Wedding Wagers(52)

     



 

With a pang of regret that she had disappointed her father again and  that this could not be a happier day for him, Emily took her place  beside Mr. Linfield. A hush fell over the already near-silent gathering.

"Dearly beloved-"

Mr. Linfield's arm brushed against hers. A second later his hand  followed, moving around a bit until his pinky finger laced with hers.  Emily's heart pounded, and she felt her face heat. Such intimacy! And in  front of her mother. Emily didn't need to be told this was scandalous.  But she found comfort and courage from his touch, convinced now that he  had not been unwilling to look at her, simply that he had not known to  do so. Just as he did not realize it was not proper to be touching  during the ceremony for all to see.

"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."

Her mother sniffled loudly, making it difficult for Emily to concentrate  on the words being spoken. Or perhaps it was the sensations going from  her finger to her hand, up her arm, to her pounding heart. Save for a  few dances during her coming-out season and at last month's ball, and  those occasions she had been helped in and out of a carriage or upon a  horse, no man had ever touched her. She'd never stood so close to one,  either, with her arm brushing against Mr. Linfield's as it was.

"The union     of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy-"

Joy-or a chance at something like it. That was why she was doing this.  Over the years she and Mr. Linfield had become friends. They'd never had  opportunity to develop that friendship, but Emily believed they could.  Far more than the earl and I ever could have. It was not a romantic  notion so much as a practical one. If nothing else, she knew that their  mutual love of horses afforded them some commonality.

"-for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity."

Her mother's sniffles grew louder, and Emily felt a pinch of unease. It  does not matter if we are prosperous or not. It does not matter …

At the priest's cue, she turned to face Mr. Linfield. Her eyes traveled from the shoulder

of his crisp, new tailcoat to his pale, beardless face-a face she had  not seen without hair for many, many years, not since they were scarcely  older than children.

Eli? Her lips parted, but no words came. A sort of strangled cry sounded  from the pews behind them, but Emily had no concern for whomever might  be upset. She felt overcome herself, staring up at the stranger before  her, a handsome man with a strong jaw and a dimple on one side when he  smiled.

Emily's gaze left his upturned mouth as she sought his eyes. Relief  flooded her as she recognized the familiar, warm brown tones. Eli's  smile had reached them as well.

The priest finished speaking, his voice rising in question. Emily had no  idea what he'd just said but, when he looked at her, remembered enough  to answer, "I will."

He turned promptly and began speaking to Eli. "Eli Alexander Linfield Ro-"

An outright cry came from the congregation, and Emily took her eyes off  Eli long enough to shoot her mother a dark look. But it wasn't her  mother who appeared to be protesting, but her father, who had risen from  his seat, face purple, eyes popping, mouth open as if he was about to  interrupt.

"How is this-" Her father's strangled mutterings competed with the priest's calm, methodical words.

"-love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health;  and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall  live?"

Emily looked at Eli again and just in time.

Still smiling, he spoke his promise loud and clear. "I will."

Perhaps this at last resigned her father to their marriage, for he sat  down hard, the pew creaking beneath his weight. But the others in  attendance were far from quiet.

Urgent whispers between the earl and Sophia flew back and forth. Emily  didn't bother attempting to reprimand her sister. Sophia had always had a  mind and will of her own and never hesitated to kick up a lark wherever  she went. Perhaps she and the earl, taken with one another as they  were, could not keep their peace even a half hour.

Emily felt slightly infatuated herself, unable to cease staring at Mr.  Linfield. Eli. He made a striking figure in his new dark coat and  trousers. She had never seen Eli in anything but work clothes before.  And his face-she'd been attracted to his kindness, but the face he'd  been hiding behind his beard truly surprised her. One might have called  it aristocratic, had they not known he was of the working class. Being  so, he was not above smiling and looking extraordinarily, unabashedly  happy.         

     



 

She couldn't stop the fluttery feeling erupting inside of her, an  unexpected hope that this was all going to turn out so much better than  she had dared imagine.

At the priest's cue, Eli took her right hand in his and began to speak once more.

"I, Eli Alexander Linfield Rowley, take thee-"

Rowley? Emily's eyes snapped from their joined hands to his face. Surely she'd misheard.

"-Emily Montgomery, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this  day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness  and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according  to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth."

Her head was spinning. As if he realized this, Eli tightened his hand around hers.

"I, Emily Montgomery, take thee, Eli Alexander Linfield-"

"Rowley," he whispered.

"Absurd! Cease at once." The earl's angry voice carried to the front. Everyone turned to look at him, including the priest.

Sophia held onto one of his arms, trying, to no avail, to pull him back down again.

"This marriage will not be legal. He is using a false name." The earl  attempted to push past Sophia, but she stood, blocking his way.

"Sit down at once, or I will leave this place-and you."

The priest exchanged a knowing look with Eli, as if they had both  expected this. "I assure you, all is in order. Now please, allow us to  continue."

The priest's gentle words, combined with Sophia's threat, must have  reached Lord Rowley, as he sat down hard, much as Father had a few  moments before.

Voice shaking and head still spinning, Emily finished her vows. Rowley-how? What else don't I know? He is a stranger.

The ring came next, and when she thought she could handle no more  surprises, Mr. Linfield-Mr. Rowley-Eli-slipped the most exquisite ring  she'd ever seen on her finger. Emily gave an audible gasp. This was no  pinchbeck but a brilliant gold band with a rose-cut diamond at the  center, positioned between two smaller rubies. She lifted her astonished  gaze to his.

He merely smiled and kept her hand, stepping closer as he spoke. "With  this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee worship." His thumb moved in  slow circles over the back of her hand. "All my worldly goods I thee  endow."

She glanced at the beautiful ring once more and felt her earlier concerns slip away.

Eli kissed the back of her hand over the ring, allowing his lips to  linger, then tucked her hand through his arm as they turned to face the  priest.

Silence reigned at last, along with the most curious feelings Emily had  ever known. She felt her heart might burst and was not surprised when  the tears flooding her eyes began to spill from them. She glanced up at  Eli and smiled to let him know she was all right. Better than all right.  In that moment she was happy.





Lady Montgomery was sniffling again, though Eli felt it might be for  different reasons than she had at the beginning of the ceremony. His  bride was crying, too, silent tears sliding down her cheeks, but she had  smiled at him, as if to assure him all was well. It was, but he  suspected she was only just realizing that herself. She'd married him  with no guarantee-other than his word-that she would be provided for.

He loved Emily for it all the more and felt grateful that, today at  least, he'd been able to spoil her with his mother's ring. There  wouldn't be many times in their future when he could lavish his wife  with jewels, but she would always have a wedding ring she could be proud  of.

The priest finished his prayer over them and pronounced them husband and  wife. Emily looked at him long enough to offer a shy smile. It was all  Eli could do not to pick her up and carry her out of the church and into  his new carriage. But first, there were the marriage lines to be  entered into the parish register.

With some reluctance he stepped aside, allowing her hand to slide from  his arm so she might pen the necessary signature. He added his beside  and felt another surge of joy at seeing their names together. He had  really married Emily Montgomery. He felt as if his life was beginning  this very moment. All that had come before had been in preparation, and  now he could truly begin to live.

"Shall we receive our congratulations?" he whispered, bracing himself for what was to come and offering his arm once more.