CHAPTER 34
It had been three weeks and six days since the banns had been read in their local parish in Mayfair. To say that they were cutting it close to impropriety would not necessarily be a falsehood; however, to say that around to groom might be cause for your impending doom.
For even the highest of sticklers the minimum time required for an engagement was three weeks, and the fact that he had allowed another six days to pass was sheer lunacy. However, when Eden had looked up at him, batting those lovely blue eyes through her adorable spectacles, saying something about the availability of the church at St George - how was he to deny her?
It didn’t help that her hand was conveniently rubbing up against his cock at the time, hidden from all others in the room by her skirts. Damn, the woman was a very quick learner in the arts of seduction. He was equal parts impressed and appalled, and obviously 100% aroused.
So, they waited until the church was available, and that was how he found himself thus, stuffed into this priggish costume of wedding finery, waiting on the woman of his dreams, and wondering for the millionth time in the last few weeks why he hadn’t kidnapped her and married her over the anvil.
Elias swallowed a grin, “Would you stop moving - people are going to assume you have the clap.”
Daniel choked in his ear, “Good Lord, warn a man before he stands so close.”
Phillip turned to his best friends in outrage and then noted the smiles on Elias, Daniel, and Benjamin’s faces.
From the first few rows Sinclair and Samuel looked on in amusement, clearly aware that their buddies were finding some way to take the mickey out of Randall.
“I couldn’t help but return the favor, my friend,” Elias grinned. “Feeling more the thing?”
Phillip let out a long breath, “Who needs enemies when I have you idiots about?”
Daniel let out low chuckle, “It’s a brave man that calls the men that know his deepest secrets ‘idiots’.”
Benjamin nodded, “I have to agree with Danny Boy on this one, Randall. Your beautiful bride might like some of the stories we could share.”
Phillip paled, “That’s blackmail.”
The boy laughed, “Our Randall is truly smitten.”
Phillip looked a little sheepish before allowing a grin to spread across his face, “I never thought I would say it, but with Eden I suppose being smitten is right where I want to be. You should be so lucky.”
They chortled with amusement.
“Not me, mate,” Daniel shook his head. “Never going to happen!”
The music started a different tune, and the men automatically straightened. Phillip searched the back of the hall for Eden.
He saw Lillian and Juliana take their places opposite them and knew that Eden would appear at any moment.
There had been a long discussion on who would be walking her down the aisle. During their engagement, Phillip had travelled to her father’s country estate all the way near the border of Scotland to request his permission for his daughter's hand in marriage. What he had found was an ill older man who could have cared less one way or another.
Not wanting to hurt Eden, he informed her that her father was too sick to come but had given his consent. Eden had seemed alright with the answer. He knew that at some point more would need to be spoken of, but he would not ruin her special day.
So, he asked her who she wanted to walk with her and give her away. Eden, always one to be unconventional, chose to walk with her maid of honor and best friend, Sophie.
The two of them were a sight to behold. Sophie was dressed in a deep green, which was lovely with her dark hair and eyes. But it also made the perfect foil for Eden’s lovely blond curls and white lace. They walked arm in arm -Eden with an expression of sheer excitement and Sophie with small tears of joy leaking down her face.
As they reached the front Elias joined them, and when the priest asked who was giving her away, the Mangroves stood together said that they were.
Eden turned to them and took each of their hands in her own.
“Thank you, Sophie and Elias, for being my family when I had none. I will never forget that.”
Elias stepped forward and kissed her cheek, “You will always be our family, Eden, you and now this rake of yours.”
He turned Eden and placed her hand in Phillip’s. The ceremony began. The words that had been said a million other times seemed brand new. They made promises that both intended to keep. It was lovely … and over almost too soon.
As Phillip swept her veil back from her face, he felt his emotions welling up within him.
She could tell that something was wrong and placed a hand on his cheek. He was supposed to be kissing her, not frowning at her.
“What is it?” she whispered.
“You are finally mine.”
He crushed her lips to his, not caring that his sisters were in the first row or that his mother was not too far behind. Not worried that the priest had made a loud sound of disappointment or that his buddies were laughing far too loudly for St. George Cathedral. Eden was finally his, and he was not going to ever let her go.
It wasn’t until he had thoroughly kissed her to his satisfaction that he lifted his head. She was good and dazed, her spectacles fogged a bit and her lips more than swollen.
“Bloody show off,” Elias muttered and rolled his eyes as he walked over to his own beautiful blushing bride.
It was then that Randall knew he had done it right.