“Do you believe I love you?” His dark eyes bored into hers.
Her heart lurched. “Yes.”
The corners of his mouth lifted. “Do you love me?”
How could he doubt it? She loved him so much it hurt. “I do.”
His mouth curved a little higher. “Do you trust me?”
Perhaps against her better judgement, she did. Violet nodded slowly.
A grin lit his face. “Then follow my lead. Agreed?”
After a slight hesitation, she whispered. “Yes.”
His eyes glowed with love. Taking her hand, Sebastian slid to his knee on the floor before her. “Ahem,” he said in a carrying voice. He waited a few moments for their audience to quieten. “Violet Rose Hambleton, will you marry me? You are the only woman I have ever loved and ever will. You are the only woman to whom I have ever proposed.”
From behind came a collective gasp. All eyes were undoubtedly upon them now.
“You can’t propose to that woman,” howled his mother. “You are already engaged. The contract is drawn up!”
“Will you marry me, Violet?” he persevered in a loud voice.
Her heart thundered against her ribs. She ignored the screeching from Sebastian’s mother. She searched Sebastian’s face for the truth of his request. His eyes glistened, full of hope and love. She quickly looked at her father, seeking his approval. When he smiled reassuringly at her, her doubts disappeared. All the reasons against their marriage—her age, Sebastian’s youth, her small dowry, her shyness—all receded. Her love for him was returned. Together they would support each other and succeed as the next Earl and Countess of Whitton. She gazed down at Sebastian and nodded. “I would be honored to marry you, Sebastian.”
He brought her hand to his lips. “In this church, now, or any day you wish?” His fingers fumbled in his waistcoat pocket then withdrew a folded piece of paper. “My hopes were many and my expectations few, but you see, I came prepared with a marriage license.”
Violet again looked to her father for his response to this surprising turn of events. “If my father will officiate, I will gladly marry you today or any day,” she said. She was so light-headed with euphoria, she had to grip the pew for balance.
Sebastian turned to her father. “How say you Reverend Hambleton? Shall we proceed while the congregation is still here?”
The Reverend grinned and spread his hands wide. “I am more than ready to fulfil your wishes.” He stepped close to them. “And if I may say so,” his words softly said for only them to hear, “it has been a long time coming, if the number of looks of longing between you were any indication.”
Violet flushed. The astute Reverend had been awake to their attraction. She caught sight of the stunned look on Sebastian’s face and laughed. He had had no idea that her father had known all along either.
“It has indeed,” he agreed.
Their exchange had been greeted by a stunned silence from the congregation, but now a few romantic souls began to clap. Violet and Sebastian were popular members of the community, known since childhood. Whatever made them happy, clearly made the villagers happy too. The noise swelled to an ovation.
Sebastian rose to his feet and was slapped on the shoulder by those closest.
His mother stepped up to him, her mouth a tight line, her eyes narrowed. “I will never forgive you for humiliating our family in this way, Sebastian,” she said through gritted teeth.
“So be it, Mother. I’m sorry you forced this public display upon me, but lying about a non-existent engagement is too much for me to stomach.”
His mother grabbed his father’s arm and stormed from the church. Miss Bromley and her family followed, their faces blotched with anger.
Violet curled her hand around Sebastian’s arm and watched them leave. Her heart sank, as she stared after them in anguish. She had never imagined daring to disappoint them like this. The thought of the future being marred by family disharmony dampened her joy in this exhilarating moment.
Could she and Sebastian ever rebuild the bridge with his family?
Chapter Nine
In neither her daydreams nor her torrid dreams at night, had Violet ever imagined a wedding ceremony like this—the church decorated for Christmas with boughs of pine scenting the air, ivy entwining the altar rail and sprigs of holly decorating the pews. It was perfect.
By good fortune, she wore a white woolen gown dress overlaid with a pelisse of deep ruby red and a straw bonnet decorated with white and red ribbons and holly leaves. And Sebastian appeared to have dressed with particular care today. Perhaps he had wanted impeccable tailoring to aid him when he tried to convince her of his sincerity?
Her father drew her into the vestry while Sebastian briefly left the church to reason with his parents. “Violet, I am not against your marrying Sebastian. You are both adults and I believe you know each other well. But his proposal and your acceptance has all happened in a hurry. I need to know you are truly sure of your mind and heart before you take the momentous and irrevocable step of marrying him.”
