A wedding pt. 2

The long awaited day has arrived, the house filled with the delightful smell of food, decorations and candles spread throughout the home.

It was cozy and inviting and simply stunning. Thomas barged into Josephine's room. "Tommy!" The young woman snapped softly as she wrapped her rode around herself, she had already gotten dressed in the dress he requested. The older twin casted her a apologetic look as he offered her a soft smile

"Can you believe it Jo, in a hour I will be marrying Charles." He spoke with a grin on his face, a soft red decorating his cheeks at the mere thought of getting to spend his life with the man he loved.

Josephine laughed softly at him as she stood up, she walked over and pulled him into a tight embrace, hiding her face against his shoulder. "I am so happy for you Tommy." She whispered lovingly to her brother and yet she felt a pang of heartache, she was finally home and she soon wouldn't have him by her side any longer.

"Thank you Jo.."His arms stayed looped around her, enjoying the moment of comfort he could share with her. He was definitely nervous about being married especially to a man in that time.

Thomas's eyes flickered down to look at her, noticing the green peeking out from the edge of the rob. "Is that the dress?" He asked sweetly, watching a embarrassed blush creep up her face as she nodded her head.

She shedded the robe to show him the dress, her arms hugging around herself as she felt bare. Her gloves looking majorly out of place with the selection of dress. "You look beautiful sister, never let anyone tell you otherwise." He said with a smile, he stepped closer and kissed the top of her head.

"Thank you brother. You look very handsome, Charles is a lucky man to be gaining such a loyal and caring husband." She smiled at him as she walked towards her mirror, she started to gather up her long hair to pull it into a bun.

It was very rare that women in the regency era wore their hair down publicly as that was seen as something to be done in the privacy of ones bedroom or dressing room.

"You could leave your hair down, it's our home." Thomas said as he leaned against the post of the bed. A soft knock sounded on the door before it opened to show Elmer. "figured I would find you here." He flashed a cheeky grin at Thomas before he paused looking at Josephine. "Exquisite my darling sister but Louis is going to kill you." He chuckled as he walked over.

The blond boy gathering her hair into his hands and letting it fall down her back, brushing his fingers through to get rid of any tangles that were in it. "But don't worry I won't tell him.. he will learn when most of the men out there can't draw their eyes off of you."

That comment made her groan as she slouched down. "Hopefully they will be focused on Estella." She mumbled.
"They will be focused on Thomas now won't they Jose." The female's voice came from the door, making the three Rowlington's look over to see Estella.

"Is my room a train station?" Josephine sighed as she flopping back onto her bed, the skirt of the dress fanning out some which Elmer promptly fixed. "You look beautiful Estella." Thomas complimented the woman. The dark haired woman smiling at him "Thank you Thomas, congratulations on the wedding. You two are perfect for each other." She placed her hand on his shoulder before walking to look down at Josephine.

"Come now Jose, time to do your make-up if you want to be ready to fight suitors off with a stick." She said with a giggle as she took the girl's wrist, pulling her up.

Josephine sat there as Estella did her makeup, quit flawlessly might she add, Thomas and Elmer working on fixing Josephine's hair. A distraction that Thomas needed to keep from pacing. The four smiling, joking and laughing warmly amongst each other. Estella already fitting into the family whom she gazed at fondly.

The time had arrived as people started to show up for the ceremony, the family of the groom already sitting up front. Louis and Clara sitting on Charles' side since they knew he didn't have much family there to be at the wedding.

Thomas was already standing at the front, waiting anxiously to see the man he loved walking down the aisle towards him. Soft music started to play as everyone stood and looked towards the doors seeing Charles walking in.

Such love could be felt between Charles and Thomas, the soft gazed that were shared. "Family, friends we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Thomas Rowlington and Charles Lockridge. If there is any reason this union should not happen then please speak now or forever hold your peace." The officiant was a friend of Louis, someone who they could trust and still have this wedding completely legal.

The time for the vows has come upon them as they held each other's hands. "Thomas, since the moment I arrived in Mayfair I felt I did not belong and yet with you I found a home, some place I can always count on and go to in moments of panic. You have been there for me unlike anyone else in my life, you are the reason I was able to make it here and find the friends I do have. I love you, I think I have since they day I met you." Charles said with a red face as he smiled happily at him.

Thomas was blushing just as much as he started to speak. "Charles you are by far one of the best people I know, you came into my life in a time I truly needed a friend and you became that for me. When I was at my lowest you brought a smile to my face. I needed you then and I need you now and always. I love you, you are the one my heart beats for."

