“Shall we go?” Celestine asked once the hug ended. “My groom awaits.”
Edward’s mouth fell open the moment he lay eyes on Celestine.
He was standing at the altar, his nerves steadily rising by the second. Beside him stood Percival, who took obvious pleasure in seeing his friend so undone. As was to be expected, Percival was nowhere near as encouraging about this wedding as he could have been, and while he wasn’t against it, he did seem to think that it would likely turn out for the worse.
The church itself was decorated with an air toward romance, but without being too ostentatious or over the top. The theme was Spring, and the flowers that hung from the walls and were placed across the seats were chosen for their color scheme and their scent. An orchestra had been set up in the corner, thetune they played soft and melodic. And the crowds were mostly friends of Lady Fairbrook, as Edward was not exactly popular.
It was a quaint ceremony, a decision that Edward made and Celestine agreed with. While they both wanted this marriage, they both knew too that it was not typical and to celebrate as such might give the wrong impression.
As Edward stood at the altar, the nerves mounted. While he had come to accept that he wanted the marriage, there was still a sense of reservation that he could not fully shake.
Was it really just jealousy that had driven him? Was he ready for such a huge commitment? And was he the type of man who Celestine saw, rather than that which he had spent so long trying to be? Was this a huge mistake…
Too late now, I suppose. Whatever comes, I am in this…
That was when Celestine appeared in the doorway, and that was when all of Edward’s reservations vanished as if they had never been.
“Careful now,” Percival said when he saw the look on Edward’s face. “Save it for tonight, Edward.”
Edward ignored him, refusing to look away from his bride for even a second.
She seemed to glow as she started down the aisle. While the sun shone through the doorway behind her, it was as if she was the source. That gown… how it hugged her body… how her hips swayed as she walked… how it seemed purposefully designed to do things to Edward that were not appropriate to even consider in a church.
As she walked, she caught him staring, and this only seemed to encourage her.
Her smile turned into a coy smirk. Her eyes flashed with wicked understanding. She stood taller. She pushed out her chest. And she did not once look away from Edward, willing and wanting him to take her all in.
His leg started to shake. His blood started to run hot. And his mind, his intrepid thoughts, became scandalous.
There were still so many unknowns about what was to come. Both Edward and Celestine’s true feelings were being slowly learned. Whether or not they were even capable of married life together; they were companionable, but could they be more, and did they want to be? And what might happen if it was realized that this was all a terrible mistake?
But one thing that was undeniable was the attraction.
Edward focused on that attraction. He let it take him fully. And he put aside all feelings of doubt, and all questions raised, because so long as that attraction remained, he knew that little else would really matter.
And once tonight comes, we will both know for sure…
Celestine’s mother led her down the aisle. Not traditional, but as her father had passed away, it made perfect sense. She led her daughter to the altar, and they stood across from Edward.
“That gown…” Edward said softly when Celestine was close enough to hear.
She smirked and then indicated to her mother, who thankfully did not hear.
The ceremony proceeded without incident. In fact, Edward hardly noticed it at all. He had eyes only for Celestine, and he spent the ceremony doing his best not to stare so that it was obvious what was on his mind.
What he did much thinking about, however, was their first kiss.
Should I kiss her? What if I cannot stop once I start?
His mind turned as he debated the merits of the kiss. On the one hand, he wanted so desperately to taste her again, and to show her that she was his, as he was hers. But her mother was there, as were friends and family, and Edward knew that he risked getting carried away.
Thus, when they were officially announced as man and wife, Edward did that which was so hard but also right. He just tookher by the hands and smiled, knowing that the time to show his affection would come later.
“Well, that was relatively painless,” he said as he smiled at her. “I don’t know what I was worried about.”
“You were worried?” she asked back with a coy smile.
“Were you not?”
