“In we go, girls,” Letitia said, herding them toward the door. “You recall how we arranged things?”
“Dust and I are to go in first,” Nancy said instantly, lifting the heavy cat in her arms.
The creature seemed rather resigned, occasionally snagging a claw in the green ribbon around his neck, as if wishing to pull it off.
Obediently, Nancy slipped into the chapel, trotting down the aisle. Marjory followed her, leading Tiny on a leash. The dog wasthrilled to be a part of the proceedings, tugging on his collar—decorated with a green ribbon to match Dust’s—and desperately trying to catch up with Nancy.
“Are you ready?” Letitia whispered, taking Amelia’s hands in her own.
Amelia let out a shaky sigh. “Yes, I believe that I am.”
Hand in hand with her grandmother-in-law, Amelia pushed open the doors. Inside, all the guests rose to their feet, eagerly trying to get a glimpse of her. She glanced from face to face, a smile creeping across her own.
Emmeline Potts had come, along with Simone, both in their finest gowns. There were Madeline and Tristan, hand in hand, both beaming at her. There were other faces, too, that she did not recognize, but they smiled and nodded to her as she passed by. Letitia whispered in her ear as they went.
“That is Gabriel Harding, the Duke of Stonewell, and his wife, Thalia. They are Orions, and close friends of Stephen. They want to meet you, quite urgently. Oh, and there is the Duke and Duchess of Arkley, Isaac and Charlotte. You haven’t met Christian and Louise yet, have you? Oh, I’ll introduce you. New friends are a must for any new bride. I think you’ll find them all rather supportive.”
Amelia reached the top of the aisle and found that she couldn’t think of anything else at all because Stephen was waiting for her.
He’d donned a rich, dark green suit that matched her dress. An emerald pin glinted on his cravat, but that was the only ornament he wore. His hair was neatly brushed back, and his eyes shone. He never glanced away from her, not for one moment.
He held out a hand, and Amelia placed hers into it without thinking twice. His palm was warm, and his long, strong fingers curled over hers.
“Dearly beloved,” the vicar began, with obvious pleasure. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of this man and this woman.”
His voice faded into a drone at the back of Amelia’s head. She could see nothing but Stephen, feel nothing but his hands on hers. If she closed her eyes, she knew she would go back to the folly and feel him again, pressed against her, warm and thrilling.
A shiver of delight rolled through her at the memory, and his lips twitched into a smile.
“What are you remembering, Miss Holt?” he whispered.
She bit her lip, hiding a smile of her own. “I won’t be Miss Holt for much longer.”
“There won’t be many misses and unmarried men around this Season, not after my grandmother gets her hands on them,” he murmured, amused. “She considers herself quite a matchmakernow. If she were right about us, she would consider herself right about others. I feel sorry for any unmarried woman or man in her vicinity for the next few months.”
Amelia giggled despite herself and was chastised by a reproachful look from the vicar. The vows came next, and there was no time to whisper further.
“Do you, Stephen Brandon, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
Stephen smiled down at her, his eyes crinkling. “I do.”
Amelia’s breath caught in her throat.
He means it. He loves me. To think that I was so close to missing the love of my life.
Next came her turn.
“And do you, Amelia Holt, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
She smiled widely, her grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.
I never imagined that it was possible to be so happy.
Really, part of her was terrified that this was a dream and that she would wake up cold and wet in that folly, only to find that Stephen had not come to fetch her after all.
Instead, she was here, hand in hand with the man she loved. A man who mattered. A man who thoughtshemattered.
“I do,” she whispered, her voice cracking.
