“And will you, the family and friends of Augustine and Peaches, support and uphold this marriage now and in the years to come?”
“We will,” the congregation dutifully answered.
“Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come to you united in the abundant love and blessings you have bestowed upon your creation from the dawn of time. We humbly ask that you continue to pour out your blessings upon this couple, who come to you now to unite as one, in tenderness and togetherness, with holy reverence for the vows that they make. We ask this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
We repeated, “Amen,” before Auggie and I walked to our seats for the next portion of the ceremony, where Princess Giselle took her place at the podium, to read Holy Scripture from the book of Romans.
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
We smiled big for her as she concluded her reading and stepped down so that the Princess Giselle Independent Living Academy’s children’s choir could perform What a Wonderful World. I spotted a familiar face among the happy, singing children—Ryan, from Philadelphia. I gasped out loud and grasped Auggie’s hand. He brought my hand to his lips for a tender kiss.
“It’s a wonderful world because of you, my love,” he stated simply.
“I love you so much,” I whispered back.
When the choir’s song had finished, my mother took her place at the podium. She looked so beautiful with rainbows cascading off her blond hair like a rainbow, so regal in her purple gown. “Love,” she stated simply. “It all begins and ends with love. Love is what prompted a lonely God to create companions to share in all his remarkable creation. Love is what inspired his greatest sacrifice when that creation went astray. Love inspires two people to become one heart beating in unison, until there is so much love spilling over that it creates new lives and new loves. It creates family,” she said, smiling at me. I had to choke back my tears. “There is nothing greater than love. There is nothing more powerful. More redemptive. In the Bible, it states that love covers a multitude of sin. In truth, that is where love is needed the most. In the days and years ahead, only love will patch up the holes left behind by life’s struggles and disappointments. It will not happen easily. It will often test your will. It will require more from you than you may want to give. But in the end, there is no choice that is more important. There is no choice that is holier. Choose to love,” she told us. “In times of triumph. In times of challenge. In times of celebration. In times of sorrow. Lead with love. And change the world.”
As she concluded, the children’s choir went into the Beatles’ All You Need is Love, which brought smiles to all the faces in the auditorium, except maybe for Cillian, Allan, and Eloise Byrne. But I wasn’t about to let those sour apples ruin the beautiful moment. I caught Ryan’s eye and smiled big as I started to sing along. He waved at me in response, which made other people start to sing out loud as well.
By the end of the song, almost all the voices had risen to the heavens.
On that high note, Auggie and I resumed our spots at the altar.
“Augustine, please repeat after me.”
Auggie’s eyes met mine as he recited his vows, as regal as I had ever seen him. “I, Augustine Seamus Whitley Quinn Agassi, take you, Peaches McPhee, to be my wife, and I do promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful husband in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.”
I stood straight and strong as I, too, pledged my vows. “I, Peaches McPhee, take you, Augustine Seamus Whitley Quinn Agassi, to be my husband, and I do promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful wife in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.”
Gav stepped forward to provide the rings for the Bishop to bless.
“These rings are a token of the vows you exchange today. They are an unmistakable symbol of the eternal and enduring nature of love, which knows no beginning and no end. As long as they encircle your fingers, may they remind you of the covenant you have entered into today.”
He handed the ring to Auggie, guiding him what to say. “Peaches, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
He slipped the dazzling wedding band upon my finger. It was a slender, single row of pave-set diamonds set in platinum, featuring intricate milgrain detailing on both sides.
The Bishop handed me Auggie’s ring, which was a simple white gold band that had been passed down from his very own father. “Augustine,” I began, “I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
“As is tradition, this couple will now be joined together by three ribbons representing the kingdom of Aldayne. Purple, for your divine purpose; black for wisdom; and gold for unity and longevity. Please join opposite hands, to form the symbol of infinity.” We did as he instructed. He began to tie the braided ribbons around our clasped hands as he spoke. “These are the hands of your best friend, your partner and your truest love. See what a gift that they are to you. They are the source of your comfort and a source of your strength. These are the hands that will work beside yours to build your future and your family. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and of joy. And these are the hands that even when wrinkled with age, will still be reaching for yours with indefatigable tenderness and abiding love.”
Auggie squeezed my hand, and I squeezed back.
“May this cord draw your hands together in love, never to be used in anger. May the vows you have spoken never grow stale in your mouths, nor forgotten in your hearts. As this cord binds your hands, your very partnership is consecrated by the symbol of this knot. Hold tight to one another in times of prosperity and times of want, in times of health and in times of weakness, in times of happiness and times of pain. We trust that what is done now before God can never be undone by man.”
“Amen,” the congregation repeated.
