The Plantation - Di Morrissey [169]
Tony had explained that traditionally, Straits Chinese weddings were hugely elaborate twelve-day celebrations.
‘I don’t expect to follow the baba custom,’ said Bette. ‘And your family may consider me to be an outsider.’
‘Don’t think that,’ said Tony. ‘My family and friends are so happy for me. They adore you. But times have changed since the war and large ceremonies are not as common as they once were.’
Bette wore a beautiful white silk dress, with a veil held by a tiara of jasmine buds. Her shoes were made by the family cobbler, small-heeled silk shoes in the Malay slipper style, heavily embroidered with beads. She carried a breathtaking bouquet of Singapore orchids.
Madam Chang told Tony that some of the old customs should continue to be observed, and so she decorated the bridal chamber in the traditional manner. The carved, canopied bed in the master bedroom was hung with embroidered curtains and lengths of silk, which were held open by gold filigree clasps. The bed cushions and bolsters were covered in specially embroidered silk and satin covers, and decorated with silver and gold threads. Special pots and jars holding fragrant potpourri, incense and lucky talismans were hung in the room.
‘I’m pleased she passed on some of the other old customs, especially the rooster and hens under the bed,’ said Tony when he saw Madam Chang’s efforts.
Bette wondered how many other customs Madam Chang might insist on observing and she raised the matter with Tony. ‘I’m concerned about my relationship with Madam Chang. She has lived here a long time and I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable about my being here.’
‘Madam Chang is very fond of you, but I think she’s worried that your mother might want to move in and run the household,’ said Tony reassuringly.
‘There’s no chance of that! Anyway, Madam Chang organises everything so well I wouldn’t want to interfere. But what will I actually do?’ asked Bette.
Tony kissed her. ‘Make me happy and be a friend and adviser to the children. Does that suit you?’
‘It certainly does,’ said Bette. ‘But I don’t want Madam Chang to feel like a servant, waiting on me.’
‘There’s no question of that,’ said Tony. ‘She takes her position of matriarch very seriously. And you can always ask her about some of the old baba customs and ways, even if we decide not to observe them.’
*
Bette decided to follow one of her own traditions at her wedding by carrying something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. For the something blue she tucked an aerogram letter from her mother, which had arrived several days beforehand, into her handbag. While it made Bette sad, it was a bittersweet reminder of her family. In it Winifred had written:
While I can’t say that I approve of your choice of husband, you are my daughter and I pray for your happiness and wellbeing. Margaret has told me that she is very shocked by your flouting of society’s conventions and the way we’ve raised you, but she says that things are done differently in Malaya. She tells me that this man is very rich so I hope you will always be comfortable. I worry about any children you might have from this union. They would have a hard time being accepted here in Australia. But you have always been an independent girl, Bette, so I shouldn’t be surprised by your decision. Your father also prays for your happiness. I don’t understand why you want to live there with people whose lives and customs are so different from our own, but I will hold my tongue. We are very happy to have Margaret and Caroline here on a visit.
Your loving mother, Winifred
For their wedding, Tony gave Bette a beautiful gold filigree necklace of delicate flower stars and he wore a single matching star on the lapel of his suit. He had already given Bette several pieces of elaborate jewellery, but Bette liked the simpler pieces better. So her wedding ring was a plain engraved gold band. Her engagement ring was a cluster of diamonds set in a shape that, Tony