Page 82 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
But as the door opened and Olivia looked outside, she saw that the dowager and her betrothed had arranged for a white carriage drawn by white horses. The carriage was covered in yet more flowers and was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
“That is for me?” she gasped.
“Of course. My grandson said that nothing should suit you so well as this. Therefore, you are to go and get in and we shall see you at the church. Now, be on your way,” she urged again.
Olivia rushed to climb into the carriage as her sisters and Lady Kirby went ahead in the one before her. They all departed from one another with a heartfelt embrace, but once she was in her own carriage, Olivia felt that nothing could be more perfect.
Yet again, the earl had ensured that she had everything she could have ever wanted for her wedding.
Once they arrived at the church, she saw that the guests were already there and waiting. She was the last to arrive and it made for her entrance to be even grander. Everything was perfect as she came through the doors of the church.
The first thing she saw was her beloved standing at the end beside the minister. He appeared more than ready for her. In his handsome coattails and the grin on his face, Olivia knew that everything was more perfect than she might have imagined.
With each step that brought her closer to him, her heart began to beat more joyously. And finally, once she reached the end of the aisle, they were together.
The minister began the ceremony, but all Olivia could do was stare into the eyes that stared back at her.
She gazed upon the face the man she had so clumsily bumped into at the market all that time ago. His freckles, his mouth, that masculine nose and the gentleness of his brow.
He was more handsome than he had ever been.
No. It wasn’t that. It was simply that now, finally, he was hers.
The Earl of Glauston repeated the vows first, promising to honour her and protect her – at which point he added that she was strong enough to protect herself, but it was still his pleasure to do so – and to love her always.
In return, Olivia gave her own vows, to respect and love him forever, to stand by his side through anything they might face. And in the midst of their promise, she knew how deep and true it was. They were eternally bound. They had been bound before they had ever been born or known one another.
It had been the perfect, fairytale ceremony.
From the church, all of their guests had been invited to the earl’s estate, where the garden had been arranged with tables and an abundance of food. Everything was delightful and it seemed to be magical for the many who had never seen his home before.
But for Olivia, seeing her sisters and father among the beauty of it was the most splendid part.
“They truly seem to be enjoying themselves,” the earl said, leaning over to her.
“Yes, husband, they do. Thank you for every moment of this. Thank you for such an incredible wedding day. And thank you for the life that we shall share ahead. You are the greatest prince I could have ever dreamt of, and I am glad to be yours,” she said.
“And I am honoured to be yours. May we spend many happy years with one another, loving each other and enjoying our days and nights in the company of our beloved,” he replied.
Once more Olivia’s heart warmed. He was the most romantic of men, of that she was entirely convinced.
“Now, I do have one other gift for you. Do you think we might manage to sneak away from our party for a moment?” he asked her.
Olivia was surprised. She hadn’t expected another gift. After all, he had done so much for her already. And she had not got anything for him. Olivia felt foolish for not having thought about it and arranging something for him.
“You have another gift for me? But you have already done so much.”
“And yet, I fear it has not been enough. You see, you are my wife now and you must get used to gifts. I simply cannot help but indulge you. Now, what if I creep ahead and you follow in a few moments?” he asked.
“Very well. Where am I to meet you?” she asked.
“In the library, of course. Where else might I meet with a woman such as yourself?” the earl teased.
Olivia was flattered that he knew her so well and it made her swoon to know that he would like to see her in her favourite of all places.
“The library. I shall come presently,” she promised.
The earl made his way through the crowd, greeting guests as he went in order to appear unsuspicious. After ten minutes or so, Olivia did the same, making her rounds to see people, thanking them for coming, and finally losing herself in the maze of flowers as she headed towards the house.
