Chapter Seven

Mary couldn't stop stealing looks at her soon to be husband. After a relatively sleepless night and more than a few rounds of tears, she was exhausted, both mentally and physically, but Gabriel was as fresh and vital as if he were a younger man.

She brushed a speck of lint on his sleeve. "You are so handsome I could just eat you up." Oh, and he smelled good too. Those scents of sandalwood and citrus threatened to intoxicate her.

His low chuckle had need twisting down her spine. "At least wait until after the ceremony to have your wicked way with me, sweeting."

Heat crashed into her cheeks. If he would tease her, then they were very nearly back to good, weren't they? "You are sure you still wish to marry me?"

"When I make a promise, I always keep it." He put his lips to the shell of her ear. "The only thing you require is a bouquet of flowers. How remiss of me not to have brought you some. You should match the room I've had decorated especially for you."

"It's quite lovely. I absolutely adore the decorations in here." Her pulse quickened, for his teasing sent flutters through her belly. "I fully intend to press some of these flowers to remember this day." And hopefully block out some of the less savory memories besetting her.

"Good idea." Dressed in another tailcoat and black silk breeches—thank goodness they were different from what he'd been wearing the night before—with a waistcoat of gold brocade, he was every inch the handsome second son of a viscount. He stood with his back ramrod straight, and that military bearing of his past was quite obvious in the posture.

His valet had done a wonderful job arranging Gabriel's hair into some semblance of a popular style, yet even light pomade couldn't tame the curls in that thick brown hair. Slight glints of silver at his temples had marked the passage of time. Each time he glanced at her, he smiled and the delicate skin framing his eyes crinkled, and there was an admirable ease about him, a sure confidence she admired and wished he would impart to her.

When her gaze dropped to the snowy folds of his cravat, she sucked in a quick breath, for he wore the sapphire stickpin she'd given him on his birthday earlier this year. That had to mean something .

"You wore the pin," she whispered and lifted a hand to touch the oval cabochon with a fingertip.

"At Jameson's insistence. It seemed needed for today." As those sensual lips curved into yet another grin, flutters of need went through her lower belly. "Shall we get on with the ceremony? I am most anxious to wed you." There was no denying the excitement in his voice or the intensity in his hazel eyes.

"Yes, I would quite enjoy that." This day had been a long time coming, yet she couldn't help wonder if their relationship had been slightly tainted or shifted after the events of last night. Only time would tell.

He nodded at Mr. Kirkland. "We are ready."

"Very good, Inspector." The man glanced about the room. "If everyone could please settle in? The nuptial couple would like to begin."

A brief wave of sadness crept over Mary, for her parents were both dead, and she would have liked them to see that she was finally happy with the partner she'd chosen on her own.

Gabriel patted her hand that rested in the crook of his elbow. "Not long now, sweeting," he said in a barely audible whisper.

She gave him a small smile. Would he truly mean the words he spoke to her?

The rector opened to a page he wanted in the Book of Common Prayer . No doubt he knew the words by heart, much as she did with her favorite books and fairy stories. She and Gabriel turned toward him as he situated himself in front of the fireplace. Behind them, their guests settled into chairs and sofas.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this assembly, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church…"

Despite her best efforts, Mary's mind began to drift. Though she was excited to speak her vows, she was also quite apprehensive. The last time she'd done this, it had ended in heartbreak and disaster. That union had been full of broken dreams, disgust, and fear. Yes, Gabriel had given her countless reasons why he was the direct opposite of her first husband, but there was always that tiny worm of doubt at the back of her mind.

Regardless, in mere moments, she would wed the inspector. It was what she'd dreamed of from the moment they'd been engaged last spring, but no matter how hard she tried, the happiness and joy she'd expected wouldn't engulf her fully due to the pall of finding the body of her husband's mistress last night .

