The Rakehell Regency Romance Series Boxed Set 5

by MacMurrough, Sorcha

  Michael chose to give his old business colleague a further message with Colossians 3:12 to 17:

  "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

  Juliet did not start to panic until Jonathan said, "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; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men’s carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.

  "First, It was ordained for the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy Name."

  Juliet felt a shudder of fear and delight as she heard him intone these words. Lawrence evidently must have felt her trembling, for he gripped her hand more tightly, though he did not look at her.

  "Secondly, it was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid fornication; that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ’s body.

  "Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity. Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can show any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."

  Both of them held their breaths as they waited for what seemed an eternity. Juliet was not sure quite what she had feared-perhaps Matilda turning up to make a scene? Her formidable aunt descending like a fury? Lawrence arguing?

  But blissfully, there was nothing. She risked a peep up at Lawrence and saw that he seemed perfectly calm. Why wasn't he railing at his fate?

  When the silence continued unabated, Jonathan continued with the ceremony. "I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God’s Word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their Matrimony lawful."

  Juliet felt herself quaking. This was her final chance. She could say no here and now, and that would be the end of it. She would be free, and would never have to see Lawrence again.

  That thought filled her with dread, and she wondered in a panic why this was so. Was she losing her mind? She hardly knew the man, and he was livid with her.

  She closed her eyes, and swayed slightly, so that Lawrence caught her by both elbows to steady her.

  "I’m, I’m sorry, it’s just…" She opened her eyes and looked up at him and whatever she had been about to say flew out of her head in the face of his earnest expression.

  He hates you for turning his whole life upside down, came her last desperate thought. Hate, or something else?

  Yet when she closed her eyes, all she could see was Lawrence, laughing, smiling, chatting with her as he had last night.

  "I’m sorry, it’s just so warm in here. I was feeling a bit faint. I'm better now. Pray continue."

  Lawrence’s shoulders visibly relaxed, and he took her hand once more in both of his own. "If you're sure you’re fine?"

  "I'm fine. I promise."

  "Very well, then." He nodded to Jonathan to move on to the next part of the ceremony, the exchange of vows.

  "Lawrence, wilt thou have this woman Juliet to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

  Lawrence said in a clear, unwavering tone, " I will."

  Still she waited for something to go wrong, but all was peaceful and calm.

  "Juliet, wilt thou have this man Lawrence to thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

  She took a deep breath, and answered, "I will."

  "Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?"

  Matthew stepped forward. "I do give her." He kissed his sister and then stepped back.

  With their right hands joined, Lawrence recited, "I, Lawrence, take thee Juliet, to be 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." He released her hand, and she then took his and squeezed it gently.

  "I, Juliet, take thee, Lawrence, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth."

  Philip now stepped forward to hand Lawrence the ring.

  The ring he should have used to marry Matilda, she thought with a sinking heart.

  Lawrence placed it upon the Bible, and Jonathan said a blessing over it before handing it back to the groom.

  Lawrence took it firmly in his right hand, and held her left in his own. He said clearly," With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow."

  He passed it briefly over each finger, starting with the thumb, as he intoned, "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." At that word, he had reached her fourth finger, and pushed the ring all the way down into place.

  Then they both knelt in front of Jonathan as he said, "Let us pray. Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life: Send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this Ring given and received is a token and pledge, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

  "Amen," they all echoed.

  He took their right hands and placed them together. "Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder."

  Juliet and Lawrence gazed into each other’s eyes, hardly able to believe the enormity of it all. She could feel her eyes filling with tears, and Lawrence’s expression was most certainly stormy.

  Why was she crying? She could have said no. But the truth was, she was actually feeling joyful, unlikely though that seemed given all that had happened.

  But she did not have much time to analyse her feelings, for the sensual smells of the rose
s in her bouquet were almost overwhelming, and Jonathan was pressing on with the ceremony.

  "For as much as Lawrence and Juliet have consented to be joined together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

  "God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

  He then led them all in the Lord’s Prayer, and the responses, and moved on to the blessings.

  "God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy Word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfill the same. Look, O Lord, mercifully upon them from heaven, and bless them. And as thou didst send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sarah, to their great comfort, so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy servants; that they obeying thy Will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives’ end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

  "Amen," Lawrence said fervently, earning himself a warm look from Juliet.

  "God, who by thy mighty power hast made all things of nothing; who also (after other things set in order) didst appoint, that out of man (created after thine own image and similitude) woman should take her beginning; and, knitting them together, didst teach that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by Matrimony hadst made one: O God, who hast consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church: Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy Word, (as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh,) and also that this woman may be loving and amiable, faithful and obedient to her husband; and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

  "Amen," she said with enthusiasm, and smiled up timidly at the man who she would shortly be calling husband for the rest of her life.

