Archie properly held out his hand for Lilias's -his bride's-hand and guided her out of the carriage. Before her stood her new home- Misselthwaite.
Rupert the butler stood upon the steps waiting to escort the newlyweds to the ballroom where their wedding reception was to commence.
Archie began to guide Lilias just around the outside of the house and across the lawn.
"Sir?"
"My apologies, Rupert. We shan't be long."
Lilias giggled. "Where are we going?"
"Do you trust me?" Archie asked sweetly.
"With all my heart," his bride replied with a gentle laugh.
Archie removed his ascot and tied it over her eyes.
"It's a surprise."
Archie gently guided her down paths and through rustling ivy. The skirt and train of her wedding gown swooshed across the grass.
Lilias heard the turning of a key and the creaking of a door.
"Careful." Archie bade her. She was being led down some stone steps.
"Now." Archie removed her blindfold. "I thought you'd want to see your wedding present."
Lilias gasped with awe at what beauty she beheld. She was surrounded by a wild profusion of seemingly every flower imaginable in God's creation planted in an incredibly grand garden enclosed within stone walls. AND SO MANY ROSES!
"Oh, Arr-chie," she sighed, "this is paradise!" Archie held the garden's key before her. Her eyes lit up. "It will be our own secret bit of heaven on earth." She replied.
"That was the plan, my love." He beamed.
She threw her arms about her husband's neck suddenly and passionately kissed him.
Archie was caught off-guard and chuckled in shock from the unexpected intimacy.
Archie took Lilias's hand in his. "Come," he bade her. "I'll take you on a little tour." He proceeded to list the Latin names and flower meanings of much of what was planted.
Lilias smiled at her husband's charming intelligence on the subject of the growing things. Lilias sat on a swing that had been hung from a tree for her. "Let's stay here forever."
"As much as I would love to, my darling, we must return. I expect our guests will be wanting us to attend our own wedding reception." He held out his hand to help her up smiling down upon her with adoration.
"Oh," Lilias smiled broadly. "yes, of course."
They spun round to the tune of their wedding waltz, the audience of guests watching intently-some with admiration others with disapproval. Archie's and Lilias's sweet expressions of true love, joy, and jubilation were very evident to all who beheld the couple. Archie and Lilias cared not if some-namely Lilias's sister Rose and, unbeknownst to the newlyweds, Archie's brother Neville -disapproved of their union. A shadow would not be cast over the sparkling happiness of the day.
Mrs. Medlock led Lilias down a corridor, through a sitting room, and up a painted wooden staircase. This part of the house seemed to come from a fairytale.
"These rooms were especially prepared for you." Mrs. Medlock boasted.
"They're beautiful." Lilias replied quietly but sweetly. They were now entering Lilias's boudoir. The fireplace cackled.
"The wardrobe has been filled with all your clothes and things."
Lilias looked around and about the space: cherubs and all manner of antiques and pretty things decorated the room-including a beautiful dressing table set with silver brushes and combs, perfumes, and jewels rested upon it in their cases-strands of pearls, and an antique music box. She then noticed a pair of doors opposite the dressing table through the mirror.
"What's through there?" She inquired.
"Your bath." Medlock answered. "It is ready now. Should you care to?"
"Oh," Lilias acknowledged, "thank you."
Medlock helped Lilias undress. She unbuttoned the back of her wedding gown and helped Lilias step out of it and the layer of underskirt beneath. Once beyond the bath's doors, she helped Lilias remove her corset. Lilias stood there in her sheer chemise and drawers. Medlock was almost a stranger to her, so Lilias was a bit uncomfortable standing there in such a state of undress. Since they first met, Medlock seemed always to glare at Lilias as if judging her. Her eyes always seemed to hold a solemn sterness and an unwelcoming coldness.
"These soaps and oils have arrived from Provence..." Then Medlock turned to face Lilias again and her eyes appeared to quickly examine and inspect Lilias's form as if, once again, to deem her appropriate for her master, eyeing her as if to gather whether Lilias's body would please Lord Craven or not...It was unsettling. Lilias knew her breasts were all but fully visible through the thin and very fine material of her lace chemise, so she clasped her hands together properly as if she were in a formal stance for singing in a Church choir and straightened her arms vertically, using that vertical length her arms created to slightly shield her breasts from Medlock's view.
"Can you manage on your own now?" Medlock almost seemed to mock Lilias's shyness and modesty. "You have everything you need, Milady-soap; the towel's just there...your dressing gown..."
