Page 69 of Their Brazen Countess
She chuckled wetly. “True. Someone had to see you didn’t shirk your duty.”
He hugged her tightly. “I love you Em.”
“I love you too.” His sister returned his embrace. “Now it’s time to go downstairs so this can get started.”
“Shall we?” Arthur gestured toward the door.
“Absolutely.” She grinned at him as they walked out of the room. “By the way, your bride looks amazing.”
“Don’t spoil it for me,” he said, aghast. “Besides, my bride always looks amazing.”
Em shook her head. “You are utterly besotted.”
“Indeed I am.”
Jo paced from one end of her room to the other. Emily had just left to go see about her brother, but Theo was still with her as the other ladies were downstairs greeting guests. Emily and Linc were standing as witnesses for them, so Theo was there to help her stay calm.
She snorted at that thought. There was no keeping her calm.
“The ceremony should start soon,” Theo said from where she sat.
“Not soon enough.” Jo shook her hands out at her sides. “What is taking so bloody long?”
A knock sounded and Emily popped her head around the door. “It’s time.”
Jo’s heart fluttered in her chest as Theo handed her the flowers she was going to carry. She looked down at the beautiful gown Emily had found for her to wear. It was cream with lace trim that had a soft green velvet ribbon woven through it around the hem, the sleeves, and the rather scandalous neckline.
This was it.
Theo smiled at her one last time and slipped out of the room.
Then Emily, her future sister-in-law, looked at her. “I know I’ve told you this already, but you look lovely. Arthur and Linc will be beside themselves.”
“I can’t wait to see them.” Jo’s heart swelled with the love that felt like it would spill over and escape her body.
“Then let’s go.” Emily smiled. Her soft green dress complemented Jo’s gown. They walked downstairs and into the Stonemeres’ ballroom where all the guests were waiting.
The music started, and Emily headed down the aisle, and then it was Jo’s turn.
As she walked toward her future, she noted all the people who had come to stand witness. For the first time, butterflies danced in her stomach as she walked toward the man she would marry in the eyes of the law. Next she spotted her sister, who smiled at her with love in her eyes. Jo was glad she’d decided to invite her sister. As expected, Becca had been nothing but supportive of Jo’s marriage. Hopefully, her father was still in the dark about what was truly happening. Then suddenly she had reached the top of the aisle and Arthur was looking at her as though she were his whole world. Just beside him stood Linc, Arthur’s best man, who looked just as taken with her.
The butterflies in Jo’s stomach dissipated only to be replaced by a warmth that spoke of the love she felt for both men.
The ceremony flew by in a whirl of words until the reverend said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
When Arthur kissed her long and deep, quite contrary to what the wedding service, required, a chuckle rippled through most of the people present. Once they walked down the aisle together, everyone followed them out to wish them well. From there the guests not staying for the second ceremony filtered out, including the vicar who had married them and her son Matthew, who was bundled up and taken upstairs to the nursery to play with the other children.
Once the crowd had dwindled to the Lustful Lords, their wives, her sister and brother-in-law, Lord and Lady Carlisle, and Lord and Lady Hartfield, they were ready to hold the second ceremony.
Stone stood where the vicar had stood a short while before, and Jo stood between Linc and Arthur. “We are gathered here to stand witness as the three of you commit your hearts to one another. Do you, Arthur, swear your heart and soul to Linc and to Jo for all eternity?”
Arthur looked at each of them for a moment. “I do.”
“Do you, Linc, swear your heart and soul to Arthur and to Jo for all eternity?”
He did the same, looking at each of them in turn. “I do.”
“Do you, Jo, swear your heart and soul to Arthur and to Linc for all eternity?”
