Page 106 of The Reckless Love of an Heir
‘Well, then…’ Her father lifted his elbow out towards her. ‘A week ago I did not imagine for one moment that this week I would be giving one of my daughters away, but I am not sorry for it. Henry is a good man despite all this, Susan. You will be happy, I am sure. He will make sure you are, that I am certain of.’
She looked at her father. ‘But Alethea…’
‘Will find another candidate for her affections. We arereturning to London tomorrow so she might enjoy the rest of her season and resume her search.’
Susan felt a chill, a fear of being separated from her family – but she would have Henry with her.
‘Here.’ Her father began walking, and she walked, her feet skimming over the medieval tiles. Her father’s hand lay over hers as she held his forearm. The flowers trembled in her other hand.
In the pews at the far end of the aisle, people stood and looked back, not only Henry’s father and mother, his sisters and brothers, but Uncle Edward, Aunt Ellen and his cousin Rob and his wife Caro, and Harry… Of course, she remembered, Harry, and his mother and father were staying with Rob.
Henry stepped out of the pew and turned around to watch her progress along the aisle, smiling, smiling wholeheartedly as if he were not weighed down by grief.
She smiled back.
When she reached her position before the altar she mouthed,Hello, to Henry.
Hello, you look beautiful.
‘We are here today…’ The minister began the service.
Susan’s father squeezed her hand gently before he passed it to Henry. When Henry received it he squeezed it gently too. She looked into his brown eyes. His lips mouthed,I love you.
Had he said that before, in that manner? She could not remember. So much had happened.I love you too.
They spoke the vows that bound them together and committed them for life. Then he had to give her a ring. He withdrew it from his chest pocket. He must have bought one here in York, yesterday.
‘Here.’ He smiled, holding the gold band in his fingers so he might slide it onto her finger. ‘And now you are snared,’ he whispered when it was in place.
She looked up suddenly and a sound of amusement escaped her throat as the minister gave him more words to repeat.
Today he was the Henry she had always known – or not known. She had never really known him until this spring when he came home with his injury.
‘With this ring…’ he said.
Her heart raced as Henry made the declaration. His beautiful eyes looking into hers.
‘I thee wed…’
‘I now pronounce you man and wife!’ The minister spoke as though the minster were full of people, and the words echoed about the great columns and into the choir stalls.
‘Man and wife,’ Henry repeated, for her ears only, then he ducked slightly as she lifted her head, and snuck beneath the rim of her bonnet to press a kiss on her lips. ‘I love you, my wife,’ he said, when he pulled away.
She rose onto her toes and wrapped her arms about his neck. Her posy of flowers brushing against the back of his head as the rim of her bonnet struck his cheek.
He squeezed her body for a moment then let her go.
‘Congratulations.’
‘You do make a beautiful couple.’
‘You are a husband then, Henry…’
They were surrounded by members of his family.
‘Come and sign the register,’ the minister requested.
When that was done they walked down the aisle as husband and wife, and outside climbed into his father’s carriage. His parents travelled with hers, while his brothers and sisters used a secondary carriage.
