Sorry if the story has dragged a bit. I've been researching Gretna Green elopements, and tried to keep the facts as historically accurate as possible. I'm doing my best to hurry our characters along in the most realistic way possible. By the way, here are some of the resources I used:
The Gretna Green Memoirs by Robert Elliot
Manners, Customs, and Observations by Leopold Wagner
The Mode in Hats and Headdress by R. Turner Wilcox
The Knot Tied by William Tegg
I've also quoted "A Red Red Rose" by Robert Burns (with dialect removed). This is a short chapter, but I promise more very soon!
The trip to Gretna Green was swift. Ten miles of good road with fresh horses left little time for conversation. Margaret was filled with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.
John was also quiet. Margaret was so beautiful in her dress. He felt her nervousness and tried to give her a reassuring smile.
Simpson broke the silence. "Mr. Thornton sir, I spoke to the driver. He is taking us to the village blacksmith, a Simon Lang, who is always willing to marry couples."
John nodded his head in acknowledgement.
And then they were there.
Mr. Lang meet them at the entrance to the smithy. "Want to be married aye? You came here of your own free will?"
They both responded with the affirmative.
"Let me have your names and the city in which you reside?" Mr. Lang filled in the information on the marriage certificate. "Stand here in front of me."
Margaret and John stood in front of the blacksmith anvil.
Lang began, "Do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife, forsaking all others as long as you both shall live?"
"I will," said John meeting Margaret's eyes.
"Do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband, forsaking all others as long as you both shall live?"
"Yes-I will."
"The ring?" asked Mr. Lang.
For a moment Margaret thought they had forgotten a ring, but then she saw John pull something from his inner jacket pocket. He placed the ring on her left hand, and with deep emotion repeated his vows after the blacksmith.
"With this ring I thy wed, with my body I thee worship, with all my goods I thee endow, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost."
"Take each other's right hand." Mr. Lang directed. Turning to Margaret, Lang said, "Repeat after me, 'What God hath joined together let no man put asunder.' "
Margaret looked into John's eyes and said "What God hath joined together let no man put asunder."
"Since you have exchanged vows and a ring before these witness, I declare you man and wife in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost."
Margaret smiled up at John. She felt peaceful and content knowing that whatever happen they now belonged to each other.
Mr. Lang said, "You can claim your wife with a kiss."
John leaned down and kissed Margaret softly on her lips. He held her in his arms as Simpson paid Lang his fee and got direction on possible lodging.
Everyone and everything else seemed far away, John whispered in her ear:
My Love's like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O my Love's like the melodie
That's sweetly play'd in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in love am I:
And I will love thee still, my dear,
Till all the seas gone dry...