Page 13 of Winning the Wallflower's Heart
As promised,Tuesday was her wedding day.
Georgiana’s heart hammered in her chest as she stretched her hand out toward Ellis. She couldn’t tell if her hand shook or his as he slipped a simple gold band on her finger.
“With this ring I thee wed…”
His voice was warm and steady, and under the wash of early morning sun, he was handsome as ever in his dark-blue bespoke suit.
“With my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow…”
His fingers curled against the underside of her palm, drawing her eyes fully up to meet his. Eyes she had dreamed of for years. But not like this.Neverlike this.
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
His touch lingered for a beat, even as her eyes daringly peeked at his lips. Ellis never would see her as someone to love, even now.
Broad-shouldered and with a stance that seemed to fill the entire room, he was a man people didn’t cross lightly. His thick brown hair was always just a shade too unruly, and his intensegray-green eyes held a sharp edge—except when they found her. Then, the hard lines of his face seemed to ease, the guarded look slipping just a fraction. He’d run a hand through his hair—a small, almost nervous gesture that hinted at a depth no one else ever saw. His build, solid and capable, spoke of a man accustomed to exerting his will and protecting his territory. But around her, all that strength became something else: a shield, a promise that he’d never let anything touch her.
She swallowed her nerves and returned her attention to the clergyman as the ceremony concluded, and they were led to the vestry to sign the marriage lines in the parish register book.
Her family wasn’t present, only Hester and an employee of Ellis’s, a Mr. Caleb Shaw, served as witnesses.
Shaw was very tall, with brown skin and black hair cropped short to his head. His nose was crooked after years of boxing, or that’s what Esther had told her, a dear friend of Hester’s who helped out in the club’s kitchen from time to time.
Ellis stood to the side as she signed the book, her left hand still shaking from the ceremony. Or perhaps it was the sight of the ring on her hand.
She left one home in search of freedom, only to end up married to the one man she had spent years hoping to free herself from. But Ellis was far too honorable to allow her to ruin herself or her future, whatever it might hold. Everything had changed now.
She was his wife. He was her husband.
“Ye look beautiful, dear,” Hester said, walking up to gather her hands in hers. The older woman smiled, her kind eyes shining bright. “What a splendid day, indeed. Come along. Esther and I arranged a special wedding breakfast for the both of ye.”
“Oh, that is very kind,” Georgiana said. “I’m sure Lord Linfield will want to retire?—”
“I won’t miss our wedding breakfast, Georgie.”
Heat hit her cheeks at how he uttered her nickname, so familiar, around others. She swallowed hard, nodding, her heart breaking over and over again, knowing this would be her life. Yes, she would be safe, and for that, she was endlessly thankful. But he had swept in and rescued her, and now she would need to live out her days married to the one man she adored, who looked at her as no more than a friend at best or a burden at worst.
“We will keep it brief, then,” she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else.
Mr. Shaw said something to make Hester chuckle in the quiet vestry as Georgiana turned to leave. But Ellis reached out, gently steering Georgiana away from the others into an empty hallway.
“Are you well?” he asked.
She nodded, not looking up as he came to stand toe-to-toe with her. She could smell his cologne, a mix of bright bergamot and spice. His fingers still lingered over the sleeve of her best day dress, the very one she wore on her walk across London to the auction. There was no time to secure another.
“Yes,” she whispered, her attention on the feeling of his hand on her body, on the warmth radiating from him to her in the chilly draft of the hallway, the silence sinking in around them, leaving her to drown in her thoughts.
Speak, she thought.Say something. Anything, you foolish girl.
Instead, she remained quiet, the moment becoming too awkward.
“It was kind of Hester to arrange for something. I hadn’t thought…” he said. “Does your ring fit at least?”
His fingers brushed over the top of her hand, sending an overwhelming jolt up her spine. Pleasure, maybe? Anticipation?
“Yes,” was all she managed to whisper again. He pushed the band of gold over her finger, frowning as it slipped.
“No, it doesn’t.”
