Chapter 17 #2
Her smile turned into a coy smirk. Her eyes flashed with wicked understanding. She stood taller. She pushed out her chest. And she did not once look away from Edward, willing and wanting him to take her all in.
His leg started to shake. His blood started to run hot. And his mind, his intrepid thoughts, became scandalous.
There were still so many unknowns about what was to come.
Both Edward and Celestine’s true feelings were being slowly learned.
Whether or not they were even capable of married life together; they were companionable, but could they be more, and did they want to be?
And what might happen if it was realized that this was all a terrible mistake?
But one thing that was undeniable was the attraction.
Edward focused on that attraction. He let it take him fully. And he put aside all feelings of doubt, and all questions raised, because so long as that attraction remained, he knew that little else would really matter.
And once tonight comes, we will both know for sure…
Celestine’s mother led her down the aisle. Not traditional, but as her father had passed away, it made perfect sense. She led her daughter to the altar, and they stood across from Edward.
“That gown…” Edward said softly when Celestine was close enough to hear.
She smirked and then indicated to her mother, who thankfully did not hear.
The ceremony proceeded without incident. In fact, Edward hardly noticed it at all. He had eyes only for Celestine, and he spent the ceremony doing his best not to stare so that it was obvious what was on his mind.
What he did much thinking about, however, was their first kiss.
Should I kiss her? What if I cannot stop once I start?
His mind turned as he debated the merits of the kiss. On the one hand, he wanted so desperately to taste her again, and to show her that she was his, as he was hers. But her mother was there, as were friends and family, and Edward knew that he risked getting carried away.
Thus, when they were officially announced as man and wife, Edward did that which was so hard but also right. He just took her by the hands and smiled, knowing that the time to show his affection would come later.
“Well, that was relatively painless,” he said as he smiled at her. “I don’t know what I was worried about.”
“You were worried?” she asked back with a coy smile.
“Were you not?”
“Worried that you might change your mind, perhaps…”
He chuckled. “I considered it.” She frowned and he squeezed her hands.
“But then I saw you in that gown and to be honest with you, Celestine…” He looked about, made sure they were not overheard, but dropped his voice anyway.
“God himself could have tried to drag me away and I would not have let him. Not until I have a chance to see you out of that gown –”
“Your Grace!” Celestine’s mother cut him off. A good thing, perhaps, because Celestine blushed so furiously that her entire face turned pink. “Let me be the first to welcome you to the family.”
The next few minutes were spent speaking to Celestine’s family and those who approached to congratulate the newlyweds. Frustratingly, that was only the beginning.
“This promises to be a long day,” Edward sighed as they readied to leave the church.
“Oh, it won’t be that bad,” she said.
He raised an eyebrow at her in derision.
She laughed. “Well… maybe a little.”
“Is it so wrong that I want to skip it? Should we…” He smirked.
Again, he saw her blush. Although it was not said, they both knew what was set to happen later, just as they both seemed to look forward to it. Edward, especially.
“Definitely not,” she said. “I thought we were trying to rehabilitate our image? How would it look if we skipped our own breakfast? What would people say?”
“Nothing good, I am sure.”
“Which clearly concerns you so much,” she laughed.
“I did marry the Mad Hargrave Sister,” he noted. “So, people must already think I am insane.”
“As I married the rake duke,” she fired back.
“You really are mad.”
“Oh, you have no idea…”
Following the ceremony, Edward and Celestine, as well as the guests, returned to Fairbrook Estate where Celestine’s mother had offered to host the breakfast. There were two score of people in total, they fit snuggly in the grand hall, and it was just as long and boring and tedious as Edward predicted.
He spent the entire thing sitting with Celestine. They occupied the main table at the back of the hall, one that was positioned at the center so that all eyes could turn and find them with ease. He clung to her hand throughout, refusing to let go, wanting her to know what was on his mind.
And not once did she try and pull her hand free. Not once did she look as if she meant to. Time and again, their eyes would flick to one another, a smirk or a knowing look shared, and Edward’s heart raced as he fought back those thoughts that had been with him all week.
Throughout the breakfast, the guests approached and congratulated them. Drinks were shared. Stories were exchanged. And Edward hardly took any notice.
But finally, after many hours, just as the sun began to set, he decided the time to leave had finally arrived. Truly, it could not have come fast enough.
“Shall we?” he asked her.
“If you wish,” she said.
“There is only one thing I wish for,” he said back. “And such a wish cannot come true until we are far away from here, and I have you all too myself.”
She looked away, her cheeks coloring, but the smile she wore told him that she was of the same mind.
There was, of course, a small part of Edward that worried once he and Celestine spent the night together, that he might realize his mistake. That all he really wanted was to satisfy an urge that had itched him now for weeks. So close to scratching it… what would happen when he finally did?
Of course, there is only one way to find out…
And so it was that Edward and Celestine made their way from Fairbrook Estate, officially as man and wife, the next chapter of their lives ready to begin.
They climbed inside the carriage, they waved to the guests who came to see them off, and they sat so close, their legs touching, that Edward was hardly able to control himself.
But he would do. He would not rush. He would not force. They had the rest of their lives together, so what was another hour or so of waiting? Even if it promised to be a very long hour indeed…