  "Almighty God, who at the beginning did create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and did sanctify and join them together in marriage; Pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives’ end. Amen.

  "All ye that are married, or that intend to take the holy estate of Matrimony upon you, hear what the holy Scripture doth say as touching the duty of husbands towards their wives, and wives towards their husbands.

  "Saint Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, the fifth Chapter, doth give this commandment to all married men; Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water, by the Word; that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself: for no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife; and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife, even as himself."

  They stared at each other as if across a chasm, and Lawrence bowed to Juliet politely. Juliet. His wife.

  Jonathan, who had performed the ceremony with the greatest solemnity, now grinned from ear to ear and said, "Oh, go on, she’s all yours now, Lawrence. You can kiss her."

  He did not need to be told twice. His mouth swooped down to claim hers possessively, leaving them both breathless. His eyes narrowed, and he looked almost livid.

  Their amused audience began to laugh or clap, and then Jonathan said, "Phew, I’m glad that’s over with! Another Rakehell married."

  This earned him the laugh he had hoped for from everyone except Lawrence.

  "I'm not a Rakehell any longer. And while I thank you all for coming and helping me to this most remarkable wife, we shall be leaving now."

  "Leaving?" Matthew echoed in confusion. "But what about the wedding breakfast?"

  "I want nothing from any of you," Lawrence insisted. "Juliet is mine now, and I shall do as I like with my wife. She is coming with me in what she stands up in, no more. I shall make provision for my wife as I see fit. I have no wish to be beholdened to any of you for anything."

  "Now hold on a moment--" Matthew began to protest.

  "You should have thought of protecting her before you prostituted her, Mr. Dane. It's too late now. She's my property, as assuredly as if she were a horse I bought at auction. You will not visit, interfere, or try to contact her. I have no need to speak to your solicitors, for I would not take a penny of any marriage settlement you offered if I were starving in the streets. And now, I bid you all good day, and goodbye."

  He took Juliet’s hand and began to head for the front door of the house.

  Althea protested, "But you can't just take her like that! Her cloak, some decent shoes--"

  She ran to Juliet's room to speak to her maid, who obeyed her mistress and grabbed any garments near to hand, a pair of boots and her cloak and bonnet.

  Philip did his best to stall Lawrence at the front door. The maid scurried out the door to the boot of the coach which had just drawn up from the rear stables, and stuffed the small bundle in.

  Juliet nodded her thanks as her husband heaved her up into the coach. Oh, it was just too shaming. She was being treated like a criminal, and had no idea why.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  A short carriage ride took them to Lawrence's lodgings, where Juliet could see his valises and portmanteaux standing at the ready, waiting for the last items to be added.

  "Sit," he commanded, indicating a chair. "I'll be ready shortly."

  He went through each drawer methodically to make sure he was leaving nothing behind.

  "My factor Nash has gone down to Bristol to see about some new tea shipments coming in there. I was supposed to be going on honeymoon for a fortnight, but given the circumstances, I think the less time we spend in each other's company, the better, don't you?"

  She simply nodded.

  He glared at her. "Though there are some aspects of the honeymoon I imagine a woman like you would be unhappy to forgo."

  She shrugged.

  "Oh, don't be such a bloody hypocrite. You were gagging for it last night."

  She blushed but gazed at him steadily.

  "All right. We have time. I'll indulge you. Strip."

  Her eyes widened. She shook her head.

  His tone was chillingly quiet. "As your husband, I can tear that gown right off your body in an instant and no one will gainsay me. But I'll be reasonable. You have one minute to take it off."

  She hesitated for thirty seconds, and then removed it.

  "And the rest. All of it."

  When she made no move, he said, "You have one minute."

  She sent him a look as hard as a slap and then took off every last garment and stood at attention.

  He closed his cases and put them outside the door, then sidled over to her, stroking her shoulders and the back of her neck. He moved around to the front of her, his lips a mere inch from her own. She tried to still her rapidly beating heart, but the warmth emanating from him was en
ough to melt her. His breath fluttered over her cheek, and despite herself her hand came up to caress his broad chest.

  He almost groaned as a ragged bolt of desire shot through him. "Quite the little courtesan, with your alluring caresses last night, weren't you?" he accused, trying to steady his reeling world.

  She shook her head. "I don't really see how what we shared last night can be accomplished without it."

  "I assure you, there are ways," he said, his eyes dark.