“Repeat after me,” the minister says, “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Why does it feel suddenly real, when Declan repeats his vows loud and clear?
Panic flutters, and London starts to pull her hand back, but Declan grins a wolfish smile and tightens his grip.
“Too late now,” he whispers as he slides the gold band on her finger.
London's ears start ringing, and she is thinking about running, when the minister says, “You may now kiss the bride.”
Once again, as in the garden, Declan trails a finger down her cheek and slides a hand around the base of her neck, pulling her closer to him. His mouth descends on hers, and the ballroom erupts with cheers! A photographer snaps a picture.
It was only supposed to be a chaste kiss, the conclusion to a business deal, and perhaps they are merely caught up in the moment, but neither wants the kiss to end. Declan kisses her, tasting and savoring, and when he pulls back slightly, he realizes she has fisted the front of his suit in her hand to hold him still.
“Oh!” London releases him and blushes bright red, to which he throws his head back and laughs.
“Let me present, Lord and Lady Sheridan!”
Chapter 15
Declan smiles and thanks the last guest. He glances over at his bride and realizes he doesn’t even know her name! Perhaps he missed that part during the ceremony. How did he end up in this position? Married to a woman he doesn't know, and she's all woman, he thinks appreciatively.
“He’s staring at you again,” Dillon teases.
“Stop,” London hisses. “I can’t imagine what he must be thinking right now. London smiles at her best friend. “It’s highly likely that I may have to move in with you at some point.” She glances over and catches him looking at her while he talks to his grandfather and Elliot.
“Anything else in that contract we should know about,” Dillon teases.
“Oh,” London covers her face with her hand and blushes. “I’m walking away from you.” She turns to flee, but Dillon laughs and pulls her back in for a hug.
“Forgive me, it's just that I've grown tired of seeing you struggle. It's such a blessing to see things go your way. I'm thankful, that's all, and you'll always have a home with us, should you need it.”
Elliot walks over with Matthew, and Declan follows slowly. “London, I need to redress your wounds before we turn in,” Elliot insists.
“Wounds? As in more than one?” Matthew demands.
“Please don’t concern yourself, I have an excellent doctor,” she insists with a soft laugh.
Declan listens and learns two things in a matter of seconds, “Your name is London?” he asks sharply and, “What wounds?”
London drops her face into her hands as Matthew turns to him.
“Declan, London is the woman who rescued me.”
“You were the maid who rescued my grandfather?” His voice has grown louder with each question.
“Yes,” she says, glancing at Matthew, who is smiling.
“I’ll have your bride back to you in no time, Lord Sheridan, feel free to follow or wait here,” Elliot says.
“We'll go with you,” Matthew replies and offers an arm to Dillon. Elliot insists everyone follow them to his suite where his medical bags are. Once they are securely inside, London tries to stall.
“Surely, you can do this in the morning, Elliot,” she stammers.
“No. your hand must be closely watched, especially after the incident last night,” he guides her to a chair, while Dillon moves around the suite, lighting lanterns, and Matthew starts a fire in the fireplace.
“This is why you screamed out last night?” Declan asks.
“You don’t need to worry yourself,” London says as Matthew sits in the chair next to her.
Elliot moves to his bedroom and returns with his bag and calls to Dillon for a bowl of water. London tries to pull her gloved hand back.
“Do we really need an audience for this?”
“Just sit still for goodness sake,” Dillon snaps.
London frowns and glances away, not wanting to see the look on their faces when they see her palm. The glove is removed, and Declan walks over until he is standing behind her and looking over her shoulder.
The moment the gauze is removed, the air strikes the open blister she hisses.
“I’m sorry, I’ll be quick,” Elliot says.
Matthew grips her other hand in his, “Squeeze if you need to,” he whispers.
London studies the aged hand, offering comfort and strength and gives him a teary smile.
“Thank you,” she murmurs. His compassion and guilt beat at her. How long has it been since someone cared about her welfare?
“How bad is it?” Declan asks the doctor.
“It would’ve been better if the blister could have remained. It acts as a bandage allowing new skin to regrow. London, I don’t like the look of this. I want to remove the skin to avoid infection.”
“That doesn’t sound pleasant,” she sniffs, and Matthew pats her hand gently.
“Can you give her something for pain, first?” Declan asks gruffly. He stares at the wound on her hand and blanches when he realizes the pain that she must be in.
“No. Just do it, Elliot,” she replies.
“It may hurt, but I’ll try to be quick.”
Elliot glances up at Declan, “Hold her,” he snaps. Declan's hands drop down to her bare shoulders.
“That's not necessary...” London jerks when the cold scissors hit the raw skin.
She hisses and pushes back against Declan's hands, trembling from the pain. He's shocked to feel her break out in a cold sweat.
“I'm so sorry,” Matthew frets and pats her hand, which is squeezing his
