When Father Michael leaned forward yet again, Greylen sighed audibly, shaking his head. His astute bride was in shock. She had no idea what the priest asked. No doubt she’d bite his head off for pointing out the obvious, but the responsibility was his—not Gavin the insolent, who was about to intercede. Greylen pushed the aforementioned cad out of the way, sorry he’d not fallen down the steps when he’d done so.

“Gwendolyn, look at me, love,” Greylen ordered when he stood in front of her.

Look at him. Was he serious? She could do little else. God he was handsome, and he kept calling her “love”—with that voice. She was so warm, surrounded by so many people, in the tiny chapel aglow with what must be hundreds of candles. And there were so many beautiful flowers everywhere, it smelled wonderful. She wasn’t even upset that everyone had lied to her all morning. How could she be when Greylen was so close now? He was searching her eyes. He really was something to look at. And, my God, there was a lot of him too.

“Gwendolyn?”

“Hmmm.”

“Tell Father Michael you will, love.”

“Will what, Greylen?”

“Marry me.”

Greylen’s shout could have parted the sea, but Gwen couldn’t fathom why he felt the need to yell right now. Hadn’t she already told him that she would? She felt rather smug, too, pointing out the obvious to him. “Isn’t that why we’re here?” she asked.

Greylen’s hands fisted as a tic marred his features. “Gwendolyn, the nice man asked if you’ll have me. You’ve not answered.”

“Oh my God,” she shouted. She blanked out. She peeked around Greylen to tell Father Michael she would…but hesitated. “Greylen?” she finally whispered, looking up again.

“Aye,” he answered in an ominous drawl.

Gwen wrung her hands together. Then stepped even closer to him, placing her hands on his chest so she could lean up and whisper. “Everything’s going to be all right, isn’t it, Greylen?”

She felt the tension leaving him at her question, and he gently answered, “Aye, Gwen.”

“We’ll be happy, won’t we?”

“I swear it.”

“I mean—”

“Gwendolyn!”

She jumped at his shout, causing Father Michael to do the same when she practically screamed “I will” to the man.

The rest happened in such a blur she was sorry they hadn’t hired a photographer or videographer to capture it. Then she repeated some of the most ridiculous words and promises she’d ever heard. Vows to be “buxom and bonny” and in a way she couldn’t even believe, which made her realize why they couldn’t hire anyone in the first place. She was practically in the frigging Ice Age.