How would this reflect on Bright's ability to gain future clients' trust? Would it hinder him from consulting on cases and making his living doing so? Her hard-won confidence plummeted. Never had she felt so low. Perhaps this wasn't a good idea. Indeed, her past could hold him back—

"Mary?" Gabriel softly cleared his throat. He touched a hand to hers, and that tiny connection scattered her frantic and maudlin thoughts. "No woolgathering today of all days." Amusement threaded through the barely audible whisper.

The rector centered his gaze on Gabriel. "Wilt thou have this Woman to thy 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?"

Mary's heartbeat danced in a frantic rhythm. She well-remembered those sacred words from the last time, but now that she knew what they meant, she held her breath as her gaze flew to his face. Would he go through with his promise?

In a clear voice, Gabriel answered, "I will."

A shiver of relief edged down her spine, but there was no time to wonder, for the rector addressed 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 others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"

Obey, serve, and honor. Those words sent a tiny shiver of fear down her spine, for they'd been thrown in her face by Benjamin too many times when he'd accused her of not doing any of that by him. Would Bright become a different sort of man once they were wed?

When she peered upward into his face, saw the expectant light in his eyes and the slight curve of his lips as if knew a jolly secret, she sighed. He was truly a spectacular man. "I will, for I think I have been waiting for a man like him all my life." Her answer came out breathless and in a whisper, for tears crowded in her throat.

Then Gabriel was instructed to take her right hand in his right one, and hers shook so badly that he gently squeezed her fingers. Tendrils of calm emanated upward from the point of contact. When her breath came in tiny pants, he leaned into her, put his lips to her ear and whispered, "I promise this will not be a prison like your last. There is nothing I won't do for you. "

Her heart trembled—she trembled. At the last second, Mary flashed him a grin lest he think she regarded the ceremony with dread. "I'm so happy to marry you," she whispered back.

The clergyman gave them a look of indulgence. "It is good to see the spirit of love alive and well in a mature couple. Far too often, I preside over these ceremonies with couples far younger than the two of you."

"This just proves that sometimes, we only get it right the second time ‘round." Gabriel glanced at the rector. "If I may say a few of my own words to my bride before the actual ceremony proceeds?"

"It is highly unorthodox, but I have no objections. Love is a large subject and frankly a nuptial ceremony should reflect that." The rector nodded with a smile. "Whenever you are ready, Inspector Bright."

"Thank you." When he took her hands in his and their gazes met, awareness prickled over her skin. "I thought long and hard about what I would say to you on this day if I had the chance." His grin caused her world to tilt. "Since last December when we first met in the carriage house at that Christmastide house party, we have been chasing each other. Do you remember?"

She nodded. "After your effrontery in kissing me without my permission in the dark?"

"How could I not?" A trace of ruddy color moved up his neck above his cravat. He squeezed her fingers. "Since then, I have chased you because I have never known another woman like you, but the more fulfilling feeling, what gives me the most exquisite joy, is knowing that you have chased me with as much dedication as I have you." He shrugged but continued to grin. "Perhaps what we have makes no sense to anyone else except us, but as long as that passion burns bright, as long as that willingness to share is present, as long as the need for compromise continues, I have faith that our union will have no choice but to prove spectacular."

Good heavens, he was the height of romantic!

Already, a sheen of tears filled her eyes. "We have been through more than a few trials on the path to this day," she said, and even though her voice shook, she needed him to know how she felt, and there was no better way to do that than include them in these vows. "When we met at Christmastide last year, I knew you would change my life, but I had no idea just how much at the time."

"Just as you have changed mine, sweeting. Turned it completely upside down and tilted it on its ear," he said in a voice graveled with emotion .

She brushed at a tear that had fallen to her cheek. "I never thought I would meet a man who would treat me as his equal, who would consider me his partner in every aspect of the life we are building together, who would teach me that not all men are bounders."

"And I will keep doing so until you believe it as truth."