We stood, hands grasped and bound, through a bilingual duet of The Prayer. I was lost in Auggie’s beautiful green eyes, trying my best not to cry. When he mouthed, “I love you,” the battle was lost. Tears slipped shamelessly down my face.
I was sure Jorge was going to kill me.
As the song concluded, the Bishop removed the ceremonial ribbons. We turned to face him.
“In the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and before this faithful congregation, Augustine and Peaches have declared their consent to be joined in Holy Matrimony, sealing this covenant by exchanging their vows and the giving and receiving of rings. I hereby proclaim that they are husband and wife.” He wrapped a sash of his official vestment around our hands and declared, “Those whom God has joined together, let no one tear asunder.”
The choir went into the hymn, Guide Me, O thou Great Redeemer, as Fern returned my bouquet and she and Gav followed us and the Bishop from the sanctuary to sign the royal record that would make all the ceremonial proceedings official and legally binding. As soon as we were out of sight of the camera, I wanted to squea
l and celebrate with my sister and my new husband, but the bishop’s presence ensured we would stay in character for just a bit longer.
By the time we returned to the sanctuary, Devlin Masters was finishing his performance of Salut d'Amour.
As we took our place once again at the altar, the entire congregation stood to sing the Aldaynean National Anthem to Queen Maeve.
I knew all eyes were on me, so I dared not miss a word.
“Oh Aldayne, our hearts beat true
We pledge our allegiance to you
To the crown we trust our own
And kneel beside your faithful throne
Oh Aldayne, through years we trod
Trusting you with faith in God
Hear our prayer as we sing
Praise be now to our Kings and Queens
Oh Aldayne, through Charlie's darkened shadows
Lift us up from all the shallows
We serve you true from birth till death
And praise you with our every breath
Oh Aldayne, our chains broke free
To you we pledge our loyalty
Let us rest in faith above
And daily show you all our love
Oh Aldayne, our hearts beat true
We swear our allegiance all to you
To the crown we trust our own
And kneel beside your faithful throne.”
She bowed her head to us to indicate her approval and acknowledge of our marriage. We bowed/curtsied in reverence. With that, we were done. The majestic organ blared to life with Ode to Joy as Auggie led me by the hand back towards the aisle, while my attendants were quick to follow, to ensure a picture-perfect recessional.
My eyes met Cillian’s as we passed. In defiance of all tradition and protocol, I released Auggie’s hand and instead linked my arm with my new husband’s, to let anyone and everyone know there would be no breaking us apart.
I was Peaches McPhee Quinn Agassi, for fuck’s sake. I was a duchess now. A princess, even, and future queen.
I smiled up at Auggie. He grinned down at me.
“Are you ready to meet your public, Princess Pea?”
I squeezed his arm. “I am. Husband,” I added, using the phrase properly for the first time, trying it on for size.
He drew me closer. “Wife,” he declared.
We beamed as we exited the church, united as one, at last.
Chapter Six
Looking back, waiting to kiss my new husband was the hardest part of my wedding. He looked ever so handsome in his official Aldaynean uniform. His auburn hair was combed neatly back and exploded with copper highlights the minute we stepped out into the church and into the afternoon sun. The crowd erupted with applause to greet us and congratulate us as we walked down the steps to the carriage that awaited. Unlike the enclosed coaches we had ridden in until now, this one was an open-air carriage, black in color with purple velvet seating and gold gilding on the sides. Footmen stood in back and guards on horseback would flank either side to protect us as we rode through the crowded streets back to Shimmering Falls. We waved at our faithful and adoring subjects before Auggie helped me up into the carriage. Then, we were off and away, once again to the rhythmic sound of the horses’ hooves against the cobblestone pavement while bells pealed overhead, bursts of resounding joy.
We waved to everyone as we made our way around the roundabout. He held my hand up to his lips for a kiss, which was a real crowd-pleaser.
The real kiss, however, had to wait. It was a gift we shared with the people of Aldayne from the balcony of Shimmering Falls, which would take place after police controlled the crowds and got everyone in place.
In fact, everything we did from the moment we left the church was for the people of Aldayne, making sure to acknowledge as many people as possible. I had yet to meet everyone formally, in a ball that was set towards the end of the month, where countrymen and women would be invited to Greystone for an official reception.
But Auggie kept my hand tightly clasped in his. “I’ve missed you,” he said with that sexy look in his eye that promised a passionate night ahead. It made me tingle to my toes.
“Missed you, too,” I said. “The last few weeks have felt like months.”
He laughed. “That’s the longest I ever plan to be without you, Mrs. Quinn-Agassi.”
“Ditto,” I said, this time I kissed his hand. The crowd roared in response. We laughed and continued to wave as we rode the twelve miles back to the castle.
