He didn’t wear black. His blue-gray outfit matched the color of his eyes, which drew her toward him as she started down the aisle. His loose hair brushed the collar of his doublet in gleaming black waves. A gathering of white lace peeked out from around his neck, and his ever-present sword was strapped to his side.
She hoped for a smile as she completed her walk, but his face remained unreadable. How she made her way down the aisle, she wasn’t sure. In fact, once she made it to the front of the church, she didn’t remember walking it at all. Her body began to shake, and she stared ahead at the minister.
The harsh-looking man glanced at her for a brief second before starting. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God to join together this man and this woman in holy Matrimony . . .”
She let out her breath. She’d been afraid the ceremony would be strange and gave a quick prayer of thanks that it was recognizable.
“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.”
Someone? Anyone? Please!
No one answered, and the minister continued. She closed her eyes and willed her body to stop shaking, paying no attention to the ceremony until she realized the minister was talking to Lukas.
“Wilt thee have this Woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
“I will.” His response was strong and certain.
Ebbe patted her arm when the minister shifted his attention to her. “Wilt thee have this Man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?”
“I will.” She cringed after replying, realizing her response had not been half as strong sounding as Lukas’s.
At the minister’s nod, the group walked up the steps to the altar. He turned and addressed them once again. “Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?”
Daddy! She gave a short sob, unable to stop its escape. The reality of her father’s death clutched her heart anew, but it didn’t matter. He wouldn’t have given her away even if she’d remained in the twenty-first century. This was the sixteenth, though, and there was more ceremony to get through.
“I do.” Ebbe kissed her cheek and whispered, “Your father would be proud. Both of them.” He pulled back with a soft smile and gave her hand to the minister. Once he left, the minister placed her hand in Lukas’s.
His hand felt warm and rough, the muscles taut. It wasn’t the hand of an idle man. A warrior. Isn’t that what Ebbe called him? She glanced to her right to get a better look. With the severe look on his face and the stiff way he held himself, he looked more like a warrior facing battle than a man getting married. What did you expect?
The sound of him repeating his vows brought her back to the business at hand, and once again she marveled at the determination in his voice.
“I, Lukas Oscar Reynard, take thee, Alexia Newberry Delamere, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold from this day forward. For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, for fairer or fouler, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us depart according to God’s holy ordinance. And thereunto I plight thee my troth.”
She braced herself. Lukas had once more done an admirable job with his vows. If she focused, maybe she could get through hers better this time.
“I, Alexia Newberry Delamere, take thee, Lukas Oscar Reynard, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to be bonny and buxom at bed and at board, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to God’s holy ordinance. And thereunto I plight thee my troth.”
There. She’d done it and her voice hadn’t quaked once. Not even at the ridiculous bonny and bed part.
The minister asked for the ring, and Lukas reached into his pocket with his free hand and placed it on the outstretched Bible. After saying a blessing, the minister gave it back to Lukas, and he held it between his thumb and index finger, inches away from her hand, waiting for the minister to continue. As they waited, she glanced at her wedding ring, and its brilliance left her breathless. It was a wide gold band, engraved with a delicate ivy pattern. Diamonds and rubies were interspersed around the band, winking in the low light of the church.
Lukas placed the ring on her thumb and, following the lead of the minister, moved it from finger to finger before coming to rest on her ring finger as he completed the vow. “With this Ring, I thee wed, with my body I thee honor, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” After saying ‘amen’ he clasped her left hand with both of his, one thumb rubbing soft circles over her knuckles. Almost over, she could imagine his thumb saying. Almost over.
When the minister instructed them to kneel, she dropped to her knees in relief. The blood pounded through her head, drowning out the prayer being offered. Her stomach clenched. She was going to pass out. Or throw up. Please Lord, don’t let me puke on my wedding dress. Since Lukas held her left hand, she made a fist with her right one and dug her fingernails into the base of her thumb. Eventually her head stopped its relentless pounding.
All too soon, Lukas helped her to her feet. His right hand still held her left one, but he placed his free arm around her waist. She thought she heard him whisper, “Not long now,” but when she looked, customary sternness had reclaimed his face.
She ran her thumb along his knuckles and gasped. She hadn’t been dreaming earlier. The skin on his right hand was broken.
She desperately wanted to leave, to get out of the gown that seemed too warm, to drink something cool, and above all, to get away from the imposing man about to be declared her husband. Instead the minister droned on.
“I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
The minister offered a quick blessing and before she had time to comprehend what was about to happen, Lukas leaned forward and lowered his head to hers.
He was going to kiss her. The blood rushed from her head, and her legs threatened to give way.
Two strong hands framed her face, and a rough thumb caressed her cheekbone. “Alexia,” he murmured, seconds before his lips softly brushed hers.