"I know." Mary nodded. "You have changed how I view the world as well as my own life; you have changed my perspective, and I have done the same for you. But when I was taken captive by a serial killer this past April, I knew then that you would always be there for me, that you would always take care of me, to protect me and love me, because that is the sort of man you are." She pressed her trembling lips together. "No, to many people, this relationship doesn't make sense. We never were part of each other's worlds, nor did we move in the same circles. Life with you only makes sense to me due to it being messy and confusing and harsh yet beautiful. You bring me joy each time I look at you and find you watching me. For longer than I can remember, you've carried my heart, and I couldn't be more pleased that we are finally marrying today."

"Aw, Mary, my sweet Mary." Gabriel squeezed her fingers, and there was suspicious moisture in his eyes. "How you have managed in in ten months to make me a more vulnerable, emotional man, a man who sees life from other perspectives beyond my own, who searches for the whole story around an event instead of seeing it from the stark lines my mind might draw as I investigate a case, I shall never know. But I'm certainly glad that you are a managing sort of baggage."

Despite the tears and the high emotion of the moment, she gave an unladylike snort of humor. "I can't help that I'm a woman who knows her own mind, and I knew exactly that I wanted you when I first saw you."

Mr. Kirkland cleared his throat. "Should we continue with the vows, then? I can't pronounce you man and wife until we finish," he said with a grin.

"Yes, of course," Gabriel said, but he didn't look away from her.

"Good man." The rector once more consulted his book. "Inspector Bright, please repeat after me…" He intoned words that Mary scarcely heard due to the loud pounding of her heart until he said them to her, his hazel eyes locked with hers.

"I, the Honorable Gabriel Henry Robert Bright, take thee Mary Catherine Tomlinson née Swanson 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." His grin awakened butterflies in her belly but it was the light in his eyes, now more green than brown, that wrapped her in comfort and a bit of calm. "According to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth."

They were directed to release hands, and Mary was told to then hold Gabriel's right hand with her right one. The clergyman addressed her. "Mrs. Tomlinson, please repeat after me." He gave her the words, and she tumbled them about in her mind, hoping she remembered them all.

"I, Mary Catherine Tomlinson née Swanson, take thee the Honorable Gabriel Henry Robert Bright to my wedded Husband." She paused to swallow and clutch at his hands. "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." Her voice dropped to a whisper, for it was a very emotional morning. "And thereto I give thee my troth." No matter that this day was also slightly terrifying, there was a large part of her that knew he would always have her best interests in mind.

They were instructed to again release their hands. Gabriel gave a silver band embedded with tiny diamonds and sapphires to the clergyman, who then laid it upon his open Book of Common Prayer along with a small leather pouch of coins for payment to the clergyman and his clerk. Then the older man returned the ring to the inspector, who slipped it onto the fourth finger of her left hand, where it nestled snugly against the topaz ring he'd already gifted her with.

"A perfect match," she breathed as she gazed at the bands together. "I had no idea you would give me another."

"Why not? I want everything this time ‘round to be different from your first." He winked. "One is for the engagement and represents our past together, but the new band? That represents our future, and will serve as a reminder to you that we are now a partnership forever."

The clergyman directed him to repeat another set of words.

Gabriel nodded as he once more held her gaze with his. "With this Ring I thee wed, with my Body I thee worship, and with all my worldly Goods I thee endow." The dear man's voice broke, but he gave her the grin that made her feel as if she could fly. "I love you, Mary."

She was trembling all over. "I love you too, Gabriel."

The rector continued. "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Now I invite you to pray with me for the newly wedded couple"

Mary kneeled before the man when Gabriel did, and she clung to his hand as if he'd suddenly vanish. Briefly, she bowed her head and thanked God for the man at her side, and hoped all would be well as the investigation of Theresa Kessler's death continued.

At the conclusion of the prayer, she and the inspector stood. The rector announced, "I now pronounce thee husband and wife."

