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“Forgive him!” Silva said to me. “There was talk that you had left London early this morning. It reached the house. Everyone was worried, and he went to your home, and they said you had left already but did not clarify where you had gone, so he panicked.”
“I did not panic,” Damon lied and then looked at me. “Why are you here so early?”
“I couldn’t wait,” I replied honestly.
“I cannot even be angry at him when he is so earnest,” Damon grumbled to his wife.
“I shall go back and let everyone know to remain calm,” she said.
“I will go with you,” Verity added, getting up and taking her arm.
I watched them both go before looking at Damon as he walked to where I was, taking a seat in the pew, dusting off his hat. “I am exhausted, and it is still morning.”
“Did Aphrodite believe I had left as well?” I asked.
“Could you blame her if she did?”
I could not. “My household, here at least, knows to be discreet. That is why they may not have spoken even though it was clear I was heading to the church. Forgive them. Forgive me. I should have said something.”
Though I did not know how I could have told them that I could not bring myself to wait in my home any longer out of fear that I would convince myself it was all a dream.
“Everyone is on a razor’s edge. No need for apologies,” he replied.
“Hmm.” I nodded, leaning back and breathing in through my nose.
There was nothing to say. There was nothing more to do, so we sat there, waiting until everyone finally arrived, marked by the sound of the door opening and the muttering of her younger sisters. All dressed in spring colors, Hathor gave me a careful once over. Devana only smiled gently, but Abena waved to me, and I waved back at her. Hector, her younger brother, held out his hand to me.
Damon chuckled behind me, but I took him seriously and shook it.
“Take care of my sister,” Hector said.
“Always.” I nodded to him.
“I was waiting to say that after the wedding,” Damon muttered.
“Never wait to say the things you wish to say. I learned that a long while ago,” I replied, moving to my spot as the clergymen entered.
I nodded to them both. They looked quite bored but nodded back. And that was actually comforting. For them, this was any ordinary day. When my sister and Silva arrived with Aphrodite’s mother, who came in with a large smile on her face, I knew we had made it.
Then, not even five minutes later, the music began, and the door opened for the final time. Aphrodite walked in on the arm of her father, holding a bouquet of red tulips, and stole my soul. I could not look away from her.
My heart began to race so loudly, and my mind was so focused that I missed her father’s voice when he reached me with her. It was only when she glanced at him that I looked as well. He just chuckled and kissed his daughter’s cheek before stepping off to the side.
The priest spoke on and on with blessed words, but she and I cared only about one part, a few lines of words.
“Lord Evander Eagleman, do you take Lady Aphrodite Du Bell to be your lawfully 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 do you part, according to God’s holy ordinance?”
“I do,” I said.
She was asked the same question for me.
Her eyes shined as she whispered, “I do.”
“Then, by the power vested in me, I pronounce that your wedding vows are sealed, and you may henceforth be known to all as husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”
Finally, I thought. With one hand on the back of her neck and the other on her waist, I brought her to me. Kissing her…it was a dream long in the making.
Finally.
