Page 93 of The Moonstone Marquess
“It is mutual. I enjoyed having them with me, although Phoebe and Chloe deserve all the credit. The girls spent most of the month residing with them. Of course, I was with them every day. It wasn’t possible for me to take them in right away because of the deathbed promise I had made to James Crawford. That pressing responsibility got in the way. But it all worked out beautifully. You have raised two angels, and everyone adores them. Send them to us every summer. Phoebe and I would love it.”
“Perhaps we’ll come along with the girls next time. You obviously feel this place is special. And I see a miraculous transformation in you.”
“I was ready to move out of that dark pit I’d created for myself.” Cormac stood still as his valet adjusted his cravat. “Thank you, Gunyon. There, I believe I am now presentable. What do you say, John? Time to get to church. Phoebe might marry someone else if I show up late.”
His brother laughed. “I still don’t understand how she could love you, but who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth? You will be her problem now.”
*
The church wasalready surrounded by villagers eager to see the nuptials take place. Phoebe’s sisters were there, and hurried over to take Cormac’s nieces with them for the wedding procession. Their cousin, Prudence, who had married Cain’s estate manager, was also fussing about and making certain the family was properly seated in the front pews.
Everyone had on their Sunday best.
Flowers and silk ribbons were draped everywhere.
The curate was beaming as he pounded out a tune on the organ.
Gad, this would be quite a formal ceremony.
Well, Phoebe was worth every effort, and Cormac felt good to have the wedding done right.
He and John stood at the altar to await the appearance of the bride.
The curate continued to play the organ as the church filled, and then the music stopped and everyone turned silent while the church doors groaned open to reveal Cain standing there with Phoebe on his arm. Gasps rose through the crowd, for she was stunning in her white silk and lace.
Cormac’s heart leaped into his throat.
He gave silent thanks that someone above liked him enough to give him this angel. He surely did not deserve her.
Ella and Imogen walked down the aisle ahead of Phoebe. They looked so adorable, taking their roles seriously as they spread rose petals from the dainty baskets they held. He wasn’t certain who was smiling broadest, him or John. The girls were two faerie princesses with their hair in ringlets and circlets of flowers atop their heads. All they lacked were faerie wings.
Then Phoebe stood before him, her lace veil framing her heart-shaped face, and her beautiful aquamarine eyes shimmering.
“Do you take this woman…” the vicar began, reciting the vows Cormac was to make to her, those vows to honor and protect her, and always be true.
“I do,” he said, feeling the meaning of his oath of fealty to the depths of his soul.
Phoebe was beaming as she recited her vows. “I do.”
He winked at her and kissed her on the cheek. “You’re stuck with me now, love.”
She reached up and placed a light kiss on his cheek. “As you are stuck with me. I really do snore quite loudly.”
The vicar cleared his throat to remind them the ceremony was not quite over. They dutifully gave him their attention until he uttered the last words of the ceremony. “I now pronounce you man and wife.”
As the vicar ended his recitation and congratulated them, Cormac slipped his arm around Phoebe’s waist and lifted her up against him with a whoop of joy. “I love you,” he whispered, and kissed her on the mouth with what the vicar would likely consider unseemly passion.
Well, Cormac was still no saint.
But there would be no woman for him other than Phoebe. Her mouth was honey sweet, and her lips were soft and delicious.
He heard his nieces giggling. Everyone stood and cheered.
As they marched down the aisle, Cormac realized how much the village and its inhabitants had become a part of their lives. He saw young Thaddius Angel and his uncle, the constable. Mrs. Halsey was there with her husband and daughter. They must have closed the tearoom and bake shop for the morning, although he knew they had been baking madly these past two days to provide a supply of their cakes, tarts, and pies for the wedding breakfast.
Lieutenant Brennan was there and helping Chloe avoid the crush of guests as she tried to make her way toward them.
Cormac’s valet, Gunyon, had a wide grin on his usually stoic face.
