Page 76 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

Percy and Madeleine smiled at each other, his grandmother’s words ringing through their ears. It was as if the psalm that the minister had chosen was a benediction of her prophecy. …a long and happy life surrounded by your children and grandchildren…It felt as if she were right there beside them, and it meant the world to both of them.

When the Psalm ended, the minister looked up at both of them. “Please kneel before the Lord’s table,” he requested as he went to stand behind the table. Once he was in place and they had knelt, he met each of their eyes in turn. “Lord, have mercy upon us.”

Percy and Madeleine had already been instructed on what to say next. “Christ, have mercy upon us,” they replied in unison.

“Lord, have mercy upon us,” the minister repeated. “Let us pray.”

The congregation bowed their heads.

“Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.”

The minster lifted his head, “O Lord, save thy servant, and thy handmaid.”

Once again Percy, Madeleine, and the congregation spoke as one. “Who put their trust in thee.”

“O Lord, send them help from thy holy place.”

“And evermore defend them,” the congregation replied together.

“Be unto them a tower of strength.”

“From the face of their enemy.”

Cecil’s voice rang out heartily above the others in the congregation, and he exchanged a knowing look with his best friend and sister. They were all thinking of the close brush with death and ruin that Laura Knight had brought upon them, but she was now in an asylum where she could bring harm to no one. Cecil nodded to them in reassurance, and they smiled back at him. They had his support and that was an enormous gift to them both.

“O Lord, hear our prayer,” the minister continued with no notion of the underlying currents that were passing between the family members who knew the truth of their union.

“And let our cry come unto thee.” The congregation droned like bees in the repetition of the chant.

The minister lifted his hands in prayer to the heavens. “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy word they shall profitably learn, they may indeed fulfill the same. Look, O Lord, mercifully upon them from heaven, and bless them. And as thou didst send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sarah, to their great comfort, so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy servants; that they, obeying thy will, and always being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives’ end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

“Amen,” the congregation replied.

“Merciful Lord, and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased: We beseech thee, assist with thy blessing these two persons, that they may both be fruitful in procreation of children, and also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children Christianly and virtuously brought up, to thy praise and honor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Percy squeezed Madeleine’s hand, giving her a lustful look. Madeleine blushed and returned the squeeze. Thoughts of their wedding night were clearly on both of their minds.

“O God, who by thy mighty power hast made all things of nothing; who also, after other things set in order, didst appoint, that out of man, created after thine own image and similitude, woman should take her beginning; and, knitting them together, didst teach that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by matrimony hadst made one: O God, who hast consecrated the state of matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church: Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy word, as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh, and also that this woman may be loving and amiable, faithful and obedient to her husband; and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

“Oh, I love her,” Percy reassured the minister with a wide grin. “But I am not so certain about how obedient or quiet she is going to be.”

The minster gave Percy a censorious look while the congregation broke out in laughter. “Your Grace, please,” the minister chastised. “Some decorum if you would.”

“I would rather she not be quiet,” Percy murmured softly for Madeleine’s ears alone, causing her blush to deepen to a crimson hue.

The minister cleared his throat and resumed his praying. “Almighty God, who at the beginning did create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and did sanctify and join them together in marriage; pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives’ end. Amen.” The minister put emphasis on the words holy love while giving Percy the eye.

The minister then turned a reproachful eye of warning to the congregation. “All ye that are married, or that intend to take the holy estate of matrimony upon you, hear what the holy scripture doth say as touching the duty of husbands towards their wives, and wives towards their husbands.”

Percy lifted an eyebrow then wiggled his eyebrows lasciviously at Madeleine, nearly making her laugh out loud. “Behave,” she whispered. Percy shook his head, grinning broadly.

The minister continued on. “Saint Paul, in his epistle to the Ephesians, the fifth chapter, doth give this commandment to all married men; husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water, by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish.”

He paused to give Percy a warning look to not say anything, then continued. “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself: for no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife; and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife, even as himself.”

Percy’s grin faded a bit at the mention of leaving his father and mother. Madeleine gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. The minister realized too late what he had said and how it might affect the Duke of Greyhall. He gave Percy an apologetic look. “My apologies, Your Grace.”

Percy nodded in acceptance of the apology and motioned for the minister to continue on.

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