Page 96 of Atone, Adonis

She smiled through her tears. “More certain than I have ever been in my entire life. About anything.”

He made a little sound at the echo of his own words, and then he drew her into him, holding her tightly, as if he meant never to let her go again.

“Then tomorrow,” he said into her hair.

“Tomorrow,” she agreed.

Outside, in the summer light, their little thrush sang.

Chapter

31

NOTICE OF CLOSURE

Parish of St. Oswald’s, Dorset

Be it known unto the parishioners that the Church of St. Oswald shall be closed to the public on Thursday, the 21st day of June—being the First Day of Summer—between the hours of ten o’clock in the forenoon and two o’clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of a Public Solemnisation and Reaffirmation of Marriage Vows, between:

The Right Honourable Frederick Sedgewick, Earl of Chester

and

Mrs. Julianna Sedgewick, Countess of Chester (née Farrow)

The said service to be conducted before witnesses, and to include the renewal of vows formerly made, together with a Blessing of the Union, according to the rites of the Church of England.

Parishioners are further advised that the Church has been newly restored and made fit for Divine Service, and that the usual offices during the above hours will therefore be suspended.

By order of the Bishop and with episcopal consent,

Dr. Ellicott, Diocesan

Julianna watched her husband standing at the altar as she made her way up the aisle. Her Adonis, her darling, her Fred. He was beautiful, there was no denying it, but Julianna hardly saw the chiseled lines of his jaw or the tousled blond curls now. What she saw when she looked at him were blue eyes alight with love. A heart that courage had blown wide open. A man who could have retreated behind the armor of his title and his money but hadn’t. He’d come forward instead and laid himself bare to her. There was no one she admired more. And no one else she wanted to share her life with.

Her eyes glanced over at her brother while she walked. He’d arrived the day before from Torquay, looking as healthy as was possible. Though his shoulders were thin in his overcoat and the hollows of his face pronounced, he too looked content. Happy to have her settled with Fred, happy to have mended the rips of their relationship with his sister and closest friend.

There was a murmur of the gathered guests as she passed. They hadn’t invited many people, but the ones who had attended were those they had each wanted to be there. Faces that made her happy. She stopped at the altar and stood by Fred’s side. His suit was exquisitely cut of course, the fabric fitting the breadth of his shoulders to perfection, the fine summer weight wool of his trousers draped beautifully over his powerful thighs.

But it was nothing compared to the dress he’d made for her. She’d shed tears of pure joy when she’d tried it on last night. Between the modiste’s talent and her husband’s precision they had turned her mother’s wedding dress into the ivory muslin and lace concoction of her dreams.

A soft rustle went through the pews as Julianna reached her hands out and Fred took them in his own. And then another as the officiant lifted a hand and nodded to the organist who began to play her father’s favorite melody. The one that always made her mother say she’d fallen in love through her ears.

So have I, Mother, Julianna thought. I’ve fallen in love through my eyes and my ears and my heart. Through every part of me.

She felt the tear as it purled down her cheek. Fred lifted his handkerchief and tenderly brushed it away.

“I love you, Jules,” he whispered, so low that only she could hear him.

“I love you too,” she whispered back.

When the music ended, the Bishop raised his hand. “Who presents this woman,” he asked, his voice reverberating through the church, “to stand once more before God and this congregation, and to renew the vows of marriage freely and of her own will?”

Thomas stood from his place in the pew. He moved slowly, carefully supported by Mrs. Sykes. It took him longer than it once would have and Julianna felt the difference keenly—how he had to pause to draw in his breath. How it took his nurse and his cane both to hold him upright. But she saw too that when he finally straightened his eyes were bright with love. And his mouth curved in that familiar, irreverent smile she’d known every day of her life. And that he was healthier than she’d seen him in a long, long time.

“I do,” he said clearly. “Wholeheartedly.”

A ripple moved through her chest, and she felt close to tears again.