0192

[witticaster]

"I'm afraid I cannot be of much help in planning a wedding," he told her as they walked arm in arm over the cobblestones of Acorn Road. The afternoon was bright and clear, the sunshine warm on Beth's hair, foretelling, in the way that late spring days do, the heat of the summer to come. It was tempered, however, with the knowledge that tomorrow would bring farewells, for six months at the least, to the man now apologizing for his steadily approaching absence. "I would be nearly useless even if I could remain here with you until the wedding. I have little familiarity with flowers and dresses and--" He gestured so vaguely that an eavesdropper might wonder at the fact that he had ever seen a wedding before in his life, let alone ever considered having one himsel. "--and the like."

She smiled, reassuringly as she could, and lay her free hand upon his arm. "I am the last girl in my family to wed; even if you and I are at a loss, they will not be." They walked several paces before Beth spoke again, steeling herself for the possibility that his answer to her next question might be yes, no matter how much she doubted it. "But--you will not be disappointed if it is not a very large wedding, will you?"

James glanced down at her; she met his gaze only to find him looking upon her with great affection and not the least bit disappointment. "I have absolutely no preference, so long as you are quite happy with it."

"I'm glad." She leaned into him, pressing her cheek against his shoulder.