As the wedding drew near, the Coles sent someone over to ask for the Spencer family’s input. “This is the list of guests the Cole family plans to invite to the wedding.”
Noelle took the list, knowing this was the Cole family’s way of showering respect. She passed it to Mary, who flipped through it and smiled in satisfaction. She said, “They’ve really been thoughtful.”
It wasn’t until Noelle took a look at the guest list that she understood what Mary meant. The guest list didn’t include many outsiders–almost everyone on it was a relative from the Cole family’s side.
Patrick’s case was already under intense public scrutiny. If word got out right now about the Cole and
Spencer families tying the knot, it would’ve sent the rumor mill into overdrive. To avoid giving gossipers
anything to chew on, the Cole family had gone out of their way to keep things low–key.
Noelle felt a little guilty, and she looked at Barrett Green, the housekeeper who worked for the Cole family. She asked, “Wouldn’t this be asking a bit too much of the Cole family?”
After all, this was Sebastian’s wedding. The Cole family was so influential that, if the wedding were kept low–key, there was no telling what kind of news it might spark.
Barrett smiled warmly as he said, “The family’s elders and Mr. Cole prefer to keep things low–key. As long as you don’t feel like it’s putting you at a disadvantage, Ms. Spencer, that’s all that matters.”
Noelle waved it off. “Of course I wouldn’t. This is for the best.”
With Patrick’s case still unresolved, the last thing she wanted was to put herself out there and draw attention. On this matter, the Spencers and the Coles were in perfect agreement.
Barrett still looked a little uneasy even after getting Noelle’s response. He turned to Mary and said, “Mrs. Spencer, I hope you don’t have any objections to keeping things this way. Please rest assured. If you’re unhappy with anything at all, the Cole family is more than willing to go along with your wishes.”
Mary was a little taken aback. She hadn’t expected the Cole family to be this considerate.
This reminded Mary of the first time Noelle got married. Compared to the Ashford family, the Spencers hadn’t even been allowed to choose the color of the bridal bouquet. The Ashford family had the final say on everything.
Back then, Mary had even tried to comfort Noelle, telling her the Ashfords simply liked to take charge, and that having a mind of their own was a good thing. Looking back now, it was disheartening and unfair.
That wasn’t being assertive. It was just being overbearing and a way for the Ashford family to have a say in every matter.
Mary quickly waved her hands. “I have no objections. In fact, I’m very satisfied. We’ll go with whatever the Cole family decides.”
“Also, this is the list of wedding gifts from the groom’s side. If you and Ms. Spencer have no objections,
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I’ll have them delivered to your home,” Barrett said with a smile.
Noelle frowned. “Wedding gifts? We’ve never talked about that.”
Mary looked uneasy as she said, “As for what we’ve prepared on our side… we really haven’t put anything special together.”
Barrett’s smile didn’t fade. “The Cole family keeps to tradition. In Norland, weddings without gifts from the groom’s side just aren’t appropriate. But whatever the bride’s family chooses to contribute, whether it’s a lot, a little, or nothing at all, is entirely up to you.”
He added, as if to make sure the point sank in, “Those are the exact words the Cole family asked me to
pass along.”
Those words caught Mary off guard again. The exchange stirred up unpleasant memories, and Noelle was thinking of the very same thing.
When she married into the Ashford family, Patrick was still well–off, but the Spencers had never been wealthy. At best, because of Patrick’s work, they knew a few people in Norland’s elite circles.
Maybe that was why the Ashfords assumed the Spencer family’s contribution to the wedding would be respectable. So, when they saw what the Spencers had actually prepared, they couldn’t hide their disdain.
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