Chapter 12
The first thing Gabriel noticed, and this surprised him more than anything, was how beautiful his soon-to-be wife looked.
He was standing at the end of the aisle, patiently awaiting the start of the ceremony. It was a small affair, just his closest friends and family members, done purposefully because he did not wish to bring too much notice to their marriage. Best to play things safe.
As he waited, he looked over the crowd, taking note of their besotted expressions, the tears in their eyes, the joy that was palpable in the room because every soul there thought this was a love match.
He reminded himself of the importance of keeping up the charade, at least until he and Sophia were alone, and even worried that he might slip and the ruse would be revealed.
Then she appeared at the end of the aisle and any fear Gabriel had of faltering and giving away the lie vanished like haze in sunlight.
She glowed in the soft morning sun. Her gown was golden, and as she started to walk, it was as if a halo appeared behind her.
Gabriel had always found Sophia attractive, but he was only human.
Her blonde hair, her porcelain skin, those large hazel eyes that were both innocent and wicked at the same time.
Only a fool would not think her to be a beauty.
This… this was somehow different. Gabriel’s stomach flipped and he could not say why. His mouth fell open and he had to remember to close it. He watched as her hips swayed. He gawked at her coy smile. And he even started to sweat a little, as if there was something to be nervous over.
She looked up and found him staring. His eyes widened as if he was caught unawares, and he looked away, only to curse his foolishness.
I should not be nervous. I should not be besotted. This is a marriage of convenience – my convenience. Keep it together man!
“Good morning,” she said softly as she reached him.
“Miss Sophia…” His smile was genuine as his eyes drank her in. “You look stunning.”
Her cheeks flushed pink. “You don’t look so awful yourself.”
Lord Ashbury was with her, and he kept her close as if wary to let go. Gabriel very nearly reached for her hand, wanting to pull her into him, but he stayed that urge. Now was not the time.
There is keeping up appearances, and then there is this. Control yourself, man!
The ceremony began and throughout it Gabriel reminded himself of why he was doing this.
He stared ahead, refusing to look at his bride, running through in his head the particulars of this marriage.
It was for a purpose, to ensure his inheritance, and the last thing he needed was to develop feelings of lust or anything for his soon-to-be wife.
Yet… there was a reason he had chosen her. And the beating of his heart, the excitement that flickered within, was a reminder of why.
“… in the name of the Son, the Father, and the Holy Ghost, I now pronounce you man and wife,” the priest announced, making the match official.
The crowd cheered for them. People cried out with joy.
Gabriel turned to face his bride, forcing himself to meet her eyes.
She gave them freely, they held, and he felt a tightness in his chest. He held onto both her hands, his eyes flicked to her lips, and the urge to lean in and kiss her took hold…
No… no need for that. This marriage is for appearances only, do not get carried away.
In the end, he offered her a smile only.
And while Gabriel might have imagined it, he could have sworn that he saw disappointment pass behind her eyes.
He knew that she did not covet him, just as he knew what she expected from this marriage.
But with that single look he began to wonder, could it be more? And what would more even look like?
Suddenly, this marriage of convenience was looking like it might be a very inconvenient thing indeed.
“Take my hand.” Gabriel rested his hand on the table in front of Sophia. It was turned upward and open, beckoning for her.
She frowned at the hand. “Excuse me?”
“Take my hand,” he said again, making sure to hold his smile. “People are watching.”
She hesitated on the request. Eyeing the hand, he could literally see the fight happening within. So far, they had sat politely by one another’s side, they had engaged in pleasant conversation, and they had done nothing to suggest that this marriage was not real.
In truth, Gabriel knew that they could have continued in that same vain.
Drinks were flowing across the room, the guests were busy as they wandered between groups, laughing and joking merrily, and those who came to speak with them were too delighted by the day’s events to pay attention to something as small as handholding. And yet…
Gabriel was taken by a sudden need to push the boundaries of this marriage. Or rather, to confirm them. He was still feeling a little besotted by his wife’s beauty, and he wished to prove to himself, as much as anything, that it was nothing.
“As you say.” She placed her hand in his and he folded his fingers through her own.
“Much better,” he purred, keeping their hands on the table between them. “Appearances, remember?”
“Just so long as it’s only that,” she said.
“And what does that mean?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly, looking away. “Just… just making sure you do not forget what this marriage is.”
