Philip took her right hand, and took his turn to say his vows. He was terrified of saying it incorrectly, he had already confided in her as much, but she knew that he would do it perfectly.
“I, Philip Churchill, take thee Jacqueline Winterbourne to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”
It was a vow that they both knew that they could keep, given that they had already been for richer and for poorer on her part, and in sickness and in health on his. There was no question about them being able to keep to it.
“I, Jacqueline Winterbourne,” she said proudly, taking her turn, “take thee Philip Churchill to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”
Neither one of them stumbled over their vows, and she could see Philip become visibly relaxed at the realization that that part was over with. They were married, and at last the festivities could begin. Just as soon as the register was signed, of course, butsuch a thing did not involve speaking before a church filled with people.
Lord Greene hosted the wedding breakfast, as he had become a good friend to both of them. He had made an incredible effort, and already the guests were discussing what a beautiful ceremony it was, and how meticulously planned everything else had been. Jackie smiled, sitting down to eat.
After a while, however, she felt a hand graze her arm. It was Philip, and he was looking at her with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“You know, Your Grace,” he mumbled. “We are yet to share something very important.”
“Oh? And what might that be, Your Grace?”
“You shall have to come with me if you wish to know.”
It was not customary to leave one’s own wedding, but then they had never been too strict with societal expectations, and so she followed him into Lord Greene’s house and they hid away in his library.
“Now you can tell me, surely?” She asked, and he pulled her into his arms.
“I can indeed. Jackie. We are yet to share our first kiss.”
She giggled, and he placed a gentle kiss on her lips, her first of many, she hoped.
“I will love you,” he promised her, “through every trial and tribulation that could possibly be thrown at us, and I shall do so with a smile on my face.”
“And I shall do the very same. You have my word.”
“And I shall also love you,” he continued, “through every triumph. No matter where we are in the world, it shall be a steadfast constant. This is my promise to you as your husband.”
“And my promise to you as your wife is that you shall never face anything alone again. I will be by your side always, which is exactly where I shall always want to be.”
“Then we are both going to be very happy people,” he smirked.
“Very happy indeed. Now, shall we return to our guests before they believe something untoward has happened?”
“There is no longer any such thing as untoward for us,” he grinned. “For we are married, and only the Lord himself shall dictate the manner in which I treat my duchess.”
“Your duchess,” she breathed. “I can hardly believe it!”
“Well, you shall have the rest of our lives to come to terms with that.”
And with one final kiss, they agreed to return.
THE END ?