His kiss was sweet, gentle, and not at all what she expected.
Now she would faint.
“Do not swoon on me,” he whispered.
She took a deep breath, forced a smile, and faced the clapping congregation.
She was married.
****
“Oscar?” Lexy asked her husband, once the two of them were alone in the carriage headed back to Hullington for the wedding feast. “As in the grouch? Like the hotdog?”
At her question, Lukas tore himself away from his fascination with the passing landscape, his blue eyes serious. “Yes, Oscar. Although I know not this grouchy fellow or any dogs by that name, temperature not withstanding.”
She laughed, wedding jitters obviously replaced by a case of hysterics. “Right. You just have dogs named Lexy.” She snorted. “Oscar. A perfectly acceptable name if I ever heard one.”
He looked nonplussed at her laughing fit. “It is a perfectly acceptable name. Alexia.”
“Alexia is it? No more ‘princess?’”
He shrugged. “You are my wife now.”
She sobered at his words. Touché. Thinking back to the ceremony, she remembered a question she had. No time like the present. “What do bonny and buxom mean?”
A look of what could almost be called amusement flashed across h
is face. “As in ‘to be bonny and buxom at bed and at board?’” At her nod, he continued. “Meek and obedient.”
She laughed, crossing her arms and leaning against the back of the carriage. “As if.”
“As if what?” When she didn’t answer, he tilted his head. “You would make a vow to God and not keep it?”
“Where I come from ‘obey’ has been taken out of wedding vows. Besides, I didn’t know what I was saying.”
“I could have surmised the first from what I know of the time you come from. And as for the second, whether or not you knew what you said, you did in fact say it. Vowed to it, truth be told. Although I suppose it matters not.”
She didn’t have a chance to ask what he meant because they had reached Hullington, and at that moment the door opened. A coachman stood ready to help her out; a large crowd greeted her upon exiting.
When she made her way out of the carriage, someone from the back of the crowd yelled, “Long live Princess Lexy!” The thought came to her she should wave or smile or do something, but before she could decide what to do, another shout came from the same part of the crowd, “And long live Prince Lukas!”
Stunned, she glanced over to Lukas, but he didn’t look shocked. He looked like he was about to be sick.
****
The Duke of Culberton spared no expense in celebrating his son’s wedding, she thought to herself as she walked through the grounds at Hullington. Large tables almost groaned under the weight of food, and the musicians from the church had already started to play. Everywhere, unknown people were smiling, and her face hurt from returning the greeting.
Not long after arriving, she found herself seated beside Lukas with a large plate of food in front of her, surprised to find the combination of jitters and hysterics had left her famished. Her groom, on the other hand, did not share her appetite. Lukas picked at his food without any of it making its way to his mouth.
“You should try some of this.” She held out a piece of bread.
“Hm?”
“Aren’t you going to eat anything?” she asked, putting it back down and taking a drink of weak wine.
“I find I am not hungry.”
She sighed. How had she gotten herself into this? What on earth was she doing sitting at her wedding reception with a husband she barely knew, didn’t love, and who had no interest in her?
She drummed her fingertips on the table. The Duke of Culberton had made arrangements for them to inhabit the cottage until Wednesday. It would be a long five days.
“Lord…Prince Lukas?” A blushing young lady approached their table. “The dancing has started. Will you join us?”
Lexy watched the blonde with unholy glee, waiting for the set-down sure to follow from Lukas’s lips. Instead she watched in astonishment as he stood to leave. The girl hadn’t even looked her way.
Well, if this isn’t a perfect ending to a perfectly ludicrous day, I don’t know what is. You’d think the girl had never even heard of manners.
“Alexia, would you care to dance?” Lukas asked over his shoulder.
She waved them on. If she joined in, she’d make a fool of herself. Besides, it didn’t appear he wanted to dance with his new wife. He didn’t look back as he turned and walked to the makeshift dance floor.
Two pale blue eyes blazed with a look akin to victory before their owner tossed her head, sending her gleaming honeyed locks bouncing. With an upward tip of her pert nose, she was off, dainty feet almost skipping to catch up to the man in front of her.
Okay.That would be the perfect ending to a perfectly ludicrous day.
The young blonde smiled up at Lukas and the dance began. The top of the girl’s head didn’t even reach his chest. Lexy chuckled. A more unlikely couple she could not imagine.
Yet as she continued her observation, something else struck her. They complemented each other. Most women would fade into nothingness beside Lukas’s imposing figure. Instead, his dance partner shined. She twirled and her elegant blue gown brushed against his legs. Lexy’s breath caught when he took the girl’s hand.
Am I jealous? She shifted in her seat, uncomfortable with the conclusion she reached.