Josephine was teary as she listened to them, Elmer taking her hand to bring her the comfort she required. "You may now seal your union with a kiss." The two leaned towards each other, kissing softly as their friends and family clapped with excitement. Thomas and Charles pulling away with a blush decorating their faces.

Josephine was lagging behind as everyone went to the ballroom, Estella finding her side. "Are you prepared to be the talk of the town?" She asked with a grin but soon remembered how Josephine did once plague the scandal sheets in a not so tasteful manner. "They will not be able to talk about anything but how stunning we look tonight." The slightly older woman clarified as she reached over and took Josephine's hand.

"I suppose so." The woman sighed as she followed Estella into the ballroom. Thomas and Charles were dancing to soft music, the first time they have danced together, their first time dancing as a married couple.

Louis's eyes found themselves drifting towards Estella, his eyes widening softly as he took in the dress that she wore. The man had trouble getting his eyes to leave her which Estella noticed the woman gaining a huge grin as she walked towards him. "You are staring my Lord." She teased him when she reached him. "You look positively beautiful." He complimented her.

A soft blush filled Estella's cheeks as she smiled more warmly now. The kind words from him meaning so much more then they would from anyone else as he seemed to rarely give out such phrases to others,like he was saving them for when he truly meant it and speaking to her, seeing her in that dress was one of the times he meant it. A moment in time worthy of kind words that were true.

"You flatter me." She said as she held out her hand towards him. "Are we going to dance or sit around talking?" She wanted nothing more then to grace the floor so she could feel his arms around her and be at a peace. Though the woman was growing more frustrated with every passing flirt, every hint she has given him, every small glance and touch and yet he didn't seem to return any of them. She was starting to wonder if he even showed that sort of interest in her but moments like these and the comments from his family kept her hopeful.

Louis took her hand into his own, his eyes never leaving her as he lead her towards the dance floor. Once the music started back up again, the two started moving perfectly together. Even when it was a misstep they did it together, almost so in tune with each other that they can remain in time. His one arm wrapping tighter around her, pulling her a bit closer to him as he noticed some of the other men's eyes drifting towards her.

Josephine felt alone as Estella was swept away to the dance floor, but she was so thankful that Louis didn't take notice of what she was wearing but Brandon took notice as he was making quick, long strides towards her. He cast a warning glare to one of the men that started to walk towards his Josephine.

She barely had time to say anything when Brandon's hands found their way to her hair, the first time he has ever seen it down as he admired her. Her hair, the dress...god the dress made his heart beat so fast. "You look too beautiful." He whispered softly to her. Watching the blush that quickly covered her face.

"Are you just going to stand there staring like a imbecile?" She managed to find her voice again but her sarcastic nature vanished when he stepped closer to her, looking down at her. "Why is there something else you would rather us do?" He asked, letting his one hand gently brush against her exposed neck.

The soft rumble of thunder approaching matched the beat of her heart at that touch. "Y-...no." she cleared her throat some as she fought to regain her normal nonchalant but that became harder and harder the longer she was around Brandon.

His head dipped down, the visions of what happened nights ago at the ball flashed through her head as she waited to feel the soft graze of his lips against her jaw but that never came. "You are not truthful to yourself Josie." He whispered instead, catching her hand in his own and lead her out onto the dance floor. A bewildered and confused trailing after him.

Molly and Elmer where on the dance floor, the two moving together with the music gracefully. His intense gaze on the girl who glanced up at him with a soft timid smile. She still couldn't believe how far they had come in just a social season. The two now fully aware of how each other felt. His grip on her waist drawing her in closer as he stole a quick kiss, causing her to turn a bright red. Elmer chuckling softly in reply to that as he looked down at her with a tender love that Molly didn't think was possible from him.

Robert and Philip had grown close this social season yet the two still haven't truly realized how deep the care grew, thinking of each other only as friends. It was something that Thomas and Charles overcame and hopefully the two men would realize it sooner then the other two, getting more time to spend in love and with each other.

Emilio and Phoebe dances happily, the two engaged to be married. Having spoke to each other's families about the engagement it was decided that they would be married early the following social season, giving enough time to plan out the wedding. He rested his forehead against hers as they swayed and danced to the music.

Gwen was standing by the drinks, talking happily and energeticly to anyone who would listen to her. The young lady was someone that the group grew to care deeply about even though it was a bit of a shock to them all with her being such a loud, partying lady but she brought a life and joy to the ton that they would never be able to replace should something happen to her.