Polite clapping went about the room from the assembled guests and the handful of servants who lined the back wall.

And then it was over. No longer was she a widow who carried her detestable first husband's name. Now she was Gabriel's Bright's wife, the woman he'd chosen because he considered them equals. She glanced at him, and a tremulous smile curved her lips. "I can't believe we're finally wed."

"Neither can I." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back. Warmth skated over her skin. "Well, Mrs. Bright, again I promise to give you the life you've always dreamed about, and I hope the memories we will make together will endeavor to wipe away or at least cover with a veil the horrid ones you've had until now regarding marriage."

Tears gathered in her eyes. "You are so sweet."

The rector smiled at them. "If you could both come and sign the registry, we can make everything official."

"Of course," Mary said and brushed at the residual moisture on her cheeks.

Then Gabriel put a hand to the small of her back and ushered her across the room to where the clerk waited with a book as well as a document. The servants exited the room with waves and smiles at her. Once they'd both signed everything they needed to, he walked toward the open double doors.

"I invite everyone to go across the hall to the dining room where the wedding breakfast will be served." There was a certain relief in his expression as he grinned. "Feel free to also make use of the drawing room and the sideboard of spirits in either location. My wife and I are going to step out for a few moments before we join you for the celebration."

Mary frowned. "Where, then?"

"Just here." He took her hand and tugged her across the room then through a side door that led into Bright's study. As soon as they were shielded from prying eyes, he immediately took her into his arms and teased her with a string of gentle kisses that held the promise of wicked things to come. When he lifted his head and found her gaze, he grinned. "Are you happy?"

"I am, of course I am." She rested her palms on the hard wall of his chest. The gemstones in her rings sparkled against the black of his tailcoat. "However, I'm also wracked with guilt and sadness due to finding Theresa last night. When put against death, happiness doesn't seem to have a place."

"That is understandable, but they are both a side of life's coin." He touched a fingertip to a curl that persisted in springing out by one temple. "It will be difficult to come to terms with her death, I'd imagine, since it brings up the past once more."

"Yes." She nodded, but there was comfort in having him with her. "I'd hoped to put all of it behind me after today."

"You will be successful, I promise."

"With your help, of course, but there is something else."

"Oh?" A hint of apprehension went through his eyes.

"I… couldn't sleep last night without you, and since I saw that you'd left her reticule upstairs in our rooms, I went through the things inside."

"That is nothing to be ashamed of. You are my partner in solving cases." One of his eyebrows rose. "Did you find anything significant?"

She shrugged. "That address in Mayfair scribbled on the scrap of paper? It is where my husband's sister lives."

"What?" Shock lined his face. "Why would your husband's mistress have his sister's address in her reticule? It makes no sense."

"I don't know. It's troubling. And I can't help but feel things are conspiring against me to take away my happiness." Perhaps she was merely overwrought and that's why the feeling of hopelessness pressed in on her. "Especially after that case in the spring when we were engaged."

"Ah sweeting. You are my wife now; nothing can hurt you any longer. I won't let it." He kissed her again with a bit more intensity that had the power to steal her breath and make her knees weak. Once he pulled away, he grinned. "Let us join our guests. I am famished."

Despite everything, Mary giggled. "When are you not led by your stomach, Bright?"

He waggled his eyebrows, and a wicked glint appeared in his eyes. "When I'm not led by my brain… or my cock I'd imagine." With a wink, he guided her to the door. "Both of which can't wait to be challenged by you."

"Oh!" Heat slipped into her cheeks. He was exactly what she needed in her life to prevent becoming too maudlin or falling into obscurity. "Behave, Inspector, lest our guests think we're the height of scandalous."

"But isn't that how our relationship began?"

When they came into the dining room, Mary waved to Cassandra as the governess came to claim the child for lessons. She was rewarded by a tiny smile and an answering wave from the girl, who was the picture of a genteel upbringing. She looked so pretty.

It was progress.