Ruin Me Please (56 page)

Poppy’s breath caught as their gazes collided and the
most beautiful smile
she had ever witnessed spread across
his face. 

Declan’s mouth went dry as he final
ly beheld his bride-to-be d
ressed in a pristine white satin gown that glimmered in the sunshine
, t
he square-cut bodice encrusted with bri
l
liants sent out sparks of light as she moved.  The dress lovingly cupped the delicious swell of her bosom.
Short cap sleeves
woven in a basket weave
design that
showed her slender arms to perfection.  The slim skirt skimmed seductively over her hips
.  Side slits up to her knees revealed an
unde
r
skirt of silver tissue that peeped out when she walked.  Her out
fit
complete with white gloves and white satin slippers with silver embroi
dery. 
The train caught up with a silver rib
bon fell down her back to cascade behind
like a wate
r
fall.  Her golden hair
caught up in loose curls and decorated with more brilliants and of course, D
e
clan’s favorite flower, poppies.

Declan bit back a
chu
ckle when
he caught sight of the
hem
whimsically
embroi
dered
with fluffy sil
ver lambs, later revealed
to be
a
clever idea thought up by Chloe. 

Ending her procession directly
in front of Declan
with a brilliant smile, she
tenderly laid her hand on his arm.
 

Mr.
Timmons
cleared his throat,
the curate,
a short round man of indeterminate age
with a shock of gray hair standing
up all over his head. 
“His Grace wants
to say a few words b
e
fore we
begin the ceremony.” 
Bowing, he withdrew
.

Declan took both of Poppy’s hands in his strong, firm grip and swallowed
noticeably
. 
Staring
deeply into her eyes
he
quoted,
‘
nothing
in the world is single
,
all
things by law d
i
vine in one spirit meet and mingle.  Why not I with thine?
’

Poppy smiled as happy tears fell down her cheeks.

Declan reached into his coat pocket and handed her a snowy white handkerchief. 

She playfully slapp
ed
his arm
with the same piece of linen
. 

“You trumped me.
  For I also have memorized a romantic quote for you as well
,”
s
he
admitted with a tender look in her eyes.  “I guess we truly are per
fectly matched.
”
She thre
w
an amused look over her shoulder at Seymour.
 

She began softly,
‘
Doubt
thou the stars are fire
; Doubt
that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love.
’   

Declan reached up and gently traced the curve of her jaw.

Poppy leaned into his caress
. 

“
Shakespeare again?”
h
e asked
with a chuckle leaning
towards
her
when
interrupted by several discreet
ly placed
coughs. 
Jerking
away from
Poppy,
he blinked
remember
ing
where they were. 
Glancing at
Parker’s laughing
face
, with a sheepish grin he turned
to Mr. Timmons and said humbly,
“You may
pr
e
cede
.” 

Once again clearing his throa
t, Mr. Timmons read the ceremony, emphasizing its sole
m
nity.  Casting stern glances Declan’s way all throughout. 

“Declan Kieran Trenowyth, Wilt though have this Woman to thy wedded Wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony?  Wilt thou love her, co
m
fort her,
honor
, and keep her in sickness and in health and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”

In as husky but firm voice
,
Declan looked deeply into Poppy’s eyes and responded, “I will.”

“Poppy Imogene Peregrine
, Wilt
thou have this Man to thy wedded Husband, to live t
o
gether after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony?  Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love,
honor
, and keep him in sickness and in health: and, forsaking all other, keep
thee
o
n
ly until him, so long as ye both shall live?”

Her face
beam
ed
as she sa
id as loud and clear a
s her
tear-filled
voice would allow
, “I will
.
” 
C
over
ing
her mouth with her gloved
hand,
she
gi
g
gl
ed
.

The
y
smil
ed
adoringly at each other
for the remainder of the
t
radition
al ceremony,
wai
t
ing
longingly for him to recite the long awaited words.

The mini
ster asked if Declan had a ring.  R
eaching into his coat pocket
,
he pulled out a thick
gold band inset with polished
sapphires.