Abigail had been pulled to the dance floor by Colin, the sweet Bridgerton boy looking at her with such a great affection as he spun her around, drawing a laugh from her lips, his brothers watching on, frankly a bit jealous that he found someone who seemed to adore him but they also watched with joy at the smile that crossed his face.

The Rowlington and Bridgerton households trust each other and for the siblings to be invited to such a wedding made them truly realize how much trust that was. Eloise wasn't surprised by the wedding as she always thought she saw a spark between the two and she was so very glad she was right.

Brandon held Josephine close as they danced torn between looking at the beautiful woman he got to hold for the dance and glare sharply at anyone who would look at her, he switched between tasks. But he also didn't mind the looks as he spun her, the skirt fanning out. He was showing her off, a reminder to the other bachelors of the ton of a woman they couldn't have.

Josephine was woven into Brandon's soul, the two so tightly bound together by fate it was had to separate one from the other as was the case her, he didn't want to loosen his grip, just hold her close. His fingers trailed gently up her spine. Buttons. Easy work with enough skill. At the gentle trace she shivered, pressing into him more then he already held her.

Clara lead Delilah through the gardens, both needing some time away from the party and crowd the soft rain just starting so it wasn't enough to bother the two women as they ran the trails between the roses hidden behind the hedges.

Delilah let out a small laugh as she bumped into Clara, the blonde woman suddenly stopping to look at the girl the dark hair. Delilah's laughter faded away when she saw the serious look on Clara's face. "What is wrong?" Delilah asked as she looked concerned at Clara.

The blonde didn't say a word as she closed the distance, grabbing Delilah's face in her hands and pressing a sudden kiss to her lips. Fireworks is all that Delilah could describe it as, something she has longed for so long. The woman who plagued her dreams was now kissing her.

Delilah kissed back with such passion. Her hands finding their way into Clara's hair, pulling it from the bun that it was in. The two had wanted to do this so bad, the two's hands grabbing desperately at each other as they longed to be closer.

Clara backed Delilah up against a stone statue that was in the garden, she was the one to break the kiss first though Delilah objected with a whine. But Clara gave her a devious smirk that made her heart flutter and made her stomach feel like it was tangled up in knots.

Clara lowered to her knees as Delilah watched with some confusion as the blonde disappeared under the skirts of Delilah's dress. The brown haired girl opening her mouth to question it but instead a soft breathy gasp left her lips as Clara started her quick work. Delilah reached down and tangled her hands into Clara's hair, pulling her closer.

The only sound that filled the night was the sound of the approaching storm and Delilah's soft whimpers and gasps.

Thomas and Charles would be staying at the country house for their honeymoon type event as the rest of the Rowlington's would be returning home to Mayfair.

Party goers where slowly filing out as Thomas and Charles thanked them and bid them a farewell, congratulations were shared as they smiled and blushed. The two still very shocked at the fact they were married.

Brandon was walking with Josephine as the rain picked up but they didn't seem to mind as their hair clung to their faces and Brandon notified how the damp dress clung to her body, accenting every dip and curve of her body. He was eyeing her as he stored those to memory as he would be leaving tomorrow to head to the front lines one again.

"I will be back in no time." He said in a reassuring manner, his hand reaching out to caress her cheek but she turned her head away slightly. He noticed that whenever he would talk of his departure she would pull away a bit more. He knew she was scared to get close to someone she could lose and this seemed a awful lot like she would lose him. "Trust me my darling, you can not get rid of me so easily."

She looked at him with a soft pink on her face; he called her my darling instead of my darling Josephine like he would when teasing. She hated it, she hated the war, she hated him for returning instead of hiding away and running away somewhere were no one could disrupt their peace ever again.

"Must you go?" She asked softly, sadly. The tone of her voice, the desperate plead that was laced in it broke his heart. Brandon pulled her into a hug, her arms wrapping around him as well, clinging to him, burying her face into the crook of his neck. She didn't want one of her few friends she had to leave her. "unfortunately I do. I will always return to you." He promised her.

Once he sat her back on her feet fully, looking at her with soft eyes. He leaned down and kissed her, her soft lips parting in shock against his. In a panic Josephine moved back and slapped him.

Brandon looked at her about to question why she would do that when he noticed the tears in her eyes. "N-no! How dare you do that! You do not get to leave me and then kiss me!" She snapped as some tears fell.

Josephine turned and hurried away from him, Brandon calling after the woman without any fruit to that as she didn't look back. Her heart aching with the kiss, he was going to war and who knows if he would truly return to her. She couldn't handle that heartbreak if she let herself melt in that moment only to lose him days later.

She couldn't do it......

The end.....

Of act one