Patsy muttered something beneath her breath before saying, “You must sit still or I’ll have to start over.”
Blinking, Emily surrendered herself to Patsy’s ministrations, but her mind remained elsewhere. Like on the sudden realization that Georgina had wanted her to end up with Griffin right from the start, and that she’d deliberately delayed going in pursuit so they’d have more time to form a closer attachment.
It was a startling revelation, not to mention a plan that could have ended in disaster, had Griffin not been the considerate man she’d discovered him to be. Instinct told her to feel affronted by such deliberate meddling, but would that really be just? After all, she had been the one to run off with Griffin in the first place, and the situation had ended happily with them falling in love. They were about to embark on the most exciting journey of their lives together as husband and wife, so what was the point in asking, what if?
Deciding not to examine it further and simply enjoy what was destined to be the most perfect day ever, Emily ate the rest of her breakfast while Patsy finished her hair.
Griffin waited anxiouslyfor Emily to arrive. The small church where the ceremony would take place was filled with London society, many of them people he believed his mother must have invited. He didn’t really care. All that mattered to him was the woman who was going to walk through the door any moment now.
“Relax,” Caleb murmured close to his ear. “You’ll want to save your rigidity for later.”
Griffin dealt his brother a quelling look, even as he did his best not to laugh in response to the bawdy double entendre. But the words did help ease the tension that gripped Griffin’s body, even though he knew it would not be completely gone until the priest pronounced him and Emily, husband and wife.
The door creaked open, just a fraction. An exchange of voices took place and the choir boys started to sing. Griffin’s heart gave a hard beat. And then the door open more fully, allowing him his first view of his bride.
Air rushed from his lungs as awe took its place. She was stunning, all dressed in creamy layers of silk and lace and with what he believed must be diamond-tipped pins sparkling in her hair. He swallowed as she started toward him, her eyes reflecting everything he was feeling right now, from pure elation to the soul deep connection that had blossomed between them.
“Breathe,” Caleb whispered.
Griffin blinked and inhaled. His lungs expanded and his heart settled into a calmer rhythm that allowed him to smile with every bit of love coursing through him.
“Emily.” She was before him now, and by God she was perfect. A bit of moisture touched his cheek, and he realized it was a tear. “You look stunning,” he told her even though the words felt inadequate.
Her eyes appeared to be watering as well. “And you are the handsomest man in the world. I can scarcely believe you’re about to be mine.”
His heart swelled with pleasure, and although it was not really protocol, he took her by the hand, the sudden need to touch her dictating his movements.
“Then let us proceed with haste,” he told her. “I’ve a sudden desire for all of this to be over so I can kiss you as you deserve.”
She blushed, a delightful pink hue that complimented her appearance. Her fingers tightened around his, and together they turned to face the priest.
He was a young man who worked his way quickly through the scripture. He didn’t linger on any of the parts like some of the older men of the cloth liked to do. And when he pronounced that Emily and Griffin were husband and wife, Griffin didn’t hesitate one second longer. He swept Emily into his arms and pressed his mouth firmly to hers, conveying not only that he loved her but that he needed her more than anything else in his life.
20
The wedding breakfastdragged on longer than the ceremony itself. By the time the fifth course was announced, Griffin wondered if it would be terribly rude of him to whisk Emily away before cake was served.
“Please tell me there isn’t a sixth course,” he said while leaning in close to his wife. She smelled enticingly sweet, like a summer bouquet made from roses and peonies.
“I’m sorry.” She bit her lip. “When I had to pick out a menu, I couldn’t choose just three or four.”
“This is your doing?” He should have known that her interest in food was to blame. “I was starting to think our mothers were trying to torture us.”
“If it’s any consolation, the cake is next and after that, we can make our excuses.”
Griffin tamped down the urge to grumble and reached for his glass instead. “They do say the best things in life are worth waiting for, so I suppose I can manage another hour of this.” Rising, he held his glass high in the air. “A toast, to Emily, the kindest, bravest, and most incredible woman I have ever known.” He dropped his gaze to hers and smiled in response to the pure adoration he saw in her eyes. “You are the sun that brightens my world, the light that guides me, and the steady certainty that soothes my tumultuous spirit. I would be lost without you, Emily, and I am both blessed and honored to be your husband.”
Her eyes shimmered and her smile trembled just enough to inform him that his words affected her deeply.
Rising, she raised one hand to his cheek as if needing to make sure that this was real. “I love you so much, my heart can scarcely contain it,” she whispered.
And as she rose up onto her toes to kiss him, their families and friends clapped and shouted encouragement. There was even a whistle, which Griffin was sure had come from Caleb. It infused the mood with a celebratory lightness that caused Griffin to laugh against Emily’s mouth as he kissed her.
“Hurrah for the newlyweds,” Bethany’s tiny voice shouted through the noise.
Emily turned her face in the girl’s direction, allowing Griffin to kiss her on the cheek this time while three loud hurrahs followed.
In that moment, Griffin had no regrets over the number of dishes he had to consume or how long it would take. Being here, surrounded by love and seeing the joy on his mother’s face when he glanced her way, made it all worthwhile. Because this was as much for her and Mrs. Howard as it was for him and Emily.
