From the corner of his eye, he noticed Mariana swipe a tear away. Nick leaned in and murmured something in his ear, but the words didn’t register. It was only when Nick took a seat next to Mariana on the front pew that he realized his brother must have been excusing himself. Nick was unconvinced of the wisdom or validity of this marriage.
That last bit mattered not to Jamie.Hewas convinced. He wasn’t sure any moment had felt more right in his life than this one,here…now.
Hortense took her place at his side, her light scent of fresh lemon drifting up to meet him. Unable to help himself, he breathed her in.
Her gaze flashed up to meet his.
“You look…” he found himself murmuring, but the perfect word wouldn’t come. What word perfectly described a goddess?
“Like a nob?” she finished for him.
Definitely not. What was a better word for beautiful? That had been his next word, if he’d found it.
The bishop cleared his throat. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony…”
Jamie knew he should be facing forward and attending to the bishop’s words, but his gaze couldn’t resist sliding left, and landing on the elegant curve of her neck. He wanted nothing more than to lean down and press his lips to the patch of pale skin where beat her rapid pulse.
“…Therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men’s carnal lusts and appetites…”
Jamie came to. The way he’d been following the curve of her neck to the line of her collarbone to the dip at the base of her throat, well, words likecarnalandlustandappetitemight apply.
“…Like brute beasts that have no understanding…”
The phrase hit uncomfortably close to the matter, if his physical response was any indicator.
“…Duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained. First, it was ordained for the procreation of children…”
Since there would be no consummation, there would be no children. His conscience could rest easy on that score. Except…
What a mother Hortense would make. He had no doubt any children of hers, be them male or female, would be forces in the world.
“…Secondly, it was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid fornication…”
How had he not known the Church of England’s marriage vows focused so tightly on sexual congress? He glanced down and found a smile twitching about the corners of Hortense’s mouth. He had to fight the urge to kiss those delicately plump lips to see for himself if they tasted like cherries, as he’d thought the night they met.
“…Therefore if any man can show just cause, why they may not be lawfully joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace…”
The chapel went silent. Jamie couldn’t help glancing behind him at Nick, whose mouth was pressed together in a firm line. Doubt shone in his brother’s eyes. He didn’t give a fig, as long as Nick didn’t give voice to it now.
The bishop turned to Jamie. “Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
Jamie didn’t hesitate. “I will.”
His mind understood this marriage was a show, but a part of him he couldn’t allow himself to explore had a different understanding of the matter.
It wanted to protect her.
It wanted to bed her.
It wanted to never let her out of his sight.
He’d never meant two words more.
The bishop turned to Hortense and repeated the words. In the space between the bishop’s question and her reply, Jamie lived a lifetime, his throat tied into a knot, his heart a hammer in his chest.
“I will,” she uttered at last.
He could breathe again.
