Page 10 of The Wildcat and the Rogue (The Shifter Season #8)

JANE

Being marched to the front of the church by my cousin and having him stand over me glowering while I say my vows isn't how I ever imagined my wedding. And certainly not to Ewan. I think I expected it to be a more romantic affair.

But my cousin is leaving nothing to chance, even after Ewan managed to procure a common license in order for us to wed earlier than the three weeks it would have taken should we have had the banns read. Something I'm particularly grateful for. The last three days have been intense in the observation that's been done. I can't imagine having to deal with three weeks of it.

Ewan offers me a small smile as the vicar finishes the ceremony, reassuring me that the future ahead of me is at least more amiable than the house I'm leaving behind. He offers me his arm so that we can make our way out of the church. I take it, nerves fluttering within me as I consider what the future is going to hold. I'm reasonably certain about what he was confessing to me the other day, but with my cousin turning up when he did, we never got a chance to finish our conversation.

The church is empty, with my cousin insisting that we invite no one beyond those who were necessary for the ceremony. It hurts that I haven't been allowed to at least write to Harriet. I know she'd have been willing to come to support me. I suppose I shall have to do that now that I am married.

I look at Ewan out of the corner of my eye.

Married .

To him.

It's a hard thing to reconcile myself with, even if I've known this was coming for three days. I suspect that, despite his words, there's a part of me that doubted he would show up today, having run back to Scotland in order to escape our impending marriage.

Perhaps that is a little unfair of me.

He leads us outside and draws me towards the waiting carriage with a kind smile. A groom opens the door and Ewan helps me up the step. My cousin makes to follow, but Ewan holds out his arm to stop him. "I think that will be all."

For a moment, I think he's going to argue, but he nods tersly instead. "I wish you a happy marriage." He strides off without saying another word, leaving Ewan to climb into the carriage and sit opposite me.

He taps the roof and it sets off, trundling along over the cobbled streets.

"Are you all right?" he asks.

"Yes." I look down at my knees, not really sure what I should be doing with myself now.

"Jane."

I look up, meeting his gaze. "I'm well," I promise.

"He didn't treat you badly?" He looks back in the direction of the church, even though we can't see it through the curtains.

"He did as he said. He locked my room save for mealtimes."

"I am sorry."

"I'm the one who invited you into my room, the fault is mine." Hopefully, that is not something either of us are going to come to regret as time passes and we discover what our marriage is going to be.

"I could have decided not to take you up on the offer," he says. "But I suppose it is too late for that."

"I'm sure we could get an annulment should you want one. No one knows what has occurred between us yet. I can go back to Scotland and..." I trail off. "I'm not entirely certain what I would do there. Perhaps find work."

"I'm sure you could do anything you set your mind to," he responds. "But that is entirely unnecessary. I do not require an annulment."

I swallow hard. "I'm sorry, all of this is new to me." I wave around the carriage, hoping he knows I mean the marriage part and not the carriage ride itself.

"As it is to me," he responds. "I've not found myself married before."

Despite my nerves, a small laugh escapes me. "So what are we to do about that?"

"We shall learn as we go," he responds softly. "Perhaps consider finally courting one another."

"I suspect it is a little too late for that. Most people consider it better to court before the wedding," I point out.

"Ah, but we aren't most people, Jane. We can let our circumstances defeat us and have a miserable time in our marriage and our lives, or we can make the most of it."

"You truly believe that?"

His eyes hold an earnestness I don't expect them to. "I do."

I take a deep breath and nod. "Very well. I suspect the first order of business will be to tell people about our marriage."

"Yes, three days is not a usual amount of time. Perhaps you might invite Mrs Stoaly around for tea to tell her the news?"

"I suspect the mere act of inviting her to your London home will be enough to inform her of the situation." Though I'm certain she'll want to hear the entire story.

"Indeed. I shall make sure the change in our circumstances is announced in all the right places," he promises.

"You should send a card to the Whitstripes," I muse.

He raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Lady Whitstripe is known for her events for married ladies. Should she know that I am one, perhaps she'll invite me. She might not, especially given the circumstances of our marriage, but it is worth an attempt."

"I can do that."

I nod and offer him a tentative smile.

"I've had a room prepared for you in the house," he says. "But if you require anything different, then you should let the staff know. I've told them to make you at home."

"A room," I echo.

"Yes. Is that odd?"

"I suppose I assumed I would be staying in yours."

"Ah, well." He clears his throat. "You are welcome to, if you wish. But I did not want to assume, especially as we have not kissed."

"I believe many couples are in that position when they wed," I counter.

"True. But I do not wish to have the marriage that many couples have, I want one that is ours and that involves taking things at our own pace."

"Thank you." This is nothing like I expected it to be, and I know there's a long way to go still, especially as I need to tell my mother and sisters about this marriage, and I'm not entirely certain how I'm going to convince them that it isn't anything to worry about, especially with everything Baron Striline has done to our family.

But what's done is done. And I can't say I'm completely opposed to the idea of a lifetime with Ewan, especially with his idea of courting now that the two of us are married. It might be unusual, but it is better than any alternative.