Blake’s stomach had settled. Now, he was full of a giddy excitement. He tried to look more suitably somber, but his lips kept curling into a smile.
“I do,” Lord Cotswalts replied, placing Jane’s hand in the minister’s.
The minister nodded and then gently placed Jane’s hand in Blake’s. The warmth of her hand spread through Blake, filling him with a quiet comfort as he gazed at her. He felt an odd tight sensation in his chest. He knew what came next.
It was part of the reason it had taken so long. After all, changing your name by royal decree could not be rushed. He smiled, remembering the moment. It had been Jane’s suggestion, of course.
“You have always said it did not feel like your name, so why should you be married under it?” Jane had said a few days after they had gotten engaged.
They had been in the drawing room, discussing their wedding plans.
“But it will delay things.” Blake frowned at her, guilt pricking at him.
“So? Am I not worth waiting for?” Jane laughed.
“Of course you are,” Blake replied.
“Then we shall do it,” Jane said simply. “Besides I have never called you by it—it would feel like I am marrying another man. And I only want you.”
“I love you.” Blake laughed as he leaned into her.
“I love you too.” She kissed him and then gestured to the paper in front of them. “Now fill out the paperwork—I will not wait forever.”
In the present, Blake heard the minister speaking, and then it was his turn to say the words. He looked at Jane, her eyes full of love and quiet encouragement.
“I, Blake Rochester, the Duke of Caden, take thee, Jane Pembleton, daughter of the Viscount Cotswalts, 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,” Blake said as a euphoric feeling rushed through him.
It felt perfect that the first time he spoke his new official name was during his wedding to Jane.
“I, Jane Pembleton, take thee,BlakeRochester, the Duke of Caden…” Jane emphasized his name, and he barely heard the rest of what she said.
How does she always make it sound like a caress? How can she say my name in such a way that I feel that she knows me down to the marrow of my bones? Why on earth has this woman agreed to marry me?
He was so caught up in his thoughts that he almost forgot to release her hands, and she squeezed his gently to bring him back to the present.
He felt a faint flush spread across his cheeks as he smiled at her. She held out her left hand to him, and the minister handed him the ring. Blake inhaled, breathing in the scent of cinnamon and vanilla.Jane.
“With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” Blake slipped the ring on her finger, marveling at the warmth of her skin.
Jane’s eyes were full of tears, and Blake knew they were tears of joy. Together, they knelt down in front of the minister.
* * *
Jane slipped her hand into Blake’s as they made their way down the aisle. The sound of his name, of him saying it for the first time in front of God and all of their friends and family, filled her with such joy.
He is free now. Free of all the harm that man did to him.
Jane shook her head. She thought of the name change as her wedding gift to Blake. And she was glad they had done it.
“What are you thinking?” Blake murmured to her as they left the church.
“Just that I am glad you are finally free,” Jane replied.
“You know most people say the opposite about being married,” Blake teased.
“It is a good thing that we are not most people.” Jane laughed. “Or are you telling me you feel that I am some ball and chain around your neck?”
“You can be whatever you wish, as long as you are mine,” Blake growled softly and pulled her close to him.
