He finished up the paperwork for the purchases and arranged for the payments.  The ring that was being made for her fingers right then was handed over in a fancy box to Lorn.  He moved over to her and reached out to take the appropriate hand. 

"May I?"  He asked holding her left hand gently, indicating to place the engagement ring in its place.  He would first kiss the place it would go, then slide it gently onto her finger if she allowed.

The fact that he slid the engagement ring on her finger publicly, declaring to everyone just who she was to him, was not lost upon her. She giggled at first as he kissed her finger, her other hand going up over her mouth and trembling. It was like he was asking her all over again. Karen knew she couldn't throw herself at him in embrace right then and there, but she certainly wanted to.

The ring looked lovely on her finger, even as she had callouses and servant's hands. Now it was the time for her to come out of her gloom as a widow and move on.

He winked at her as he raised his blue eyes to her.  "Now, let's look into that seamstress, shall we?"  He planned to send some telegraphs out once he was sure she was set in with the seamstress working on her wedding dress and a few dresses he figured as well.

He extended his elbow to her, to escort her out of the shop.  He had a huge smile on his face.  Proud.  Overjoyed to have her soon to be his wife.  The beautiful woman at his side was part of it, but the person she was inside was what was the most important part.  The beauty of the outside of her was the icing on the cake.

She no longer cared that there were those who took a gander as he escorted her toward the seamstress, for her eyes were rooted firmly on his face, a shy smile crossing her lips and a look of genuine adoration was her expression. When they entered the shop, he was shooed away so she could be properly fitted. Soon, she was cocooned in silks and satins, velvets and laces, reds and blues, rich colors that set off the coffee tones in her eyes.

She soon came out with a gown that had been made for another of a similar build, but never paid for, and was soon fitted to her. It was a rich claret color, her waist cinched just so to set off the flare of her hips. Someone had gone through the trouble of pinning her hair up and placing a the matching hat on her head at a jaunty angle. "One wouldn't know it was made for another, wouldn't you think, Mister Vaughn?" asked one of the assistants.

Color washed into her cheeks as her eyes found his, having overheard the compliment.

Lorn stayed but out of the way.  He wanted to be sure it all went well.  He of course was not seeing the changing of her clothing only the first dress.  He had already thought she was lovely... rather beautiful, by his own opinion, anyway.  Now, with the colors that fit her so nicely, the beauty shined.  He could not seem to take his eyes from her.  He waited a bit longer than expected and he saw the seamstress smiling brightly seeing his reaction.

Clearing his throat, he gave a bit of a ruddy red look to his cheeks, realizing he had been staring.  "If this is how her wedding dress will look, then I may need to have one of the men hold me up when I see you come down the aisle."  He said with an honest genuine tone to his voice.

Glancing at her, he smiled brightly, his love showing clearly.  Then he gave a look around.  "I know I am not to see the wedding dress, so I will leave you ladies getting all that is needed for the wedding and wedding trip."  He winked to Karen.  "I have a few telegraphs overseas to let my parents know what is going on here and make a few purchases of my own for the event."  He moved over to her, giving her a quick kiss and gave her a look pausing there once again, just thinking how lucky he was that not only was she a wonderful person, a beautiful soul, and loving mother, but also so beautiful.

"I will be back soon.  Get anything you need and things you want as well.  Maybe something for Heidi as well?  She is so excited to be a flower girl."  He chuckled.  "I know nothing about what to get for her to wear for that."

She gave a nod, her smile slowly and shyly finding her lips. For a moment, the air was charged between the cowboy and the Irishwoman, her cheeks coloring in accordance to what was being said. Karen felt a familiar stirring at the way he looked at her, almost swaying in his direction to give him a kiss. She had to remember where they were.

When he left them to what they were doing, she turned to the others and tilted her head, "I brought one of her dresses that ye can make a pattern from..."

In the end, several dresses for her were ordered, and several for her soon-to-be-daughter, with room to grow, even though she probably didn't need it. She would be there while he took care of his business. By the time he got back, she was exhausted with picking through fabrics.

Lorn had gone to the telegraph office and sent several messages, the main one to his parents.  He also sent messages to Heidi's biological grandparents and his late wife's parents as well.  He kept in contact with them as they were still very attached to Heidi and to him as well.  Usually, he did it with letters, but this was happening a bit faster than normal weddings might and he wanted them to know.  He also made the proper official notice at the newspaper announcing the engagement and arranged for the wedding announcement a few days later than the engagement notice.  Still quite fast to the times here in England, but he was from Texas and didn't care if Karen wanted it fast, then it would happen.

He got a few things ordered that he needed for the home stable and items that the housekeeper had said they needed there for the house that she couldn't just go pick up herself.  Most of it was for the wedding and arranging for chairs and items for the garden.  He also arranged for a special wedding trip.  The tickets had been easily arranged, but by the time he got all his errands done, he hoped Karen had gotten everything done at the seamstress.

He opened the door and peeked in.  "Is it safe to come in?  I don't want to cause bad luck."  He grinned calling out.

"She is ready, and we have several dresses being made for the little one too." There were a couple of stacks of boxes (3 each) of dresses that were made for others who were of similar size to her and not paid for that Karen had smartly gotten them a discount on since they were spending a good sum of money on the wedding gown alone. The flower girl dress would match of course, it would be a miniature and pink version of Karen's selection of ivory lace.

She came out in a peacock blue colored skirt and a white silk blouse complete with cameo broach at her throat, a lovely hat pinned at an angle on perfectly coifed brown hair. She had a pair of kid gloves and a parasol that matched the look and the seamstress sent her minions to stack boxes where necessary.

"Hello," she murmured before giving a turn.

"Oooheeee...lady gal!"  His Texan personality and accent came out strongly on that expression as he raised up a hand to pull down his hat and fan himself exaggerated, to show how much he liked the way she looked.  "You look all fancy now.  Making this cowboy look downright rugged."

He loved her how she was but liked that she could shine that beauty even more now with lovely colors and more quality materials.  "Most importantly though, how do you like it?"  He asked watching her expressions.

"I don't know yet. I've never worn such things. I feel like a princess. Oh, Lorn." She sighed softly and gave him a loving look. "I love ye... Ye know ye don't have ta do all o' this fer me. I am happy in me old clothes." She didn't want him to ever feel like she was marrying him for his wealth, but that was not the case at all.

"Unless this is what ye want...?" She gave him a smile.