Page 103 of The Miracle of Love
He was so confident and had the most reassuring touch.
“And do you, Deklan Quinton, take Grace Montford to be your lawful wife?”
“I do.”
After a few garbled words in the officiant’s thick brogue, the ceremony was over. Several quick signatures, and the blacksmith moved on to the next waiting couple.
Deklan laughingly helped her into their private carriage and settled in beside her. “I’ve taken pisses longer than that ceremony,” he joked.
“Ugh, Deklan!”
He cast her a wicked smile. “Sorry, love. How do you feel?”
“Joyful. Relieved. Euphoric. I doubt there is a happier woman in all of England. Well, we are in Scotland at the moment but we shall soon be back in England.”
She squealed as he drew her onto his lap.
“You are now my wife, love.”
She pressed kisses to his freshly shaven jaw. “Can you believe it?”
He wrapped his arms around her. “Yes, and I am never letting you go.”
“Until your next assignment. But hopefully it will not be right away.” She shook her head in wonder. “You are my husband. The best man in all of England. Why you chose me is still a mystery, but I will not question my good fortune. An enormous weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I am starting to gain my life back.”
“A life I hope will be long and happy, and shared with me.”
“Forever with you. I will never give you cause for regret, and I will always cherish your brave and caring heart. I promise. Nor will I ever complain about your duties to the Crown. If we must be apart for a time, then so be it. I will always be waiting to welcome you home.”
“For my part, I’ll try never to be away too long.”
“The work you do is important. You better the lives of others. So many families have it worse than what befell mine and will never have the chance to better their lot.”
“No more talk of that today. Only good thoughts on our wedding day.”
“Well, had we Montfords not taken a fall, I might never have met you. I cannot imagine what my life would have been if our paths had never crossed.”
“You would have married that dolt, Lockbridge, and been a duchess.”
“I shudder to think so. That is one mistake avoided. I am now your ball and chain.”
“You are my miracle, Grace.” He kissed her with an unexpected depth of longing. Deklan was never one to let others into his heart, but this kiss was an outpouring of raw feeling. “As you are mine, so am I yours.”
He regarded her thoughtfully for a long moment. “You have to let me know if I ever disappoint you.”
She nodded. “Oh, I will open my mouth. But you needn’t worry. I don’t know that you can ever let me down. Truly, I will be happy so long as you make room for me in your leopard tree.”
He laughed. “Always, love.”
She sighed. “Grace Quinton. I like the sound of it.”
“So do I. We’ll be stopping tonight at an inn just outside of Carlisle. Would you like to do the honors and sign us in the register?”
She nodded. “I would love to. How sweet it will feel to look the innkeeper in the eye and proudly proclaim I am your wife. Deklan and Grace Quinton. Mr. and Mrs. Deklan Quinton.”
“Sounds nice, Grace.”
“I hope your family will be pleased. It is one thing to take in a stray and show her kindness, but quite another to find she has married into the family.”
