Charlotte

A few days later, the four of us would be ready to put Hellen’s plan into action. We would purchase a dirty blonde wig for Charles, and he would borrow—or steal, to be honest—an expensive suit from Edmund. Edmund, who we wouldn’t inform about the wedding—against Sarah’s orders, of course—was going to travel to Rhode Island to visit his grandmother—whom we would inform him was deathly ill and his family could not travel along his side for reasons we wouldn’t know. Of course, Delilah, the twins, and I were the only people who knew he was gone. Everyone else would hopefully think that Charles was Edmund and that Charles was out shopping for suits—yes, for the entire week; he was very picky. Now, however, it had only been two days since Hellen explained her master plan to us.

Mother was all over the idea of me being wed in less than two weeks. She was at shops every day looking for gowns that were worthy of my wedding. She even hired a young woman to bake a cake because Mother began to doubt her skills. Every now and then, she would burst out in tears over the simplest things. I honestly didn't realize that weddings made people so emotional. 

The day finally came. It had been one week since the plan started and now it was time to try on my wedding gown. It was a new experience. I was in the shop where the fight broke out between Charles and Edmund many weeks ago. Mother had me stand on a stool surrounded by tall mirrors with a sofa for people to sit on. The young woman who ran the shop helped me change into the gown. She was nothing like Mother when it came to corsets. She even asked me if it was hurting my rib cage! 

The gown was white with gold trim. There was lace at the sleeve that had to cost two pence on its own. The next day we started to decorate and get the local church ready. We invited the newlywed couple, Emeline and her husband, Simon, The Pattersons, Mr. Terramina and his ex-wife, Mary, the Turners had no choice but to come, and some of Edmund’s Family and friends from London.  

I was shocked when the first Turner arrived here in New Haven. It was a young woman with a macaroni-like hairstyle she was always holding her cat, or it was lying on her shoulders. Then three more Turners showed up a day later. It was a small family this time. The father had a tall hat and cane and spoke in a fancy manner, the mother had a giant gown with a powdered face. Their son was chubby and always ran to the mother in a terrified manner whenever he saw a stranger. Only two more Turners ended up coming. One was a young girl about my age who dressed as if she were a boy. I would have guessed she was a boy if she hadn't worn her hair in such a lady-like manner. She was accompanied by what seemed to be her father; he was a tall man who dressed properly and well-kept. The Turners were weird people.

Hellen met up with me the evening before my big day to wish me luck, even though she was one of my bridesmaids and would’ve been standing right next to Delilah, who’d be standing next to me. Hellen gathered everyone who was in on the plan to go over it before tomorrow.