This was everything her father had hoped for her, not only a husband but an entire family to call her own.
Lord Trent stood by the church doors looking quite dapper. “Go find your wives, lads. I’ll take over from here. Take my arm, Viola. Are you ready? Here we go.”
Viola had to admit the earl knew how to make a grand entrance.
She would have just walked in, but he held her back at the threshold until everyone packed in the pews and standing along the edges had quieted and all eyes were on them. Then he marched her slowly down the aisle toward his son, managing a regal stride despite his limp and reliance on his cane for support.
She noticed her father seated not in the first pew but at the lectern where he always gave his sermons. He intoned a blessing as she and the earl walked toward the altar. To hear him speak had her tears flowing.
“Alexander insisted on it,” the earl whispered. “He did not want your father left out of the ceremony.”
“Your son is most thoughtful. You raised him well.” It was the loveliest gesture possible. She could hear the pride and happiness in her father’s voice. What better gift could Alex have given her?
“I wish I could take credit. Alex has always been this way, a thoughtful child and very much his own man. Both sons have made me proud, showing wisdom where I have not. But everything is as it should be now.”
Her heart melted when Alex stepped forward with a confident stride to lead her to the altar. All the Dayne men were handsome, but Alex stole her breath away. His features, usually stoic and indecipherable, were completely relaxed and expressive.
He was happy.
She hoped to make him feel this way every day of their marriage.
The ceremony was shorter than expected, but this had to be Alex’s doing as well. Her father would never make it through a long ceremony, so he must have requested Vicar Ainsley to trim it down. Suddenly, they were at the exchange of vows. “Do you, Viola Ruskin, take this man…”
“I do.”
“Do you, Alexander Farnum Dayne, Viscount Ardley, Knight of the Garter, Knight of the Order of…” The vicar recited a string of his impressive titles, which made her wonder how this accomplished man had come to choose her. She now understood his father’s initial reluctance to approve their betrothal, for she had nothing behind her name.
Only herself.
Only her heart.
“I do,” Alex responded, his voice ringing clear.
With the blessing of the Church, the vicar pronounced them husband and wife.
The kiss they shared to seal their marriage was quite prim compared to the one he’d given her in the Ardley Hall kitchen yesterday. However, there was a mischievous glint in his eyes that promised their private kisses would be quite the opposite of prim and proper.
He maintained a dignified air throughout the day’s entertainments, responding with grace and cordiality to their well wishers. After sharing several dances with her, he then danced with his mother while she danced with his father who hobbled his way through a reel, mostly standing and holding her hand while she twirled and hopped around him. Still, he made it through with only a few grimaces and never once howling in pain. The poor man might feel the results of his exertion when he retired to bed tonight.
As for her father, he had made it to the wedding breakfast but was in no condition to join in the revelry. He sat in a comfortable chair in a shady spot beside Alex’s grandmother and Lady Withnall, the three of them chatting away and not seeming to run out of conversation.
The dances had been lively reels until now, but the musicians slowed the pace and played a waltz.
Alex came up to claim her for this dance. “May we speak about tonight’s arrangements?”
She nodded. “Of course.”
He drew in a breath and then let it out slowly before beginning. “This will be our first night married. Do you wish to spend it here or at the vicarage?”
“I’m glad you asked, Alex. I would like to spend it here.”
“Truly?”
She nodded, knowing her answer had surprised him. “Yes. Besides, my father would not hear of my staying with him tonight. I received quite the stern lecture last night. He blistered my ears.”
Alex grinned. “He did?”
She nodded again. “He insisted my place was beside you from this day forward. He said you had arranged for Mrs. Bligh and her niece, Lila, to watch over him so there will always be two people at the vicarage to look after him, day and night.”
