“We are.” Once again, she lowered her eyes.
It might not be a conventional marriage, but the least he could do was propose properly. He got down on one knee, eliciting a look of surprise from his bride-to-be. Reaching out, he took her free hand. “Ella, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Her surprise melted away, replaced by a look he couldn’t decipher. She blinked at him for several long seconds before a wry smile tugged at her mouth. “Yes, I’ll marry you…Cody.”
The hand he held felt soft, unused to hard work. How long would it be before calluses roughened her smooth skin? Shaking the thought aside, he rose to his feet. “I’ll go rustle up the preacher.”
A flicker of fear danced across Ella’s face. The look sliced through him, remaining in his mind as he left to find Pastor Richards. Neither one of them knew what they were doing. This might be an answer to their problems, but what if it was a disaster in the making?
Cody lifted his eyes heavenward and sent up a silent prayer.Please help us.
In short order, Ella found herself sitting in Cassie’s room, dressed in a silvery white gown borrowed from her friend.
“It was my wedding dress,” Cassie said, arranging Ella’s hair into a braided crown. “Hopefully, it helps you feel like a part of our family. This might be a quick wedding, but you deserve to look stunning.”
“Thank you, Cassie. For everything.” If nothing else, she’d gained a sister from this unconventional bargain.
Cassie pinned a final piece of hair in place. She met Ella’s eyes in the mirror. “I know this is scary. You’re about to become a wife and a mother, and there’s a lot you’ll have to learn. But Cody will take good care of you. If you two trust each other, I think you’ll get along fine.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Cassie helped her stand. “I must admit, I’m relieved you’re the one marrying my brother. The thought of him having a mail-order bride didn’t sit well with me.” She reached around Ella’s neck to clasp a strand of pearls. “There. You’re ready.”
Ready? No, she wasn’t ready. How did she prepare herself for marriage to a man she barely knew? Her only comfort came from Travis and Cassie’s glowing opinions of her future husband. If they trusted him, she could trust him—eventually.
Male voices murmured downstairs. Ella’s stomach pulsed with butterflies. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Take some deep breaths. I’ll get you a glass of water.”
Cassie hurried for the pitcher on the nightstand while Ella inhaled. She downed the contents of the glass Cassie brought her and felt a little better, even if the prospect of walking downstairs to her sudden wedding made her want to fall over.
“Let’s check on Isaiah before we meet the men, shall we?”
A distraction sounded perfect. “Yes, let’s.”
They made their way to the guest room. Little Isaiah slept with one hand under his cheek, curled into a ball. His face showed splotches of red.
“He still looks sick.” Ella brushed a hand over the boy’s soft hair.
Cassie tucked the covers over his shoulders. “He might not have been sleeping well, or perhaps his body is fighting off some illness. We’ll know more in the morning.” She glanced at Ella. “Well, you’ll know more.”
A sense of panic tore through her. “I don’t know anything about doctoring children.”
Cassie put an arm around her shoulder. “He should be fine, Ella. If he’s still unwell tomorrow, Cody has plenty of willow bark tea. That will help with most anything that ails the boy.”
Still, Ella hesitated. “If you’re sure.”
“I am. Now, let’s get you married.”
The anxiety inside increased, but Ella allowed Cassie to lead her downstairs to the parlor. Jonah slept on the settee, while Addie was awake and alert in Cody’s arms. Travis stood with the preacher. Cassie led Ella to Cody’s side, then tried to take Addie. The little girl squawked, burrowing closer to Cody. He put a hand on his sister’s arm. “It’s all right, Cass. I’ll hold her.”
His voice sounded gruff, but the way he held Addie belied his tone. The child rested her head on his shoulder, looking content. That had to speak to his character, didn’t it?
The preacher opened his prayer book. “Miss Mountbatten. The men tell me you’ve agreed to this marriage?”
With a hard swallow, she nodded.
“Very well, then. Are we ready to begin?” The man glanced between her and Cody.
