“Hello,” Ramsey greeted her, his grasp on her hand turning to a caress.
Grace’s face heated with a blush from the force of his regard. “Good morning.”
“If you’re ready?” the viscount asked, and upon Ramsey’s nod, the vicar stepped forward.
The older man was balding at the top of his head, and was about the same height as Grace, but much wider in stature. He cleared his throat, gave a somewhat toothless smile, and opened the Book of Common Prayer.
Grace turned to Ramsey, and noted a slightly relieved expression on his face. Fleetingly she wondered what it was about, but the vicar started reading:
DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this Congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence.
Grace tried to listen to the liturgy, but Ramsey’s slow caress of her hands was utterly distracting, and she wondered if it was a sin to ignore the vicar on one’s wedding day. Certainly God would excuse her inattention when her focus was on her soon-to-be husband.
Thinking the word made her heart do a flip. It had only been a few days, and those days had been so full of planning that she hadn’t had much time to really think about the reality of it. Well, now it was sinking in and it was a heady and delightful prospect.
“WILT thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? 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?
Ramsey met her gaze, his expression severe with the depth of emotion in his eyes. “I will.” He said the words like a vow, an oath, a promise.
A shiver ran down Grace’s back, her flesh starting to goose bump with the gravity of it.
The vicar repeated the words to her.
Never taking her gaze from Ramsey, she slowly nodded and said, “I will.”
His answering grin was nearly blinding in its beauty, and she struggled to keep her emotions in check. She wanted to close the distance between them and kiss him soundly, feel the touch of his hands on her waist, be near him and know the strength of his arms around her.
But the vicar wasn’t finished yet. Soon they completed the rest of their promises and rings, and Grace was bubbling with anticipation for the final words that declared it finished.
FORASMUCH as you have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
The vicar paused, and Grace turned to him, wondering why he was waiting. He gave her a grin, then a wink to Ramsey. “You may now kiss your bride.”
Ramsey wasted no time. He swept her into his arms, binding his hands around her waist as he seared his vows upon her lips.
Grace returned the enthusiasm, answering his with her own as she leaned into the kiss, knowing she should act more properly but not caring enough to actually do it, she melted into his arms, lingering in his kiss even as he gentled his attentions to her mouth. She didn’t want it to end.
Then she realized it wasn’t going to end.
They were merely going to take a break . . .
And then, heaven help her, she wouldn’t have to obey propriety any longer.
Ramsey slowly released her. Resting his forehead against hers, he whispered, “I love you.”
Grace bit her lip, soaking in the delight of the moment.
“It is my great honor to announce Lord and Lady Sterling.” The vicar spoke, and their small group erupted into applause. Ramsey released her from his embrace and grasped her hand. Lifting it to his lips he kissed it softly, then tucked it tenderly under his arm as they walked back down the aisle.
Grace trained her eyes on her husband, then back to the aisle, appreciating once again the hue of the irises, the lovely kaleidoscope of colors from the draped fabric, and then she noted the azure sky . . . so much of her biggest and best dreams all a reality.
Yet as she turned to her husband, all of it paled in comparison to the love he held in his eyes when looking at her.
Everything else faded, and all she could think of was having him alone, all to herself, exploring the delights of being in love.
Yet, there was the celebration of the wedding breakfast they still needed to attend.
If she thought she was impatient for the wedding, that was nothing compared to the impatience she felt now. It was going to be a long few hours, but she consoled herself with the idea that anticipation made things better.
Though, she blushed as she thought it, how things could be any better than what she’d already experienced, she had no clue, but she was more than happy to discover it all.
Every, last, part.
