The newlyweds hurried to fetch the blossoms and returned a moment later with a hastily assembled bouquet of roses and lily of the valley. Lucy handed it to Julia and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m so happy for you, sister,” she said. “Just think, in years to come, we can celebrate our wedding anniversaries together.”
“In years to come,” Julia sighed again. “I like the sound of that.”
“What about rings?” William asked. “We can’t have a wedding without rings.”
“I think I have a solution.” Dowling crooked a finger at a smiling lady whose white hair matched his own. “Come here, my dear.”
She joined him and wrapped her hand around his arm. “I think I can guess your mind, you old darling. Ours?”
He nodded. “Indeed.”
The older couple took off their wedding bands and handed them to Gareth and Julia. “These will stand in until you can get back to town and purchase your own,” Mrs. Dowling said.
“I have the rings,” Gareth admitted sheepishly. “I bought them eight years ago, but—”
“But in your eagerness to arrive today, you left them in that bank vault,” Cheswick interrupted, adopting his old tone. “How utterly romantic. I think I’m going to cry.”
“Cheswick,” William said. “Do shut up.”
Gareth looked at the smiling woman beside him. The woman who in a few minutes would finally be his alone, for all time. “Yes. Vicar Dowling, would you please marry us right away?”
“If Your Grace will take her ladyship’s right hand,” Dowling instructed.
Gazing into his bride’s eyes, Gareth saw his own happiness reflected there. Her fingers, warm and strong, curled about his palm.
The guests gathered around and smiling, Dowling said, “Dearly beloved…”
About the Author
Raised in the Southeastern United States, Cecily French grew up loving books, classical music and the theater. When not writing sensuous and erotic romance, she enjoys reading, going to the gym, taking care of her devoted canine companions and wishing she could afford to hire a gardener. She currently resides in Tennessee, where she works as a therapist.
Cecily welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Cecily French
Temporary Mistress
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Table of Contents
Back in Your Arms
Back in Your Arms
Cecily French
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
About the Author
Also by Cecily French
Back in Your Arms Page 10