Chapter 17
Three weeks later
Jack and Désirée stood before the vicar in the castle chapel. Although most weddings were private affairs, more villagers and neighbors crowded around them than could fit in the pews. Possibly because they’d heard the wedding breakfast would also feature Jack’s infamous wassail.
Frederick and Annie were in the first row, between Bastien and Lucien. Although the chapel hummed with low murmurs whilst the minister prepared his notes, the twins’ loud whispers stood out from the rest.
“Legendary.” Annie gazed at the crowd with satisfaction. “Everyone has come to watch the duke’s bride be wed.”
“Stop trying to make Papa a Christmas duke,” Frederick hissed. “He is not a duke. Désirée is the duke!”
Annie sniffed. “Thenheis the duke’s bride.”
Frederick looked as though he might throttle his sister. “Papa can’t be a bride. He’s a groom.”
“Then Désirée is…” Annie’s face wrinkled in consternation. “A duke-bride?”
“Very well. Yes. She is ‘le Duc bride.’” Frederick pinched Annie’s leg. “Now, be quiet and watch. They’re starting.”
Unable to stop himself, Jack grinned at the loveliest duke-bride in England.
Your Grace, she mouthed back to him, and winked.
At last, the minister addressed them. “The vows you are about to take are to be made in the presence of God, who is judge of all and knows all the secrets of our hearts.”
Jack nodded. It didn’t matter whether he was all alone or judged by the entire world. The woman standing across from him was the keeper of his heart.
“Jack Skeffington,” the minister continued. “Will you take Désirée le Duc to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and protect her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?”
He squeezed her hands. “For as long as my heart still beats and there is breath in my chest. I will.”
“Désirée le Duc.” The vicar turned to face her. “Will you take Jack Skeffington to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and protect him, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”
She smiled up at him. “For as long as the world has wine to drink and carols to sing. I will.”
And so it was.
