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When the vicar pronounced them man and wife, Andrew stepped close to her.
“I love you,” he said, loudly enough for all to hear.
Rowena’s heart skipped, and she blushed as she felt his breath on her face.
“And I love you,” she said.
The guests applauded as they shared their first kiss as husband and wife. They turned hand in hand to face their loved ones as the vicar formally introduced them as Lord and Lady Elsbrook. Rowena noticed that the dowager baroness was not present. Her heart squeezed. She knew the day was as important to Andrew as it was to her. She felt horrible that, while her own parents had attended, his mother had chosen not to.
“Are you ready to sign the register?” the vicar asked.
Rowena was pulled back to her wedded bliss. She looked up at Andrew, who was nodding eagerly.
“We are,” he said, offering Rowena his arm, which she instantly accepted.
They approached the vestry and soon, for the very first time, Rowena signed her new name: Rowena Elton, Baroness of Elsbrook. Andrew signed his and their loved ones clapped again. As they made their way back down into the church, congratulations resounded all around them.
Both her sisters and Gemma gathered around them, sobbing and hugging them both. Then they dragged the newlywed couple down the aisle and out of the church, nearly shoving them into the carriage that would take them back to Cresingdale Manor. Rowena had thought the wedding breakfast celebration unnecessary when Nancy first announced she would be hosting it. Now, she felt it fitting. A love like Andrew’s and hers was well worth celebrating.
The breakfast was a hive of activity. All their loved ones buzzed around them with fresh congratulations and well wishes, while the servants laid out dishes of eggs, fruit, pork and beef, fresh bread, cakes, and pies and, of course, plenty of champagne and wine. Rowena’s sisters began gushing again about what a lovely bride she made and how happy they were for her.
Rowena’s mother and father stood together, looking at each other with something other than distress and heartache. The sight alone was refreshing to Rowena. But when her father leaned down and kissed her mother, her heart sang.
“Looks like love is in the air,” Sybil whispered, elbowing Rowena, telling her she too had spotted the kiss.
Rowena giggled.
“It certainly is,” she said. “Beware, or it might get you next.”
Sybil sighed dreamily.
“Oh, I cannot wait until my coming out ball,” she sighed.
As at the engagement ball, Edmund made a toast in honor of Andrew and Rowena’s union. Rowena hardly heard a word of it as she couldn’t stop staring at her new husband. He seemed unable to take his eyes off her, as well. Until that was, the viscount took his turn at a toast.
“My dear, middle daughter,” he said, his voice breaking as he raised his glass, “I have never been prouder of you than I am at this very moment. You are one of the best daughters a man could ever hope for, and you deserve all the happiness in the world.” He cleared his throat, which was thick with tears. “And you, Lord Elsbrook, best give it to her. I will be keeping a very close eye on you.” To lighten the moment, he retrieved a monocle from his jacket pocket, placed it in his eye, then took it out and extended it towards Andrew and back again.
As everyone laughed, Andrew bowed, giving the viscount a small smile.
“I will give it all to her and more, I assure you,” he said.
As everyone carried on enjoying the food and dancing, Rowena fondled the sapphire bracelet on her wrist. Nancy had been right when she said that if she wore it, she would discover her true heart’s desire. There was no question in her mind that it was Andrew and there hadn’t been since she’d first put it on. And she would forever be grateful she had followed that desire.
Andrew leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
“I can’t wait for us to start the rest of our lives together,” he said.
Rowena nestled her head into his arm and gazed up at him.
“Nor can I, sweet love,” she said.
Epilogue
Andrew stared in awe at his wife as she waddled into the dining hall, holding her very round belly in one hand and a stack of freshly-made flower wreaths in the other. He’d had almost a year to become accustomed to the idea of being a husband and father, but he still could hardly believe it was really happening.
In the ten months since their wedding, Rowena had brought him more happiness than he would have ever thought possible. And, because he loved Rowena so fully and completely, and because he knew she loved him too, he was completely thrilled about the impending arrival of their first child.
“Let me help you with those, darling,” he said, hurrying over to her to take the wreaths from her arm.