Gabriel frowned at his wife and then flashed a toothy smile. Had she noticed the way that he stared at her? Or maybe she had felt something too, and she was doing everything that she could to push back those feelings?
Whatever it was, it intrigued him.
Gabriel did not want a love match. He did not want companionship. What he wanted was exactly what this marriage promised to be. But as was his way, good ideas often became forgotten when his intrepid desires got in the way. And what he desired right now was his wife.
“I have not forgotten,” he chuckled. “Have you?”
“What does that mean?” A flash of worry passed behind her brown eyes.
“Nothing,” he said, chuckling further. “Nothing at all.”
Again, he watched her, taking note of how uncomfortable she was suddenly behaving. It made him wonder further about what this marriage was, and where it would lead. It was one thing to act a certain way in public, but how would she change when they were alone?
That, he could not wait to find out.
“Your Grace…” Approaching them, Lord and Lady Ashbury looked their typical prim selves; noises pointed upwards, lips curled, that same expression as if they could smell something that had turned sour. “And Your Grace,” they said next to their daughter.
“Mother, Father,” Sophia said with a tight-lipped smile.
“I hope everything was up to your standards, today,” Gabriel asked them both. “I would hate for either of you to be left wanting.”
“It was a lovely ceremony,” Lady Ashbury assured them both, even if she did not sound as if she meant it. “I could not be happier.”
“As am I,” Lord Ashbury said.
“I am glad to hear it,” Sophia said. “I promise to make you both proud.”
“We both do.” Gabriel squeezed her hand, even moving it closer to himself. “I have nothing but the best intentions for this marriage, and I am certain that you will feel blessed to have me as your son-in-law
The lord and lady glanced between one another, and he could see clearly the look of distaste on their faces.
Sophia too, looked uncomfortable. She squirmed beside him and lowered her gaze as if in shame. Gabriel frowned at the reaction, even feeling slightly annoyed that she was acting this way.
Wasn’t the entire point of this marriage so she did not have to care what her parents thought? When am I going to see the real her?
“It hurts me to say, but we will be leaving shortly,” Gabriel sighed.
“I pray you do not mind?” The post-ceremony breakfast was being hosted at the Ashbury House, as was tradition.
“Be sure, you may visit us whenever you like.” Sophia stiffened and he felt her eyeing him.
“You do not even need to tell us you are coming. Simply…” He laughed. “Appear, and our home will be yours.”
“That is most kind of you, Your Grace,” Lord Ashbury said stiffly.
Sophia was eyeing him now, her eyes wide in warning. He looked at her and shrugged, and then she narrowed her eyes.
He was trying to get a reaction out of her, and he could not say why exactly.
He knew how important it was that they behaved today, so as to sell the ruse fully.
But he had the distinct impression that whether they were alone or not, she would still be acting in the same withdrawn manner, and he wanted to break her of that habit.
“Perhaps a dance first?” he asked.
Her eyes widened again. “What?”
“Shall we?” He fluttered his eyelashes. “As man and wife.”
“I…” She looked around, noting the guests. “I am quite tired.”
“What of a performance of some kind? I would so love to hear you play, my love.”
She squeezed his hand painfully and glared at him. “Perhaps another time.”
Her parents were still watching, and oh how Gabriel wished to push her on this. Her playing was what caught his attention in the first place, and he wondered how it might change now that she did not have to be so strict.
He thought to push harder… but he stopped himself when he realized that she was not glaring so much as she was trying to hide her panic. For how far she might have come, there was so much further yet for her to go.
Hence, our marriage, I suppose. I should be careful not to push too hard, however, as I don’t want her to break.
“As you say.” He smiled. “Another time.”
She breathed a sigh of relief.
They did not stay for much longer. A few more well-wishers stopped by, and Gabriel and Sophia kept up the facade they had spent all day living in. But it was waning, Gabriel was growing bored, and when he suggested again that they leave, he was surprised to see Sophia jump at the chance.
Thus, they left Ashbury Home together, hand-in-hand, as husband and wife.
The guests gathered on the driveway, cheering as they climbed into the carriage.
He helped her in, laughing all the while, and she returned it in a way that would have told anyone watching that they were as in love as a couple could be.
And then they were in the carriage, the doors closed, and everything changed.