After watching the dance for a few minutes, she stood and walked closer to the group of merrymakers.
“What a beautiful wedding.”
Lexy glanced at her aunt to ensure she wasn’t joking before turning her attention back to the dancers. “I made it through without losing consciousness. I suppose it could be called a success.”
Lady Anne didn’t act offended by her short reply. “Believe it or not, I do know how you feel.”
“Why? Did Mr. Stokeburg dance with a pretty blonde thing at your wedding?”
“No, he did not. He was always most discrete in that regard,” Lady Anne replied, her voice even and flat.
She gaped at her aunt, losing all interest in the dancers before her.
“My apologies,” Lady Anne said. “This is not the conversation to be having with a new bride. I meant I knew what you are feeling, standing with a groom you do not know and looking ahead to an uncertain future.”
“It’s okay. I did what I had to do too. I feel at peace with my decision. Most of the time.”
Lady Anne gave her a quick hug. “You have my prayers, dear.”
She watched in shock as her aunt walked away. Lukas approached a few minutes later.
“Alexia?”
“Did you finish your dance?” She hadn’t noticed which way the blonde had gone, but she felt some satisfaction in knowing Lukas was no longer in her company.
“I did. I thought we could get something to drink.”
She accepted his invitation, and they moved to where servants were handing out more wine. Once sated, Lukas led her to a quiet spot near the gardens.
“I must apologize for not complimenting your appearance earlier.”
She blushed. “Thank you, I could say the same. You should break out the colors more often. They look quite charming.”
An embarrassed silence fell between them. She dropped her head, and her gaze fell on her jeweled left hand. “Oh, I was going to comment on your choice of jewelry.” She wiggled her fingers. “The ring is amazing.”
“I am glad it pleases you. It was my mother’s.”
“Your mother’s?”
“Yes. When my brother married, his wife preferred a newly commissioned ring. My mother’s was saved for my wife.”
“Your sister-in-law was crazy to have turned down such an heirloom. I’ve never seen a more spectacular ring.”
They turned and started moving back to the crowd, the noise getting louder as they drew closer. The walk back was slow, a silent agreement to prolong the return.
“The fact my father had it with him at Hullington leads me to believe he had a well thought out plan for arranging our marriage.”
She stared at the crowd before her, not wanting to dwell on his father’s actions. “What’s done is done. Let’s try to get past how we’ve started and work toward the future.”
Questions about the warning he gave her danced on her tongue, but she decided not to ask them. What’s done was done. His reason for the warning didn’t matter anymore. The distance between them and the crowd grew smaller.
“Who are all these people anyway?” she asked.
“Some are from Dresdonia. That is Lord Yager speaking with Bixby over there.” He pointed to where Ebbe talked with an older gentleman. “Several are exiles from Dresdonia who left the country as Severon took power. However, most of them are from the surrounding areas. They came today to show support for you. I am afraid we will find ourselves quite busy after our return on Wednesday. It is time for you to be properly introduced to society.”
By the time he finished talking, they were pulled in different directions by the swarming mass of people coming to greet them.
****
The day passed in a blur. Much too fast, Lexy thought, because before she knew it, she was being helped into a carriage
for her journey to the cottage Culberton had procured. Lukas, she learned, left earlier.
She didn’t welcome the solitude afforded by the carriage ride. With no one to talk to, she was left with her own thoughts, and they had a tendency to drift to the night ahead. A shiver ran through her body and she knew it had nothing to do with the cool evening air, but with the man waiting for her arrival.
The carriage made it to the cottage, and she stifled a laugh at Culberton’s vocabulary. Cottage to most meant a small dwelling. Standing before her was a two-story stone building, the size of a modest house in Texas.
She walked to the door where Mary, the servant from earlier in the morning, greeted her. Was it this morning the young girl had cleared away her breakfast tray?
“Prince Lukas is upstairs in your room, Your Highness. I’ll be downstairs if you require anything.” Mary curtsied and left.
Lexy forced herself to acknowledge the girl’s words, consumed as she was by her thoughts. Why had Lukas ridden ahead? Was she to have no time to prepare herself? At each step, she paused.
Lord? I could use some help here. I’m not sure I’m up to this. Her feet took too much effort to move. What she wouldn’t give to have Cara with her. At least then she’d have someone to talk with. Cara would understand her fears and she’d probably have just the words of wisdom to impart.
She soon found herself in front of a closed door at the top of the stairs. Shutting her eyes, she tried unsuccessfully to push aside all thoughts of the man on the other side. No. Not a man. My husband. Could he hear the pounding of her heart through the door?
She scolded herself with the knowledge that women did this every day, probably with a better attitude. Finding a strength she did not know she possessed, she put her hand on the door and pushed it open.
The Peculiar Princess Page 11