Page 86 of A Baron's Scandalous Quill

“Not long now,” she murmured.

“Until what?”

“Until we can be alone again,” she confessed her secret longing. “Without everyone staring at us.”

“Not long at all.” He winked at her. “Just the wedding breakfast to get through first.”

She bit her lip in excitement. They had not been together intimately since the night he had asked her to marry him, and she knew that they had both been thinking much of being alone together again.

“Ahem,” the vicar cleared his throat and they both looked sharply around at him.

In their eagerness to whisper together, they had not noticed the organ music had finished.

“Welcome, all of you,” the vicar said, bestowing a warm smile on their small congregation. “I am delighted to see here today that we have friends and family with us, loved ones from across social barriers and classes, just as before me, I see two people who were also once thought so separate.”

The vicar had what she rather judged to be a proud glint in his eyes, as if he was impressed by the two people before them. “When God blesses us with love, this is what it should do. It should bring us all together, so I hope you will all join metoday in congratulating our happy couple on the adventure they are about to embark on together, hand in hand. For shortly, Lord Lancaster and Miss Thornton will be Baron and Baroness Lancaster.”

Becca jolted in realization. Not for one minute had she considered she would be a titled woman when she walked out of this church. She felt more than heard William trying to contain his laughter at her reaction beside him.

They looked at one another and smiled, then she noticed his eyes flick downward and widen a little, for he had seen something she added to her gown at the very last moment that morning. On the shoulder of her gown was the golden brooch bearing the quill that he had gifted to her. He held her hand tighter, and she understood his meaning without needing words.

I love you, too, William.

THE END?