Page 75 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

“Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity. Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore, if any man can shew any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.”

Percy gave all those in attendance a warning glare which made several members of the congregation laugh out loud. Not a one of them would have dared to interfere. The minister, not knowing what was going on, looked up startled, frowned in confusion, then continued.

“I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful.”

“There is no impediment,” Percy reassured him.

“There is no impediment,” Madeleine echoed shyly.

“Very well,” the minister nodded pleased with their answer. “Percival Hardy, Duke of Greyhall, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, 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 will,” Percy answered, his heart nearly bursting with love and joy.

“And Lady Madeleine Gillett, daughter to the Earl of Stonefield, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, 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,” Madeleine answered, her eyes shining with tears of happiness.

The minister looked up. “Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?”

“The Earl and Countess of Stonefield, her father and mother,” the Earl answered, holding his wife in his arms as she wept, her face wreathed in wet smiles at her daughter’s happiness and tears of sorrow that her dearest friend could not be there to witness the marriage of her son.

The minister turned to Percy. “Your Grace, if you would repeat after me.”

Percy nodded in consent.

“I, Percival Hardy, Duke of Greyhall, take thee, Lady Madeleine Gillett, daughter of the Earl of Stonefield, to be 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.”

Percy turned and gazed lovingly into Madeleine’s eyes, squeezing her hand gently. “I, Percival Hardy, Duke of Greyhall, take thee, Lady Madeleine Gillett, daughter of the Earl of Stonefield, to be 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.”

The minster turned his gaze to Madeleine. “Lady Madeleine, if you would be so kind as to repeat after me.”

Madeleine nodded her consent.

“I, Lady Madeleine Gillett, daughter of the Earl of Stonefield, take thee, Percival Hardy, Duke of Greyhall, to be my wedded husband, 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; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”

Madeleine made a funny face when the minister uttered the word obey that nearly made Percy laugh out loud. He was certain that they would be having a conversation about that part of the ceremony in the near future if the eye she was giving him was any indication. Nevertheless, much to Percy’s relief, she repeated the words.

“I, Lady Madeleine Gillett, daughter of the Earl of Stonefield, take thee, Percival Hardy, Duke of Greyhall, to be my wedded husband, 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; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”

The minister lifted a ring from the book that Percy had given to be blessed the Sunday before. It had been his mother’s and his grandmother’s ring before that. Madeleine recognized it, and a tear slipped from her lashes to splash upon the stone floor.

“Repeat after me, Your Grace, as you place the ring on your bride’s finger,” the minister instructed. “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.”

The minister handed Percy the ring. Percy took the ring and faced Madeleine. The sparkling blue of the sapphire matched the beautiful blue of her eyes. He gazed deep into those eyes and pledged to her his world. “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I theeendow: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

“Let us pray,” the minister instructed, and they knelt down to receive the blessing.

“O, eternal God, creator and preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life: send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy name; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Percy and Madeleine rose and faced the minister once more. Taking both of their right hands, he placed them one in the other. “Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.” He gave a warning glare out to the assembled congregation.

Cecil rolled his eyes. He knew no man alive would be willing to challenge Percival Hardy for the woman that he loved. Mowbray had not told anyone of Madeleine’s activities, but he had warned away all other men, stating that the Duke of Greyhall was not a man to be trifled with. All callers had ceased after that.

“For as much as His Grace, Percival Hardy, Duke of Greyhall, and Lady Madeleine Gillett, daughter of the Earl of Stonefield, have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessedthe same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

The minister laid his hands on top of Percy and Madeleine’s joined hands. “God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.”

The minster went on to read from the Book of Psalms, chapter one-hundred and twenty-eight. “Blessedare all they that fear the Lord: and walk in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: O well is thee, and happy shalt thou be. Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine: upon the walls of thine house; thy children like the olive-branches: round about thy table. Lo, thus shall the man be blessed: that feareth the Lord. The Lord from out of Sion shall so bless thee: that thou shalt see Jerusalem in prosperity all thy lifelong; Yea, that thou shalt see thy children’s children: and peace upon Israel. Glory be to the Father,as it was in the beginning.”

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