The Fourth Mistress

Music Recommendation: The living sculptures of Pemberley - Dario Marianelli

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The following week, Louise held the umbrella above her head, protecting herself from the heat of the sun's rays. She walked towards Mr. Winkle's home to see how he was doing as it had been a while since she had last paid a visit to him.

Even though the wedding was going to be simple and in Reed's manor, Louise would have never guessed that she would be this busy. She had bought new dresses, undergarments, other new clothes and items for her that were now packed in the trunks. Thankfully she had finished buying everything with the help of Aunt Merlin.

Reaching Mr. Winkle's home, she closed the umbrella and walked towards the door. She knocked on the door, waiting for a few seconds before the door was opened for her.

"Good morning, Mariam," Louise greeted Mr. Winkle's housekeeper with a smile. "Has Mr. Winkle woken up?"

"Good morning, Ms. Evardon. Yes, he is up and just finished having his breakfast a while ago. Please come in," Mariam pushed the door completely open while stepping aside for Louise to get in. "Would you like to have some tea?"

"Just a glass of water would do. Thank you," Louise replied to the woman, who offered her a short bow.

Walking towards the room where Mr. Winkle was, Louise saw him holding the newspaper in his hands. She knocked on the door to gain his attention, and he put down the newspaper.

"So it was you, Ms. Evardon. Come in," invited Mr. Winkle. "I thought it was the mailman, who was here with Mrs. Miller's property papers, but it seems like it hasn't been sent yet. The doctor said I should be able to get back to work next Monday. So you can come in for work from Monday."

Louise counted the days in her mind before she nodded her head.

"That sounds lovely. I am glad to see that you are in better shape," she offered the man a polite smile. "You should be more careful when it comes to climbing up and down the stairs. Especially on rainy days." The man was getting old, and if he were working under someone else, they would have told him to retire from work, but Mr. Winkle owned the firm where she was working in.

Mr. Winkle waved his hand, "I have always been careful. I don't know how I even ended up missing my step while getting down from the stairs. I have been walking there for many years, that I can close my eyes and walk. It was because of the awful rain that day," he grumbled under his breath.

It was awful weather, thought Louise in her mind, not forgetting how she had gotten lost in the forest.

"How is your preparation for the exam coming along?" inquired the man, folding the paper and placing it on the side table.

"It has been going well," answered Louise. She then cleared her throat and said, "Actually, I came here to give you the news, that I am getting married the day after tomorrow."

"God bless you. Looks like while you were off work you found yourself a suitable partner. Who is the lucky man?" asked Mr. Winkle, his slightly grey eyes looking at her.

"It is Graham Reed," answered Louise, noticing Mr. Winkle did not say anything as if he didn't know that person for a while before the name finally dawned on him.

Mr. Winkle nodded his head, "I knew you liked that man the day you were asking questions about him. He is a handsome chap. Would you be resigning from work?"

Louise shook her head, "They agreed, I could keep it as it was. That I could continue to work so I should be good to work too once you return on Monday," and she smiled.

The man nodded his head, "Seems like you found the right alliance. Well, anyways, congratulations for your upcoming day. Though I do wonder why I didn't get to hear the news about it," he hummed in thought. It was because the town of Habsburg was good when it came to gossip and Louise being his employee, someone would have come and given him the news.

To make sure Mr. Winkle wouldn't feel that she wasn't inviting him for her wedding because she was now associating herself with a high-status family, she said,

"Both of our families decided to keep it quiet and the ceremony to be held in the presence of his and my family."

"So is the reason," an understanding look appeared on his face.

When the time came for Louise to leave, Mr. Winkle congratulated her one more time, and so did the housekeeper, who had overheard their conversation. Closing the main door, the housekeeper couldn't help but turn worried. She said to Mr. Winkle, "I cannot believe Ms. Evardon is going to get married to the man who has lost three of his wives."

"Those are nothing but superstitious things, Mariam. What did I tell you to not believe in things that you cannot explain, they are absurd," Mr. Winkle gave his housekeeper a pointed look. "The poor man just happened to run out of luck in his marriage. Ms. Evardon is stronger than she looks."

The day of the wedding finally arrived, and Aunt Merlin came near Louise' room, knocking on her room door before entering inside.

"Louise? Wake up," said Aunt Merlin, walking towards the bed. The helper girl Poppy went to draw the curtains and open the room's windows, letting in the fresh air and the morning light to enter the room.

"I am awake," murmured Louise, who had her hand over her eyes.

"That's good! I was ironing your uncle's suit and I didn't even notice how hot the iron box had turned out to be," said her aunt, walking around the room. She opened the cupboard to take the wedding gown and place it on the table. "Thankfully, Poppy arrived in time and she had them chang-What happened to your eyes?!"

Louise, who had sat up on the bed had subtle dark circles around her eyes that were highlighted because of her pale skin.

"I couldn't fall asleep," replied Louise, moving the covers from her lap. She walked towards the mirror to take a look at her face. It wasn't that she hadn't gone to bed early last night because she knew she had to wake up early today. But she couldn't get a wink of sleep and had ended up staying wide awake until there was only an hour left for dawn. "It doesn't look that bad. Cora got me this powder, it should fix the eyes."