Poppy gasped at its beauty.

Declan repeated the vows, “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.” 
He held
her hand
and
slipped the ring on her finger.

Mr. Timmons stated matter-of-factly, “You are now husband and wife.”

C
aptur
ing
Pop
py’s face between his hands, he pressed
a feverish kiss to her lips
, she r
e
sponded with equal fervor
.

He whispered
, “
I love you
,
Poppy.

Smiling against his mouth
,
and
replied, “I love you too, Declan.” 

T
he
ir family and friends greeted them boisterously,
shower
ing
the
happy
couple with handfuls of
fragrant
rose petals.

Under a white tent that had been set up specifically for the celebratory refreshments,
w
ith his glass in the
air, Parker gave a toast.
“May you never know sorrow, may your he
arts a
l
ways be filled with love and
may your future be blessed with children
to carry on the Hawk
s
ley legacy.
”
Pausing with a
smirk
, he
continued,
“Declan, may the power of the gods assist you with keeping this
angel
,
” h
e
said with a twin
kle in his eye, “in
check!”
  Taking a rather deep and dramatic breath, Parker
swal
lowed his champagne in one gulp. 
Throwing
himsel
f down in the closest chair, he
grinned from ear to ear.  “Praise be to God in heaven!  She will be
your
wo
n
derful burden now, not mine.”

“Here, here,”
everyone
chorused.
             

The bud of love by
summers

ripening breath,

may prove a beauteous flower when

next we meet.

Romeo and Juliet

*William Shakespeare

T
he wheels rattled loudly
as the traveling car
riage made its
laboriously
journey down
the lane towards Allingham
Park
. 

Declan gently kissed Poppy awake.

Wrapped snuggly in his arms, she had fallen asleep after
the wedding and slept the e
n
tire
trip. 
Having decided to
spend their wedding night at Allingham Park
, they had left immed
i
ately after the ceremony.  Poppy thought it would please De
clan to
share their special day in spirit with his
father and brother. 

Pushing back the curtain,
Declan kissed her on her freckled nose
continuing
the deligh
t
ful task of waking his adorable sleeping wife. 

“We have almost arrived, my love
.”

Poppy’s eyes opened
gingerly
, performing
a deep yawning stretch atop
his lap
, squir
m
ing deliciously against his
groin, eliciting a deep groan
.
 
He ran
his finger softly down her cheek
,
smil
ing
down at her
.  “Would you like to see where you are going to live
,
D
uchess?” 

She sat up q
uickly
bubbling with
e
xcitement.
“Oh, yes please,
I cannot believe
you a
l
lowed me to sleep the whole way,
” 
She cried with amusement in her voice. 
“You should have woken me sooner.” 
She remained happily perched o
n his lap
, leaning out the
open
wi
n
dow
waiting for the house to come into view
.

As the carriage rounded the bend, Allingham Park began to appear
little by little
.  First the roof, then the sun glinted off dozens of windows.
 

“Oh,
D
eclan, it’s breathtaking
,” Poppy exclaimed.  “I know
why you love it as mu
ch as you do.”

The large
three-story
structure was composed of side
wings,
built of brick and st
one and a
semi-circular Tuscan portico
situated at the main entrance.

Declan described the house
as having
six suites and fifteen chambers.  He also advised that though she loved wildflowers, he felt she woul
d be extremely pleased with a
garden that included over
seventy-five
varieties of roses and clematis as well.  A very romantic garden he
advise
d
her.

Poppy’s gaze
fixed as they drove down the long tree-lined drive
, taking a deep inhale of the
air
infused
with the scent of apple blossoms, their petals float
ing
with the warm breeze. 
She inhaled
once again
the sweet
fragrance
as they approached her new home.

She stared
at her new home, the home that would be the structure to hold the lif
e
time of bliss in store
for her. 
The home where their children would run and play.  The home where they would grow old together.  The home that would be the backdrop for her future dreams.