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Show - 99 - satin bows decorated a bower of flowers set within the rose garden, and pretty Japanese lanterns had been placed in every imaginable nook, ready to be lit when evening arrived. Penny could see the young Maddie and her helpers dressed in crisp black uniforms with white lace caps and aprons mingling with the guests, serving canapes and champagne.. People wandered indoors and soft music could be heard coming from within the house. Mrs. Gaven strolled on the arm of richly brocaded her husband and she looked regal in her gown, which trailed on the grass. She held her head high and smiled and nodded to everyone. "What occasion could this be?" said Penny to herself. Mr. and Mrs. Gaven quickened their steps to greet a person who had just come out of the house. He was a tall, angular, middle aged man dressed in somber black, broken only by his white collar. A minister, thought Penny. She was utterly dumbfounded when the thought struck her. Was this a wedding party? The wedding day of Claudine} For a brief moment Penny wondered if the man she was marrying might be Dirk. Had the Gavens forgiven and agreed to the two sweethearts marrying? How silly she was. Of course not. If that was the case there would never be a ghost of Gaven House. As if in answer to her questions she saw the guests starting to seat themselves in the chairs arranged around the bower. The clergyman stepped into it and waited. Then she saw Andre'Junot,as he walked and slowly up the center aisle separating the chairs,stop just before the minister. Andre's meticulously cut gray suit jacket complimented his broad shoulders and tapered down to his lean waist. Although not as tall as Dirk, his blonde good looks were no less handsome. In the lapel of his suit jacket was pinned a small cluster of white orange blossoms. All was still and to Penny, it seemed as though she was observing a beautiful painting. The only one missing was the bride and at that moment |