Page 92 of Lady for a Season
Jane, eyes shining with excitement, arrived holding a bouquetof white roses mixed with pink sweet peas, whose fragrance filled the room.
The chapel was all but empty. Only the Duchess, Celine, Jane and Joseph were invited to be their witnesses, for Edward had shaken his head at the idea of inviting all their guests to attend.
“If I could have only Maggie and myself there, I would,” he had said firmly and so it was that they stood together before the vicar and listened to his words echo around them, the scent of roses and sweet peas perfuming the cool morning air.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocency…”
The vicar looked up. “Edward Robert John Atherton. Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?
Edward’s voice was full and confident, answering without hesitation. “I will.”
“Margaret Seton. Wilt thou have this Man to thy wedded Husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”
“I will.” She tried to make her voice as confident as his, though it shook with emotion and Edward gently touched her hand with his.
They repeated their vows and Edward put a simple gold band onto her finger beside the sapphire and the vicar pronouncedthem husband and wife, before blessing them. When the register had been signed, they left the chapel together hand in hand.
“We will return shortly,” said Edward to the vicar. “In the meantime, would you escort my mother to the wedding breakfast?”
“Certainly, Your Grace.”
Hands clasped, Edward led Maggie out of the house and down towards the stables. Once they were out of sight of the others, he stopped and turned her to face him. “I have already spoken my vows to you, Maggie, but I must tell you again that I love you.”
She gazed up into his blue eyes and saw only happiness there, reflecting her own. “Will you kiss me, husband?” she asked, and his lips touched hers in a kiss so gentle and loving that neither could doubt the other’s feeling.
“Now come, I must show you to someone before our wedding breakfast,” said Edward.
“Show me?”
“It is important,” he said.
She followed him, curious, into the stableyard, where Old John was brushing down Merlin.
“Good morning, Old John,” said Edward.
“Good morning, Your Grace, Miss Seton.”
“Ah, there you are wrong, Old John. This is your new mistress, my newlywed wife, the Duchess of Buckingham,” said Edward.
Old John put down the brush and came towards them, then touched his cap to Maggie. “Good morning, Your Grace,” he said. “I wish you joy.”
“Thank you, Old John,” said Maggie and when she glanced at Edward his eyes had welled up. He held out his hand to Old John, who shook it.
Edward cleared his throat. “There will be a celebration for all the staff tomorrow. I’ve asked Mrs Barton to take good care of you all.”
“Thank you, Your Grace. May God bless you.”
“Thank you, Old John,” said Edward. “Now I must take my bride to our wedding breakfast.”
The guests arrived for breakfast in the drawing room, only to be told that it had been moved into the large dining room adjacent to the ballroom and when they arrived there were startled to see not only a more lavish spread than expected but also a white bride cake, decorated with fresh pink and cream roses.
“Come join us,” called out Edward. “Celebrate the happy occasion of my marriage to Margaret.”
There were some audible gasps as well as a choked-back laugh from Lady Honora, before the guests gathered themselves and congratulations began to flow, received with joyful smiles by Edward and Maggie and with forced dignity by the Dowager Duchess. The Godwins, Maggie realised, had already left, for there was no sign of them.
“I am sorry if Miss Belmont had her expectations dashed,” she whispered to Edward during the breakfast.
“She is a sweet-natured woman; I hope she will find someone with whom she can be as happy as I am with you,” said Edward.
