Chapter 299: Chapter Two Hundred And Ninety Nine

The grand carriage carrying Delaney slowed to a gentle halt. The wheels stopped turning on the cobblestone street. Outside the small glass window, the large, gray stone building of St. George’s Chapel stood tall and proud in the bright morning sunlight.

Delaney sat inside the carriage. Her white-gloved hands were resting on her lap. She was holding a beautiful, simple bouquet of white roses. Her hands were shaking just a tiny bit. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the rapid beating of her heart.

Aunt Renee reached across the carriage seat. She gently placed her warm hand over Delaney’s shaking fingers.

"We are here, my dear," Aunt Renee said softly. Her voice was calm and deeply comforting.

A uniformed footman stepped forward and opened the door of the carriage. He lowered the small metal steps. He bowed his head respectfully and offered his hand.

Delaney placed her hand into the footman’s hand. She lifted the front of her ivory silk dress carefully. She stepped down from the carriage. Her soft leather shoes touched the hard stone of the street. Aunt Renee climbed down right behind her, her deep lavender silk dress rustling quietly.

They stood together on the wide stone steps leading up to the doors of the church. The morning air was cool and fresh.

Aunt Renee turned to face her niece. She looked at Delaney’s beautiful face. She reached up with both hands. Very gently, she lifted the sheer, delicate lace veil attached to Delaney’s hair.

Aunt Renee pulled the white lace veil slowly forward. She draped it completely over Delaney’s face. The thin fabric fell softly over her eyes, her nose, and her mouth. It created a beautiful, soft mist over her features.

Aunt Renee smoothed the edges of the veil against Delaney’s shoulders. She looked at her niece through the thin white lace. Her eyes were filled with bright, happy tears.

"Go and be happy," Aunt Renee whispered. Her voice was full of love.

Delaney smiled behind the veil. She nodded her head slowly.

"I will, Aunt Renee," Delaney replied softly. "Thank you."

Aunt Renee gave Delaney’s arm one final, gentle squeeze. Then, the older woman turned around. She walked up the stone steps. The doors were opened slightly by two waiting footmen. Aunt Renee entered the quiet church. She walked down the side aisle and sat down in the front wooden pew, taking her proper place as the mother of the bride.

Delaney was left standing entirely alone in the small stone entryway of the church.

The doors were closed slightly, leaving just a small gap. Delaney stood perfectly still. She could hear the quiet, low murmur of the hundreds of guests sitting inside.

Suddenly, the church grew completely silent. The talking stopped entirely.

Then, the loud, deep sound of the grand pipe organ began to play. The music swelled up into the high ceilings of the church. It was the hymn she had chosen, her father’s favorite song.

Delaney took a deep breath. Her chest rose and fell beneath the pearl-covered bodice of her dress. She knew the music was her cue to enter.

The two footmen reached out and pulled the double doors completely wide open.

A massive rush of warm air and bright golden light spilled out into the entryway.

Delaney stepped forward. She walked in slowly.

She kept her head held high. She did not rush. She took one slow, graceful step after another. Her silk skirts glided smoothly over the stone floor of the center aisle.

Through the thin white lace of her veil, she saw the massive crowd of guests. The wooden pews on both sides of the aisle were completely full. Hundreds of lords and ladies of the London Ton were sitting quietly. They all turned their heads to look at her. They stared in pure admiration. She saw ladies smiling and older lords nodding their heads in deep respect.

Delaney kept her eyes focused straight ahead, but she noticed the familiar, loving faces of her true family sitting in the very front rows.

She saw Ines, the Duchess of Carleton. Ines was wearing a beautiful bright blue dress. She was bouncing little baby Harry gently on her lap. When Ines saw Delaney, a massive, bright smile spread across her face. Ines lifted her hand and gave a tiny, happy wave.

Beside Ines sat her husband, Carcel. He looked completely calm and highly proud. He offered Delaney a deep, respectful nod of his head as she walked past him.

Sitting in the row behind them, Delaney saw Celine. The young woman looked incredibly peaceful and happy. Celine offered a very polite, gentle smile, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Delaney was so glad to see Celine.

Delaney also saw Aunt Margery. The older woman was already holding a delicate lace handkerchief to her nose, crying happy tears before the ceremony had even truly begun.

But then, Delaney’s eyes left the guests completely. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

She looked at the very end of the long aisle.

She saw Rowan.

He was standing near the altar. He looked absolutely, undeniably dashing. He wore his perfectly tailored dark blue coat, a crisp white waistcoat, and a flawlessly tied white cravat. His broad shoulders were pulled back tightly. His posture was completely straight.

As Delaney walked slowly down the aisle, Rowan watched her.

His reaction was entirely visible to anyone who looked closely. When the doors had first opened and he saw her standing there in the white silk dress, his entire body had gone completely still. He stopped breathing for a long second. His chest remained frozen.

His eyes were completely wide. He looked at her exactly as if she were a precious, holy miracle. He did not care about the hundreds of staring guests.

His hands, which were resting at his sides, twitched slightly. He looked as though he wanted to run down the aisle, pick her up in his arms, and carry her away completely.

Delaney kept walking. Her heart beat a fast, joyful rhythm. The distance between them grew smaller and smaller.

Finally, she reached the end of the aisle. She stopped walking.

She stood directly in front of him, just one step below the raised wooden altar.

Rowan did not wait for the vicar to speak. He took a single step forward. He reached out his large, strong right hand.

Delaney shifted her bouquet of white roses into her left hand. She lifted her right hand and placed it gently into his open palm.

His warm fingers immediately wrapped around hers. He squeezed her hand firmly, offering her a deep reassuring promise of safety. His touch sent a warm thrill straight down her arm.

They turned slightly and faced the vicar, who was standing behind the altar.

The organ stopped playing, the church was completely silent, except for the soft rustle of silk as the guests settled into their seats.

The vicar opened a large leather-bound book. He cleared his throat quietly.

"Dearly beloved," the vicar began. His voice was deep, serious, and carried clearly across the large church. "We are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony."

Rowan and Delaney stood perfectly still, listening to the words.

"It is an honorable estate," the vicar continued slowly, "instituted of God in the time of man’s innocency. Therefore, it is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God."

Delaney felt the heavy weight of the moment. This was not a simple party. This was a lifelong, unbreakable promise. This was serious business. She squeezed Rowan’s hand. He immediately squeezed her hand back, letting her know he felt the exact same seriousness.

The vicar turned his head and looked directly at Rowan.

"Duke Rowan Hamilton," the vicar asked formally. "Wilt thou have this Woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, protect, 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?"

Rowan did not hesitate for a single second. He did not look at the vicar. He turned his head and looked directly at Delaney through her thin white veil.

"I will," Rowan said loudly. His deep voice rang out clearly and firmly in the quiet church, leaving absolutely no room for doubt.

The vicar then turned his head and looked directly at Delaney.

"Lady Delaney Kingsley," the vicar asked. "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, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"