Page 99 of Shining Knight
“Genie, do you truly think your sisters would ruin your wedding day?”
“Not on purpose,” she admitted.
“Then do not fret.”
She nibbled her bottom lip. “I expect you are right. Either way, I will be married at the end of it.”
“Precisely,” he said, pulling her into a hug.
“You would not lie to me?” She pulled back enough to eye him closely.
“I would not,” he assured her.
“And there is nothing you need from me?”
“Nothing at all. The wedding ceremony has been the same for centuries.”
She sighed and pulled away, turning round to look one last time to make sure he was not hiding a look or a smile, in the way siblings tended to do when they thought they had bested the other. There was absolutely nothing in his gaze or expression to indicate it.Drat.
*
The day ofthe wedding dawned, as all good stories proclaimed. Graham felt like a giddy child, such was his excitement. It had taken the help of a duke and all the extended family to surprise Eugenia. She had become very suspicious—to the point she thought her sisters-in-law were going behind her back with regard her dress and headdress! He laughed. To an extent, they were, but not in the way she imagined. He could not wait to see what she had chosen to wear for their special day. Whatever it was, it would be perfect.
The only information he had gleaned from the modiste was that there were snowflakes and the color was blue. He had promptly ordered from her a waistcoat of the same fabric so that he would match his bride. Hopefully she would not feel betrayed by that.
He looked at his new pocket watch and chuckled again. He would forever treasure it, and perhaps hand it down to their eldest boy. It was half nine, so Eugenia’s first gift of the day should be arriving. He had explored the family vaults, where he had found a diamond and sapphire tiara and matching necklace. These he had sent over for her to wear if she wished.
The ceremony was to be held that morning at the village church, conducted by Edmund. Hopefully, the other two surprises would follow without a hitch, but he was leaving early in order to see, despite the duchess having sent a message to assure him that all was well. His parents and sister would join them closer to the time, to save his father’s strength.
It was an odd sensation when he entered the church to find it empty. He could not recall ever having done so. The nave was still decorated in the greenery from Christmas, with a few white ribbons along the ends of the pew, but the surprise was perfect. He had asked for spangled snowflakes to be hung from the rafters. Hopefully it was not sacrilege to do so, but Eugenia loved snow and Mother Nature had not seen fit to provide it. He looked up and smiled at the hundred white flakes, softly floating in the morning light, thankful Eugenia had agreed to be his bride.
He was not the most prayerful of man, but he thanked God for Eugenia and that his eyes had been opened before he had missed his chance.
“Welcome to our winter wonderland,” Edmund said, approaching from the door behind the altar. “I am rather fond of it. Perhaps we may make it a tradition.” He chuckled. “There are certainly worse things to do than marvel at God’s creation.”
Edmund would see it that way, Graham thought with amusement.
Soon, the villagers and invited guests began to fill the church. It was not large, but no one would want to miss the ceremony. When his family, and the rest of the Knight family, arrived and were shown to their pews at the front of the church, he nearly shouted with anticipation. The duchess gave him a nod before she sat down and he breathed a sigh of relief. The biggest surprise was yet to come.
Miss Hattie took her place at the organ and began to play some hymns. Edmund joined Graham near the altar; he was wearing his vestments and held the book of prayer in his hand. He watched the door at the rear of the aisle, willing it to open faster. Yet still it did not open.
The church bell rang, signaling the hour, and the congregation whispered a bit. Edmund indicated to Miss Hattie she should play another song. A bride being few minutes late was not so very unusual. Perhaps there had been a flounce torn that needed to be repaired, or a problem with the carriage or some such thing. Eugenia would not leave him at the altar. She would have sent a note or at the very least, Knighton would have—would he not?
Two more songs went by, and still Graham smiled. The murmurs and whispers became more prominent and he saw even the Knight and Tinsley clans begin to look worried.
Edmund leaned over. “She was happy when I left her this morning, just before I came to the church.”
Graham gave a subtle acknowledgement of the words, although a sinking feeling was beginning in the pit of his stomach. Had he been so mistaken?
“Does Genie know the wedding is today?” the dowager asked too loudly when, at last, the doors at the back of the church were thrown open and the audience seemed to hold its breath, waiting to see if there was to be some announcement.
Instead, Eugenia appeared on the threshold, looking like a fairy princess, on the arms of her brother.
“Forgive me, there was a slight mishap with my bonnet.” As she was not wearing a bonnet but instead the tiara he had sent, he could only begin to guess at what could have occurred. She smiled brightly, as though nothing had happened, and he no longer cared. The congregation seemed collectively to breathe a sigh of relief at the same time.
Edmund signaled to Hattie to play again. Knighton and Eugenia began their walk down the aisle. She looked up and saw the snowflakes and her expression of pure joy made everything worth it.
There was something magical about the occasion and he knew how lucky he was to be marrying for reasons beyond connections and fortune.
