The Wedding of the Century & Other Stories by Mary Jo Putney, Kristin James, Charlotte Featherstone

tonight.”
    â€œThat’s nice. It’s so quiet when he’s away.”
    â€œTwo months from now, after you’ve been presented tosociety and are attending ten parties a day, you’ll yearn for the quiet of the country.”
    Alexandra made a face. “I can’t say that I’m looking forward to being a wallflower at ten different places a day.”
    â€œYou’re going to be a great success,” Sunny said firmly. “It’s remarkable what good clothing can do for one’s confidence. After Worth has outfitted you, you won’t recognize yourself.”
    Unconvinced, Alexandra returned to petting Daisy. Though young in many ways, the girl was surprisingly mature in others. She was also well-read and eager to learn about the world. The two young women had become good friends.
    Deciding that she needed some fresh air, Sunny said, “I think I’ll take a walk before I bathe and change. Would you like to join me?”
    â€œNot today, thank you. I have a book I want to finish.” Alexandra grinned, for at the word walk, Daisy jumped to the floor and began skipping hopefully around her mistress. “But someone else wants to go. I’ll see you at dinner.”
    After Alexandra left, Sunny donned a coat—not the sables, but a practical mackintosh—and a pair of boots, then went down and out into the damp afternoon, Daisy frisking beside her. Once they were away from the house, Sunny asked, “Would you like to play fetch?” Foolish question; Daisy was already racing forward looking for a stick.
    Sunny had found Daisy on a morning ride not long after her arrival at Swindon. The half-grown mongrel had been desperately trying to stay afloat in the overflowing stream where someone had probably pitched her to drown. Driven frantic by the agonized yelps, Sunny had been on the verge of plunging into the water when Justinhad snapped an order for her to stay on the bank. Before she could argue, he dismounted and went in himself.
    When Sunny saw her husband fighting the force of the current, she realized that he was risking his life for her whim. There had been one ghastly moment when it seemed that the water would sweep him away. As her heart stood still, Justin managed to gain his footing, then catch hold of the struggling dog. After sloshing out of the stream, he had handed her the shivering scrap of canine with the straight-faced remark that it was quite an appealing creature as long as one didn’t have any snobbish preconceptions about lineage.
    The sodden pup had won Sunny’s heart with one lap of a rough tongue. Sunny had almost wept with gratitude, for here was a creature who loved her and whom she could love in return.
    Naturally the dowager duchess had disliked having such an ill-bred beast at Swindon, but she couldn’t order the dog out of the house when Justin approved. The dowager had resorted to mumbled comments that it was natural for Sunny to want a mongrel, since Americans were a mongrel race. Sunny ignored such remarks; she had gotten very good at that.
    As always, Daisy’s desire to play fetch exceeded Sunny’s stamina. Abandoning the game, they strolled to the little Greek temple, then wandered toward the house while Sunny thought of changes she would make in the grounds. A pity that nothing could be done at this time of year, for gardening would cheer her up.
    In an attempt to stave off self-pity, she said, “I’m really very fortunate, Daisy. Most of Katie Westron’s dire warnings haven’t come true. Justin is the most considerate of husbands, and he is making the house very comfortable.” She glanced toward the palace, where men were laboringon the vast roof, in spite of the weather. “My ceiling hasn’t leaked since before Christmas.”
    She made a wry face. “Of course, it might be considered a bit strange that I talk more to a dog than to my husband.”
    One of Katie’s