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Sam

Sam’s heart shook in his chest, beating so hard it blurred into a violent thrum. His mind not in a much better state. All he could do was follow those magnetic amber eyes as Felix walked backward into the library.

Felix thought he— Sam —was the moon in this relationship? If anyone held a gravitational pull here, it was the man in front of him. Sam had always been helplessly drawn to Felix. Something he couldn’t fight, no matter how hard he’d tried.

Felix paused just inside the room. That’s when Sam registered the audience they had. The room was filled with all their family and closest friends. The entire Jennings family, Mr. Campbell and his son included, stood on one side.

Ash, Felicity, and Pandora stood on the other side, joined by Lady Camoys, and Lady Yardley and her son. All four women beamed at him with shimmering eyes.

Then there was Lord Kozington and his brothers. Rutledge, Dunmore, Ironcrest, and their wives. Ryker Drake. The Chesterfields. Sam swallowed hard. Even Colborn, Ash’s son, stood with the crowd.

Where there typically lay twin settees and a coffee table, was a scattering of candles, gently flickering, framing an aisle formed by the gathered crowd.

“What is this, Fee?” Sam whispered, the words barely audible.

“I had said in my study a year ago today, for better or worse, I stand by your side. That if I were able, I’d marry you. I’d vow my life— everything I have to give —to you.”

Sam’s eyes widened, his gaze shooting to a slight movement, a man in black garb stepping into the center of the clearing at the end of the aisle. A reverend. Sam’s attention flew back to Felix.

“From the day we met, you have altered the course of my life. You changed the trajectory of what would have been a long and lonely life to one that is full, happy, complete. Sampson Everett Trenton, will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my husband?”

Husband . The word sent a shock rippling through Sam. His lungs, his heart, freezing at that one word, as though his body wanted to preserve this moment forever. Preserve hearing Fee ask him a question he never thought would be meant for him.

Emotion rose in his throat, roughening his words. “I…don’t understand.” His gaze swept over the room again before landing on the man who appeared to be a reverend.

“Reverend John Church,” Felix said, a smile in his watery voice. “Our marriage will never be legally recognized, but it will very much be blessed by God. Reverend John Church has been marrying men for years at molly houses in London.”

“Exclusively now for The Harborage ,” Ryker chimed in. A chorus of “Hear, hear!” followed.

Felix started walking backward up the aisle. “So, what say you, Sam? Will you marry me? And spend the next fortnight celebrating our union?”

Sam caught up to him in the next breath, hands gripping Felix’s hips, holding on for dear life. “ Yes . Of course,” he choked out.

Cheers erupted in the room. Then, in a complete blur, Sam found himself standing before a reverend, facing Felix, as the man blessed their union.

As they vowed their lives together before God.

Sam still could barely believe it was real.

What was currently happening. What Felix had made happen. For them.

“And now I pronounce you husbands in life.”

And Sam’s throat decided now was a great time to close off.

His heart raced behind his breastbone as he stared into his husband’s eyes.

Fuck. Husband’s. He reached up and tangled his hand into those amber curls and hauled his husband against him.

They stood there, foreheads resting together, Sam’s eyes squeezed shut, just breathing each other in.

Sniffles mixed with their shaky breaths and then a woman’s sob echoed through the room.

That must have been the last straw to push Fee over the edge, because he buried his head into Sam’s neck and shook with his own sobs.

Sam wrapped his arms around his husband, tried to let Fee know with the tightness of his hold, the relentless grip of his fingers, that he understood.

This wasn’t something either of them thought they’d ever have. Not love. Not marriage. And for Sam, not a supportive family who accepted him, all of him.

Felix pulled away, blinking rapidly and murmuring a watery apology. “Sorry. I’ll compose myself in a moment. I don’t know what’s come over me.”

Sam chuckled low in his throat. His Fee, who felt emotions so deeply, didn’t know what had come over him. Right. Sam kissed him quickly, fiercely. “You don’t ever need to compose yourself with me, Fee. I want all of you, every unguarded emotion, every fallen tear, every truth.”

“You have it. All of me,” Felix whispered roughly.

Sam let his eyes fall shut, wrapping his arms securely around Felix and burying his head in Fee’s neck. He sank into the comforting warmth and sweet scent of almonds that clung to his husband. Let it surround him.

He finally had it. Right here in his arms.

Everything.