Read Online Bride Enchanted by Edith Layton - Free Book Online Page B

her own mind. “Thank you,” she said.
    Sheridan levered his long frame from off from the wall where he’d propped his shoulders. “Father’s right,” he said simply as he stood up straight. “But remember, if there are any problems with him after the marriage, you can always come to me.”
    Eve gave him a misty smile. “Thank you,” she told him. “The only problem will be that I’ll miss you two so much.”
    â€œIt’s all for the best,” Sheridan said, breaking the silence. “I’ll get to know those chestnut prancers of his sooner too.”
    And then, relieved, they all laughed.
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    The groom, all said, was paler than the bride. He was as pallid and pained, as beautiful as oneof the grave, stone saints that stood so patiently by the entrance to the tiny, ancient church. At least, so he was when he stood by the altar, side by side with his blushing new bride. This usually would have made the fashionable in the congregation whisper to each other, spreading rumor of a reluctant match, but the place was so hushed they were afraid their voices would carry too far. And for all his graces, Ashford was said to be an excellent swordsman, and a top-notch fellow with a pistol.
    Still, in a few moments they reckoned it must have only been a usual case of nerves for the groom. Because once out into the bright autumn-light morning again, color came back to his face, and life into his eyes, which now sparkled in the sunlight.
    â€œWelcome one and all,” he said, as he stood on the front steps to the church and addressed his guests. “The weather’s been kind, and with winter on its way, I thought we’d all enjoy an outdoor festival today.”
    Eve smiled. Her new husband’s speech, she’d realized, fell into rhyming patterns from time to time. It was a thing that must have amused him. The guests loved it. Eve loved everything about him today. He was dressed in formal black and white, which made his hair shine blue black in the sun. He glowed; he gleamed and looked magnificent in the open air, which seemed to be his natural element. But so was candlelight and torchlight, she thought, and moonlight, especially.
    She’d wanted to wear a green gown, because that was her favorite color. But there were too many jests to be made about “a green gown for a bride,” since that was what a rustic lover was supposed to give his lady when he tumbled her in the grass. Anyway, superstitious people in the countryside considered green unlucky, since in legend it was the color of the mischievous, wicked elfin folk.
    So the bride wore a rose-colored gown with long russet sleeves, and red roses twined in a crown on her curly hair. She looked delightful. But she didn’t care how she looked. She had eyes only for her new husband.
    â€œSo come along, enjoy food and song,” he went on, “the sun’s shining and soft breezes play. Come join us on our happy day. This way,” he said, pointing in the direction of Eve’s father’s estate.
    The guests laughed, he bowed, and then, smiling, led his bride to his phaeton, bedecked with bright garlands of flowers and autumn berries; his horses crowned with asters woven into wreaths of golden leaves.
    They drove off first, ducking their heads against the showers of petals, coins, and rice that the guests threw at them.
    â€œThat’s done,” Aubrey said, as they went down the winding country road to her father’s estate.
    â€œAnd done well,” she agreed, untangling a wayward bramble from her hair. “But I worried there, for a moment.”
    He turned to look at her. “Why?”
    â€œWhen we stood at the altar I looked at you. You were so pale and still. I thought you’d suddenly changed your mind.”
    â€œYou could have cut off my head and I wouldn’t have changed my mind,” he said, laughing. “It’s only that churches affect me