“You really think so?” I asked.
Mum nodded.
I’d never seen her so emotional that she couldn’t speak before and while I chuckled through my tears, relieved to hear she was happy with what I’d done, Bill stepped forward with handkerchiefs for my parents too.
“I know this isn’t Gregbrook Manor, Mum, but…”
Mum tried to pull herself together. “About that,” she said, mid snivel. “There’s something I should probably tell…”
Our attention was diverted when a voice interrupted us before Mum could finish.
“Are we ready to go in?” the registrar said.
Chapter 54
Appearing at my side, Leo took my hand. “Looks like this is it.”
I had to take deep breaths as we all followed the registrar into the ceremony room. As everyone took a seat and Leo and I took our places at the top of the aisle, it was all eyes on us and not one to relish being the centre of events, nervousness threatened to overwhelm me.
Leo gave me a wink. “You’ll be fine,” he said, whispering in my ear.
Feeling a tad warm, I nodded. “I just hope I don’t faint.”
With guests settled in their seats, the registrar again began to speak, but her words passed me by in a blur. My mind kept wandering back to everything that had happened those last months. Thanks to the good, the bad, and the ugly, Leo and I had had quite a journey. The registrar’s voice suddenly got louder, jolting me to attention.
“You are here to witness the joining in marriage of Leo McDermot and Tessa Cavendish,” she said. “If any person present knows of any lawful impediment why these two people may not be joined in marriage, he or she should declare it now.”
Standing there, while I didn’t anticipate a member of any first wives club making an appearance, I held on to lungs full of air, half expecting Ryan to blurt something out for effect. However, Sal was obviously keeping her man in check because the room stayed silent and finally, I allowed myself to exhale.
“Could I ask you both to hold hands,” the registrar said to Leo and me.
As we turned to face each other, the registrar continued to speak. I heard words like matrimony, solemn, and binding. But as I continued to focus on my breathing, I was too busy trying to stop my hands shaking to pay proper heed.
Leo squeezed my palms and being just what I needed, his reassurance calmed my nerves enough for me to finally listen.
“These vows which unite you as husband and wife, constitute a formal and public pledge of your love for one another,” the registrar said.
Oh, Lordy,I thought, realising the time had come for us to speak.
She turned her attention solely to Leo. “Are you, Leo McDermot, free to lawfully marry Tessa Cavendish.”
“I am,” Leo replied, his voice loud and clear.
The registrar turned to me. “Are you, Tessa Cavendish, free to lawfully marry Leo McDermot.”
I nodded.
Smiling at me, the registrar indicated I need to say it out loud, which generated a few laughs amongst our audience.
“Sorry.” I felt myself blush. “Yes. I am,” I replied, my voice shaky.
The registrar looked to our guests and after explaining what was to happen next, asked everyone to stand.
Neither Leo nor I took our eyes off one another as sentence by sentence, we each called upon everyone present to witness us becoming man and wife. Leo silently encouraged me every step of the way and as we said our vows and exchanged rings, despite theoohsandaahsfrom the rest of our wedding party, such was our concentration, it was as if Leo and I were the only two people in the room. The whole ceremony seemed to go by in no time.
“It therefore gives me the greatest honour and privilege,” the registrar said. “To announce that you are now husband and wife.”
Our whole wedding party whooped and cheered in celebration.
