The Leopard Prince (Princes #2)(96)

“Ahem.” George looked up to see Violet staring at them in a rather exasperated manner. “Well?”

She smiled. “I shall be marrying Mr. Pye today.” Violet squealed. “About time,” someone, probably Oscar, muttered. George ignored that and tried to look contrite as she turned to poor Cecil. “I am so sorry, Cecil. I—”

But Cecil interrupted, “Don’t worry your head, old thing. I shall dine out on this tale for the next year. It isn’t every day a fellow is left at the altar.”

“Eh?” A cry from the front pew brought everyone around. The vicar straightened his wig. He returned his spectacles to his nose and searched the gathering until his eyes lit on George. “Now, then, young lady. Which of these gentlemen will you marry?”

“This one.” She squeezed Harry’s arm.

The vicar inspected Harry and sniffed. “Doesn’t look that much different from the other one.”

“Nevertheless”—she fought to remain sober-faced—“this is the man I want.”

“Very well.” The vicar frowned at Harry. “Have you a license?”

“Yes.” He produced the piece of paper. “And my brothers will serve as groomsmen.”

Bennet walked to Harry’s side and stood with Will just a little behind him. The boy looked both terrified and excited.

“Brothers?” Violet hissed. “I’ll explain later,” George said. She blinked back sudden tears.

“My dinner is waiting, so let us commence.” The vicar cleared his throat noisily. He began again in the same falsetto voice he’d used before, “Dearly beloved…”

Everything else was different.

The sun shone through the rose window, lighting and warming the little church. Tony looked relieved, as if a terrible burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Ralph grinned next to him. Oscar winked at George as she caught his eye. Violet kept shooting puzzled glances at Bennet, but in between she grinned at George. Bennet stood a little awkwardly beside Harry, but he seemed proud as well. Will was bouncing on his toes in excitement.

And Harry…

George looked at him and felt a great bubble of joy well up inside her. Harry watched her as if she were the center of his soul. He wasn’t smiling, but his beautiful emerald eyes were warm and serene.

When it came time to pledge herself to Harry, George leaned toward him and whispered, “I forgot one thing when I told you about the end of the fairy tale.”

Her almost husband smiled down at her and asked gravely, “What was that, my lady?”

She savored the moment and the love in his eyes, then declared, “And they lived happily ever after!”

“So they did,” Harry whispered back, and kissed her. Vaguely she heard the vicar moan, “No, no, not yet!” and then, “Oh, never mind. I pronounce you man and wife.”

And that was how it should be, George thought as she opened her mouth beneath her husband’s. She was Harry’s wife.

And Harry was her man.