Page 74 of The Duke's Stubborn Wallflower
Nigel’s green eyes found Olivia’s, and it seemed as though everything else faded away.I cannot wait to marry you, Nigel.
Alexander squeezed Olivia’s arm. “You don’t need to run to him, dear sister.”
“I may not need to, but I want to.” Olivia murmured.
“It will be worth the wait, I promise.” Alexander smiled at her.
“Do you think father would approve?” Olivia gave Alexander a worried look.
“Of course, he would. He would be so proud of you and so deeply happy that you have found someone who will bring you such joy.” Alexander gave his sister a reassuring smile.
They had reached Nigel, and Olivia took her place beside him. She was vaguely aware of Alexander standing to one side of Nigel and of Jane on her other side.
Nigel beamed at Olivia. It took all of his strength not to reach towards her, to hold her delicate hand in his, and tell her how wonderful she looked.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony,” the Priest spoke in a surprisingly booming voice.
“You look wonderful,” Nigel mouthed to Olivia, unable to resist.
“So do you,” she mouthed back.
As the ceremony went on, Nigel found it harder and harder to focus on anything the priest was saying. All he could do was marvel at his good fortune.I cannot believe I get to marry this woman. I shall spend the rest of my life making her the happiest woman in the world.
“Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?” the priest’s voice rang out.
“I do.” Alexander spoke in his ringing voice and placed Olivia’s hands into the old, wizened ones of the priest.
The priest nodded to Nigel who took Olivia’s right hand in his own. Nigel’s heart thundered in his chest, and he marvelled at the perfect softness of Olivia’s hand in his.
He listened to the priest, waiting until he was told to repeat the words to speak. “I, Nigel Maxton, Duke of Glassley, take thee, Lady Olivia Rokesby, to 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.”
As Nigel spoke his vows, he felt his own amazement.Till death do us part. Oh, may that be a long time from now. May we have four score or more years together. May we part old and aged and infirm.He had never imagined what getting old would look like, yet now, it seemed almost a certainty.
They released their hands, and then it was Olivia’s turn to take Nigel’s right hand in hers and speak her own vows. Nigel smiled at her, marvelling at the surety with which she began to speak.
“I, Lady Olivia Rokesby, take thee, Nigel Maxton, Duke of Glassley, to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, insickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.” Her breath caught on the words, and Nigel could see her hopes in her words as she finished her vows.
Once more they released their hands, and Nigel instantly missed the warmth of Olivia’s hands in his own. He glanced down at Dandelion and gently untied the bow around her neck, sliding a plain gold band from it.
He carefully slid the ring onto the fourth finger of Olivia’s left hand and said, “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.”
And with those words, Olivia felt as though her life had just begun. She barely heard the rest of the ceremony. Every time she looked at Nigel, her smile widened. She wiped a tear from her eye, her heart so full she thought it would burst.
As soon as the priest proclaimed them married and the ceremony ended, the small gathering of people around them erupted into jubilant cheers.
In the commotion, Nigel swept Olivia into his arms, and forsaking all sense of propriety, he kissed her. She threw her arms around him, losing herself in the kiss.
When they broke apart, Nigel’s eyes glittered fiercely. “I love you, my darling Olivia.”
“I love you too, Nigel.” Olivia nestled her head into his chest.
Holding his wife in his arms, Nigel strode down the aisle, ready to finally start living his life. They both knew that it would be a long one, full of love and laughter.
And Nigel never attempted to write poetry again.
Epilogue
6 months later
