CHAPTER 12
The first thing Gabriel noticed, and this surprised him more than anything, was how beautiful his soon-to-be wife looked.
He was standing at the end of the aisle, patiently awaiting the start of the ceremony. It was a small affair, just his closest friends and family members, done purposefully because he did not wish to bring too much notice to their marriage.Best to play things safe.
As he waited, he looked over the crowd, taking note of their besotted expressions, the tears in their eyes, the joy that was palpable in the room because every soul there thought this was a love match. He reminded himself of the importance of keeping up the charade, at least until he and Sophia were alone, and even worried that he might slip and the ruse would be revealed.
Then she appeared at the end of the aisle and any fear Gabriel had of faltering and giving away the lie vanished like haze in sunlight.
She glowed in the soft morning sun. Her gown was golden, and as she started to walk, it was as if a halo appeared behind her. Gabriel had always found Sophia attractive, but he was only human. Her blonde hair, her porcelain skin, those large hazel eyes that were both innocent and wicked at the same time. Only a fool would not think her to be a beauty.
This… this was somehow different. Gabriel’s stomach flipped and he could not say why. His mouth fell open and he had to remember to close it. He watched as her hips swayed. He gawked at her coy smile. And he even started to sweat a little, as if there was something to be nervous over.
She looked up and found him staring. His eyes widened as if he was caught unawares, and he looked away, only to curse his foolishness.
I should not be nervous. I should not be besotted. This is a marriage of convenience – my convenience. Keep it together man!
“Good morning,” she said softly as she reached him.
“Miss Sophia…” His smile was genuine as his eyes drank her in. “You look stunning.”
Her cheeks flushed pink. “You don’t look so awful yourself.”
Lord Ashbury was with her, and he kept her close as if wary to let go. Gabriel very nearly reached for her hand, wanting to pull her into him, but he stayed that urge. Now was not the time.
There is keeping up appearances, and then there is this. Control yourself, man!
The ceremony began and throughout it Gabriel reminded himself of why he was doing this. He stared ahead, refusing to look at his bride, running through in his head the particulars of this marriage. It was for a purpose, to ensure his inheritance, and the last thing he needed was to develop feelings of lust or anything for his soon-to-be wife.
Yet… there was a reason he had chosen her. And the beating of his heart, the excitement that flickered within, was a reminder of why.
“… in the name of the Son, the Father, and the Holy Ghost, I now pronounce you man and wife,” the priest announced, making the match official.
The crowd cheered for them. People cried out with joy. Gabriel turned to face his bride, forcing himself to meet her eyes. She gave them freely, they held, and he felt a tightness in his chest. He held onto both her hands, his eyes flicked to her lips, and the urge to lean in and kiss her took hold…
No… no need for that. This marriage is for appearances only, do not get carried away.
In the end, he offered her a smile only. And while Gabriel might have imagined it, he could have sworn that he saw disappointment pass behind her eyes. He knew that she did not covet him, just as he knew what she expected from this marriage. But with that single look he began to wonder, could it be more? And what would more even look like?
Suddenly, this marriage of convenience was looking like it might be a very inconvenient thing indeed.
“Take my hand.” Gabriel rested his hand on the table in front of Sophia. It was turned upward and open, beckoning for her.
She frowned at the hand. “Excuse me?”
“Take my hand,” he said again, making sure to hold his smile. “People are watching.”
She hesitated on the request. Eyeing the hand, he could literally see the fight happening within. So far, they had sat politely by one another’s side, they had engaged in pleasant conversation, and they had done nothing to suggest that this marriage was not real.
In truth, Gabriel knew that they could have continued in that same vain. Drinks were flowing across the room, the guests were busy as they wandered between groups, laughing and joking merrily, and those who came to speak with them were toodelighted by the day’s events to pay attention to something as small as handholding. And yet…
Gabriel was taken by a sudden need to push the boundaries of this marriage. Or rather, to confirm them. He was still feeling a little besotted by his wife’s beauty, and he wished to prove to himself, as much as anything, that it was nothing.
“As you say.” She placed her hand in his and he folded his fingers through her own.
“Much better,” he purred, keeping their hands on the table between them. “Appearances, remember?”
“Just so long as it’s only that,” she said.
