An Unconventional Bride

by Miers, Fiona

  “Are we ready to begin?” the captain asked as he retrieved his communion book from his breast pocket.

  It had not been the first time the captain had married a couple on his ship. In fact, both William and Emma had been quite surprised as to how many marriages Captain Moore had performed on his ship, whether it be docked or not.

  By Scottish law, it was much easier for couples to wed without the three weekly readings of the Banns, much to their delight.

  “Indeed, Captain Moore,” William said after a nod of agreement between himself and Emma.

  Captain Moore cleared his throat and opened his book. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this Congregation, however small, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time...”

  William did not pay much attention to the captain’s words, as the beautiful woman who stood before him captured his attention completely. He had never gazed upon a more exquisite young woman in his life.

  Not only judged so by her features, but by the magnificence that shone through her eyes, and the strength she carried within herself with pride.

  She was the epitome of a dream come true for William, despite their unfavorable first meeting. But as his sister-in-law had advised, the best kind of love was that which pulls the rug from under you.

  One might fall flat on one’s bottom, but it certainly did make an impact.

  Emma had certainly made an impact on William, and he would be forever grateful that he had her in his life.

  “Marriage is ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity. Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace,” Captain Moore continued, and both Emma and William glanced at their two witnesses, who stood quietly behind them, smiling happily.

  “That is certainly good news,” Captain Moore chuckled in a thick Scottish accent. “It has happened far too many times that a family member has stopped one of the ceremonies I performed. I am certainly guessing that is why none of my lady and my lord’s family are present.”

  William shook his head. “Ah, no, Captain.”

  Both William and Emma had been saddened by the fact that none of their family members had been able to join them on their special day, but they did not wish to risk the duchess traveling far, as she now large was with child.

  Instead they had decided they would have an intimate family gathering when they returned home, where they would all be able to celebrate together.

  “Please, do continue, Captain,” Emma said simply, with a faint smile.

  “Certainly, certainly,” Captain Moore nodded and cleared his throat. “William Alexander Seymour, will thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Will 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?”

  “I will,” William answered and smiled at the woman who would soon be his wife.

  “Emma Caroline Carlyle, will thou have this man to be thy wedded husband? To live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Will thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”

  “I will,” Emma answered with a smile, her eyes sparkling with delight.

  “My lord, please take my lady’s right hand with yours,” the captain said and William did as he was told. “My lord, you may now say your vows to her ladyship.”

  William took a moment to smile at Emma, then began.

  “I, William Alexander Seymour, take thee to be 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,” William spoke with confidence and sincerity.

  “Now, my lady, you shall do the same,” the Captain told her.

  Emma nodded and took his right hand in hers. “I, Emma Caroline Carlyle, take thee William Alexander Seymour to be 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.”

  There was a moment of silence as they loosened their hands and William retrieved a ring that had been in his family for generations.

  He had kept it on his person since the day he had asked Emma to marry him, knowing that he would most certainly need it one day.

  Perhaps he had been overly confident, but he did not care now.

  That was why it had come as such a surprise when Emma had been the one who had asked him, while gazing out at a picturesque sky on their last night in Edinburgh, whether he would still consider marrying her. He agreed without a moment’s hesitation, as it was what he had wanted for a long time.

  Emma’s eyes widened momentarily as the sparkling blue jewel – the color of the ocean – glistened in the light. He took her hand and slowly slid it onto the fourth finger of her left hand. “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 of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

  “If you both shall kneel,” the Captain ordered.

  William was the first to kneel and offered his hand of assistance to Emma, which she accepted.

  “Let us pray,” the Captain said and closed his eyes. “Oh, Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life: Send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man, and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this ring was given and received is a token and pledge, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

  William opened his eyes and gazed directly into Emma’s sparkling eyes, and could not help but smile at her.

  “Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder,” the Captain said and placed his hands on each of the couple’s shoulders. “For as much as Eliza and William have declared their love and devotion, as well as their consent together in holy wedlock, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

  William and Emma stood from the ground and turned to Captain Moore.

  “My lord, my lady, may God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you both. May the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting,” the captain concluded and stepped away.

  “Thank you, Captain Moore,” they said in unison,

  “My lady,” William said and took her hands in his. “If I have not said it today, I have not gazed upon true beauty until this day.”

  “There is no need to flatter me. I have already married you,” Emma chuckled, and William joined in her amusement.

