I was marrying Arabella within the next hour.
I reached out my arms and hugged him, clapping him on the upper back. “Thank you.”
Colin sighed, returning the hug for a brief moment before squirming with discomfort. I released him, and he turned hisstern gaze on me. “You don’t owe me any gratitude. I did nothing.”
I shook my head with a laugh. “Will you at least raise your spirits? It is my wedding day.”
Colin’s brow smoothed over, his shoulders relaxing. “I’ll try. But your last wedding day wasn’t a cheerful experience for anyone.”
I groaned as I fastened the last button on my waistcoat. “Why must you bring that up?”
Colin smirked. “So long as we make it to the church, I’ll put my worries to rest. There are no woods here for you to hide in. Your nearest escape would be the sea, and you are terrible at swimming.”
“I have no wish for escape.” I pulled on my black jacket, checking my reflection in the mirror one last time before striding toward the door. “But perhaps you’re the one who should be planning yours. Arabella has told me there are many young ladies here in town who are most eager to make your acquaintance.”
Colin’s nose wrinkled with distaste as he followed me out the door. The air smelled of saltwater. Seabirds circled the spires of the church, their cries carrying through the light breeze as I approached the churchyard. My family awaited me inside—Mother, Eloise, and Sally—along with many other guests who had gathered to attend the wedding.
Arabella’s mother and Frederick sat on the pews on the opposite side of the church. Shortly after our engagement, I had returned to Dorset with Arabella to become better acquainted with her family. Her elder brother was as disagreeable as I had expected, but fortunately Frederick would soon be leaving home to attend Cambridge and would be away from his influence for a time.
“Mr. Campbell!” Frederick stood, crossing the aisle to greet me. “My congratulations.” He was a fine young man, and I was quite glad that he was alive. He hadn’t neglected to show his gratitude to Colin and me—though Colin continued to deny deserving it. But Frederick had even declared a desire to become a solicitor. I had no doubt that he had learned his lesson and would claim a better path for his future. I certainly had.
After conversing briefly with a few of the other guests and my family, I made my way to the front of the chapel to stand beside the clergyman. I drew a deep breath, my gaze focusing on the door as the guests lining the pews settled into quiet conversation.
Sunlight bled through the door as it opened, and then Arabella appeared holding her elder brother’s arm. The conversation in the crowd fell into silence as John escorted her forward.
A smile tugged on my mouth, and though Arabella seemed to be trying to maintain a composed expression, her lips crumpled under the weight of her excitement. She grinned at me from her place near the door. She had never looked more beautiful.
Her ivory gown was simple but elegant, trimmed with white lace. She started down the aisle, her gaze locked on mine. My feet felt rooted to the floor, and I could hardly wait for her to reach my side. When she did, her coffee-brown eyes lifted to mine with the same adoration I felt. My heart stumbled, and I could hardly think clearly when the clergyman began reading from the Book of Common Prayer.
When his opening exhortation was through, Arabella and I joined hands. A pair of short lace gloves covered her small fingers as I held them gently in mine. We repeated our vows, and then I slipped a delicate pearl ring over her finger.
The clergyman pronounced us married, and Arabella’s face broke into another wide smile. She squeezed my hand, sending a spiral of warmth through my chest.
She was my wife. I was her husband. I could hardly believe my good fortune. No amount of money was worth this. I lifted her fingers and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
As the guests made their way out into the churchyard, our witnesses stepped forward from the crowd with their congratulations. Colin, Frederick, my mother, and Arabella’s mother surrounded the parish register as the clergyman presented me with a quill.
A loud gasp escaped Arabella, echoing through the church. I heard the sound before I saw what had caused it. From the back of the church, Mrs. Kate Ollerton strode forward to join the witnesses.
Had Arabella not known she would be attending?
Kate beamed as she reached Arabella’s side. They embraced, and Arabella pulled back in confusion. “I didn’t think you would be able to attend! You didn’t write.”
Kate’s smile softened. “I meant to. But I have been quite occupied. Even so, I knew that nothing could stop me from attending your wedding.”
Arabella opened her mouth as if she wished to say more, but the clergyman cleared his throat. Kate motioned for Arabella to return to signing the register. It was a relief that her friend had been able to attend. Arabella had been worried over her lack of response to her letters, and she had told me what few details she knew regarding Kate’s sudden departure from Bath.
After we had both signed the register, our witnesses followed, and it was officially recorded that Arabella was my wife.
I took her by the waist and kissed her smiling lips, earning a cheer from Frederick. Arabella’s cheeks were pink when she leaned back, and a rare shyness overtook her expression. We stillhad a great deal of congratulations to receive in the churchyard, but I could hardly wait to make our escape in the carriage. I didn’t particularly enjoy Colin and my mother watching me kiss my new wife.
I took Arabella’s hand. Our friends and family continued to cheer as we made our way out to the churchyard. The bells rang as we socialized with as many guests as we could manage, but I kept Arabella’s hand wrapped in mine. Colin and Kate remained close, and I barely managed to catch fragments of their conversation.
“My deepest condolences for the loss of your husband,” Colin said. “Mr. Ollerton was a good man and will be dearly missed.”
“Thank you.”
“How did he die?”
