“Ready?” Gabriel asked.
“More than ready,” Susan replied.
She and Gabriel began the measured walk down the aisle, followed by Emma hand in hand with Patsy. Susan kept her gaze fixed on the handsome man standing with his butler. She couldn’t say Griff was the man of her dreams since she’d never dreamed of becoming a married woman. But they loved each other and that was all that mattered.
*
Griff took Susan’shand when Gabriel gave her over into his safekeeping. He couldn’t fail to miss the stern warning in his fellow earl’s eyes but, when her warmth penetrated his skin, he knew he’d made the right choice. He would be a good and faithful husband.
“Dearly beloved,” Parr intoned, obliging Griff to drag his gaze away from Susan’s gray eyes, “we are gathered here together in the sight of God…”
Most of the preamble washed over him, only the wordsordained for the procreation of childrensnagging his attention and making Susan blush.
To avoid fornicationgave him pause for only a moment; it was true he and Susan had shared intimacies but he didn’t consider that a sin, just practice for when their bodies finally joined.
A cough from Potts jolted him to his senses. Parr was addressing him. “Griffith Clifton Halliwell, wilt thou have this woman to 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,” he replied, never more sure of anything in his life.
“Susan Crompton, wilt thou have this man 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, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”
Susan turned to look at him. “I will,” she replied.
He knew he ought to fall to his knees in humble thanksgiving for the love this woman bore him but, next thing he knew, her warm right hand was in his and he was repeating his pledge to her. “I, Griffith Clifton Halliwell, take thee, Susan Crompton, 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.”
Susan took his hand in hers and pledged herself to him. “I, Susan Crompton, take thee, Griffith Clifton Halliwell, to 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.”
Clearing his throat again, Potts placed the wedding band on Parr’s book. Griff took the golden circle and slid it onto the fourth finger of Susan’s left hand.
Looking into her loving eyes, he followed the parson’s lead, though he had no need. He had practiced the words over and over in preparation. “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.”
Drowning in Susan’s gray eyes, Griff absorbed little else, except Parr’s pronouncement that he and Susan were now man and wife.
On to Clifton Heights
Susan and herlate father had never tolerated each other, yet she found herself wishing he were present at the wedding breakfast in Thicketford’s dining room, a place where he’d often loudly admonished her interest in learning and social justice. “See, Papa,” she’d whisper. “Some men appreciate a bluestocking.”
“What are you smiling at?” Griff asked, squeezing her hand under the table.
“Just a memory,” she replied, heat sweeping over her when he placed her hand on his arousal. “Griff,” she breathed, trying to remove her hand. “People might see.”
“Don’t go all prudish on me now,” he chuckled. “We’re among family and they understand we want each other.”
It was true they were celebrating with a small group…
“But Potts…”
Griff chuckled. “His look of censure is permanent. It wouldn’t matter what we were doing. You’ll notice he’s directed it at every one of the footmen who’ve waited on us.”
“Baron Whiteside,” she tried.
“He’s too busy flirting with Rebecca,” Griff replied wiggling his eyebrows. “He wishes he had the courage to do what I’m doing.”
Susan had to smile. Gabriel’s mother and their widowed neighbor did seem immersed in each other’s company. Judging by Anthea’s pout, she’d also noticed. Springer, on the other hand, looked wryly amused.
“Patsy’s too busy chasing those infernal poodles,” Griff added.
“And playing big sister to Anthea’s little girl,” she agreed.