Page 68 of Caught by the Forbidden Duke
“I love you, too,” she replied.
Then, he straightened his hat, offered his arm, and walked her up the steps.
The church was St. George’s, and nearly empty, which was the only version of this morning Annabelle could have borne. On the right side of the nave, Helena and Lady Rosenhall occupied the front pew, Helena with her chin up and her eyes already bright, Lady Rosenhall holding her prayer book flat in both palms with the composure of a woman who had navigated considerably worse and intended to still be standing when it was over. On the other side: Lord Keldwick, in a coat new enough to still be holding its crease, sitting very still and straight about it, and Elinor, who had James beside her on the pew.
James had his hands folded in his lap. He was watching the vestibule. He saw Annabelle the moment she appeared, and hisgaze went to her and stayed there while Lucien walked her the full length of the aisle.
She gave him the smallest nod with a smile tugging at her lips. He returned it, very seriously.
Dominic stood at the altar.
He had not looked toward the doors when they first opened. He looked when the organ shifted key, and his eyes found her at once and held there. He wore dark blue, his cravat tied without ornament, his hair combed back save for one piece that had come free at his right temple. His hands were clasped in front of him. The knuckles were still faintly bruised at the edges from the morning Lucien had arrived at his door.
Lucien placed her hand on Dominic’s arm reluctantly; he did not want to relinquish and stepped back one pace.
The vicar began.
“Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s holy ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
Dominic’s eyes had not left her face. “I will,” he said.
The vicar then turned to Annabelle.
“Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s holy ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”
She had heard those two syllables at half a dozen weddings. She said them now and found they weighed considerably more on this side of them.
“I will.” She said, staring at the man standing opposite her as she said it.
Then the vicar nodded to her, and she turned to Dominic, and she said her vows.
“I, Annabelle, take thee Dominic, to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.”
She saidto obeywithout stumbling, but Dominic’s expression did not change while she said it. His eyes were on her face, and his hands were clasped, and he waited until she had finished.
Then it was his turn, and her heart was pounding in her chest, anticipation licking flames inside her veins.
“I, Dominic, take thee Annabelle, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”
He said each clause in a low and unhurried tone, and when he reachedtill death us do part,he did not look away. Annabelle did not know what to make of that, so she focused on the
Then came the ring. He took it from his breast pocket and his fingers—still cold, still faintly bruised at the knuckle—found her hand.
“With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow,” he said.
The gold was warm, and Annabelle couldn’t help but think that he had kept it close to his body all morning.
Mrs. Howell had done the house correctly, and that was clear from the moment they came through the door.
Flowers in the hall, white and ordered. The long dining room table laid with the china Annabelle had watched being uncrated and polished the day before. It had the look of an occasion that warranted celebration, which was a strange quality for a room tocarry under the circumstances, but Mrs. Howell was not to know the circumstances, and the flowers were very fine.
Miles was on his feet before the table was cleared, glass raised high, with the bearing of a man who had composed his remarks in the carriage and was rather pleased with them.
“To His Grace and the new Duchess of Silverford,” he said. “May she accomplish what the rest of us have failed to, which is at minimum keeping him from frightening the staff on a Tuesday. I am told the number of footmen who have given notice in the past year is not quite as high as the year before, so progress has been made, and perhaps there is hope for us all.”
Helena laughed from across the table, genuine and bright. Lady Rosenhall pressed two fingers to her lips with the expression of a woman who found something amusing and was not yet prepared to admit it. Elinor made no effort to suppress her smile.
Dominic said nothing for three full seconds, then: “Thank you, Miles. Very affecting.”