“They love you almost as much as I do.”
I laughed. “And how much is that?” I asked playfully.
“Wait till tonight and I’ll show you,” he promised with that smirk I’d grown to love.
“I have to wait as long as that?” I asked, fighting the urge to pout. Though it was easy to forget, I knew cameras were recording every single moment.
He caressed the inside of my palm. “I’ll make it worth the wait.”
“You always do,” I grinned. “So, do I get to know where we’re going?”
“It’s a surprise,” he said.
“Is it too much to hope that it’s Ademar?”
He laughed. “Nothing is too much to ask anymore, Princess.”
What a heady thought.
“It’s all I can do not to turn around and see how Dash is loving this,” I confessed.
“Me, too,” he admitted.
“Did Maeve tell you what she did for us?”
He nodded. “She asked for my input which property would be the best fit for the family.”
“And it just so happened to be one of the houses used by the Byrnes.”
“Happy coincidence,” he grinned.
“I just bet,” I giggled.
“In all seriousness, I knew that you would want them close by. Can’t get any closer and not live on the castle grounds.”
I nodded. The two properties butted right up against each other, with King’s Watch serving as a lake house for the castle. I figured that was another reason Auggie felt the need to kick the Byrnes to the curb. He wouldn’t want them that close to our family.
As I caressed my full tummy, the light glinted off my wedding rings. I knew I would be staring at them for hours on end. They were so beautiful and unexpected.
“How are you feeling?” Auggie asked at once, ever protective. “How did Jack enjoy the show?”
“Pretty quiet mostly, except for one swift kick during the vows to make sure I meant what I said.”
“That’s my boy,” Auggie grinned. God, I loved it when he said things like that.
“What would you have done differently?” I asked.
“All of it,” he answered without reservation. “It was nice,” he amended, knowing how much time and effort went into planning the wedding. “But I didn’t need all that. I just needed you.”
“Me, too,” I said, squeezing his hand.
“Maybe in another life,” he mused while he waved to the public.
Whenever he saluted the servicemen and women, I dutifully bowed my head in reverence as was expected of me.
That was our life now. What was expected of us. I thought about his parents, wondering about their wedding day. I had seen the videos, but I would have loved to speak to either of them, or both, and ask them how they felt.
I keenly missed two people I had never met. How was that even possible?
I thought about the handkerchief tucked away in my clutch. We had them with us, and all we could do was hope they would guide our path, our two guardian angels. It gave our handfasting ceremony, with the accompanying duet of The Prayer, even more significance. I wiped away more tears as I waved to the crowd.
We arrived at Shimmering Falls just after two o’clock. The day was speeding along, and we still had so much more to go. The carriages turned into the private courtyard away from the crowd growing just outside the front of the castle. Cameras still rolled to capture every moment for posterity, so I couldn’t kiss my beloved like I wanted. Instead, we turned
our focus on our bridal party. Dash was as excited as I had ever seen him as he stood up in the carriage, waving at me. “Pea! Did you see all the people?”
“I did,” I said as I helped him out of the carriage. He gave me a big hug. “See? I told you it was a fairy tale!”
I laughed. “You sure did.”
He took a running leap and landed square in Auggie’s arms. “Are you officially my brother now?”
“I am. But what’s more important is you’re officially my brother now.” He gave him a big hug.
“Yay!” Dash exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Auggie’s neck.
I turned to greet Fern and Audra, who helped wrangle the beautiful children. The girls wore full white dresses with purple or black sashes, just like mine, with Aldayne roses and baby’s breath crowns on their head.
At this point, I was certain there wasn’t a single Aldayne rose left in the kingdom. But I supposed our marriage could use all the protection it could get.
Fern wrapped me in a big hug. “You were so beautiful, Pea! I cried all the way through!”
“You’re next,” I told her.
“I can’t imagine,” she said, shaking her head as she pulled away. “I may just wait till after Dallas gets married,” she grinned, pulling our little sister into the crook of her arm. Dallas stole a shy glance at Oliver, who was oblivious.
“She’s gotta win the Olympics first,” Dash said.
“For the millionth time, it’s a medal,” Dallas responded.
He shook his head. “You’re gonna win the whole thing. Just watch.”
We all laughed.
“You were a beautiful bride, Pea,” Giz said as she reached for a hug of her own.
“Couldn’t have done it without you,” I said. “Your choir made the whole ceremony perfect.”
She nodded. “They did, didn’t they?”
Again, we laughed.
“Now it’s time to party!” she declared. She reached for Dash’s hand. “Shall we go get things started?”
The Duke Takes a Bride (The Rocking Royal Trilogy Book 2) Page 5
