Not at her lack of escape at that part of the ceremony, as he had teased, but at her emphasis on the thing itself. She would be bound to him, but it had never quite occurred to him that he would be equally bound. The law gave the husband far more freedom than the wife, as the natural way of things in the world, but the vows were hardly different between man and woman. Subtle differences, but the idea was the same.

He would be bound to her.

There was something quite humbling in that.

“Basset?” Adelaide asked again.

He looked at her, feeling somehow expanded and diminished at the same time.

“Harrison Edward Pascoe Basset, 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, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”

Swallowing once, Harrison dipped his chin in a nod, answering both her and the clergyman together when he replied, “I will.”

Adelaide nodded very briefly, looking at the clergyman now.

“Adelaide Elizabeth Mary, 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, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”

“I will,” she intoned in a clear, yet not defiant voice.

The clergyman nodded at them both.

“Please do not take this compliment as a truce,” Harrison whispered as the question about the giving of the woman was announced, “but you look absolutely beautiful. Quite radiant, in fact.”

Adelaide stilled as her hand was taken from her father’s and placed atop Harrison’s, where it trembled slightly. “Thank you,” she breathed.

Harrison dipped his chin, brushing his thumb against her hand just once in confirmation of the moment.

The clergyman looked between them both, brows raised. “Now, Lord Basset, repeat after me. I, Harrison Edward Pascoe Basset, take thee Adelaide Elizabeth Mary…”

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

It was, without a doubt, the finest wedding breakfast Adelaide had ever seen or heard of, and she could find herself quite proud of that despite the fact it had all been the doing of her parents.

It would reflect well on her, and that was all she needed from it. Besides the fare itself.