“Only if exposed to extreme heat or cold. The skin there is sensitive.” His hand went up to rub the scar on his cheek.
Birdie nodded. “Rubbing almond oil and lemon juice on it might help.”
He was speechless.
The reverend grumbled. “Shall we proceed, now? Or do we spend the remaining morning here discussing treatments against scars?”
“Are you certain you want to marry me?” Gabriel heard himself ask huskily. He still couldn’t believe she’d actually returned.
The girl nodded.
A loud snore interrupted the conversation.
Higgins. He sat hunched over in the first pew and slept soundly.
“By all means, get on with it.” Gabriel turned to the rector.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together in the sight of God…”
The reverend droned on, and Gabriel could barely focus on his words. He was only aware of the girl next to him, shivering, now and then sending him a sideways look of trepidation.
The reverend reached the concluding statement: “Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
He heard himself say, as if in a dream, “I will.”
McAloy, satisfied, turned to the girl. “Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour and—”
“Wait.”
What now?
“Why does he get to love me, and I have to obey and serve him?” Her words echoed in the church. “It’s not entirely fair, is it?”
The reverend blinked as his mouth dropped open. Gabriel never thought he’d be capable of being speechless more than twice an hour, but there it was.
The reverend sighed. “These are the words of the Book of Common Prayer which you must repeat.” He attempted to speak in a patient, slow kind of way that one assumed when one was talking to recalcitrant children.
“But I don’t quite see why the loving part is limited to men only and the obeying part to women.” There was a stubborn tilt to her lower lip.
“My dear, this isn’t quite the time to debate—”
“Very well.” Gabriel's voice sounded harsher than intended. Everyone fell quiet immediately. “I will repeat the vows, shall I?I will love you, comfort you, honour and—obey and serve you—as long as we both shall live.”
McAloy scratched his head. “Not sure this is quite the thing.” He looked for help to the witnesses, but Higgins was still snoring, and the other man lifted his shoulders dismissively.
“Proceed. And skip the part on the duties of man and wife. That is a command.” Eversleigh’s voice sounded like a whiplash. McAloy winced and proceeded. Throwing a cowering look at him, he added the words, “Wilt thou love him” to her vow.
She gave him a hard look. “I will.” Her voice rang firmly in the church.
Gabriel felt something odd lodge in his chest. For some inexplicable reason, he felt like weeping.
Then everyone was looking at him.
“You have to take my hand.” She had a sweet voice.
Her hand was cold and small in his, which was huge and rough. It twitched at first, then lay quietly like a bird in his scarred palm.
The ring was too big. She’d have to wear it on her forefinger for now. He’d have to ask the blacksmith to make it smaller.