  “I do mean it, Emma. I am truly grateful that you have given me a chance to show you how much you mean to me.”

  “And it means a great deal to me that you freed me into making decisions. For allowing me to be myself, and to discover who I was meant to be. It means the world to me that you stood aside and allowed me to feel free for the first time in my life,” Emma to
ld him.

  “My love, you will never feel caged again, I will not allow it,” William whispered. “And I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life beside you, wherever that may be.”

  Emma smiled happily as she led him to the stern of the boat and gazed out at the horizon. “Our next stop will be Denmark, and then,” Emma grinned, “the rest of our lives.”

  “I would not have it any other way, my lady,” William replied, cradling her face with both his hands and kissing her with a heart bursting of gratitude, love, and happiness.

  The End

  Book 1 in the Seymour Siblings is now available! https://geni.us/seymourbook1

  Read on for a sneak peak of the first chapter if you haven’t read it already.

  The Duke’s Marriage of Convenience.

  Chapter One

  The air was fresh as a gentle breeze swept across the lush green pastures of a sought-after estate in the county of Somerset. The staff had been busy preparing for a very important visit by two young people, who were arranged to be wed. They were to finally meet, after many months of negotiations between their respective parents.

  The atmosphere at Woodlock Manor was bustling as the help prepared. The maidservants served a delicious breakfast on the terrace, the manservants ensured the grounds were in pristine condition. Merriment and excitement were in the air.

  However, in the east wing of Woodlock Manor, submerged nearly entirely in warm water, Kitty did not share in the excitement.

  Of course, she would not openly admit it in front of the two young maids, who were washing her long, black hair. The sweet aroma of flowers allowed her to drift into a surreal wonderland where there was no need for her to jeopardize her beliefs for a man.

  But it was, indeed, a very real world, as she was fully aware. Her mother, Lady Dunne, the Countess of Dunne, had prepared her only daughter for this exclusive gala, as she ceremoniously referred to it, and proceeded to compliment her daughter’s suitor as a man of integrity and outstanding reputation.

  He was considered one of the most eligible bachelors in the county—if not the country—and his wealth far exceeded most of the other eligible men. This was the sole reason Lady Dunn and her husband, the Earl of Dunn, had desired that James of Somerset wed their daughter.

  Despite the earl’s formidable reputation, their family was on the verge of bankruptcy, as the earl’s business partner had embezzled a great deal of money from their business venture, leaving Lord Dunne to stand among the ruins as they fell down around him.

  Arranging a marriage between their daughter and James of Somerset would ensure their financial survival and rescue their family from a life of poverty.

  Of course Kitty was well aware of the situation, but it most certainly did not stop her from expressing her distaste for the arrangement itself. Despite not having ever met James, and the fact that she was in no position to judge him or despise him, she was, however, not impressed with the depths to which her parents had stooped.

  Arranged marriages were archaic to Kitty’s way of thinking, but unfortunately, there was not much she could do regarding the situation. Plans had been made, and her family had travelled to Woodlock Manor to meet with James.

  The bedchambers were far more luxurious than she had ever seen, with light rose inlaid wallpaper and gold trim. The furniture was constructed of solid cherry wood, and three large windows provided a panoramic view of the meadows. It was certainly a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle in which she had now found herself, but no amount of extravagance in the entire world would make her wish this of her own accord.

  “There you are, my lady,” the maidservant said in a soft voice, and Kitty glanced at her rather than the sunlight that danced through the drapes.

  “Oh, do make haste, child,” Lady Dunne, who had been sitting quietly on a chaise near the window throughout the duration of Kitty’s bath, said. “There is still much to do.”

  Kitty rose to her feet while the maidservants wrapped her in soft muslin as she stepped out of the bath. The warm air inside the bedchamber allowed a comfortable transition from the heat of the bath to where she would now be dressed for her breakfast with James.

  The young maids worked gently and diligently as they first dried Kitty’s tresses with a cloth, and afterward dressed Kitty in her inner-wear, the soft fabric skimming her skin. It caused her to shiver, but it was purely out of anticipation, not excitement.

  Kitty was aware this was the only way in which her family’s financial survival would be ensured, and she most certainly did not wish for her mother and father to be punished for something that was entirely out of their hands.

  The servants slipped a lovely, pale blue day dress over her head and assisted her in straightening it out, then tying it at the back. She caught sight of her reflection in the mirror and a small smile brightened her visage.

