar to that when I married my husband, God rest his soul.” Pearl pulled the beaded scarf from the box and examined it closer.

The little beads were pearls, embroidered in an elegant flower at on end. The fabric was silk, softer than any fabric she had ever felt.

“This is beautiful. Thank you, Mrs. Gregory.” Pearl stroked the fabric gently, then replaced the scarf in its box.

“So glad you enjoy it, dear.” Pearl smiled over the table, genuinely feeling welcome into the Gregory family. If Lorraine Gregory was giving her a gift before her wedding, it must mean she wasn’t completely opposed as the rumors had told. Perhaps Mrs. Gregory—Lorraine to her nearest and dearest friends, didn’t feel such hatred towards her after all.

“It is such a lovely gift. I thank you again, Mrs. Gregory.” Pearl’s mother chimed in again, feeling left out of the conversation.

The conversation turned to invitations and who would be at the wedding. Pearl listened half-heartedly to her mother and her future mother-in-law as they babbled back and forth about various things. Grandsons, social parties, vacations to the countryside. Holidays would be spent in Connecticut with the Gregory family, and it was beyond negotiation. Pearl wondered if her mother would have bargained away her soul for some solid piece of security in the world.

And she hoped she wouldn’t be anywhere near her mother’s state when she had a child to care for.

“Pardon the interruption, please my ladies. I simply had to say hello to my mother and future bride while I was in town on business.” Thomas’s rich voice floated in from the doorway, and Pearl fought the urge to jerk her head around.

“Thomas, darling.” Mrs. Gregory purred his name as she stood. Pearl felt unsure of what she was required to do, and looked to her mother for a hint. Was she supposed to stand and greet the man she had been told to marry, or was she to wait before he gave a signal?

It was so hard to be excited to see a man you barely knew, knowing you were about to pledge a life with him.

“Ah, my Pearl. I trust my mother is being kind?” He smiled with soft eyes. His eyes were always soft when he spoke to her, Pearl thought. Perhaps he felt the same awkward uncertainty she did in their meetings.

“She has been much to kind to us.” She thought the words felt stiff around the edges as she said them and hoped no one had noticed.

“That is a good thing to hear. I’m terribly sorry for intruding on your gathering.” He apologized to his mother, but his eyes held a mischievous light. “I was simply meeting with the Clarkes brothers for business and felt I should stop and say hello.”

“It’s simply delightful that you would stop in to say a quick hello before you head back to New York.” His mother matched his smile, and something unreadable flashed in her eyes. Pearl began to wonder if this was some kind of mother-son spat hidden by well placed pleasantries.

“Would you like to join us for a cup of tea, Thomas?” Mrs. Hunter offered graciously. Mrs. Gregory sent her a look that very clearly stated it had been beyond her place to invite him to stay.

“I would, but I’m afraid I must return to the office. Duty calls.” He made a subtle sarcastic eye roll in Pearl’s direction. She covered her lips with her napkin to hide the smile fighting its way out.

“Thank you again, Thomas. I trust you’ll have a safe trip back to the city.” Mrs. Gregory kissed his cheek briskly and turned to her chair. He pulled it out for her without hesitation.

“Thank you for allowing me to intrude so rudely. Enjoy yourselves. It was lovely seeing all of you here.” He looked each of the three women in the eyes, pausing on Pearl’s face.

There was a knowing in the look he gave her, a reassuring comfort that she wasn’t alone in this odd scenario. That she had an ally, despite it all.

Mrs. Gregory waited until Thomas had left the house completely before she spoke. “I trust you understand your duties as wife, Ms. Hunter.” The way she addressed Pearl seemed condescending and annoyed.

“I do, Mrs. Gregory.”

“Good. We have much to do before the wedding next week.”

“Thank you for allowing us into your lovely home, Mrs. Gregory. It was a very kind thing to do, wasn’t it Pearl?” Her mother prompted.

“Yes, thank you for the beautiful gift, Mrs. Gregory.”

“Certainly. Ladies I would like to thank you for joining me today, but I must retire. There is much to be done yet.”

She stood gracefully, her movements flowing as a dancer’s would during a perfectly choreographed piece. Servants appeared with their coats, cued by Mrs. Gregory’s action. Pearl and her mother were swept out of the room and bid farewell at the grand entry way. Without a word her mother climbed into the car, an easy smile permanently placed on her lips.

The car had turned the corner and rejoined the traffic on the main street before she spoke.

“That certainly could have gone better.” Her expression had changed to disapproving.

“I tried my best, mother.” Pearl spoke softly.

“Perhaps your best is not enough in this situation.” Her mother sighed and ordered the driver to take her directly home as quickly as possible. “I’m getting a terrible migraine.”