“My parents, the Earl and Countess of Everly,” Helen said, her voice quavering.
“Bellingham, did you say?”O’Malley asked.
“O’Malley?Is that you?”Will asked, his stunned expression turning to one of humor and disbelief.
“Youknowone another?”Harry asked.
“Reverend O’Malley was our chaplain aboardHMS Greenwich,” Will replied.“Whatever are you doing here in Egypt?”he asked, turning his attention to the old man.
“Marrying your nephew, it would seem,” he replied.“Shall we begin?”
“Yes, please,” Helen said.
Tom squeezed her hand.
Clearing his throat, the reverend read the marriage ceremony from the Common Book of Prayer, and when it was time, Helen and Tom repeated the vows.Once O’Malley made the pronouncement they were married, there was a collective sigh as Tom turned and kissed Helen first on the lips and then on the forehead.
Diana embraced Helen before her mother could reach her, while Harry moved to shake hands with Tom.
“She didn’t wish to wait,” Tom blurted.
Harry chuckled.“I’m well aware,” he replied, slapping Tom on the shoulder.He turned and regarded Randy with a quirked lip.“Are you the one to thank for this?”
Randy stiffened.“We didn’t intentionallynottell you,” he said.“It just happened so fast.Mahmood knew of Reverend O’Malley.How did you know where to find us?”
“Nasir told us.We noticed Helen with Diana, who was wearing a gown when I know she was dressed differently earlier in the day, and then we saw the hantours leaving from in front of the dock” he explained.“It was easy to sort what was happening.”
O’Malley cleared his throat.“I need the bride and groom and the two witnesses, please,” he said, placing the marriage certificate onto the low table in front of the settee.He added a pot of ink and a quill next to it, and he watched as they all took turns signing the document.When they finished, he added the rest of the information and signed it before handing it over to Helen.
“So...how long have you been in Egypt?”Will asked, taking a seat next to his former chaplain.
“Since I retired.I remained chaplain for many years after you left us,” O’Malley replied.“There’s always another war.After the Greek War for Independence, I took a trip up the Nile and settled here.”He held out his hands to indicate his home.“Now there are Europeans coming through here all the time,” he added.“Englishmen, diplomats...”He shrugged.“Tourists.”
Will chuckled.“What does a reverend get paid for a wedding these days?”
O’Malley waved a dismissive hand, but Will placed several coins into it.“Thank you for doing it, even if it isn’t legal by England’s standards.”
“Glad to help.Where are you off to next?”
“We’re going to continue south.Mayhap as far as Aswan before we turn around.”
“And after that?”
Will chuckled.“Rome.I’ve promised Barbara for years I would take her.”
“She the one you left behind when you joined the navy?”
Nodding, Will said, “She is.Mother of both my boys.The oldest is married and lives in Catania and David is...”He glanced around.“Is no longer in here.”
“Not yet married?”the reverend guessed.
“Too young,” Will affirmed.
O’Malley sounded a snort.“He going with you to Rome?”
“Yes.We’re on his Grand Tour,” Will explained.
Chuckling softly, O’Malley slapped Will’s knee.“Keep an eye on him.”
The others had begun to file out of the house, and Will stood to go, “Thank you again for doing this.”
“It was my pleasure.”He walked with Will to the front door and waved as the first of the hantours jerked into motion.
“What’s next for you?”Will asked.
“A nap,” O’Malley replied, grinning as he shook Will’s hand.“Safe travels.”
Will nodded and hurried to join his wife in the last hantour.
