“Usually an . . . establishment such as this doesn’t have a chapel,” Liliah remarked.
“It is true irony, yet I’m quite thankful for its privacy.” Lucas opened the door.
A vicar was waiting, seated on the wooden pew, and at the sound of the door opening, he moved to stand and cast an impatient glare toward them. “Are you ready, then?” he asked in a gravelly tone.
“Another favor?” Liliah asked Lucas, suppressing an amused giggle.
“It helps to know everyone’s secrets,” Lucas said. “It makes it so much easier to arrange important events.”
Liliah shook her head, bemused. “Shall we?” She offered him her hand as she released her sister’s.
“One moment.” He ducked his head back out into the hall and grinned. “Just in time.”
Another gentleman whom Liliah hadn’t met before entered the room. He wore spectacles and had an intelligent air about him. He met her curious gaze and bowed with expert precision. “Ah, it’s lovely to meet you, Lady Liliah. I’m Ramsey Scott, Marquess of Sterling. It is a pleasure to meet the woman behind the fall of the devil himself.” He gave a wink to Lucas, then reached out and kissed Liliah’s outstretched hand. As he released her, he gave a slight bow to Samantha, but didn’t wait to be introduced. He simply moved to take a seat at the front of the small chapel.
Liliah put the pieces together. A second witness.
She turned to her sister. “I love you,” she murmured, pulling her into a tight hug as tears stung her eyes. It wasn’t the wedding day she had always planned in her mind, but the most important people in all the world were there to see it: her sister and her love. How could she ask for more?
Lucas reached out for her hand and she willingly gave it, feeling Samantha follow them as they made their way up the short aisle. The vicar impatiently fumbled through a small black book and began to read from First Corinthians, chapter thirteen. He finished with, “ ‘But the greatest of these is love.’ ”
Liliah met Lucas’s gaze as they held hands before the vicar, following his directions, reciting the words and vowing them with all her heart. It was a blur, a beautiful blur of tears, joy, and completion that she had never expected to experience. How different was this wedding than the one her father had planned for her to experience with Meyer! With her friend, it would have simply been a transaction, forced at best, to appease the greed and indiscretion of others. All the fanfare, frills, and show would have been for others, not for her, or Meyer.
But this, this wedding was small in guests, but large in love. And she didn’t know how anything could ever compare with its beauty, its earnestness.
The honesty of the love she had for Lucas.
The love he had for her.
As the vicar finished the final words, he gave them permission to kiss, and a warm blush crept up her neck to her face at the thought of kissing Lucas in front of her little sister. As if sensing her discomfort, Lucas reached up and cupped her cheek. During the entire ceremony, his gaze had scarcely left hers, all the love and promise of his words echoing in his expressions. His warm hand calmed her slight embarrassment, and narrowed the world down to just him. His blue eyes were glowing from the inside out with a passionate love that resonated deep in her soul. Ever so slowly, he lowered his head to meet her lips in the most delicate, chaste kiss. He lingered just a moment before leaning back and murmuring his love.
“I love you more,” Liliah replied, feeling her eyes well with joyful tears that this man was hers alone, forever.
The vicar snapped his book shut, startling Liliah. Lucas shot a dark look to the vicar, who sobered and took a hesitant step back.
Their witnesses clapped as Lucas lifted her hand in the air as if pronouncing victory, and Liliah laughed joyfully. Lucas tugged on her hand as he lowered it and gave her another solid kiss, then led her back down the aisle.
“Come, dear sister. We still have work to do,” he called over his shoulder to Samantha and awaited her as he headed back down the hall. He paused before a door and knocked once.
“Enter.”
Lucas walked in, leading his party into the warm and richly furnished study. A man of about seventy sat behind his desk, his dark eyes immediately glowing with approval when he saw Lucas. He stood on slightly unsteady legs, reaching for his cane, which leaned against the desk. “May I be the first to offer my sincerest congratulations!” He stepped forward toward Lucas, his grin wide and accepting. His gaze flickered to Liliah. “My, well aren’t you a pretty little thing? You did well, my boy.” He nodded to Lucas.
Liliah flushed at the forward compliment, but smiled her thanks. Lucas bowed to the older man. “Lord Barrot, allow me to introduce you to my wife, Lady Liliah Mayfield.” His tone held a ring of triumph.
Liliah curtseyed prettily, inclining her head. “A pleasure, Lord Barrot.”
“Believe me, the pleasure is all mine. It’s been a delight to see how the mighty have fallen.” He winked at Lucas.
Lucas rolled his eyes as Liliah cut him an amused glance.
“Now, I’m assuming you’re the sister?” Lord Barrot nodded to Samantha.
“Yes,” Lucas answered.
“Let the poor girl speak for herself,” Lord Barrot scolded kindly. “Tell me your name, ducky.”
Liliah bit back a grin at the endearment reserved for children and waited for her sister to reply.
