Val mustered all the confidence he could. Everyone was waiting expectantly for him to kiss his wife. He leaned down, gently placing his lips on Cecily’s. His self-consciousness dissolved into tingles of delightful awareness as they shared their first sweet kiss. For a moment, nothing, including his scars, existed. He was utterly captivated by their kiss. In that moment, all he wanted in the world was to get lost in that kiss.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the vicar said, breaking the spell of the kiss. “May I present to you the Duke and Duchess of Archington. Maybe they live forever in love and bliss. And now, the couple will sign the registry together as man and wife.”
Val looked down at Cecily and he couldn’t help smiling. He knew one thing for sure. That kiss was the most special moment of his life. He would remember it always.
“Are you ready?” he asked Cecily, instinctively taking her hand.
Cecily nodded. He noticed that her cheeks were flushed and her eyes, though unfocused, were sparkling.
“Yes,” she said.
Val walked her over to the registry. Lady Agnes hurried from her seat, helping her sister sign her new name. Then, as Val signed his, his new sister-in-law embraced Cecily, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I am so happy for you,” she said. Then, she looked at Val and gave him a small smile. “Please, take good care of her. She is everything to me.”
Val bowed elegantly.
“I will,” he said. As Agnes went back to her mother and the couple went to their waiting loved ones, Val’s stomach twisted. He hoped he was telling the truth. Suddenly, he felt that he could never live with himself if he ever let down Cecily.
Chapter Seventeen
As Agnes helped Cecily sign her married name to the wedding registry, her hand was trembling. The kiss she had shared with Val overwhelmed her with a burning connection. She had not expected such an intense feeling from kissing a man she was marrying for mere convenience. But it left her breathless and trying to regain her senses.
“Are you well, Sister?” Agnes whispered as she helped Cecily from the altar and to their waiting parents.
Cecily nodded, feeling her cheeks flush.
“Yes,” she said. “I just can’t believe this is happening.”
Agnes gave her a side embrace just as their parents enveloped her in a group hug.
“It is, dear sister.” she said. “And I am so happy and proud.”
A moment later, she felt Val at her side once more. She turned to him, her face heating up again at the memory of the kiss.
“Are you all right?” she asked instinctively, though she didn’t understand why.
Val linked his arm through hers, and she thought he nodded.
“Yes,” he said. “This is just all a bit surreal.”
Cecily was surprised that he echoed her sentiments. She was also pleased with his candor. She patted his hand and gave him a sweet smile.
“Indeed, for me, too,” she said. “But I am glad that we did it.”
Val sniffed, and she imagined him smiling.
“I do not regret it,” he said.
“Congratulations to the newlyweds,” the Countess said, gaining the attention of the small group in the room. “The wedding breakfast will now take place in our main dining hall.”
Cecily groaned and felt Val’s hand on her back.
“Wedding breakfast?” he asked, his voice pleasant and warm. “That is a very lovely gesture.”
Cecily nodded.
“It is,” she said. “But I told Mother that it was not necessary.”
