“If I am ever able, I will repay them in full. They are businessmen. Their profits feed their families.” He held her hand tighter, lacing his fingers through hers. “Dare I hope this means we might progress with the reading of the banns?”
Struggling to overcome what felt like thousands of winged beasties fluttering in her middle, Felicity pulled in a deep breath, then slowly allowed it to ease back out. “Yes,” she said, unable to speak above a whisper. “But I wish to marry in Binnocksbourne. Not here.”
“I understand. It is enough to know we shall marry.”
“Marry,” she repeated, fighting the winged beasties with a hard swallow. “I usually plan the wedding breakfast for the bride, and now, I am finally able to organize my own.” She held his hand between both of hers. “I fear coddled eggs and soldiers simply won’t do, but I promise you something just as delicious.”
“As long as I have you, I will have everything I need.”
“I love you.” The words sprang from her of their own volition.
Solemn as a slate gravestone, his eyes dark with emotion, he kissed her hand again. “I love you more and always will.”
Chapter Eighteen
Apleasant breezewafted through the open windows and doors of Binnocksbourne’s only church, but beads of sweat still trickled down Drake’s spine as he stood at the altar. Gads alive, was the place truly that stifling, or was he a coward at heart? Or could it be because he stood in front of Felicity’s entire family? Her sisters, their husbands, and, surprisingly, their children, who appeared to range in age from less than a year old to the more mature Duke of Wolfebourne’s siblings, who Felicity had said were nine years old each. Or was it ten? Among the children was an army of nannies, tending to their charges. And, of course, Broadmere, Felicity’s brother, sat in the front row, stone-faced as always.
Drake resettled his footing and rolled his shoulders, trying to ease his tensed muscles, which stirred the ache in his healed wound that still twinged now and then. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that today, Felicity would become his wife. They had been through so very much and still found themselves here. He thanked the Almighty for making Felicity such a forgiving, understanding woman. For all the rest of his days, he would do his very best to give her the happiness she so richly deserved.
The vicar, Mr. Donaldson, joined him at the altar, and the man did not at all look pleased.
Unwilling to allow anyone or anything to spoil this day, Drake edged closer to the man and spoke in a hushed voice for the vicar’sears alone. “Is there an issue of which I am unaware, Mr. Donaldson?”
“This family’s repeated insistence upon anabbreviatedceremony rather than the customary rites and words as are written in ourBook of Common Prayersorely grates upon my belief of that which is right and true.”
A sense of relief eased Drake’s nervousness. “Will we not still be legally wed even though we requested to speak the vows as our hearts wrote them?”
The vicar cleared his throat with an indignantharrumph. “That is not the point, my lord. Not the point at all.”
Drake bit the inside of his bottom lip to keep from smiling and inciting Mr. Donaldson any further. “The Lord our God will surely forgive us for this slight change to the ceremony. It is most important to us, Mr. Donaldson, and we greatly appreciate your understanding.”
That seemed to smooth the vicar’s ruffled feathers somewhat. “It is indeed my hope that you and Lady Felicity are blessed with endless years of happiness, my lord.” He gave Drake a long, pointed look. “The two of you have fought valiantly to reach this day.”
“Indeed, we have, Mr. Donaldson.”
The village musicians, a trio of men, one with a violin, one a flute, and one a cello, sent a bright, airy song through the tiny church, announcing to one and all that the bride had arrived and was coming down the aisle to join her groom.
A roaring in Drake’s ears brought on by his pounding heart drowned out the sweet music. His Felicity, his precious, lovely bride, floated toward him like the angel he had always known her to be. Her wide blue eyes sparkled with love and happiness. The delicate headpiece of tiny white flowers and silky ribbons couldn’t compare with the rich golden sheen of her curls. Her morning gown of white with the daintiest embroidered yellow flowers gracefully flowed around her. Those lips of hers, plump and red as sweet berries, made him wet his own and struggle to keep his thoughts as pure as thismoment required. Gads alive, he loved this woman so very much.
When she reached him, he took her hand even though he knew it wasn’t yet time. He couldn’t help it.
Mr. Donaldson cleared his throat and fixed a pointed glare on their joined hands for a long moment, then gave up and rolled his eyes when they held fast to one another. With a resigned huff, he looked out upon the congregation and lifted the small, worn book in his hands. “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 honorable 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, and the first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men’s carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained.”
He paused, pulled in a deep breath, and turned the page, making Drake wonder if the vicar had changed his mind and decided to plow forward with a full serving of the long ceremony contained in theBook of Common Prayer. But there was little he could do other than squeeze Felicity’s hand.
The vicar continued, raising his voice, “First, matrimony was ordained for the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of His holy name. Secondly, it was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid fornication; that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ’s body. Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort that the one oughtto have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity. Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore, if any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.” Mr. Donaldson halted once more and looked out across the congregation, waiting for what seemed like forever. With a curt nod, he read on, “I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God’s Word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful.”
Drake swallowed hard. The only reason he knew that they shouldn’t be married was that he didn’t deserve Felicity. Other than that, they should be good.
He stole a glance at her and was fortified by her reassuring smile. Was now the time they were supposed to speak their personal vows?
Apparently not, since the vicar cleared his throat again and turned another page. “Drake Bartholemew Pemberton, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
“I will,” Drake said a little too loudly. The words rang through the small church.
Mr. Donaldson arched both eyebrows at him, then turned to Felicity. “Felicity Bethianna Jasmine Abarough, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”
“I will,” Felicity said, then squeezed Drake’s hand.
