A Hint of Joy
A Hint of Joy
“James! Hurry up!” Lily called up the stairs as she tucked her scarf into her coat. She glanced at the hallway mirror and straightened her hat. “I’ll be down in a sec!” James called back. Lily could hear frantic stomping from the ceiling. She smiled to herself, knowing James would be rushing around to get ready. Lily tapped her foot lightly on the ground, waiting patiently for James to descend. After what seemed like decades, his footsteps could be heard on the upstairs landing, and then he finally appeared at the top of the staircase.
“Come on then.” James grinned his cheeky grin at her. Lily rolled her eyes as she took in his attire. He had donned his best coat and a dark red woolly hat. As he padded down the stairs, Lily lifted a scarf from the banister. When he was within reach, she draped it around his neck. James smiled at her and placed a delicate kiss on her nose. Lily smiled, grabbed his hand and led him out the front door.
As they drove to their destination, Lily contemplated how crazy what they were doing was. James noticed her quiet and placed a gentle hand on her knee. “It’s going to be okay, Lils.” He comforted, glancing at her before putting his eyes back on the road ahead. Lily didn’t say anything. She wasn’t scared. She couldn’t quite put her finger on how she felt. It was just a huge and crazy thing that she didn’t know how to feel about. Lily placed her hand over James’ and gently rubbed her thumb across it. “I know.” She smiled across at him and squeezed his hand.
James parked the car haphazardly, and turned to face Lily. “Are you ready?” He asked, an excited smile on his face. Lily smiled back and nodded as she opened the car door. As she got out, she turned to look at the sight before her. She heard James’ exclamation as all the breath left her body. Lily genuinely could not believe that this was where she was getting married. The online images didn’t do it justice.
The mansion was enormous. The ancient brickwork was masked by ivy, and the battered roof was littered with pigeons. The old-fashioned windows gleamed in the sunlight, and the dark wood front door stood sturdy. As she took in the regency era mansion, her eyes filled with tears. Lily loved the place. She tore her eyes away from the elegant structure and looked at James. He gazed back at her. “James.We’re getting married here.” Lily said on an exhale. She couldn’t believe her eyes. James embraced her warmly, scooping her close to his chest. “I know. It’s going to be the best day of my life.” He whispered against her head. Lily wrapped her arms around him. “I love you.” She said, before turning her head to stare at the venue. This was where she was getting married. Lily smiled. Now she knew what she felt. Joy.