The Wedding

-->

Margaret's Wedding Gown
Larger pic under the cut

An Exerpt from Northern Light by Miss Winchester. This has been requested many times, so here it is. I do hope that you enjoy it. Personally I have very fond memories of this day,very fond indeed, and I am more than happy to relive it with you good people.

“Who cares what they think.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “Soon you will be mine and the rest of the world can go hang for all I care.”

Once at the church, Margaret told Edith and the Captain that she needed to see the Reverend and excused herself to go and find John. She slipped into the side chamber, where the bridegrooms had often waited when her father had conducted weddings, and found John sitting with his head in his hands.

“You're not having second thoughts, I hope,” she teased.

He looked up in surprise and a warm smile spread over his features as he drank her image in.

“You look...” He couldn't find the words. Her dress was a cream shade in a simple style with a fitted bodice, pinched waist and full skirt. Her veil, which was pushed back at the moment, was a delicate cream lace, held in place by a dozen tiny flowers on the crown of her head. She looked to him like an angel with a floral halo.

“Thank you.”

Margaret also couldn't help but admire him. He cut a very fine figure indeed in his morning suit and Margaret felt a fluttering in her stomach as she observed him.

“Isn't it bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?” he asked as he came over to her.

“I don't believe in superstitions like that,” she said firmly. “And I needed to see you before the ceremony.”

“Oh?”

“I just... I wanted to say that if my father could have been here, he would have been so happy, John. You were his favourite pupil and I know he thought very highly of you. I only hope that wherever he is now, that he can see us and know how happy we are together.”

John smiled and kissed her lips very gently, as though he was afraid he would spoil her beauty if he were too rough.

“Words can't do justice to how I feel about you,” he told her, his voice husky with desire. “I thank the Lord every day for my good fortune and I hope to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you.”

Margaret reached a hand up and cupped his cheek.

“And I love you, my darling. I thank the Lord every day that you gave me a second chance.”

“I would have given you a thousand chances,” he assured her.

Margaret felt the sting of tears and tried to blink them back.

“Oh dear. You must not make me cry,” she chided him, smiling through her tears. “What will people think?”

“Who cares what they think.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “Soon you will be mine and the rest of the world can go hang for all I care.”

“That is a little drastic, but I confess, I do share your sentiments.”

A knock came at the door and they separated as John called for them to come in. Margaret dabbed at her eyes to dry her remaining tears.

“Oh, here you are,” Father Byron said to Margaret. “Mrs. Shaw is looking for you.”

“I'm sure she is.” Margaret smiled. “Are we ready to start?”

“Whenever you two are. Would you like a few more minutes?”

John and Margaret looked at each other. “No,” they said in unison and smiled.

“Right, then let's get the proceedings under way, shall we?”

The church was one of Milton's smaller ones, chosen because they did not want a grand ceremony. As it was, their guests filled most of the pews without the church being too cramped.

As Margaret entered the church on Captain Lennox's arm, she saw Nicholas and the other workers she was friendly with seated towards the rear of the church. She smiled warmly at them, glad that they had decided to attend when they might easily have felt out of place.

As she neared the altar, John turned to look at her, his expression warm and welcoming. He stepped towards her to take her from the Captain then escorted her the rest of the way himself.

The service flew by and later Margaret would be left with few memories other than the look on John's face as he placed her ring on her finger. Before she knew it, John was lifting her veil and they were signing the register. She grinned, for while her over excited mind was currently unable to remember saying 'I do', this was a sure sign that they were now man and wife.

While she thought no one was looking, she kissed him quickly on the cheek and he smiled warmly at her impudence. She was Mrs. John Thornton now and as soon as they were alone she intended to give in to all the urges that had been plaguing her for the past four weeks, morals be damned.

They walked back down the isle, arm in arm, and Margaret glanced up at her husband and wondered what she had done to be this lucky.

As they left the church, the guests threw rice and the couple were inundated with well wishes.

John had closed the mill today in honour of their wedding and although some workers from the mill had attended the church, they weren't invited to the wedding breakfast. Margaret understood that they couldn't attend, though she was sorry for it and took the time before they left the church to thank them all personally for coming.

The breakfast was relatively easy since Mrs. Shaw now seemed to have accepted the inevitable and rather than pointing out the inadequacy of the north, she chose to pout in silence instead.

Margaret didn't care. They ate their food, listened to the speeches and as soon as was acceptable, saw their guests off and headed up to John's bed chamber.

Margaret closed the door behind them, leaned back against it and let out a long sigh, seeming to deflate with it.

“Surely you are not unhappy?” John asked as he untied his cravat.

“I believe relieved is the word,” she smiled at him. “We are finally man and wife. We have endured the gossip and scorn and are free to be alone together without inviting censure.”

She pushed away from the door and walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“So, Mr. Thornton, kiss me as I know you have longed to ever since that day in London.”

John smirked and lowered his lips to hers. He started off gently, kissing her softly and with the reverence he felt she deserved. He was unable to keep that up for long though and as her lips parted beneath his, he deepened the kiss.

Margaret whimpered as she felt his passion and desire and found those same emotions reflected within herself. When he pulled away she felt slightly light-headed, as though she had forgotten to breathe.

“My,” she whispered.

John cupped her cheek with his hand but his smile slowly faded.

“John? What is it?”

“Margaret, we have never spoken about what happens between a man and wife. Usually a bride's mother would explain everything before the wedding but...” He didn't know how to finish that sentence without reminding her of the loss.

Margaret smiled reassuringly, though it was tinged with sadness.

“While I may look innocent, and indeed I am sure that I am naive in many aspects of marital relations, I am aware of the... mechanics.”

“You are?”

“Indeed. A combination of reading and helping with a few births has given me a fairly clear understanding of the theory.”

“You were present at births?” he sounded surprised.

“Only two. Helstone was rather remote and it wasn't uncommon for us to be snowed in on occasion over the winter. As the vicar's wife my mother was often called upon to help with medical matters during these times and as as I grew older I would assist her.”

“Somehow I can't see your mother acting as a midwife,” John admitted.

“In all honesty she mainly held their hands, Dixon was the one who did most of the work.”

“But you are comfortable with what we are about to do?”

“I find I am eager, though I confess I am also slightly apprehensive.”

John leaned down and kissed her softly.

“You have nothing to fear from me, my love. I will be as gentle as I can be and take things slowly. You can ask me any questions you wish and I will answer them as honestly as I am able.”

“I....” Margaret bit her lip. “I have heard it said that it is painful.”

“The first time can be, but I will do everything I can to make it as pleasurable as possible.”

“I'm sure. I trust you implicitly, my darling.”

“I want to see you,” John said as he smiled and reached behind her for the buttons on her dress.

Margaret blushed and dipped her head but she made no move to stop him. Though she had little idea of what to do, instinct served her well and desiring to touch his flesh, she slipped her hands beneath his jacket and tugged his shirt loose so that she could run her hands over the planes of his back.

***

Available on Amazon UK
Amazon US
And all ebook formats
And you can visit Miss Winchester's inter-site here.