“Indeed,” Matthew said.
Fortuity held her breath to keep from snorting with laughter.
Mr. Darbley squinted at her over the tops of his smudged spectacles. “Do you…” He paused and licked his thin, pale lips. “What is your name, child? It escapes me at the moment.”
The vicar had christened each and every one of the Broadmere children, but that had been quite some time ago, so Fortuity granted him some grace. “Fortuity Marion Ivy Abarough.”
The man leaned forward and cupped a hand to his ear. “Say again, please?”
“Fortuity Marion Ivy Abarough,” she shouted.
“No need to bellow, young woman.” He rumbled with a long clearing of his throat, adjusted his spectacles, and squinted at his prayer book. “Do you, Fortuity Marion Ivy Abarough, take… Oh dear.” He gave Matthew a pained frown.
“Matthew Dorian Ravenglass,” Matthew said with an unmistakable growl.
The vicar’s brows rose to where his hairline had once been many years ago, then he looked to Fortuity once again. “Do you, Fortuity Marion Ivy Abarough, take Matthew Dorian Ravenglass to be your lawfully wedded husband? To obey him in sickness and in health, through prosperous times and times of woe, setting aside all others and keeping yourself to him alone?”
“I do.” She flinched at the nervous squeak in her voice. “I do,” she repeated louder to ensure the vicar heard her.
“I heard you, young lady. Eagerness is most unbecoming.”
Ratty old goat,Fortuity thought, then sent up a quick prayer asking for forgiveness.
Mr. Darbley shifted his attention to Matthew. “Do you, Matthew Dorian Ravenglass, take Fortuity Marion Ivy Abarough to be your lawfully wedded wife? To honor her and forsake all others, to protect her and comfort her, keep her at your side in sickness and in health, through prosperous times and times of woe?”
“I do,” Matthew said so loudly that the vicar backed up a step as though startled.
“Then, as I said earlier, by the power vested in me by God Almighty and the Church of England, I now pronounce you man and wife.” Mr. Darbley wet his lips again and nodded. “Now I believe my question regarding the wedding breakfast was never answered. Is it here, or shall we be traveling to another venue?”
“It is here, Mr. Darbley.” Serendipity jumped up from her seat, went to the old man, and firmly led him away while casting ayou are welcomesmile at Fortuity.
“Help me rise,” Blessing called out as the rest of the Broadmere sisters surrounded Fortuity and Matthew, patting and hugging them.
“Oh, dear sister.” Fortuity pulled on one of Blessing’s arms while Gracie pulled on the other.
“Oh, dear sisteris correct.” Blessing groaned as she teetered to her feet. “In the past few weeks, I have become as enormous as a Clydesdale about to deliver twin foals.”
“Where is Thorne?” Fortuity asked her, suddenly realizing she had yet to see her dashing brother-in-law who was also Matthew’s best friend.
“He is abed with a terrible cold and has confined himself to another part of the Knightwood townhouse to avoid sharing his malady with all and sundry.” Blessing patted the pronounced rounding of her middle while holding her lower back. “In fact, he wishes me to remain here until he is recovered, since Aloysius Starpeeper’s arrival will be upon us before we know it.”
“Already a wise father,” Matthew said. He moved to stand beside Fortuity and rested his hand on the small of her back as if unwilling to go without touching her. “It would not do for you to fall ill, my lady.”
“No,” Blessing said with a sly look at Matthew positioning himself as a devoted husband.
Fortuity tried to ignore her. Instead, she widened her smile so much that her face ached.
“Essie,” Grace said while waving Merry and Joy forward. “Come, let us get you settled in the dining room at a place where we can place a cushion for your poor feet.”
“Brilliant idea.” Blessing kissed Fortuity on the cheek, grinned at Matthew, then waddled away with her sisters fluttering around her.
“Could they possibly have been more obvious?” Fortuity said under her breath as she watched them go.
“They are trying to be nice and give us our first moment alone as a married couple.” Matthew gave her a thoughtful yet concerned look. “How are you? You appeared quite pale when you first entered the garden.”
She pulled in a deep breath, held it for a few moments, then let it ease back out. “I am better and will be all right. Change has always been difficult for me.” The threat of tears suddenly stung her eyes. “And I realized just this morning how much I shall miss my sisters and all their chaos.” She gave a defeated shrug. “I guess you could say I fear the deafening quiet of your home.”
“Ourhome,” he gently corrected her. “And we will have a small amount of hopefully controllable chaos.”
