Page 19 of Duke of Fyre

"Dearly beloved," the vicar intoned, "we are gathered here today to witness the union of His Grace, Elias Blacknight, Duke of Fyre, and Lady Lydia Brandon. Marriage is a sacred bond, not to be entered into lightly..."

As the vicar spoke of love and commitment, Lydia found her gaze drawn to Elias. His profile was strong and aristocratic, his jaw clenched tight. What was he thinking? Was his heart racing as wildly as her own or was he entirely unaffected by all of this?

"Love is patient, love is kind," the vicar continued, his words seeming to echo in the small church. "It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud..."

Lydia couldn't help but wonder if love - or care, at the very least - would ever enter into this arrangement. She stole another glance at Elias, only to find him already looking at her. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, Lydia thought she saw a vulnerability in those blue depths that made her heart ache.

"Do you, Elias Blacknight, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the vicar asked. "Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?"

Elias's voice was low and firm as he responded, "I do."

"And do you, Lydia Brandon, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?"

Lydia swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper as she said, "I do."

As they exchanged rings, Lydia's hand trembled slightly. Elias's fingers were steady as he slipped the gold band onto her finger, but she thought she felt them linger for just a moment longer than necessary.

"With this ring, I thee wed," Elias said, his deep voice sending a shiver down Lydia's spine.

As Lydia placed the ring on Elias's finger, she was struck by the intimacy of the moment. This man, still largely a stranger to her, was now her husband. The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.

"By the power vested in me," the vicar said at last, "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Lydia's heart leapt into her throat as Elias turned to face her fully. For a heartbeat, their eyes met, and she saw a storm of emotions swirling in those blue depths. Then he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was chaste, though it sent a flutter to the pit of her stomach.

As they turned to face the assembled guests, Lydia caught sight of her sisters. Marian stood tall and proud, a reassuring smile on her face. Jane was barely containing her excitement, bouncing on her toes. And Diana... sweet Diana was cradling Mug in her arms, the little dog surprisingly well-behaved for once.

The sight of her family brought a lump to Lydia's throat. As she and Elias made their way down the aisle, she felt a pang of anxiety. What would become of her sisters now that she was leaving?

Outside the church, as guests threw rose petals and called out congratulations, Lydia pulled her sisters aside for a moment.

"I'll write to you all the time," she promised, her voice thick with emotion. "And I'll do everything I can to help you find suitable matches. You will not be forgotten, I swear it."

Marian squeezed her hand. "We know, Lydia. Don't worry about us. Just... be happy, alright?"

Jane nodded vigorously. "Yes, and tell us all the gossip about life as a duchess!"

Diana, still holding Mug, stepped forward. "Here's your little troublemaker," she said with a watery smile. "He's been very good, haven't you, Mug?"

As Lydia took Mug into her arms, she felt a presence at her back. Elias stood there, his expression unreadable as he regarded the small dog.

"Thank you," Lydia said softly, looking up at her new husband. "For allowing me to bring him."

A ghost of a smile tugged at Elias's lips. "Well, we couldn't very well leave a member of the family behind, could we? Besides, I think Peter will quite enjoy the little… thing."

The words, so unexpected, made Lydia's heart skip a beat. Before she could respond, Elias was guiding her towards the waiting carriage, his hand a warm presence at the small of her back.

After helping her into the carriage, he settled in beside her, Mug curled up contentedly at their feet, Lydia found herself studying her new husband's profile once more. The man beside her was now her husband, yet in many ways, he remained a mystery.

The carriage lurched into motion, carrying them away from everything Lydia had ever known and towards an uncertain future. As the church and her family faded from view, Lydia felt a curious trepidation flutter in her stomach.

"Your family seems... close," Elias said after a moment, breaking the silence.

Lydia nodded, surprised by his observation. "Yes, we are. My sisters... they mean the world to me."

"I'm sure they'll miss you," Elias replied, his tone neutral.

"As I'll miss them," Lydia said softly. Then, gathering her courage, she added, "I hope... I hope that in time, you and Peter might come to see them as family as well."

---