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Letty took a deep breath and looked to Minnie, asking silently if she was ready. Minnie stepped forward, picking up her veil. “Yes, ma’am, we can go.” She was smiling widely and Letty couldn’t help but smile back.
“Let us go.”
* * *
Bertram didn’t really hear much of what was going on during the ceremony. His eyes were locked on Letty’s and he let himself drown in her stormy depths. His cheeks hurt from smiling, his hands almost cramped from how tightly he was holding on to hers.
The chaplain said the vows and he was sure that he responded as required. At least nobody seemed to think he didn’t—but the truth was that it all passed him by. The warm weight of his son as he leaned against him while passing him the ring alerted him that it was time to put it on her finger before holding out his own for her to slip his ring on.
The brightness of her smile as the chaplain declared them married warmed his heart and he leaned forward, reminding himself not to plunder her mouth.
Not yet.
That would have to wait until they were alone. She slipped her arm into his and smiled and waved as they walked down the chapel. All he could see was Letty. They were to join the rest of the party for a wedding breakfast before going off on their own to spend the weekend at his cottage. If it also happened to be near the barracks, that was completely coincidental.
The cottage used to be the Dower House but since his parents had been deceased long before it could be used, it was converted to a beach cottage—a place where Bertram could go to escape from his life for a short while.
It looked far different when they pulled up in their carriage, the doorway decorated with a garland of red and white roses and petals scattered along the cobbled path to the door.
Bertram turned to Letty and smiled.
“Do you like the welcome?”
She smiled. “I like being here with you.”
He bent down and picked her up, enjoying the squealing sound of surprise she made. “What are you doing?” she breathed.
“I am carrying you over the threshold. Is that not tradition?”
Letty laughed in amusement. “I suppose. But this is not our permanent dwelling place so I am not sure it applies.”
“Of course it does. I shall carry you over every threshold we live in.”
She smiled, “What? That is ridiculous.”
“Is it?” Bertram bent down so that Letty could turn the doorknob. “I don’t happen to think so.”
He set her down in the foyer and she looked around curiously. The place was homely and comfortable. High bay windows let the sunshine in and bathed the room in warm yellow light. The interior was made of wood, except for the fireplace and the kitchen area, which were made of stone. A large oven was built into the wall and flanked by a stove, a basin and abuilt-in well.
With wide eyes, she stepped closer to examine it.
“How…?”
Bertram laughed. “It was quite easy, actually. The cottage was built around it. Half the well is inside the house, the other is outside.”
“Is it sea water you get or fresh?”
“It actually emanates from deep in the earth so it’s fresh. Isn’t that wonderful?”
She stretched her hand to examine the bucket, turning the lever that would lower it. “It is, indeed.”
He held out his hand. “Come, let me show you the rest of the cottage.”
She put her hand in his with a smile as he proudly led her down the short corridor. He pushed open a door, “Here we have the garderobe.” She nodded, and he closed the door, “And here is the bed chamber.” He opened the last door with flourish and her smile widened.
“I suspect that this is the room that you really wanted me to see.”
He grinned wide and happy. “How did you guess, my dear?”