"Yes, I can manage. Thank you." Lilias said meekly.
"Your ladiesmaid is called Aisling. She will see to your hair and anything else you need after you've finished. "
"Yes, we've met. She seems very sweet."
I will send her up shortly. This night it was I who was to help undress you, because Aisling is giving the other servants a hand clearing away the party below. As housekeeper, I'm servant to no one."
Lilias nodded. "Well, I am grateful for your assistance. Thank you so very much."
Medlock bowed slightly and left shutting the door behind her.
Lilias undressed completely and stepped into the tub.
There she soaked closing her eyes as she glided the bar of soap up and down her body-her neck, her chest, her arms...She breathed in its sweet fragrance-the aroma seemed to quell her nerves. She wanted to rid herself of the butterflies she felt in her stomach about what would come to pass this night. She loved Archie with her entire being and only wished to please him. She always felt so comfortable in every way with Archie. But, tonight, the anticipation of becoming one body and soul with Archie consumed her. Oh, why she was so nervous? He was her Archie after all.
Lilias emerged from her bath into her bedroom wearing a dressing gown of cream coloured lace with a blush satin sash-the latest fashion from Paris.
Sitting at her dressing table, she opened her gown and perfumed and powdered her body.
"Milady, may I enter?"
Her ladiesmaid Aisling was standing on the other side of the tapestry to the room's entryway at the top of the staircase.
Lilias dropped the powder puff on the floor by accident. She was startled only because she was a bit jittery or perhaps for the broken silence.
"Yes," Lilias replied after retrieving the puff and securing her robe. "I'm sorry. I've made such a mess." Lilias scurried to brush up some of the powder off the floor."
Aisling had brushed the tapestry aside to enter. "Nevermind, Milady. Don't trouble yourself. I'll see to it." After a pause and Aisling's efforts to sweep up the floor, she spoke again.
"I suggested to Mrs. Medlock that perhaps you would want to dress yourself just for this night, but she insisted that the Lady of Misselthwaite have a ladiesmaid wait on her-with no exceptions. Now...Had you decided- did you want to wear the gown of brussels lace or..."
Lilias began to blush a little. "If you will excuse me, Aisling, I do not wish to change."
"Oh, I see...Of course." Aisling stammered a little. Lilias hoped she understood her meaning.
"Well..." Aisling continued, "I think you look quite beautiful. You look like a fairy queen, Milady, if I may say so." Lilias knew she could trust Aisling not to think her brazen or glare like Mrs. Medlock. Aisling was a sweet and amiable girl. When Lilias was first introduced to the members of the staff at Misselthwaite, she could sense they'd get along well. She was informed that Aisling was married to Lord Craven's valet-Gregory Leclair, a Frenchman who was a master at his job and a good friend to Archie.
Aisling let Lilias's hair down, picked up a brush, and began work at styling Lilias's thick, beautiful dark hair.
"Aisling, may I confess something to you? I'm so... nervous...but...It's not fear. I'm not afraid. I love Archie with my entire being. I am not afraid to be with him in that way. It is...I...I so wish to...please him."
"Begging your pardon, Milady, but as a married woman, may I offer a word of advice?"
Lilias nodded. It was refreshing that Aisling was willing to speak her mind on the matter or offer counsel. She wanted another woman to confide in. Her own sister Rose would be cruel and judgemental. Rose's disapproval of the marriage was no secret to anyone. Their mother would not speak of such things nor would Lilias feel at ease discussing such matters with her either.
"Your love for him and his love for you will guide you in everything. It's only natural to be a little nervous, but I genuinely believe that his Lordship loves you more than life. If I may be so bold, I believe him to be one of the kindest of gentlemen; forgive me once more, but he always seems to be so tender with you. He'll," Aisling paused to find the right words to explain, "take care...and... I shouldn't worry about pleasing him, Ladyship." Aisling replied. "If I may be so bold-you always do...in everything. Is there anything else you need?""
"No...Thank you, Aisling." Lilias's face held a little blush. She gave Aisling a gentle smile and subtly bowed her head to dismiss her.
Archie ascended the stairs slowly and carefully. He began to breathe in the wafting fragrance of Lilias's fine perfume. He gently drew back the tapestry that covered the entryway to Lilias's boudoir.
Lilias saw her husband's reflection in her dressing table mirror. She turned and her eyes met his in such a perfect glance of love.
They took a few steps gracefully towards each other in an elegant trance-like state, like that of a couple about to begin a waltz to a tune only they two could hear.
