In Stephanie Laurens’ The Wedding Planner, we’re introduced to Lady Margaret Dawlish, who I’ve grown to think of as “the wedding planner to the ton.” Now, she must plan a royal wedding as a French prince takes himself a bride. Along the way, Lady Margaret encounters so many of the obstacles found when you have to plan a wedding. (For example, who can stand to sit next to whom?) And fans of Lady Osbaldestone (I’m one of them!) will be happy to know that she most definitely makes her presence known in this tale.
Gaelen Foley’s Ever After takes place during the 1816 royal wedding of Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Regent, later King George IV, to Prince Leopold. Had she lived, this impulsive, willful, spoiled—but also warm-hearted and likeable—young woman would have become queen. There may never have been a Queen Victoria! It’s said that six hundred couples changed the date of their weddings to match hers. Her life ended tragically, but it’s nice to know that her marriage to her Leopold was a happy one.
In Loretta Chase’s The Jilting of Lord Rothwick, a charming wastrel must snatch back his chance to save his estate when he’s jilted by his very wealthy betrothed. This story takes place on the eve of Queen Victoria’s wedding to Prince Albert. In many ways, this was the first of the really “public” royal weddings. The newspapers had a field day, reporting on what Victoria wore (white, which was trendsetting), and what she carried (orange blossoms, also trendsetting). It helped that Victoria was nothing like the stout woman dressed in black who we think of today. She was young, vibrant, and, I think, rather pretty. And Albert really was handsome. Did you know that Victoria and Albert went on to have nine children? That sure says something!
