Chapter Sixteen #2
The man continued, his voice a pleasing timbre as he talked about the holy state they were about to embark upon.
He held the prayer book in his hands, the brown leather spine cracked and worn, while he addressed Cornelius.
“Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony?
” His lips curved with a smile, as if he already knew what the answer would be.
“Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
“I most certainly will.” He peered at Penny and flashed the grin he hoped would forever charm her. “She has always been my ideal.”
“I’m quite certain none of us here doubt your words,” Mr. Anders said.
Indulgent chuckles circled through the gathered guests.
Then he addressed Penny. “Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony?
Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love him, honor him, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live? ”
“I will.” Penny’s voice never wavered. “I have long looked forward to this day, ever since he was my crush before I ever understood what love truly was or entailed.”
A few of the ladies present sighed.
“I rather suspected that answer.” Mr. Anders instructed Cornelius to take her right hand in his right, which he then did, and Penny’s hand shook.
Was she nervous or merely excited? Surely, she knew he would always protect her and strive to build a pleasant life with him.
“Major Montgomery, please repeat after me…”
With solicitous attention, Cornelius tried to memorize the handful of words and then uttered them aloud.
“I, Cornelius Thomas Montgomery, take thee Lady Penelope Anne Needham nee Wilmington as 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, until death us do part…” His throat tightened as he spoke those most sacred of words that would forever bind him with her.
“… according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth. ”
My wife. She will soon be my wife. What have I done right in my life to win her?
Mr. Anders nodded. “Please release hands. Major, take her left in your left hand.” Once they’d done as instructed, with the braided hair ring still on his finger, he trained his attention on Penny.
“Lady Penelope, repeat after me.” He gave her the words, much like the ones he’d said to Cornelius moments before.
The delicate tendons in her neck moved with a heavy swallow, but she found his gaze.
“I, Lady Penelope Anne Needham nee Wilmington take thee Major Cornelius Thomas Montgomery as my wedded husband.” Her voice broke on the last word.
A sheen of tears made her eyes luminous and bright, but he squeezed her fingers, and she continued.
“To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, until death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance.
” A tear fell to her cheek, but her dazzling smile let him know she wasn’t in distress. “And thereto I give thee my troth.”
“It is lovely when a nuptial ceremony is steeped in emotion.” Mr. Anders grinned. Lines framed his eyes and mouth. “Please release your hands.” To Cornelius, he whispered, “Now is the time to offer up a ring and any respects you might have for my services.”
“Ah, thank you for the reminder. It’s not every day a man marries.
” Chuckles circled about the room while Cornelius dug the ring from the pocket of his waistcoat, which he gave to the clergyman, who rested it upon his open Book of Common Prayer.
He followed it with a small leather pouch as payment and gratuity for services rendered.
“I appreciate it.” Mr. Anders returned the ring to Cornelius. “You may present the ring to the lady.” As soon as he slipped it onto the fourth finger of Penny’s left hand, the clergyman spoke again, the words directed to him. “Please repeat after me.”
A shudder went down his spine, for a woman had finally managed to bring him up to scratch, and he looked forward to being domesticated.
He held Penny’s gaze and rejoiced in the happiness in those blue-gray pools.
“With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” Then he raised her hand to his lips and kissed the ring he’d just put onto her finger.
The center diamond winked, and the tiny round sapphires that surrounded the larger stone glittered like mad in the sunlight.
It was perfectly nestled against the silver band he’d given her years ago.
Mr. Anders nodded. “Please kneel while everyone is invited to pray with me.”
As the words of the prayer flowed over him, Cornelius dared to peek at Penny.
She looked back at him with a serene smile curving her lips, and a shiver of anticipation went down his spine.
God, I can’t wait to claim her as her husband.
Then the prayer was over, and Cornelius stood. He smoothly brought Penny to her feet.
The clergyman closed his book. “I now pronounce thee husband and wife. May your union be long and happy.”
Applause broke out among the gathered guests.
Cornelius turned, as did she, and he caught her hand in his.
“I can finally call you my wife,” he whispered to her, but she couldn’t reply as people surged forward and offered congratulations and murmured well-wishes.
He stood back to watch her interact with their friends and guests.
She was as elegant and gracious as a duchess, and he couldn’t believe she was his.
Will she discover the truth and know I’m woefully below her?
Then a new thought occurred that chilled his blood. What if what he offered her wasn’t enough? Would she look elsewhere for fulfillment?
“You’re worried,” she said from his side as she slipped her arm through his. “Why? This is the day we’ve both wanted for years.”
He glanced at her, caught the compassion in her gaze, and fell into those cool pools. “You deserve a man so much more than I am, deserve more than I’ll be able to give. I am—”
“Simply perfect for me.” She briefly rolled her gaze to the ceiling before focusing on him once more. “I will never tire of you. Neither will I complain about the style in which I’m kept for none of that is as important than who we are together.”
“You won’t change your mind a few years into the marriage?” A knot of anxiety pulled in his belly. “I’ve married you for nothing other than love. What if that isn’t enough?”
“It is enough and more, so stop stewing. I’ll not change my mind.
