Page 56 of Conveniently Trapped with the Marquess
Emma chatted ceaselessly in her ear as they made their way to the chapel. Nancy and a few other maids led the way, making sure the path they took was safe for their dresses. Alice didn’t mind Emma’s chatter, knowing that her sister was still trying to do what she could to distract her. But the closer Alice came to the chapel, the less anxious she became. Knowing that William was inside waiting for her calmed her.
“Alice!” The Duke, as Alice has suspected, was standing outside the chapel. He rushed over to them, smiling from ear to ear. “You look absolutely radiant, my Dear. You as well, Emma.”
“Thank you, Father,” Alice responded with a smile. “I need not say that you look rather handsome yourself. Perhaps a lonely widow might take notice of you this morning?”
To her happiness, her father chuckled at the joke. “You know my heart only belongs to one lady and I wish to remain on my own until I see her again.” His eyes were twinkling when he looked at Emma. “You should go inside, Emma. It is time for us to begin.”
Emma nodded. She squeezed Alice’s hand, one last bout of encouragement, before she walked toward the doors and slid inside. Soon enough, the soothing sound of a pianoforte emanated from the building. Alice looked expectantly at her father. “Well?”
“I need just a moment more,” he said honestly, his voice breathless. “I spent the past few months afraid that you would change your mind, that you would decide that you didn’t want to get married anymore.”
“I understand,” Alice said gently. The last time she’d seen her father get this emotional, it had been following the late Duchess’ death. But this wasn’t despair. This was overwhelming happiness. “I haven’t given you much reason to put your faith in me, so I cannot blame your doubt. But I want this. I love William with all my heart.”
“I believe that you do.” The Duke took her hand in his, his eyes filling with tears. “I should apologize, Alice. I’d always known, deep down, that I had not handled your mother’s death well. I knew that I was the reason why you were so against marriage. I suppose part of the reason I had pushed you so hard was because I didn’t want to be why you stayed alone for the rest of your life. Even though your mother’s passing broke me, I am grateful for every moment I got to spend with her and that has always been what I wanted you and Emma to understand as well.”
“Now, both your daughters have secured a love match,” Alice teased, even as tears burned the back of her throat. She smiled broadly. “I would say you’ve done marvelously.”
The Duke chuckled, then wiped away his tears. With a chuckle, he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and faced the door. “That is all I’ve ever wanted. Now, shall we?”
Alice faced the doors as well, taking in a deep breath. “Let’s.”
In a matter of seconds, they made their way toward the doors, which were opened for them upon their approach. The guests rose the moment Alice stepped into the chapel, a gentle wave of whispering running through the lot of them. Alice, however, only saw William.
He stood at the pulpit, his legs braced apart and his hands clasped before him. The moment she laid eyes on him, her legs went weak. Suddenly, Alice was grateful for her father’s support as she drew nearer, the sight of William looking so handsome stealing her breath away. She barely heard the soulful song being played on the pianoforte, nor did she notice the steps that brought her closer to the man she loved. She only saw him.
William, for once, wore no smile. He stared at her as if she was a creature he’d never seen before, as if she were an angel descended from heaven and he couldn’t help but be in awe of her radiance. She might have teased him about it had she had the strength herself to do anything but drink him in, a part of her not believing that this day had finally come.
“Who gives this lady away?” asked the vicar now standing between her and William.
“I do,” her father said as he began to back away, claiming his spot next to Emma.
Alice gazed up at William, watching as he searched her face. They were supposed to turn toward the vicar, who was ready to begin the ceremony, but they both stood there staring at each other like fools.
The vicar cleared his throat and William glanced at him, seeming surprised. As if he’d forgotten where he was for a moment. Alice hid her smile and turned, clutching her gloved hands together.
“We have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony,” the vicar began.
Alice tried to listen, to focus on the important words that were being said. If she didn’t focus, then she just might miss her cue to recite her vows and Alice didn’t need that sort of embarrassment. But standing next to William made that a near impossible feat.
She snuck a glance at him, only to find that he was already staring back at her. When their eyes met, he gave her a sly grin, a promise. Even though her cheeks colored, Alice rolled her eyes and huffed a laugh, amused by his boldness.
The vicar went on, reading from the leather-bound book before him and not noticing that the couple he was officiating for was not paying attention. But when the time came for them to say their parts, the vicar looked up and Alice redoubled her efforts to focus.
He looked at William first. “Do you, Lord William Millington, the Marquess of Erlington, take Lady Alice Softcreek of Warington to be your wife? To love, comfort, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health for as long as you shall live?”
“I do.” William’s response rushed through her with such warmth. Alice couldn’t hold back her smile.
“And do you, Lady Alice, take Lord Erlington to be your husband? To love, comfort, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health for as long as you shall live?”
“I do.”
“Now, then,” the vicar finally smiled, “I pronounce you two to be married.”
The music began again. And again, Alice didn’t hear it. She turned to William, her limbs trembling with anticipation as she watched his gaze lower to her lips. He leaned toward her without hesitation and she let her eyes drift close, let herself relax into his arms where she knew she belonged, as he pressed his lips against hers. Explosions rocked her body but she didn’t pull away. She leaned into the kiss, not caring that she was standing in front of her family and many other lords and ladies who might deem this inappropriate.
William was her husband. She could be as inappropriate as she wanted.
To her dismay, he pulled away far sooner than she would have liked but he still held her close as he stared down into her eyes, his eyes gleaming. “How does it feel to be the Marchioness of Erlington?” he whispered to her.
Alice smiled. More explosions erupted within her—of elation, of excitement, of anticipation. She tilted her head up to him, already eager for the chance to kiss him again. “Not as wonderful as it feels to be your wife.”
The End?