Unconventional Suitors 02 - Her Unconventional Hero (22 page)

Aunt Tabitha came and took the christening gown from Adel’s hands and laid it ever so gently on the bench at the foot of the bed, but not before wiping a tear from her own eye. “Weddings always get me emotional,” she confessed before leading the women from the room.

As they made their way to the foot of the stairs, Adel smiled as she saw her father waiting patiently for her to arrive. He was dressed in impeccable attire, his face freshly shaven and his hair combed smooth. Katherine, Rose, and Aunt Tabitha scurried out the door, leaving her and her father standing alone in the foyer.

“You look so much like your mother did on our wedding day,” her father said proudly, though a hint of sadness laced his words. “Lord Straton is so lucky to have you.”

“And I am lucky to have him,” she quickly added.

“Yes, indeed you are. True love is a rare find and I want you to treat it like the priceless commodity that it is. Enjoy every moment you have together, for you never know how long that may be.”

Adel made a silent vow to do just that, for she understood, perhaps more than most, how true that really was. Linking their arms together, her father led her from the house. The sun was shining brightly overhead as they made their way to the pond. In the distance Adel could see the small gathering of people dressed in their finest clothing, and she smiled. Her heart filled with excited anticipation and she began walking faster. Her father chuckled and increased his pace to keep up.

A wooden arbor covered in roses sat in nearly the exact spot in the cemetery where Griffin had pushed Adel into the pond, saving her life. As soon as her eyes settled on Griffin, she couldn’t look away. Standing beneath the arbor, he was dressed in tan buckskin breeches and a dark overcoat. His cravat was tied elaborately in the mathematical, a diamond stick pin poking through the folds of fabric. A large smile covered his face, and though his pallor was still slightly pale, he appeared rakishly handsome with the gentle breeze blowing one lock of black hair across his brow.

Adel’s heart felt full as her father walked her towards the arbor and handed her over to Griffin where the priest waited patiently to speak the words that would bind them together forever as husband and wife. She could hardly focus on the words being spoken as she stared unflinchingly into Griffin’s black eyes.

It wasn’t until she heard the priest say, “Wilt thou have this woman to be they wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?” that she snapped out of her reverie so that she could pay special attention to Griffin’s response.

“I will,” he answered firmly and without hesitation.

The priest turned towards her. “Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”

“I will.”

“Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?”

Adel’s father stepped forward, “I do.” Taking her hand in his own, he held it out to the priest who promptly took her hand and placed it in Griffin’s right one.

“Repeat after me—I, Griffin Joshua Ivison, take thee Adel Elizabeth Desmond to my 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 us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”

Griffin repeated the words with solemn sincerity.

Turning to Adel, the priest said, “Now repeat after me—I, Adel Elizabeth Desmond, take thee, Griffin Joshua Ivison, to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.”

Adel made sure she enunciated each word clearly and with conviction as she made her solemn vows to God and to Griffin.

After her vows had been spoken, the priest handed Griffin a ring. Adel stared down at her hand as Griffin slid a familiar simple gold band containing an emerald stone onto her finger. Tears welled up in her eyes at the sight of her mother’s ring sliding into place on her hand, fitting perfectly.

“With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.”

A large cheer went up behind them at the conclusion of Griffin’s words, the marriage now complete. With her hand still in his, he turned her towards the crowd of people and led her to them. Adel was certain she had never been so happy in all of her life.

Her father was first to offer his congratulations, followed shortly by Katherine, Rose, and Aunt Tabitha. Next came Benedict and Gillian. “I am relieved to see that you gave this fool another chance,” Benedict said after shaking Griffin’s hand. “From the moment I heard him speak of you, then saw the way you tore up his peace, I knew you were meant to be together.”

“Ha!” Griffin exclaimed. “I knew you would try and take credit for our union, when in truth your matchmaking skills were what almost destroyed everything.”

“It was your own idiocy, my friend, for issuing the bet in the first place.”

Gillian rolled her eyes at their antics. “You are both dim-witted fools. Nevertheless, I wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to you Lord and Lady Straton.”

“Thank you,” Adel replied, very much liking being addressed as Lady Straton.

Next came Mr. Graham and Lord Dawkins, both wearing high grins of their own. Marcus surprised Adel by sweeping her into a warm embrace as he offered his congratulations. When he failed to let go, Griffin cleared his throat loudly, and she had to wonder if he did it solely to vex his friend. The possibility was very likely.

Finally, after numerous congratulations were given, the last of the wedding party began making their way back to the house where the servants had prepared an elaborate wedding breakfast. Adel and Griffin held back, hoping to enjoy some alone time and perhaps a stolen kiss or two before joining the party once more.

As soon as they were alone, Griffin took her hand into his own and pulled her close. “Do you recognize your ring?”

“Of course I do, it was my mother’s.”

“Your father wanted you to have it.”

At the mention of her father, Adel suddenly recalled that Lord Westingham had not been present. Her heart ached at the thought, for she knew that Griffin had begrudgingly sent an announcement to him. “I’m sorry your father didn’t come.”

Griffin shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, but she could tell that his father’s absence pained him. “I did not need my father present to enjoy this day. In fact, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed myself nearly as much had he been here.”

“That isn’t true.”

She watched as his shoulders fell before he reluctantly admitted, “It would have meant a lot to me had he come, if only so he could have met you.”

Adel wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, pulling him to her as she laid her head on his chest. “I will meet him someday. In the meantime, let’s focus on all the blessings we do have.”

They sat in silence, staring out over the pond. It had been no coincidence that they had chosen to get married in the family cemetery next to the pond. It had seemed fitting to start their new life together in a place where both of their lives had been saved. And, though to some it may have seemed mildly morbid to be wed in a cemetery, Adel had very much wanted her mother close by as she vowed to give herself fully and completely to Griffin for the rest of their lives.

Pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, Griffin whispered, “My mother would have been very fond of you.”

“And mine would have liked you as well. I am absolutely sure of it.”

Griffin scooped her into his arms, placing his lips possessively over hers, bestowing a kiss so passionate and so full of love upon her that, had she been standing, her knees would have given out beneath her. But luckily he was there for her, as strong and firm as ever, an unspoken promise that he would always be there to hold her up.

The End

About The Author

Ginny Hartman has always loved writing, and when her love for the regency era blossomed, she decided to combine the two, resulting in her first published novel,
Deceiving the Duke of Kerrington
, which became an Amazon Historical Romance bestseller. After completing her first Regency Romance Trilogy, she decided to venture into other eras of historical romance, enjoying the journey back in time.

Ginny’s favorite thing about writing is the escape it gives her and the people who read her stories. For a behind the scenes look at the creation of
Deceiving the Duke of Kerrington
,
Misleading
Lord Martineau
,
Betraying the Highwayman
,
To Guard Her Heart
, T
o Capture Her Heart
,
Her Unconventional Suitor, and Her Unlikely Hero,
as well as a sneak peek at her upcoming projects, visit her website
www.creatingromance.blogspot.com
. You can also keep up to date by liking her Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/authorginnyhartman
.

Besides writing, Ginny enjoys reading and spending time with her favorite people: her husband and three beautiful children. She also enjoys traveling the world with the love of her life and gaining inspiration for her books. She currently resides in Northern Idaho.