“Indeed.” She would definitely have to work on that. After all, a woman might need to keep a few things to herself.
Directly in front of them, a thatch-roofed building with whitewashed walls squatted like a nesting hen. Emblazoned in large letters on the sign above the door were the words:Blacksmith’s Shop. On the bench out front sat an older man weaving a basket. Without looking up from his work, he asked, “Ye be wantin’ the bishop. Be that so?”
“The bishop?” Merry repeated with a glance at Duncan.
Duncan nodded. “Aye, we wish to be married. Is the anvil priest about?”
The old man squinted up at the sun, then set aside his partially constructed basket. “Aye, Bishop Lang be here, and a good time to be findin’ him. That bottle of his tips a bit too often later in the day for him to be of any use to anyone but himself.” He pushed up from the bench and hitched a few steps, battling the stiffness in his joints. “Ye got coin, I reckon?”
“Plenty.” Duncan’s tone left no question about that.
With everyone in tow, Merry and Duncan followed the gentleman into the low-ceilinged building, to the black anvil sitting on a stump atthe far end of the room.
“Wait here,” the man said, “whilst I fetch the bishop and his son. His son does the marriage lines ye’ll be wanting for proof.”
Serendipity gave Merry’s arm a reassuring squeeze as she and Chance took their places beside her. Malcolm and Lady Evelyn stood to Duncan’s right. Soon, they were joined by a white-haired man with a round face and rosy cheeks, dressed in the somber black of a cleric. A younger gentleman, resembling him so much that he had to be his son, followed him.
“Welcome! Welcome!” the white-haired fellow said. “I be Bishop Lang, and whom do I have the pleasure of marrying on this fine day?”
“Duncan Alastair Gallowy, Marquess of Kirkston,” Duncan said before turning to Merry with a glint in his eye. “And Lady Merry Julianna Heather Abarough.”
“You remembered.” Merry could only recall ever telling him her full Christian name the one time, and yet he had remembered.
“Of course I remembered,” he said softly. “I never forget anything about ye, lass.”
She held tighter to his arm, her knees suddenly gone weak. Good heavens, she was about to marry this wonderful man.
Lang turned to his son. “Did ye get all that, Simon? We must keep our ledgers accurate.”
“Aye, Da. I got it.” Simon had seated himself at a small table with an enormous book, an inkwell, and additional sheets of paper. He nodded at Merry and Duncan. “And who be the witnesses for me to record for the marriage lines good and proper?”
“Lady Serendipity Abarough, sister to the bride, and Chance Abarough, the Duke of Broadmere, brother to the bride.” Chance gave Merry a brotherly smile that didn’t settle her nerves a bit.
“Serendipity,” Simon repeated slowly, cringing as he scratched out the word. “That be a right large name to spell, I reckon.” He looked up from his ledger and shifted his attention to Duncan’s family. “I can addyer names as well, if ye like.”
“Lady Evelyn Galloway, mother to the groom, and Lord Malcolm Galloway, the groom’s brother,” Lady Evelyn said.
“Family members on both sides.” Bishop Lang clapped in approval. “Well done, indeed.” He motioned for Merry and Duncan to step closer to the anvil, with the hammer leaning against it.
He first turned to Merry. “Do ye take this man to be yer husband in fair times and foul, forsaking all others to be his helpmate and never leave his side, the two of ye living rightly in the sight of God Almighty?”
“I do,” she said, struggling to speak through her breathlessness.
The bishop nodded, then looked at Duncan. “Do ye take this woman to be yer wife, to protect her, guard her, and keep her safe in fair times and foul, never to leave her side or abandon her and always live rightly in the sight of God Almighty?”
“Aye, I do, and I wish to give her this.” Duncan reached inside his jacket and drew out a small black velvet box shaped like a heart. He opened the hinged lid and took out the ring, then tossed the box to Malcolm.
Merry found it impossible to breathe as he took her left hand and slid the lovely sapphire-and-diamond ring in place.
“With this ring,” he said ever so softly, “I swear to love ye forever and a day.”
Unable to keep the tears of her heart at bay, she reached up and touched his cheek. “And I swear the same, my champion. Always and forever.”
The bishop cleared his throat. “Well then, like the metals forged on this mighty anvil, let these two be joined in holy matrimony. Let no man dare put asunder what our Lord Almighty hath joined.” With a grand swing, he brought the hammer down upon the anvil, making it ring loud and clear, announcing their union. “Congratulations! Ye now be man and wife.” He held out his hand. “Five sovereigns and allof ye see Simon and sign the marriage lines and our ledger, if ye please.”
“I’ll be paying that.” Duncan’s mother tugged open her reticule and fished out the gold coins. “’Tis the least I can do on this joyous occasion.”
Serendipity caught Merry in a tight hug and whispered, “I am so happy for you.”
