“Aye, deadly certain.”
“And ye, lass, are ye certain?”
“Yes,” Cleo nodded her head. “Deadly certain.”
The officiate raised his brows in surprise at their use of words but shrugged and went on with the job at hand. “Verra well.” He turned his eyes back to the page and began reading again.
“Into this holy unionArthur MacDonald, Earl o’ Irondale, and Miss Cleo Wallacenow come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now or else forever hold your peace.”
The officiate stared over his glasses at Jacob, Caroline, and Mrs. McGrath. “Well, speak up,” he commanded expecting them to leap from their seats to stop the wedding. “Nae? Verra well then.” He shook his head in disapproval, then continued on with his reading.
“I require and charge you both, that if either of you know any reason why you may not be united in marriage lawfully, do now confess it.
He looked up at first to Cleo and then Arthur. “Any secrets that need telling?”
They both shook their heads in denial.
“Verra well,” he snorted, clearly not believing them, but not caring enough at this stage to call them into question.
“Cleo Wallace, will you have this man to be your husband…to love him, honor, and keep him, in sickness and health…for as long as you both shall live?”
“I will.” At the words, Cleo’s heart felt as if it might burst.
“Arthur MacDonald, will you have this woman to be your wife…love, honor, and keep her in sickness and health…for as long as you both shall live?”
“I will.” Arthur turned a beaming smile towards Cleo that she could not help but return in equal measure. In spite of the danger that they were in, she had never been happier in her entire life.
The officiate then turned to the witnesses once more. “Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?”
Jacob, Caroline, and Mrs. McGrath all responded as one, “We will”
The officiate nodded his approval at this and exhibited the first hint of a smile.
“Now to the vows,” the officiate motioned for them to face one another. “Take her right hand, lad.”
Arthur obeyed, then winked at Cleo causing her to smile.
“Now repeat after me.” The officiate eyed Arthur sternly as if he doubted that Arthur would be able to manage such a task. Cleo would have been frustrated at him if she had not found his cantankerous mood so endearing.
“Aye,” Arthur nodded.
The officiate turned back to his book and recited the traditional vows for Arthur to repeat. Once he was done, Arthur turned to Cleo and recited each and every word from heart.
“And ye take His Lordship’s right hand, lass.”
His touch was reassuring. She was so overwhelmed with happy tears and after short pause, Cleo recited the traditional vows.
“Do ye have a ring, lad, for the lass?”
“Aye,” Arthur nodded and pulled a beautiful silver etched ring from his jacket pocket. “It was my maithers,” he murmured, meeting her eyes with an intensity that told her just how special the ring truly was. Arthur handed the ring to the officiate for the blessing.
“Now, lad take the ring and place it on her finger and repeat after me.” The officiate said the necessary words and Arthur, taking the ring, lovingly placed it upon Cleo’s finger, and repeated the pledge.
She felt a warm glow flow through her, and a cry of relief broke from her lips.
The officiate did actually smile at this point, managing to look quite fatherly as he joined the couple’s hands together in a show of their union. “Now that Arthur MacDonald and Cleo Wallace have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring, I pronounce that they are husband and wife…Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder. Amen.”
“Amen.”