Archie's arms enveloped her and brought her body gently to his in a sweet embrace. Her head rested softly upon his chest. "I can hear your heart beat." She brought her hand to his chest. "Mine is the same. Feel." She took Archie's hand in hers and brought it to her own chest.
"Lilias, my love, my wife," Archie whispered in his deep and quiet tone.
Her eyes held a sparkle of sweetness and kindness too irresistable for Archie. He lifted the palm of his hand slowly and gently to rest upon her jawline and around the side of her face, and he began to kiss Lilias in the most tender yet passionate rhythm. The motion of his lips against hers was the perfect balance of give and take. It was with that kiss that Lilias truly understood the soulful magnitude of his love for her. When the kiss broke, they embraced each other again ever so sensually revelling in the sweet closeness of each other.
Archie gracefully and gently took Lilias's hands in his and guided her to the bed- his dark eyes sparkling. The velvet blankets and silk soft sheets were turned down. Archie and Lilias both were quite inexperienced in the art of the relations and union between man and wife, but, while somewhat timid in their actions-each afraid to displease the other, there was no awkwardness between them. Lilias drew as close as could be to her husband-sliding her body towards and against his lap very sweetly-her arms cradled his neck. His lips then fell gently to her shoulder resting there so very delicately. In that moment, her yearning for Archie was set aflame. Her fingers unknotted his robe and drew it back off of his shoulders and down his arms revealing his linen nightshirt. She kissed his lips again pressing her entire body against his. His arms molded to her silhouette-softly and yet passionately. Archie was so in love with his wife but had not yet gathered enough courage to undress her-should she not wish to be so undressed. Perhaps she wanted to keep her robe about her. His thoughts were everywhere at once, and suddenly he couldn't think at all, as he was lost in the intoxication of kissing her. Soon Lilias began to untie the sash of her own dressing gown. As she was untying it and their kisses continued, Archie tenderly lay her back against the bedsheets. Archie slipped the bedclothes up covering the lower halves of their bodies.
Gazing into his eyes with pure love, Lilias blushed and then shut her eyes for a moment as she shyly and gracefully used her fingertips to open her dressing gown and slip it away behind her shoulders revealing her naked body to her husband for the first time. Archie had neither expected nor had he commanded such an act. His eyes seemingly penetrated Lilias's soul with so deeply an adoring glance. Lilias's bare form seemed to Archie too pure and fragile for him to touch...He felt so unworthy of such beauty. In that moment, he contemplated how so perfect and magnificent a woman would dare love him. Lilias's eyes remained closed with a look of sweetness upon her face as Archie leaned his face in closer to hers to kiss her-like a Fairy prince would kiss his sleeping princess needing to be awakened. When the kiss broke, Lilias opened her eyes, her lips morphed from the round shape of returning the kiss into a slight smile, and she caressed Archie's brow so tenderly. His eyes were full of love. His lips then descended upon her collarbone. Lilias drew her head up and to the side in pleasure. Archie's body ached for Lilias. He feared any moment this would all be a dream. He then traced her collarbone with his fingertips and kissed her throat. His hands roamed further romantically yet cautiously tracing the silhouette of her delicate frame. His fingertips stroked the outer edges of her back whilst his palms lingered at the sides of her breasts as he slightly lifted her upper body into an embrace. He never wanted to stop holding her. Lilias sighed ever so quietly and sweetly. He was so very gentle in his touch. She loved the feel of his large hands and long fingers upon her skin. She brought her hands over his to move his hands over her body sensually guiding them across her breasts with the purpose of keeping them at the center of her chest as her heart beat wildly. The feel of her satin skin sent shivers of desire coursing through Archie to the core of his being. She then took his hands and brought them to her mouth to kiss them sweetly and so very lovingly. The palms of her hands moved to rest upon the center of his back. Her fingertips began to tenderly caress him with featherlight strokes. She planted sweet kisses upon Archie's shoulders and lay back gracefully again as if to summon his body to move over her. As he did so, she ran her hands underneath his shirt to draw it higher. Archie was wearing nothing beneath his nightshirt, but his lower half was hidden from her view. Archie could feel Lilias's efforts to try to remove his nightshirt entirely as she continued to gently guide it up higher with her hands.
She felt Archie flinch, "Wait a moment..." Archie quietly interjected in a melancholy tone.
She understood then.
He had hoped that in the act of making love to his wife and consummating their marriage, his deformed back would remain covered and shielded from her view. Perhaps he thought Lilias would believe it unnecessary for their bodies to be completely exposed. He prayed Lilias would allow him a covering. She was so perfect and he- well, physically he considered himself to be a cursed creature.