” With a gentle tug on his arm, she led him across the room.
While he’d been mentally dithering, the guests had gone, probably to partake of an excellent wedding breakfast being served in the dining room.
Even Mr. Anders had exited the room. “However, there is something you can do for me right now.”
“What?”
She halted their forward movement, turned into him, and slid her hands up his chest. “I want you to kiss me.” Though the look in her eyes gave off a blatant come-hither air, the wobble of her chin spoke to a vulnerability and emotion, perhaps due to the ordeal of planning for the wedding.
“I’ve waited so long, and not being able to touch you has nearly driven me mad. ”
His worries melted away as he took her into his arms. “I know exactly how you’ve felt.
” With a sigh, he pressed his lips to hers, and just like the other times when he’d kissed her, a match went to tinder and started an inferno.
He pulled slightly away, searching her face, and when the tip of her tongue swiped her bottom lip, he groaned.
One hand moved to the back of her neck while the other he curled about her hip as he crushed his mouth to hers.
For the next several seconds he reacquainted himself with every centimeter of her lips, memorized the curve of the bottom one, nibbled at the corners.
When she whimpered, he realized it wasn’t enough; he needed so much more.
He deepened the kiss, sought out her tongue with his until they dueled and fought for dominance.
Need streaked through his body, and he held her ever closer so she’d feel the evidence of his desire.
Finally, she was his, and he didn’t care if there were twenty people in her brother’s house; he wanted her now.
Penny wrenched away. Her kiss-swollen lips curved in a smile. “You haven’t lost your potency, Major.” The words were a trifle breathless.
“Neither have you, my lady, or rather Mrs. Montgomery, should you wish to use that moniker.” Oh, how sweet that sounded!
“Perhaps we should join our well-wishers lest I claim you right here in the drawing room. And we do need to sign the register.” If his voice was a tad shaky, there was good reason.
This was his wedding day, and she was his.
“We do, but it can wait until after breakfast.”
“And by the by, I’m imagining you naked wearing nothing except your rings.”
Her eyes darkened with desire. She laughed, and the smokey sound worked to further his undoing. “That can be arranged, for it has been far too long since I’ve seen you without clothes.” Then she shook her head. “I’m famished due to not having an appetite for a few days.”
Immediately concerned, he frowned. “Are you well?”
“I am, but there is something I wish to say to you before we meet with our guests.” She rested a hand on his chest, fiddled with his cravat as a blush colored her cheeks.
“Yesterday, I managed to slip away from both Mama and Johnathan on an errand, where I went to a midwife, who I met through one of my charities.”
“Oh?” As his knees felt far too weak, he wished he’d grabbed his cane before he’d been carried away with kissing his new wife. “And?” He could hardly speak for anticipation and worry.
“And, since I’ve missed my menses for two months ever since you and I first came together, and I haven’t felt my best this past week or so, I wanted the midwife’s opinion.
” The delicate tendons of her neck worked with a hard swallow.
“She performed an examination, and she told me that I’m a bit over two months pregnant.
We most likely created this child the first time we shared intercourse, which makes that time even more special.
” Tears filled her eyes. “I’m increasing, Cornelius. You will be a father in late November.”
“What?” Though he staggered backward a few steps, he immediately came back to her and put his hands at her hips. “You are… are…”
“I am.” She nodded with a soft grin and tears on her cheeks. “It’s also why I haven’t had an appetite and why certain smells have bothered me of late.” With a palm against his cheek, she asked, “You are happy about this, aren’t you?”
“Happy doesn’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling.
” With a loud whoop of smug victory, he lifted her off her feet and then twirled her about in circles.
“I’m quite convinced I’ve never known what joy was like until this moment.
” When he finally set her on the floor again, he kissed her and put so much emotion behind that gesture, he hoped she would know everything he said was the truth.
“I’m so glad.” She nestled into his arms and sighed as he held her close. “I was bereft when this couldn’t happen while I was with Weymouth, but it seems all too right that it’s happening now, with you.”
“It truly does.” Waves of happiness poured over him, and Cornelius couldn’t help but press a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m afraid I don’t know what to do with myself or how to act or even what to say.” Yet the second he met her gaze, a sense of calm came over him. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” For long moments, they remained like that, both reveling in everything the day had brought. Eventually, she stirred. “Let’s go into breakfast. The sooner we do, the sooner we can retire to our home.”
Home.
How long had it been since he’d felt he truly had a place where he belonged? “And to our nuptial bed.” A quick gasp escaped him. “Will such wicked things harm the babe?”
“I shouldn’t think so. My midwife said it was perfectly natural.” She stepped from the circle of his arms then grasped his hand. “This is the second-best day of my life.”
He frowned. “Not the first?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because the first one was the afternoon you came into Mr. Chandler’s bookshop to bedevil me with charming words and your kisses. I knew then you would completely upend my life.”
“And you’ve done the same to mine.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back. “Thank God for that. I fear I was stagnating before.”
There was much to look forward to, and never once did he give thought to the life he’d led before she’d come back into his life. Those days were well and truly behind him, and he didn’t miss them at all. Not while there was a different sort of excitement ahead.