let’s get on with the photographs,” William said. “I am sure the sun is giving us exactly the right light and you never know when it might go behind a cloud.”
“Heaven forbid!” the Duke exclaimed. “The sooner you photograph us the better.”
He moved quickly in front of the flowers.
Then Alnina said a little shyly,
“Do you think I should put my hand on your arm?”
“Yes, of course. And I should have thought of that myself. If we had only just been married, we would hardly stand far apart from each other.”
“It all depends who you married,” Alnina replied. “But I think, as you are so smart, and I must commend you on your decorations, they would expect us to look happy and be quite near to each other.”
”Yes, of course,” the Duke agreed.
He stood with his back to the flowers and Alnina put her hand on his arm, holding her bouquet with the other one.
It was only when he had looked through his lens that William gave a cry.
“You have forgotten something,” he cautioned.
“What is that?” the Duke asked.
“The bride is showing her left hand and there is no ring on it.”
“How stupid of me!” Alnina cried. “I had thought of it. I have Mama’s ring upstairs, but I forgot to put it on my finger.”
The Duke took off his signet ring.
“If you turn this round the other way,” he said, “it will save your going upstairs or sending your man to fetch it for you.”
“Of course. I told him we were doing this to show abroad how people dress for balls at Buckingham Palace. So we were quite right to make it look glamorous.”
“What about your veil?” the Duke asked.
“Your friend will tell you I put it on after Brooks left the room,” Alnina said. “All he saw was the wreath and after all a great number of women wear a wreath when they don’t have a tiara.”
The Duke laughed.
“That is very true. But what woman does not prefer diamonds to flowers?”
“I for one. I love flowers and, although I admire diamonds, I cannot say I love them.”
“Then you are indeed unique. I have never known a woman who did not wish to cover herself with gems and who did not prefer to wear something that glittered rather than flowers that scent the air.”
“Now if you will both stop talking like characters on the stage at Drury Lane,” William piped up. “I want to get this photograph taken.”
“It is my fault we have been delayed,” Alnina said. “I should have remembered the ring. It was clever of you to notice it.”
“Now smile and look happy,” William ordered and then he was peering into his camera.
They heard the clicks as he took several exposures.
Then he suggested, as he pulled off the velvet hood that covered his head,
“I think we should have one now with you looking at each other.”
“Do you think that is really necessary?” the Duke enquired.
“I think it is a wise move to make it clear that your heart is in England, even if your body is walking about in Georgia.”
“All right then, but hurry up. If there is one thing I really dislike, it’s being photographed.”
“Don’t think of it like that,” Alnina said. “This is a theatrical performance and we have to make it a success!”
She paused for a moment before she added,
“Otherwise you may be sorry you have bought the wedding dress.”
“I will be delighted to add it to the collection of robes of every type in the family mansion,” he asserted. “There is a whole room full of them, but none are as fine or as beautiful as your wedding dress, Miss Lester.”
“I am glad to hear that,” Alnina said. “It is exactly the sort of home I want it to have, because my mother was so proud of it.”
“That is not surprising. It certainly is unique and my only trouble is that it will attract a great number of my family who will all want to come and stay with me.”
The Duke laughed before he added,
“Not because they find me charming, but because I have such a beautiful wedding dress for
“Heaven forbid!” the Duke exclaimed. “The sooner you photograph us the better.”
He moved quickly in front of the flowers.
Then Alnina said a little shyly,
“Do you think I should put my hand on your arm?”
“Yes, of course. And I should have thought of that myself. If we had only just been married, we would hardly stand far apart from each other.”
“It all depends who you married,” Alnina replied. “But I think, as you are so smart, and I must commend you on your decorations, they would expect us to look happy and be quite near to each other.”
”Yes, of course,” the Duke agreed.
He stood with his back to the flowers and Alnina put her hand on his arm, holding her bouquet with the other one.
It was only when he had looked through his lens that William gave a cry.
“You have forgotten something,” he cautioned.
“What is that?” the Duke asked.
“The bride is showing her left hand and there is no ring on it.”
“How stupid of me!” Alnina cried. “I had thought of it. I have Mama’s ring upstairs, but I forgot to put it on my finger.”
The Duke took off his signet ring.
“If you turn this round the other way,” he said, “it will save your going upstairs or sending your man to fetch it for you.”
“Of course. I told him we were doing this to show abroad how people dress for balls at Buckingham Palace. So we were quite right to make it look glamorous.”
“What about your veil?” the Duke asked.
“Your friend will tell you I put it on after Brooks left the room,” Alnina said. “All he saw was the wreath and after all a great number of women wear a wreath when they don’t have a tiara.”
The Duke laughed.
“That is very true. But what woman does not prefer diamonds to flowers?”
“I for one. I love flowers and, although I admire diamonds, I cannot say I love them.”
“Then you are indeed unique. I have never known a woman who did not wish to cover herself with gems and who did not prefer to wear something that glittered rather than flowers that scent the air.”
“Now if you will both stop talking like characters on the stage at Drury Lane,” William piped up. “I want to get this photograph taken.”
“It is my fault we have been delayed,” Alnina said. “I should have remembered the ring. It was clever of you to notice it.”
“Now smile and look happy,” William ordered and then he was peering into his camera.
They heard the clicks as he took several exposures.
Then he suggested, as he pulled off the velvet hood that covered his head,
“I think we should have one now with you looking at each other.”
“Do you think that is really necessary?” the Duke enquired.
“I think it is a wise move to make it clear that your heart is in England, even if your body is walking about in Georgia.”
“All right then, but hurry up. If there is one thing I really dislike, it’s being photographed.”
“Don’t think of it like that,” Alnina said. “This is a theatrical performance and we have to make it a success!”
She paused for a moment before she added,
“Otherwise you may be sorry you have bought the wedding dress.”
“I will be delighted to add it to the collection of robes of every type in the family mansion,” he asserted. “There is a whole room full of them, but none are as fine or as beautiful as your wedding dress, Miss Lester.”
“I am glad to hear that,” Alnina said. “It is exactly the sort of home I want it to have, because my mother was so proud of it.”
“That is not surprising. It certainly is unique and my only trouble is that it will attract a great number of my family who will all want to come and stay with me.”
The Duke laughed before he added,
“Not because they find me charming, but because I have such a beautiful wedding dress for
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