Lilias feared she had upset Archie. She had not meant to make her husband uncomfortable. "I'm sorry." She lulled. She wished Archie could understand that she did not wish to unclothe him out of curiosity, but simply for her own natural desire to undress her husband and for the sense of showing him that she loved him as he was. She loved Archie-body and soul: Archie the man-all of him. She accepted all of him. His bare body would hold no horror for her.
"Lilias, it is I who must beg your forgiveness"...Archie was struggling with words. Should she desire anything else in the world, he would not deny her.
"Please, might I have a covering?" Then his voice became quite low and muffled "Only... my back..." Then it gained a little more strength..."I had not thought you would wish to... My love...I hope I have not offended you in asking for such...I" In his mind, he believed his body would offend her more should he remove all of his clothing.
"Nothing you would or would not ask or do could ever offend me, Archie." Lilias believed Archie was the most sensitively caring, understanding, and kindest of men. "I love you so much." She quietly replied. She took his hand and brought it to her lips again.
Archie responded, "You are so beautiful...Are...Are you sure you wish to see me?...All of me? You don't have to look at me, if you do not wish to..." Archie stated with a melancholy tone to his voice. Lilias was filled with sweet sympathy for her husband's selfconsciousness.
"Would I not wish to...Archie, you are my husband. I want to hold you. I want to feel your skin against my own. I want to touch you. I desire you-you and no other. Please, let me love you. All of you."
She entwined her fingers behind his head and drew him down closer, so that she could brush her lips against his neck with the utmost tenderness. He smelled so wonderful. Lilias tried to decipher his clean scent-perhaps cedarwood and amber...warm, clean, and mysterious. She breathed him in- entranced by it. He let her guide him over to his side and rotated onto his back. Her long gloriously thick dark hair covered her bare upper body. Lilias unbuttoned the front of his nightshirt. She felt Archie trembling. She slid her hands through the opening and caressed his chest so slowly and gracefully over the place where his heart lay beneath. Her lips followed where her hands had been kissing the bare skin over his heart. He moaned with satisfaction. Her lips seemed to have a healing quality. She smiled in adoration of his sounds of pleasure.
Her physical adoration of him gave him a quiet confidence. He rose to sit up very slowly. Lilias questioningly watched him as he moved over to the dark side of the bed positioning himself to the edge of it with his back to her as he removed his nightshirt completely. The deformity of his shoulders and upper back was mostly hidden in darkness. He closed his eyes as if to brace himself for her fear of him or to be prepared for a frightened gasp or some sort of negative reaction to his repulsiveness, but he heard nothing. Moments of silence passed. Then he heard the sound of the sheets as Lilias moved. Suddenly, he felt Lilias's lips upon the lower part of the back of his neck, then moving gracefully down the misshapen form of his upper back, spine, and shoulder blades. At first, Archie feared this moment-the moment she would first see his deformity bare before her eyes- but that emotion slowly transformed to indescribable peace as he felt the gentle touch of her lips upon those parts of his body others deemed half-formed. Surely, this was evidential proof of her pure love for him if he ever doubted it. This would be a sign-the sign he subconsciously needed to reassure himself and reaffirm the sacred vow of her love. Tears filled his eyes but vanished before they could fall down upon his face. In this darkness, Archie's senses were heightened. Every touch and caress was more keenly felt. The kisses upon his back from his wife's lips were comforting and arousing. As Lilias's arms caressingly wrapped around his frame from behind in an embrace, the bedsheet she previously held to her body fell away. Lilias's naked form rested sensuously against Archie's. Archie's body was now throbbing with need. She felt him slightly tremble again but this time she sensed it was the urgency of his longing. He turned slowly to face her.
"Archie, you'll always be my one-my only love. All I want...is you. All I need...is you." Her words echoed to the depths of his being. She kissed him softly moaning. Her hands traveled down the front of him to his hips and her lips from the center of his chest down his rib cage with such gentility and grace brushing the side of her face to his body after each couple of kisses. He needed Lilias desperately now. He couldn't help but utter sounds of desire. "Lilias..." He then so deeply began to kiss her once more. Soon, she was lying down upon her back once again. He romantically joined his hands with hers and gave her the most soulful, loving glance of all as if asking permission to unite their bodies in the truest physical sense.
"I love you, Archie." Lilias declared. She couldn't stop saying it. She then maneouvered her body to welcome her husband's inside of her own.