"Alright, go on. We have only three hours before we leave to Reed's manor," informed Aunt Merlin.

Soon Louise brushed her teeth and bathed.

She wore her undergarments, the shift and other layers that the tailor had prepared before wearing the wedding gown. Aunt Merlin and Poppy helped her wear her hair into a bun with pins and flowers that went to the side. Her cheeks had been dusted with powder, and her lips were tinted pink. She stood in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection where she had been transformed into a bride.

"You look lovely, Lady Louise," complimented their helper girl Poppy.

"If your mother was here today, she would have been so very happy to see you like this. You look so beautiful, the most beautiful bride I have seen until now," Aunt Merlin's eyes turned moist, and she held both her hands together near her chest.

"Thank you, Aunt Merlin and Poppy," Louise smiled. Walking forward, she hugged her aunt.

"Oh, I will miss having you around here so much!" said Aunt Merlin, carefully hugging her niece so that it wouldn't pull the veil they had just pinned.

As Louise had been taken in by the DeRose family when she was only six-year-old, to them, Louise was like their very own daughter, and they had seen her grow up. Having her go to another family was sad, but at the same time, it was time for her to build her own family, to have her person next to her.

They heard footsteps approaching the room and heard Uncle Hugo's voice, "Is she ready? Reed's personal carriage has arrived," and he appeared at the front of the door. Looking at Louise, he offered her a wide smile, "Look at you, beautiful in that wedding gown. Graham knew you were quite a catch," he said, slowly walking towards her. "I cannot believe that this day has finally arrived. How do you feel?"

"A little nervous, but for the most part okay," replied Louise, taking in a deep breath and exhaling out.

Uncle Hugo smiled at her, "That sounds more than good. Are you ready?" he asked.

Louise turned around, taking a look at the room where she had lived for many years. The room was filled with memories. The memories began with her tears over the loss of her parents to be replaced by the memory where her aunt stayed next to her until she finally fell asleep when she was little.

She would cherish the memories and not forget them. A smile came on her lips, and she said, "Yes. I am ready."

When Louise stepped out of the front door of their house, she felt the rays of the sun fall right at her as if focussing on her. Some of the passersby couldn't help but take a look at the bride who stepped inside the carriage, while their curious eyes recognized the carriage to whom it belonged. Soon Uncle Hugo and Aunt Merlin got inside the carriage for it to be driven by the coachman.

The last time, when Louise had taken a ride to Reed's manor, it had felt to be the longest one. But now, the distance seemed much shorter than before as she had been lost in thoughts. The carriage entered Reed's estate, and the coachman stopped the carriage in front of the manor's entrance.

By the time they had got down, they were greeted by Graham's sister Alison, who stood next to her husband, Henry.

"You look stunning, Louise," said Alison, a wide smile on her lips on seeing the family here. "Mr. and Mrs. DeRose, it is good to have you here again."

Alison's husband gave them a short bow and asked Uncle Hugo, "I hope your ride here was smooth."

"It was fine," Uncle Hugo replied with a polite smile. The Reed's carriage was much more spacious than what they owned, and it made the ride comfortable.

Henry returned the smile and said, "That's good to hear. Everyone is already in the back garden and the priest has already arrived. Let me lead the way," and he walked forward.

"We hope we are not late," whispered Aunt Merlin to Alison, and Alison smiled.

"Of course not. Our family just happens to be early today and without the bride we cannot have the wedding ceremony," Alison laughed, looking at Louise and her eyes stayed there for a second longer before she looked back at the older woman with a smile.

Until a moment ago, Louise had not felt nervous. But with the moment inching closer with every step she took towards the back garden, she felt her heartbeat start to increase. Alison and her husband, along with her aunt, walked forward while her uncle stayed back with her as he would walk her down the aisle.

With the thick bushes and trees that had been planted around, it hid the family members from her sight. Her uncle said to her, "If your parents were here, they would be very proud of you, Louise. Not because of the wedding, but because of how you turned out to be. You will always be our proud daughter."

"Thank you, Uncle. It means a lot to me," she was grateful for it. They soon heard the music play that came from the flute and violin.

"Looks like it is time to go," Uncle Hugo offered his hand for her to hold.

Louise put her hand around, and they started to walk towards where everyone had gathered themselves. A carpet was rolled on the ground for her to walk on. All of Reed's family members and aunt stood at the sides, while Graham and the priest stood at the centre.

The priest blurred out in front of her groom.

Graham stood there, waiting for her in a black suit. His hair had been combed to the side to let one view his clean, shaved, handsome face. His expression was serious, his eyes watching her being accompanied by her uncle. As it was Graham's fourth wedding, she couldn't help but wonder if his nervousness had been washed away, unlike hers, where her stomach was in knots, but she kept a smile on her face.

Once she came near the altar, her uncle let go of her hand, and Graham brought his hand forward. The sign somewhere silently saying he would be taking care of her from now on.

He offered her a smile, it wasn't wide, but it was there. Louise smiled back, placing her hand in his hand, knowing she would have one person in this place whom she could rely on.

She came to stand in front of him, and the priest soon started the wedding ceremony.