Page 44 of A Spinster's Unexpected Marriage
“Our kiss meant that much to you?”
Aware of the heat in her face, Martha nodded, though she did not take her eyes from his. “Yes, it did. And then, you spoke to my father about the banns and I found myself desperate to believe what you had said to me.”
He closed his eyes. “Only for you to stumble upon Lady Lamberton and myself.”
Something like shame washed over Martha. “I thought I would seek out Lord Billington, thinking to act recklessly in order to force his hand. It was not because I had any true feelings for him, however, but only because I wanted to be free of you. I know that sounds rather cruel, but it was simply because my heart was so filled with you, I could not see another way to escape.”
Lord Granton lowered his head, his eyes fixed to hers. “But I do not want you to escape,” he murmured, ever so softly. “Martha, I think I am in love with you.”
Those words had her pressing up on tiptoe, settling her mouth against his in a brazen and bold act which, much to her relief, brought her just the response she had been desiring. Lord Granton wrapped his arms tight around her and pulled her as close to him as she could go, his head tilting just a little to kiss her all the more sweetly. She sighed against him when the kiss broke them apart, refusing to move back, refusing to move even a little further away.
“I think I am in love with you too, Granton,” she whispered, seeing him smile. “I should very much like to marry you.”
“You will marry the rogue?” he murmured, as she smiled back at him. “The redeemed rogue? You have redeemed me, Martha. You and no-one else.”
“Then yes, I shall marry you,” she promised, as his head began to lower again. “Ishallbe your bride.”
Epilogue
The clergyman stepped to the front and looked first to Martha and then to the Marquess of Granton. Martha’s heart was beating rather quickly, her desire to stand with her hand on her betrothed’s growing ever more quickly. For the moment, however, she had to content herself with standing with her hand on her father’s arm, knowing that these were the last few minutes of her situation as an unmarried lady. Soon, she would be the Marquess’ wife, a Marchioness in her own right – and what joy that would bring her! It was not because of the title nor because of the situation she would be placed in but rather, instead, because of the love which she and Lord Granton would share. Their hearts had been opened to each other, their happiness twining together, just as their lives were about to do from this day forward.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony.”
Martha struggled to give an ear to all that the clergyman was saying, struggling to see anything but the Marquess of Granton. When he had turned to look at her as she had come into the church, she had felt as though his gaze alone had set a fire ablaze in her heart. A fire which now swept through her very being.
“James, Marquess of Granton, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
Martha smiled quietly as she heard the Marquess speak. His voice was soft but determined, holding a promise there which she soon too would match with one of her own.
“I will.”
The clergyman nodded. “And you, Miss Martha Newton, daughter to the Earl of Hampshire, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”
Turning to look at Lord Granton, her eyes sought his as he smiled at her. “I will.”
“And now we come to the vows.”
Perhaps unaware – or uncaring – of the many emotions which swept through Martha and, no doubt, Lord Granton too, the clergyman continued on with the service, his voice a little dull as though this was one of the many marriages he had completed that day.
“And now we come to the vows.” He turned to nod to Lord Granton who suddenly frowned, his expression growing serious. Martha did not find herself alarmed, understanding that this moment held a great weight upon it. It was to be the time when they made their promises to each other but also before God. Solemnity was expectedandrequired.
“If you might speak your words, Lord Granton?”
In answer to the clergyman’s statement, Lord Granton nodded, took in a deep breath and turned to look at Martha. “I take you, Lady Martha Newton, as my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance.”
Her heart wanted to explode in her chest, such was her joy. Tears began to burn in the corner of Martha’s eyes as she too whispered her words of promise, seeing Lord Granton’s steady gaze and drawing strength from that. “I take thee, James, Marquess of Granton, as my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance.”
Lord Granton smiled and a single tear of happiness dropped to Martha’s cheek.
“Who gives this woman to be wed?”
It was with great joy that Martha’s hand was settled upon Lord Granton’s, her father now stepping back from her, leaving her in the care of the Marquess. She could not speak, glad that her vows were spoken for at this juncture, she did not dare trust her voice. How wonderful a moment this was! The gentleman that she had never thought she could love, the gentleman she had fought to escape was now placing a ring on her finger and promising to be hers and hers alone, for the rest of her days.
“With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.” Slipping the ring onto her finger, Lord Granton let out a soft sigh and then smiled, pressing her fingers lightly. Martha smiled back at him, wishing desperately that she could fling her arms around his neck and pull herself tight against him.
But the clergyman was not yet finished.
“Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder. For as much as Lord Granton and Lady Newtonhave consented together in holy wedlock and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands, I pronounce that they be man and wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