  She had not expected to enjoy any of this ridiculous preparation, but she had to admit, the dress was perfection. The colour suited her skin perfectly and the style accentuated the curves of her body. She was not as petite as most young women her age, but her curvy body apparently made her even more sought-after.

  Her mother, of course, disagreed.

  “It is a good thing you have been blessed with a striking face, my dear child,” Lady Dunne pointed out nonchalantly, as she had done from time to time, which annoyed Kitty to no end. She was convinced her mother did not approve of her body because she enjoyed being out of doors. Even more appalling, at least according to her mother, was her love of horses.

  Kitty had been interested in the amazing creatures since she was a young child, and had ridden her first mare when she was a mere five years of age. Her father had taught her to ride, which annoyed the countess to no end.

  In the countess’ opinion, it was not proper behaviour for a lady of her stature and lineage. Of course, Kitty paid no notice to her mother and had spent much of her free time riding her father’s horses. She adored them and hoped that James shared her love for the majestic beasts. If not, their dinners as a married couple would be rather quiet.

  The maidservants gently brushed her dark locks, and intricately wove it with their fingers, placing white blossoms between the layers.

  Kitty watched as she was transformed from a young woman who spent too much time out of doors, into a refined lady who would soon be the Duchess of Somerset.

  Lady Dunne moved across the room, her reflection catching Kitty’s eye. She glanced at her mother, whose expression was even more pleased than her previous one.

  “My dear girl, may I be so bold as to say you have not looked more beautiful in your entire lifetime.”

  “That certainly does not seem complimentary towards my usual ungainly features, Mother,” Kitty retorted with a grimace.

  “I wish not to insult you. You look beautiful was all I wanted to say.”

  “Why not simply say it? There is no need for such theatrics,” Kitty said.

  Lady Dunne pursed her lips, apparently stopping herself from uttering a word that was not suitable to be heard, especially by James’s staff.

  Kitty was not entirely convinced this was the case in every instance, but she knew better than to argue with her mother.

  “Where is Father?” Kitty inquired.

  “I left him to his own devices, although I do suspect he is in James’s grand library. We are well aware of how your father can immerse himself in a world that does not exist,” Lady Dunne answered.

  This time it was Kitty who pursed her lips to stifle the words that nearly escaped. It had been no secret that the marriage of her mother and father was also arranged , and despite having had a union that had lasted more than twenty years, Kitty was well aware of how miserable both her parents were.

  Her father was a quiet, passive man in the best of times. A well-read gentleman of fine lineage and intelligence. He was not boastful, nor did he treat his servants and staff as if they were beneath him. He was humble and would often be found in the kitchen late at night, p
laying cards with the manservants. Or even in the stable, among the horses.

  Her mother, on the other hand, was raised with a silver spoon of privilege in her mouth, and would not even dream of speaking directly to a maidservant. It was simply a product of her family experience, but it still infuriated Kitty.

  Kitty had inherited her father’s kind heart, and adored the maidservants at their estate. She would miss them all dearly when she no longer resided there.

  Soon she would become the Duchess of Somerset, and settle in Woodlock Manor with her new husband, and the new staff. It would most certainly be a strange and difficult adjustment, especially since she did not wish to get married in the first place.

  It was not that Kitty did not believe in love, she simply didn’t believe in forced love. One cannot be compelled to fall in love with a particular person, and as her father had philosophized many times, sometimes the heart desired what it desired, no matter how inconvenient.

  Kitty pursed her lips as she gazed at her reflection and cocked her head. Nervous bubbles rose up inside her, despite her best attempts to not allow this meeting to affect her too much.

  She was to meet the man she would soon marry, whether it was what she wanted or not. There was no need to be nervous. She had only heard great and noble things about him, but unfortunately that knowledge did not make the situation any less stressful.

  Other people’s words were not credible, as they did not know him personally.

  “Utter perfection.” Her mother beamed beside her, distracting Kitty from the imminent tragedy that lay before her. “There will be no doubt that His Grace will fall madly in love with you the moment he sets his sights upon you, my dear.”

  Kitty glanced at her mother over her shoulder and smiled weakly. Perhaps her mother was under the impression this may happen, but she was not convinced. Not in the least.

  In fact, she was not certain whether she would even meet with James, as one could easily become lost in the thick foliage of the trees in the meadow that had caught her eye at that very moment.