It was bitterly cold by the time they were waiting for the wedding ceremony to begin. It was so crowded near the officiant, it was difficult for the entire wedding party to stand together. Fifty couples were getting married today, which meant everyone’s guests were scattered and mixed together in the tiered seating above and behind them. The man performing the ceremony was a local judge. He was dressed somewhat somberly in his robe, but he wore a bright-red tie with white hearts. He’d invited the marrying couples to join him as close as possible to the podium in front of the frozen lagoon. It took all the couples some time to complete the paperwork before he began, so by the time he started the ceremony officially, Ryann could hardly feel her frigid toes or fingers.

Jai and Stuart had crowns of red, pink, and white flowers and stark-red-rose boutonnieres that contrasted with their suits. They wore white jackets and red breeches, with silver waistcoats like Maddie’s. Everyone in the party looked incredible—better than Masterpiece Theater, after all.

As the officiant talked, Jai and Stuart clasped hands, hunched up so close they could have kissed. Ryann was holding their bouquets, and the rest of their wedding party was crammed on either side of them to allow the photographer to see the two men between the crowds of couples and wedding parties around them. Jos and Janet were behind her on either side, pressed against her back, one hand on each of her arms. Both began tearing up even before the ceremony started, their sniffles catching her ear.

Maddie was just behind Jai with Julia and Joan, her eyes sparkling, too. Ryann had hardly been able to tear her eyes away from her since the moment she’d arrived. She had already seen her in her regency outfit, but out here, under the bright Colorado sky, the red of her suit was a deep, almost burgundy red, a match to her dress. The silver of her breeches and waistcoat shone in this light, and she occasionally caught a flashing gleam off her highly shined buckle shoes. Her loose, wavy curls were styled back and away from her face, which made the blue of her eyes stand out that much more. Maddie was staring at her, too, both of them missing most of the ceremony. Ryann would wrench her eyes away, listen to Stuart and Jai repeat the judge’s words, only to find her gaze drifting back, always finding Maddie’s eyes on her.