She blushed beneath her veil, stifling a giggle. “You have scrubbed up good as well,Mr Hartfield.”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Will we get this show on the road? I cannot wait anotherseconduntil you are my wife. It already feels like I have waited an eternity.”
She nodded breathlessly. They turned to the vicar and started exchanging their vows. Delia uttered the words as if she were in the midst of a dream. It seemed like no time had passed until the vicar declared them man and wife, telling Ambrose he could kiss the bride.
He grabbed her, lifting her up and kissing her passionately, spinning her around. Delia heard laughter and clapping from the congregation. She was giddy with love by the time he placed her gently back down on the floor.
The organ started blaring as they walked hand in hand down the aisle together. The congregation kept clapping. When they were all outside the church, they were surrounded by well-wishers before they made their way to the landau that was to take them to their wedding breakfast.
When the carriage finally pulled away, he took her hand, kissing it. They stared at each other.
“Well, hello, Mrs Hartfield,” he grinned. “It is so very nice to finally make your acquaintance.”
“And yours as well, Mr Hartfield,” she said, giddy with pleasure.
“I am going to love you like crazy for the rest of our lives,” he vowed. “And how appropriate that we are in a carriage again, just like when we first met.” He lowered his voice, whispering into her ear. “Although this time, we are quite alone. How about we take the long way around town to the wedding breakfast?”
Delia felt a frisson of desire. “That sounds like a wonderful plan.”
He leaned over, kissing her passionately. The houses and streets of Bradford started to blur as she slowly closed her eyes, giving in to the love and longing between them.
Yes, she thought, in a delirium of pleasure.It is very appropriate that we are in a carriage again straight after our marriage. I will never forget that first carriage, though. It was a carriage of love indeed.
And then, the kiss deepened, and she had no further thoughts at all.
THE END