AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I will. Promise.”
Regan went back to doing Portia’s hair but Portia couldn’t rid of herself of her worry. As if reading her thoughts, Regan said gently, “Stop worrying, Portia. Everything will be fine, you’ll see.”
Portia nodded but the worry remained. Eventually as they talked about all the day had in store, Regan’s plans no longer plagued Portia like a sore tooth. She knew the worry would return eventually but she let the prospect of becoming Mrs.Kenton Randolph rise to the fore again. With that in mind, she got dressed.
The gown was a lovely cream color with a lace inset between the neck and bodice. It had a flowing skirt, small capped sleeves that left her arms bare and was easily the most beautiful gown she’d ever seen. Her new shoes were cream colored and accented with soft gold bows. Her stockings and garters were the same color as her gown. Looking at herself in the full-length mirror, she almost didn’t recognize herself.
“You look so gorgeous, Kent’s going to want to eat you with a spoon.”
A soft knock interrupted them. It was Eddy. She was dressed in a resplendent mauve gown that she wore as if she were royalty. When she looked at Portia tears welled in her eyes. “Oh my. Look how beautiful you are.”
Regan wiped at her own tears. “Aunt Eddy, stop. You’ll have us all weeping in a minute.”
“But look at her,” she said again.
Tears stung Portia’s eyes. “You look beautiful, too.”
“Thank you. I just came in to tell you the guests have arrived and your uncle Rhine’s waiting out in the hallway. When you’re ready, just come out.”
Eddy kissed Portia’s cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
She kissed Regan’s cheek, too. “I love you, too, and you can’t get married for at least twenty more years. I won’t know what to do if I lose both of my girls.”
Eddy left wearing a watery smile and when the sisters were alone again, they shared a guilty look. Regan said, “I’ll wait for you outside.”
“Thanks for your help.”
Regan gave her a wink and was gone.
Refusing to let her worry about Regan rise again, Portia drew in a deep breath, picked up her bouquet of wildflowers, and stepped out into the hallway.
Her uncle Rhine, clad in formal black and white attire, said, “You look very beautiful, Portia.”
Butterflies were taking flight in her stomach. “Thank you.”
“Are you ready to get married?”
“Yes.”
He gallantly offered his arm and escorted her away.
When Portia appeared on Rhine’s arm, she was so beautiful it made Kent ache. He’d never experienced such a sensation before. He wanted to hand out blindfolds to every man in attendance and demand they be tied on so he’d be the only who could see her. Her hair was up, and she wore a light application of face paint that made her cat-eyed features even more alluring. Beside him, his father Oliver whispered, “You have a gorgeous bride, Kenton.”
Kent thought the word didn’t even come close to describing his duchess.
Rhine walked her to Kent’s side and after placing a kiss on her brow, stepped aside to stand with the teary-eyed Eddy. Kent took her hand in his. He looked down, met her shining eyes, and he was so happy inside he wanted to kick up his heels and yell “Hot damn!” With the sober-faced Reverend Cordell standing before them, Bible in hand, he decided that was probably inappropriate, so he calmed himself and prepared to recite the vows.
The vows were recited, the marriage sealed and blessed, and Reverend Cordell said to Kent, “You may now kiss your bride.”
Their kiss was met with much hooting and hollering and applause from the large crowd. When he finally turned her loose and they faced the people who’d gathered, he said in a voice only she could hear, “Now, everybody go the hell home so I can make love to my wife.”
She giggled, elbowed him gently and said, “Behave.”
The reception took place in the ballroom and the Fontaine Hotel and its staff did the newlyweds proud. There was enough food to feed the entire territory and the champagne flowed like waterfalls. There was music, dancing, and many toasts. Matt got so drunk off two flutes of champagne, Regan found him asleep outside beneath one of the tables. Kent remarked that his assistant foreman couldn’t hold his pie or his liquor. As evening arrived and the sun went down, Portia was glad she and Kent were married, but after all the celebrating her feet were hurting, she was hot and tired, and all she wanted to do was take off her gown and crawl into bed. Eddy walked over. “You look exhausted. It’s okay if you and Kent want to leave.”
“We can?”