Archie's body slowly and gently entered Lilias's; they would become one for the first time in the most intimate of ways. He was so tender and loving as his body penetrated hers. He was trying to give her body time to adjust to his. Even so, Lilias gasped and shut her eyes from the initial sudden shock of pain. Her chest rose and fell suddenly with her accelerated heartbeat. Archie's expression turned to concern. He was saddened that he could not prevent Lilias's body's natural response to what was a new and unfamiliar physical connection: the response of pain. Archie really was as tender and as gentle as could be managed. Worried, he drew back as delicately as possible.
"I'm so sorry..." he paused, the endings of those words fading with his deep whispery tone. "Lilias..." He said her name so lovingly, "Please, forgive me." She did not answer him but her arms only drew him closer again, clinging to him desperately and urging him to continue moving her hands to the small of his back guiding his body back inside of hers. He resumed his concentration penetrating her body with the utmost tenderness and care. He kissed her so sweetly and kindly and then began to very gently thrust, for he could no longer hold back the need to move within her, but he wanted her to feel as comfortable as possible. Archie was entranced by how amazing it felt to be one in body with Lilias-let alone imagine the power of the ethereal connection and meeting of their souls that was to commence. Archie sweetly and tenderly rested his head near the side of her face as he made love to her, brushing his lips ever so delicately across her face and upon her shoulder intermittently. Lilias's body was shaking. Her gasping turned to hushed whimpering.
She could sense Archie's hesitation and his nearly stopping his motions again.
"My God, I'm hurting you..." he whispered though he truly didn't mean to utter the thoughts of his mind.
"Archie..." she begged, "please don't leave me..." She called out to him with otherworldly gentleness and love.
"Please, don't leave me," she repeated, even more angelically the second time.
"As you wish, my love..." Archie answered in the quietest of whispers.
Lilias arched her entire body and then shifted both of their bodies to an upright position while embracing her husband and never letting go. Their bodies remained entwined. Archie complied to this new position and responded by holding his wife ever so romantically. Her head rested upon his shoulder as their bodies moved subtly but gracefully together. She felt safe. She allowed Archie's warmth to surround her and radiate through her as their bodies gently rocked.
Archie's fingers wove through her hair now a fairy mess. He lifted her hair up off her back as his hands cupped the back of her head. Passionately, he began to kiss her again.
Lilias became delirious with so many strange or wonderful sensations pulsating her being, "Be with me always...Oh, my love..." Lilias involuntarily murmured. She buried her lips against her husband's shoulder. Both Archie and Lilias sighed quietly in harmony. Her breasts pressed into his chest. Her body straddled his hips in the most sensual of positions. Lilias thrust her body down upon Archie's losing all her inhibitions as he leaned back slightly wrapping his right arm across her entire back and hand to her waist. Archie could not contain his moans. Lilias adored the sounds of Archie's euphoria. The sound of the deep yet quiet tone of his voice was one of the things she loved at first meeting him. She nuzzled her face against his. "I will always, always love you, Archie." Lilias's declarations of eternal love were so tender and sweet as she lay on her back again holding on to Archie. She continued to gently thrust her body to his. Archie was overcome with emotion. He paused to answer her "Lilias, I love you, my own darling. Forever." he said in a deep hushed tone. His voice was almost muffled, because he was nearly unable to speak. His body was experiencing such waves of pleasure. His body responded to hers with thrusts of his own that were consistently loving and gently passionate never becoming rough or violent or animalistic. There was a gracefulness to their motions, like a slow and tender dance. The respect Archie had for Lilias remained ever-present. She was his equal. He would never treat her inferiorly. He would never dominate her or violently ravish her as was an all too tragic an occurrence among many of the uppercrust marriages of the day. The wife was required to submit to her husband's every wish and command-It was considered the right of the husband as husband was always given the right to take charge in any and every matter-often devaluing the wife's pleasure. This was not the case with Archie. He hoped wholeheartedly for Lilias to experience bliss and pleasure however unholy such was considered in a physical union.
Archie and Lilias had the ethereal advantage of a true and powerful love. They married for love though others talked and questioned how a beauty would marry (to their eyes) a beast-a disfigured man. Archie had a distinguishedly handsome face but his crooked deformed back and spine caused him to limp slightly as he walked and in turn his legs appeared crooked and off-balance. His skeletal frame was frail. Many times, he was in too much pain to properly eat. Though hunched over, he was still tall and very thin. As a child and a young man, he remained mostly isolated from society for fear of the public's taunts attending as few parties, balls, and gatherings as possible. His classical method of education came in the form of tutors. He had been the victim of cruel whispers and confused looks-confusion others felt over whether to sympathize or to fear him-his face beautiful but his body deformed. His father was a high-ranked nobleman; therefore, social functions were necessary. In any case, he was too ill to go to school-bedridden on many occasions in severe pain.
