Thatwas the promise she had needed to hear. And it gave her a very bad case of what must certainly be Annie’s “tingles.”
He pulled her forward. “Please, meet my sisters. This is Mrs. Alice Potter and Miss Kate Addison.” To his sisters, he said, “I’m marrying well, aren’t I?”
Kate lifted an eyebrow, an expression Willa had seen cross Matt’s face a few times just in the short period she had known him. Kate was going to withhold judgment, but Alice was not as reserved.
She offered her hand to Willa. “Miss Reverly, I pray you and my brother are very happy.”
“Please call me Willa. I don’t believe we should stand on ceremony among family.”
That statement earned her a nod of approval from Kate, who offered her own hand. Matt’s sisters were very tall. “I hope you beat him daily,” Kate said.
Willa’s lips parted in shocked surprise. Kate was audacious, and Willa adored her. She smiled at the older woman. “I shall try,” she promised, “although unless he waits while I fetch a stepstool, it may be difficult.”
Kate laughed, the sound very much like her brother’s. “Wait until he is asleep,” she advised. “It is easier when they are prone.”
“She does not need your advice, Kate,” Matt said, taking Willa’s arm and leading her up the aisle toward the altar.
“Knowing the shortcuts is important,” Kate answered sanguinely from behind them.
Looking over her shoulder, Willa promised, “We shall talk later.” This time even Matt laughed, and that was when Willa spied Janie still by the door. Her cousin acted like a nervous mouse afraid to take a step in. “Wait,” she asked Matt. He stopped.
“Janie, please join us,” Willa said.
Her cousin scurried up the aisle as if she feared she’d blundered at her duties. Willa tried to reassure her. “Thank you for my bouquet,” she said, and then made introductions. “Your Grace, this is my cousin Miss Wright.”
Janie curtseyed, her action so abrupt, she dropped the bouquet. Matt was gallant enough to pick it up. “Thank you for helping us with our wedding,” he said, and Willa feared poor Janie would swoon.
Cassandra came forward and stepped into the fray, offering Willa a hug and gaining an introduction to Janie. Cassandra then smartly shepherded the poor girl toward the altar where the ceremony would be performed.
Matt had seen to seating the dowager in the front pew. She scowled at his sisters, who wisely chose to sit a pew behind and across the aisle from their grandmother, right behind Willa’s parents. Willa wondered what they had done to offend the dowager.
“Time is passing,” her father announced in a booming voice that echoed off the church’s stone columns.
“Yes, we must be on with it,” Matt agreed, and without ceremony, offered his arm to lead Willa to the altar.
The church fell quiet as the ceremony began. Willa was a bit surprised that Soren was her husband’s groomsman. Cassandra had said nothing of it the day before.
Of course, when they spoke, the question had beenifthere would be a marriage sacrament, not who would be in attendance.
Matt said his vows in a clear, deep, confident voice.
When repeating hers, Willa started at a whisper. Her mother’s disturbing words echoed in her head, especially now that she was standing before an altar. Off to the side, she heard her father snort his impatience.
She focused on Matt, meeting his eye. He smiled patiently. Her voice picked up strength.
It was true she barely knew her husband. Rumors surrounded him, but he also had sisters who obviously cared for him.
She’d listened to him vow to protect, love, and comfort her. He’d promised to forsake all others and be faithful.
In this space of time, she wished to believe him, and used her vows as a way to reassure herself.
Matt surprised her with a wedding band of scrolled gold set with tiny emeralds. After the ring had been blessed, he slipped it on her finger. It fit perfectly and was completely to her tastes.
In that moment, Willa’s heart began to open.
Months of doubt evaporated.
He’d promised they would be good together. She now let herself believe him. Her fingers closed around his.
