Val looked at the valet and smiled.
“Then it seems as though I am getting married today,” he said.
Frank smiled wisely.
“Very good,” he said. “Then let us get you dressed.”
***
“Darling,” the Dowager Duchess whispered softly to her son as they entered the drawing room of Dervinshire Manor, “are you all right? Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes.” Val said, trying not to sound as nervous as he felt. “I have hidden nothing from Lady… from Cecily. She and I discussed this fairly and honestly. She has agreed to this marriage and seems quite content. As am I.”
His mother looked at him with doting affection.
“I do not doubt your intentions, my dear,” she said. “I just want to make sure that you will be happy.”
Val glanced at the clock. They had been there for about an hour, and the wedding was due to begin in fifteen minutes. Truthfully, he did not know for certain that he would be happy. He only knew that he would be less unhappy than he would have been trying to attend the Season as his mother had wanted him to do to find a bride. And he knew that it was too late to turn back, even if he was doubting himself.
“I think I made the right choice,” he said. “Cecily is beautiful, both inside and out. She and I have something very big in common. And she seemed eager to agree to marrying me this way.”
The Dowager Duchess nodded, standing on her toes to kiss him on the cheek.
“Then you have my full blessing,” she said, smiling.
Val gave her the best playful smirk he could.
“That is excellent news,” he said. “Seeing as we have only minutes before the wedding begins.”
His mother giggled. But before she could say any more, Lady Dervinshire and Lady Agnes stepped into the drawing room.
“Cecily is ready,” the Countess said.
Val gave his mother a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I love you, darling,” she whispered before taking her seat.
Val let out a deep breath as he took his place beside the vicar. He could see his mother, still studying him carefully. He understood that she still had reservations about him marrying Cecily, despite giving her blessing. He hoped that it did not end up that she was right to be concerned.
When Cecily stepped into the drawing room, however, all such thoughts left his mind. There were no thoughts at all for a moment as he looked at his bride. She was breathtakingly beautiful in her white satin wedding dress. Her strawberry-blond hair sat on her head in a ponytail of curls and ringlets framed her face. Around her high ponytail was a small diamond tiara from which her veil hung. He had never seen any woman so lovely.
As the Earl gave his daughter to Val to stand at the makeshift altar beside him, he caught a glimpse of her beautiful blue eyes behind the lace of her veil. His heart thudded in his chest, and he struggled to catch his breath. He was certain that there was not a woman more beautiful than Cecily in all of London.
The vicar began the ceremony, welcoming everyone in attendance to the union about to take place. He quoted a passage from the bible, gazing warmly at the husband-and-wife-to-be. Then, he cleared his throat, projecting his voice so that it filled the room.
“Is there anyone present who objects to this couple being wed?” he asked.
Val held his breath. For a brief moment, he expected either his mother or Henry to stand and voice the same concerns that they had expressed to him. But the room was completely silent. It sounded as though no one took a breath until the vicar began speaking again.
Val went through the motions during the rest of the ceremony, repeating after the vicar as he spoke his vows. He looked at Cecily’s lovely face as she spoke hers, and his heart began beating wildly again. He knew he could be content, getting to see that beautiful face every day for the rest of his life. But would she be happy, as well? Would she be angry if she knew just how hideous he truly was?
At last, the ceremony drew to a close.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” he said jubilantly. “Your Grace, Duke of Archington, you may kiss the bride.”
Val dutifully pushed back Cecily’s veil, hesitating as he leaned closer to her. Even though she was blind, he felt tremendous self-consciousness about kissing her. She could not see, but she would surely feel the scarring on the left side of his mouth. And what if she reached up to touch his cheek as they kissed? Would her gloves keep her from feeling the marred flesh?
If she knew she was kissing such a beast, she would be horrified,he thought, guilt and shame flooding him.Will she ever forgive me when she finds out?
