“Is she?” Barrett asked.
“What do you mean, Leyton?” Maida asked, her brow furrowing.
“Nothing,” he said quickly. “Forget I said it.”
“Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
“No, my dear. Like you, I’m having a difficult time adjusting to all that’s happened.”
“Well, she seems happy,” Veronica said, spreading blueberry jam on a slice of bread. “Happier than I’ve ever seen her. And I think we should be happy for her. And for Stefan, too.”
Barrett swore under his breath. Stefan. If not for that bloodsucking vampire, his youngest daughter wouldn’t have to spend the day trapped in the dark. She would be here now, sitting at the table with her family, saying grace, sharing their meal.
He took a deep, calming breath. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn’t help wishing that the Guild had taken the vampire’s head when they had the chance. He stared into his cup. Maybe it wasn’t too late, he thought, and then shoved the thought aside. Whether he liked it or not, Bryony loved the unholy creature. It would break her heart if anything happened to Stefan, he thought. And then he sighed. Now that she was a vampire, what other man would want her?
Bryony woke as soon as the sun went down. Sitting up, she smiled into the darkness of the room. She was marrying Stefan in a little over an hour. Throwing the covers aside, she lit the lamp on the bedside table. Not that she needed it, she could see perfectly fine in the dark. But she liked the light.
“Stefan?”
He materialized in front of her while his name still hung in the air. “About time you woke up,” he teased. “I have been ready for an hour.”
He looked more handsome than she had ever seen him. The black suit coat emphasized the width of his shoulders, the white shirt and dark green cravat were the perfect foil for his dark hair and eyes
“Are you ready to go?” he asked. She had decided to get dressed in her old bedchamber at home, along with Veronica and their mother.
“Yes.” She could hardly contain her excitement as she pulled a coat over her nightgown. Stefan wrapped his arms around her and the next thing she knew, they were in her bedchamber. Veronica and her mother were already there.
Veronica grinned at Stefan. “My, don’t you look dashing!” she exclaimed. “I hope Robert looks as good.”
Stefan grinned back at her. “Thank you, my lady.” He inclined his head in Maida’s direction, kissed Bryony on the cheek, and left the house.
Veronica and Maida were already dressed. They fussed over Bryony as they helped her into her gown. Veronica brushed her hair, Maida set her veil in place.
“How do I look?” Bryony asked, twirling around in front of them.
“Lovely,” her mother said, her voice choked with unshed tears.
“Like a fairy princess,” Veronica said. “Are you as excited and scared as I am?”
Bryony nodded. “I guess we’re all grown up now.”
“I hope not!” Veronica said. “I never want to get old.”
“Me, either,” Bryony agreed. And realized, in that moment, that she never would.
Stefan stood at the altar beside Robert, all his senses alert. He knew how deeply Barrett resented this marriage. He could sense the man’s hatred even though Barrett wasn’t yet in the building. The low hum of conversation filled the room as the guests waited for the brides to appear. The air was fragrant with the scents of flowers, perfume, and candle wax. And the rich, enticing scent of the life’s blood running through the veins of the guests.
Had Stefan had his way, he and Bryony would have wed in a small, private ceremony, with only her family in attendance. He didn’t trust Barrett or the Guild, hated to think that Bryony’s father would do anything to put his daughter’s life at risk. The man’s hatred for vampires was a palpable thing. But Bryony had been looking forward to this wedding and he couldn’t deny her, not when she had already given up so much to be with him.
The flow of conversation ebbed as the priest entered the room. The organist began to play softly as Eli walked his mother down the aisle to her seat and took a place beside her.
The music changed and people stood as Barrett escorted Veronica down the aisle, then returned for Bryony.
From that moment on, Stefan’s full attention was centered on his bride. She smiled at him from behind a lacy veil as she walked down the aisle on her father’s arm. He heard, but didn’t listen to anything the priest said until he asked Stefan to take Bryony’s hand in his. The words they exchanged that made her his wife were the sweetest he had ever heard. Lifting her veil, he took her in his embrace, the rest of the world forgotten as they shared their first kiss as husband and wife.
Bryony sighed as Stefan took her in his arms. She was his at last, as he was hers. She basked in his touch, in the love in his eyes. His kiss was the sweetest, most tender she had ever known.
Still holding his hand, she glanced at Veronica and smiled as the four newlyweds faced their guests for the first time.
