He held my hand all the way back to the house, describing what he and my father had discussed about my wedding. I couldn’t help feeling like I’d be one of the guests. Not once did he ask, “How’s that sound?” or “Is that okay with you?” The only choice I could think was left to me was who, if anyone, would be a bridesmaid. Of course, I thought about Daisy first and then wondered how she would react to learning I was going to be married in ten days. People, if Garland was right, were receiving the invitations this very moment and would soon be talking about it. Everyone at home would know. If I remained here, Daisy wouldn’t be able to ask me any questions. Maybe that was good.

“I want to send a telegram to my best girlfriend and ask her to be my bridesmaid,” I said.

He paused and thought, as if what I was asking was a very big thing.

“What?” I said.

“I’m not putting up any guests at Foxworth Hall, not even distant cousins. I’m arranging for carriages to be available at the train station on the day of our wedding, and your father and I will have a special train scheduled to leave at ten in the evening for Alexandria so your parents’ guests can easily attend and go home. It’s expensive, so we have contracted for only two passenger cars for this special edition.”

“What does that have to do with my maid of honor?”

“We’ll have to check to see how many guests they have invited so no one will be without a seat.”

“I should have a maid of honor, Garland.”

“And that will mean her parents, I’m sure. That’s three people, three more seats.”

“Who else would be my bridesmaid? Daisy Herman is my best friend.”

“Another sixteen-year-old? You don’t look your age, but surrounding yourself with girls that age . . . think of the way that will look. Why have people wondering and gossiping about us?”

“But no maid of honor?”

“I was thinking Dora would be quite honored to do it,” he said. “You understand what I’m saying. You want to leave your childhood friends behind now anyway, Corrine, don’t you? You’ll probably rarely, if ever, see them again, and you’re far more sophisticated. It will be years before any of them will have things in common with you again, if ever.”

“But Dora’s a servant.”

“No one really knows who she is, which is good. She can handle it. No worries. Mrs. Steiner will see to her needs so she looks proper.”