Chapter Fourteen #3
The clergyman cleared his throat and continued with a raised eyebrow. Clearly, he wasn’t used to conversations within the nuptial ceremony itself. “Lord Blackhawke, repeat after me…” He intoned words she scarcely heard until the duke said them to her.
“I, James Allan Shaw, Duke of Blackhawke, take thee Eloise Helen March to 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.”
They were directed to release hands, and Eloise was told to then hold the duke’s right hand with her right one. “Ahem.” The clergyman addressed her. “Miss March, repeat after me.” He gave her the words, and she prayed she’d remember them without embarrassing herself.
“I, Eloise Helen March, take thee James Allan Shaw, Duke of Blackhawke, to my wedded Husband.” She paused to swallow around the ball of tears in her throat.
“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, ‘till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance.” She lowered her voice to a whisper, for she worried so much about the death part. “And thereto I give thee my troth.”
They were instructed to again release their hands.
James solicitously put a leather pouch that clinked with coins on top of the clergyman’s open book, no doubt to pay for services rendered.
He also laid a lovely band of golden filagree on the book.
An oval-shaped ruby was affixed to the band in a matching filigreed setting. It sparkled in the candlelight.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” The pouch disappeared into the clergyman’s waistcoat pocket then he took up the ring and murmured a few words of a blessing on it.
“Of course.” Once Mr. Cope returned the ring to the duke, he took up her left hand and slipped the bauble on the fourth finger. “I chose this ring for you because it reminds me of the blood and horrors of our pasts.”
“What?” That was wildly inappropriate on this day.
He uttered a soft chuckle. “I meant we both are trying to come out of that darkness filled with things belonging in nightmares. The red means we’ll never forget where we came from, but it also represents passion. Perhaps we can make the change…”
“Oh!” She nodded. “I understand now.”
“It once belonged to my grandmother on my father’s side, and I believe there is a matching parure, which will be yours should you wish it.”
“I have never owned something so valuable.” Knowing that he’d clearly given thought to the ring, she blinked back the tears that welled in her eyes. “I hope you might find happiness with me.”
Blackhawke snorted. “I don’t know if I believe in happiness.”
She wanted to dress him down, but not here. “Please try. If I must, so must you.”
He rested his gorgeous blue gaze on her. “I will do what I can.” Then his attention returned to the clergyman, who nodded.
“Repeat after me, Your Grace,” Mr. Cope said.
In his steady tenor, the duke did so. “With this Ring I thee wed, with my Body I thee worship,” his voice wavered on those words, for relationship had already involved pleasures of the flesh, “and with all my worldly Goods I thee endow.” He paused, pressed his lips together, then sought out her gaze with his.
“Please know you will never need to struggle or feel shame. Everything that I have is now yours. No matter what the future holds.” His Adam’s apple bobbed with a hard swallow.
“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
“Thank you,” she managed in a choked whisper. Eloise kneeled when he did, still clutching his hand while the clergyman invited all in attendance to pray.
As the words droned on, she closed her eyes and sent up a simple prayer of her own, conveying gratitude and thankfulness and asking for wisdom to start the journey with the stranger at her side. If she could save him like Littleton asked, she would, but the duke would have to want to remain here.
What am I going to do?
After the prayer ended, the duke stood and brought her to her feet. The clergyman intoned, “I now pronounce thee husband and wife.”
The ceremony was over. They were married.
A wave of doubt washed over her, but when she glanced at her new husband, he briefly met her gaze and gave her a slight grin.
Flutters danced through her lower belly to chase away some of the worry, yet she still didn’t know how they would get on together.
Was he feeling ill at ease or was he already anticipating the day he would end it all? A chill went down her spine.
I refuse to become a widow so soon after being a wife.
“Come,” he said into her ear. “We must sign the register.” They were ushered to a table near the windows where the clerk waited. Moments later, they both signed the registry book , which made the union official. Afterward, James smiled. “For better or for worse, we go through life together.”
But how long will that life be?
“I can hardly believe we are wed.” It would take some time to acclimate to it. But she couldn’t fret or marvel over it, for they were soon surrounded by a few well-wishers.
The older couple to approach was the one she’d spied earlier.
“Good morning, Blackehawke, Duchess,” the man said with a grin. He focused on Eloise. “I am the Duke of Eggleton and this is my wife.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Your Grace.” Eloise executed an awkward curtsy.
“Thank you for coming, Eggleton. I appreciate it.” James and the other man shook hands. “It is not every day a man weds.”
“If he’s fortunate,” Eggleton said with a wink at his wife.
The Duchess of Eggleton snickered. “Excuse us a few moments. I need a word with Lady Blackhawke.” She pulled Eloise a bit away from the dukes while Eloise’s father talked with the clergyman.
“Wallace is quite fond of your husband. They have been clubmates for years, but he’s been beside himself with the surprise of this marriage… and the events leading up to it.”
Heat infused Eloise’s cheeks. Did everyone at the club know what had transpired between her and Blackhawke? “I know it was sudden, but—”
“There is no need for an explanation.” The duchess took her hands and squeezed her fingers. “It doesn’t matter how you two came to be married and it doesn’t matter what you currently share. Give it time. Love doesn’t need a reason.”
Eloise frowned. “Do you truly believe he’ll come to love me?”
“I do.” The other woman smiled. “Because it happened to me. Over the years, circumstances changed and emotions became involved. We’ve had problems, but underlying all of that is love. It serves as a net when we stumble and fall.”
Her chest tightened, and she couldn’t help but hold onto the nugget of hope that lodged there, deep down where no one could see it. “Thank you.”
“And Lady Blackhawke?”
The title still was foreign. “Please, refer to me as Eloise. I have a feeling we will become friends before too long.”
“Oh, you have no idea, and I am Abigail.” The duchess winked.
“My dear Eloise, your new husband needs you as much as you need him, even if he doesn’t say it, even if he denies it.
Don’t let him do something stupid, because these men, these dukes, of Club Damnation?
They are strong but they are troubled and they need guidance, perhaps even protection of their own. ”
“I will bear that in mind.” Some of the tension eased from her shoulders. If the others struggled as James did, perhaps there was hope indeed.
Abigal smiled. “If you should need to talk, I’m always available, and I don’t live far from here.” Then, with a wave, she wandered over to her husband and put a hand on his arm.
Eloise ignored the thoughts circling madly through her mind, for her father approached. "Thank you for being here to witness the ceremony."
“You are, and always will be, my baby girl, Eloise.” He held open his arms, and when she stepped into them, he hugged her. “May you find the happiness you seek. Somehow, I think if the duke can move out of his own way, he will give you everything you’ve ever wanted.”
She pulled back to peer into his face. “How can you know that?”
“Just a hunch.” He winked. “Now, shall we investigate the wedding breakfast? I’m famished."
When she glanced over to where the duke stood, talking with Eggleton, he met her gaze and gave her a faint smile and nod. Was he even now struggling mentally? Being racked by insidious thoughts? “We probably should. I know the cook was excited about the chance to celebrate the duke’s marriage.”
The first day of my wedded life, and I’m already worried about my husband.