Lilias's parents could be shallow, but they found Archie tolerable because of his polite manners, genuine kindness, and handsome facial features but most importantly to their concern, he was rich beyond measure. Lilias's demeanor, personality, and her very soul was the complete opposite of shallow-hers was the sweetest and most sincerely kind disposition and mind, and she possessed the purest of hearts of all the ladies in Britain. In the core of her very being-in her soul-grew the deepest of loves for her Archie. Oh, how she truly loved him. It mattered not what others thought. She wanted to create her own little world with Archie-their own little secret kingdom together. Her marriage was not an arranged marriage, rather quite against the wishes of her family in terms of a suitable father of their future grandchildren. Lilias's family only yielded knowing Archie would provide unlimited wealth and financial stability for their daughter and her family and a title. Lilias's sister Rose on the other hand, never accepted her sister's choice. In fact, the truth was that the whole of Lilias's family had no wish for Lilias to conceive a child of this holy wedlock. They feared it. Lilias, on the other hand, wanted to give Archie children, wanted a family of her own with Archie. She wanted to create life with him. She wanted him to know that joy and happiness. In her eyes, she envisioned Archie as a wonderful, loving, good, and kind father.
"My angel," Archie breathed. At the height of their physical love, Archie and Lilias were made whole. It was indeed a meeting of souls. And Archie's wounded soul was healed through the nourishing beauty of Lilias's limitless love for him. The tortured moments of his past and his loneliness vanished. Lilias brought him to life. She breathed happiness, joy, and pure love into his exanimate existence. Lilias moaned so sweetly comfortably clinging to her husband so very naturally though this experience was so very new. A magnificent wave of indescribable elysium of satisfaction seemed to overcome Archie.
When it was done, and their bodies relaxed, Archie continued to hold Lilias in a sweet and gentle embrace for a few lingering moments more. As their lower bodies separated, Lilias moved to lie back with her husband, her upper body and head upon his chest. She snuggled against him for some moments-skin to skin, heart to heart. Archie lay one arm across her , his fingers protectively stroking her back in a circular motion. Though their bodies still burned hot to the touch with the energy of their physical love, he could feel Lilias shivering. Her body had not yet adjusted to their parting. He made sure she was comfortable as he drew the bedsheet and velvet blanket higher upon the center of her back.
In the glow of the firelight, he noticed a few tears streamed down her face.
"Lily?" He spoke with such tender affection and concern as he brushed her tears away sweetly with his fingertips.
"I shall be all right. Only I'm so overwhelmed with love for you, Archie. I feel so...so whole. Very emotional."
He breathed with relief, smiled kindly, and brushed his lips to her head.
"In body and soul, my darling, you are impossibly beautiful. You must know that I love you more than life."
No more words needed to be spoken. They lay in awe of what they experienced together for the first time reveling in this deepest and truest love until sleep came to them.
Morning dawned with its golden rays reflecting through the stained glass window at the back of Lilias's dressing table. The newly married couple were bathed in light as they lay in bed in each other's arms. Lilias sat up with a blissful sigh. Rainbow ribbons of light cast their reflections in the air in front of her. She smiled greeting the day happily and grateful for this new beginning of life with Archie-officially his lady-Lady to Lord Archibald Craven of Misselthwaite.
Lilias turned to look upon her husband's sleeping form. Her body still bare, the bed's blanket covering her from the waist down and her hair covering her from the waist up. She began to trace the contours of Archie's face ever so tenderly with her fingertips and brushed a piece of hair back that had fallen in front of his closed eyelids.
She thought her husband's face with its uniquely angular shape and defined cheekbones resembled a man's from a Renaissance painting. "You're so beautiful," she announced, though Archie was asleep and could not hear her. Lilias believed he looked so at peace. She was content to watch him sleep. Archie slowly awoke to Lilias hovering above him. The glare of the morning light framed her face with saintly grace creating a glow like a heavenly halo.
"My God," Archie whispered, his voice not yet gaining strength from his sleepiness. "You look like an angel, Wife." Lilias softly fell into his arms.
Archie held her so tenderly. "My love? Could you ever know how much I cherish you-You and no other. I desire you and no other forever. I will truly love you and no other forever."