My Wife, My Rules – 7. chapter

He stood before the altar, watching the priest’s preparations with a distant mind. His thoughts tangled and circled, but they all ended at one question. Would they give him the right one? Today he would say I do for the rest of his life. If it was Tess, perhaps his greatest dream would come true, essentially without him having done anything to earn it. And beautiful, timid Tess would be his forever. But if it was her sister, the dream would dissolve completely, and he would never so much as touch Tess again. How would he know? Would he recognize which one stood beside him before he swore the vow?

A glance would be enough. One look into her eyes and he would know at once which sister he was facing. When it occurred to him that even with Viktoria, seeing her would be enough, he searched the guests with naïve hope. Only then did he realize she could not be there at all. The parents pretended to have only one daughter. That was the one they would send down the aisle. The other would be hidden away.

His thoughts turned to the horse carriage waiting with the coachman outside the church. Tess would be terrified by the crowd. He needed to get her to safety as quickly as possible. But would he use it if he got Viktoria?

From somewhere in the distance, a sound pulled him back to reality. The soft rustle of fabric. Held breaths. Quiet, excited whispers among the pews. He turned. A figure in white stood in the doorway. Not a bride, alluring, radiant, breathtaking. Only a silhouette beneath a veil. Lord Anagnostos began to lead her slowly toward the altar.

What the hell are they trying to hide?! Aiden grew angry at the long, thick veil that concealed the bride’s face entirely.

If I didn’t already know the truth, and they had no idea I knew it, I would have no chance of suspecting anything. They are indistinguishable!

He watched with displeasure as they reached the altar. The girl took her place beside him, facing the priest. She did not glance at Aiden even once. Her father went to sit down, and Aiden turned toward the altar as well.

Well then. God’s will be done, he resigned himself inwardly.

The ceremony began at once. Aiden felt that his nerves could scarcely grow any tighter, and that there was nothing he could do about it. He did not hear the priest at all. He only prayed for it to end quickly. He stood motionless when it seemed to him that the girl beside him made a sound.

He held his breath, listening.

And yes.

It was… a sob?

He strained his ears, and within moments he was certain. The girl beside him was crying! This was what they wanted to hide! Why would a bride weep if she were marrying willingly, the way Viktoria had been acting she would?!

Joy seized his heart.

It IS Tess!

He longed to pull her into his arms at once, to calm her, but he knew he must endure until the end of the ceremony. Until the point in this farce when Tess would be his wife beyond doubt. Besides, embracing her now would likely not calm her at all, but do the exact opposite.

With joy, he realized he could already begin planning how to help her overcome her fear. He understood she would never become a social creature, and that did not trouble him. But he absolutely wanted her to let him in.

He had to stop himself and remember that the more immediate problem before him was getting Tess out of the church. He knew the guests would terrify her. The shouts, the stares, the light, the scents of flowers. Even the small bells at the church doors swaying gently in the wind. Every sound was a threat.

The priest’s words about a wife’s duties to love, honor, and obey her husband drew a satisfied smile to Aiden’s lips. Not that he doubted he could secure that obedience even without an oath.

Another sob escaped Tess, making it unmistakable again that she was crying. Aiden cursed inwardly, wondering when the damned ceremony would finally end, but when the priest finally said, “I now pronounce you…,” it suddenly seemed rather short. Had her wonderful parents shortened the priest’s speech to improve the chance that Tess would endure it without fleeing? It was entirely possible.

“You may kiss the bride.”

Aiden smiled and turned toward his new wife. She hesitated for a second or two, then did the same toward Aiden. He lifted the veil and folded it behind her head. Tess’s eyes were still closed, her lips pressed tight, dried tear-tracks marking her cheeks. He understood she had no intention of opening her eyes for the kiss.

He leaned a little closer and whispered gently,

“Hello, kitty!”

Tess’s eyes flew open. Then her mouth fell open. Her pupils visibly widened in shock. She stared at him, then the corners of her lips lifted into the faintest smile. She let out a deep breath, and the relief was plain on her face.

“You may kiss the bride,” the priest repeated, nervously.

Aiden shot him a displeased look, then returned his gaze to Tess.

“May I?” he whispered.

She nodded at once, almost eagerly. For a moment he considered kissing her cheek instead, but he could not resist. He pressed his lips to hers, his heart pounding. All of this fragile creature was his! For life. And he might do with her as he saw fit.

He did not get to enjoy that sweet joy for long.

Applause erupted. Shouts. Rice. Flowers. Tess startled like an animal at a gunshot. Aiden did not hesitate.

“I will get you out of here, kitty. But you must allow me to carry you.”

He did not have to wait for an answer. Tess looked at him with almost worshipful reverence and began nodding feverishly at once. That was enough. He lifted her into his arms and carried her through the crowd toward the exit. Tess wrapped her arms around his neck, and when rice and flowers began to fall upon them, she curled against him and hid her face in his coat.

Aiden decided not to think about the hypocrisy of those present. He doubted there was a single soul there who did not know of the deception they had stitched together against him. He only pressed Tess closer to his body and almost ran outside.

The carriage stood exactly where it should. The coachman held the door open. Aiden placed his wife straight into the carriage. The servant leapt to his seat. But Aiden did not remain within. He stepped back out.

Tess had no time to even wonder at it. The relentless guests poured from the church and moved toward them. Aiden looked at his wife.

“Kitty, don’t open the door and don’t step out alone. I will come for you. Until then, stay inside, safe,” he asked gently.

When she nodded, he closed the door and climbed up beside the coachman. Without waiting, the man urged the horses into a gallop.