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"I'm not sure I feel quite like that," Vicky had said, at the first discussion of a white wedding at the local church. "County bridal in white. You would want something so fusty."
"Oh, given centre stage, you'll rise to the occasion all right," Hugh had responded.
Now, watching an exquisitely ethereal veiled vision in white proceed down the aisle towards him, Hugh thought with a flash of inexplicable panic that maybe he should have agreed with her that all they needed was a minimalist Register Office affair.
Vicky took his place at his side, her gaze by turns demurely lowered or fixed raptly on the vicar, who certainly didn't deserve it. When it came to the vows, her hand trembled in his, and one tear slid down her face before they were done, proving an almost complete lack of make-up, the kind of natural look he'd told her was much more his thing than the painted Girl of the Century guise with which she'd first presented him. He forgot his nerves, angling instead for a chance to catch her gaze and let her know exactly what he thought of her shamelessness, but Vicky remained steadfastly in character, not about to let anyone spoil the perfection of her performance.
"I'm not sure I buy it," Hugh said into her ear as they walked back down the aisle, her hand firmly tucked into his arm. "All this vestal virgin business, or is it the country maid seduced by the squire's son? Cinderella, maybe?"
Vicky raised her chin. "Stuffy, musty idiot," she said under her breath. "Some of it was even real, you know, which is utterly unfair and entirely your fault."
"Darling," said Hugh, moved.
Pausing at the church door, in the same tone, out of earshot of everyone else, she added, "Besides, you needn't worry. I've got a completely different scenario in mind for the honeymoon." Her mouth curved into a smile, and there was a decidedly less ethereal spark in her blue eyes when she finally raised them to meet his.
"Vicky, you wretch."
"Beast!"
Then, as they stepped together out into the sunlit churchyard, Hugh laughed aloud while Vicky beamed on the waiting world.