Page 49 of The English Queen

“You look like a princess,” Gerry confirmed.

“Thank you,” Rita gave them both a hug and a tearful kiss.

They looked so grown up in their suits. They had long graduated from short pants. It was amazing to watch them look so much like young men as opposed to little boys. Where had those darling boys gone? They’d always be her babies, of course, but they were no longer boys. They were growing into men before her eyes. Kind, respectful, clever men.

Gerry rubbed Rita’s belly. “The baby won’t even know she was here. But she was.”

Rita was nearly broken in two by his kind gesture. “She won’t, no. Nina will show up in pictures, though, won’t she? She will have that much to look back on.”

Rita never dreamed she’d be a pregnant bride. She never thought she’d be happy about it. It was an open secret Rita’s parents’ own marriage had been a shotgun wedding. Sabine hid her pregnancy with Rita on her own wedding day. Because Rita was surprised at falling pregnant, it was a welcome look. She was with a man who never shied from the challenge of taking care of her boys or being exactly the partner she needed. She was proud to have a child with him even if it did not fit the respectable, untouchable princess narrative. After all, who was she kidding? She was a divorcee.

They boys left and Bruno arrived, immediately kissing her in a way that made her breathless. He teared up like a sap.

“You look so beautiful, mi amor,” Bruno said. “Look at you.”

Rita kissed him back, “Look at us. We bloody well made it. A year ago, we had no idea, did we?”

He shook his head. “I never dreamed it, no. Are you excited?”

“Terribly. It’s going to be a wonderful day. One we will never forget.”

“And you’re not… disappointed? By the lack of fanfare? I know it’s… less than your first wedding.”

“It’s totally incomparable and lovely. I know it’s different. I had dozens of people around last time. But this time, it’s special because it’s us doing it for us. No royal wedding madness. No 900 people. Just the people we care about most. You and my boys alone would be enough, honestly.”

Bruno rubbed her belly. “And this little one. Little Bernadina.”

She kissed him again. Rita was slightly taller than Bruno in heels. A year ago, she worried they looked off. Now, she embraced her short king, as Izzy dubbed him. If it didn’t bother him, it didn’t bother her. She adored him. She fancied him like mad, even now. He was gorgeous and she didn’t deserve him. Who cared if they were the same height flat-footed?

“Ready to do this?” Rita asked.

“Let’s do it,” Bruno answered.

Rita and Bruno left for the guildhall with a barrage of press following.

Winston groaned, “They don’t stop.”

“They won’t, no,” Rita confirmed. “Oh well, more pictures for us.”

Bruno and Rita emerged with the boys at the guildhall, greeted by a few of Rita’s sisters. Izzy helped sort the veil and dress. The boys marched ahead with Bruno as the paparazzi snapped. Inside, they were greeted by those who had assembled for their nuptials. While Maggie elected to stay home, all of Rita’s cousins came out. And, as she walked down the aisle, she spied her uncle Keir. He beamed at her, sitting next to her parents in the front row. It warmed her heart. She knew her aunt wasn’t up to it, but it was nice to see his happy face. The boys escorted her to the registrar where they gave her a hug, kiss, and stepped to Bruno’s side. While Winston had the rings, Gerry would do the reading. Gerry was tearful by this point. It was downright precious.

“On behalf of Mairead and Bruno, I would like to welcome you all here today to share with them in this wedding ceremony. Through their vows they are making a commitment to each other and their children. Through your presence here you are expressing your support for them and the family they are building together. However, I must ask if any person here present knows of any lawful impediment to this marriage, then he or she should declare it now,” the registrar said.

The officiant offered to add in the part about their children. Their children. The line had been Winston’s suggestion, but they were all happy to include it. Family was what you made of it.

When no one registered a disagreement, the registrar continued, detailing how marriage was a marathon, not a sprint. He explained the importance of partnership, respect, and commitment. It was beautiful in a way a great big white church wedding with all the trappings of royalty hadn’t been to Rita.

Gerry approached a lectern holding a book. Gerry normally hated public speaking but gladly agreed to do the reading.

“I wanted to read something from a book my brother read. He thought it was good,” Gerry fought tears.

Rita nodded as if to tell him to go on.

He read from a novel called Lock and Key that Natalie read at school. She suggested it to the boys. Winston talked about it but never described the passage to his mother. The boys wanted to keep it a secret from her. They confirmed with Sabine it would be “acceptable” for a wedding. For two such young boys, the choice seemed mature and on-the-mark. Gerry, still a bit nervous and pointlessly fighting tears, read the final part of the passage which emphasised the importance of chosen family and those who showed up.

It was perfect for this audience. The boys knew their grandmother was adopted, making them ineligible for succession. They knew it hadn’t made their great-grandparents love her less or for them to feel excluded. They knew even though their father was their father, he rarely showed up. Bruno had known them for only a period of months and, yet he loved them. He showed up. They knew he would show up. So did Rita. She was in tears. Sabine handed her a tissue. She dabbed her eyes. Rita told herself she wouldn’t cry. Well, that was out the window.

“Bruno and Mairead, today you will exchange vows which will unite you as husband and wife. The words are a formal and public pledge of your love, and a promise of lifelong dedication to each other. Before you are joined in matrimony it is my duty to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows you are about to make. Marriage in this country means the union of two people, voluntarily entered into for life, to the exclusion of all others,” the registrar continued.

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