Richard Douglas Clarkson was nervous, his hands shook as he tied his bowtie. The dark blue tie was not square and he yanked it open and began again. Eventually he was able to master the knot. He sighed, and looked at himself in the mirror. He was clad in his grey suit, with a dark blue tie and light blue handkerchief peeking out of his breast pocket. It was what he had wore that day when he had first asked Isobel to marry him.
He knew that Isobel too was wearing the same clothes from Thirsk. He had seen her pulling out her light blue suit and hat. Today they would exchange vows and legally become man and wife. Richard knew he could provide financially for Isobel and that he could also satisfy her carnal needs. However, he had some fear, would he be a good husband? He had no clue what else being a husband entailed. Many a time had he seen men carrying flowers through the village their heads either held high in love the flowers a trophy. Or heads hung in shame and the flowers a token of their apology.
Would he anger her? Would he too trod through the village with bouquet? The last time he had shared a space with others was when he was living at home with his family. He had shared a room with his brother, he rolled his eyes at the messes Scott would leave on the floor. From out in the hall he could hear Isobel humming and at that moment he would plant her a sea of flowers in the garden to keep her happy.
In the car Isobel noted that her future husband was quiet. "Are you all right?"
His head cocked to the side and he blew out a breath, "Anxious, never done this before and I'm a little frightened."
Isobel was touched, "All you have to do is repeat what is said to you and I'll be right in front of you the entire time."
Richard had seen weddings but the fact that this one was to be his own had him a little dopey, "That's it?"
She smiled, "That's it." She repeated before patting her pocket, making sure the item she had placed there earlier was still inside. The registrars office loomed and the car was parked. They went inside, signed the respective paperwork and waited to be called back.
Richard did as he was told and calmly repeated the vows the registrar made a motion with his hand, "And now the ring."
Richard removed a wedding band from his pocket and placed it on the third finger of Isobel's left hand. The registrar then began again, "With this ring, I plight thee my troth."
"With this ring, I plight thee my troth…" Richard repeated.
Richard inhaled before he repeated, "As a symbol of all we have promised."
"And all that we share." He declared.
Richards fingers were still holding onto the wedding band securing it in place, Isobel could feel the metal warming against her skin, she wanted it to brand her.
The registrar closed his book, "It, therefore, gives me great pleasure to say you are now husband and wife together."
A nod from the registrar was all that was needed for the couple to come together and share their first wedded kiss.
As they got into the car Isobel reached into her own pocket and withdrew a band that she had had fitted for him. Men didn't usually wear bands but she wanted him to have it. "This is for you, you don't have to wear it if you don't want to, I just wanted you to have a symbol of my promise to you."
He took the ring from her hand and stared at it. The band was a simple circle but it conveyed so much. Confidently he slid it onto his wedding finger marveling that it fit, he reminded himself to ask her later how she had gotten his size.
As he drove them back to Downton, back to cottage, back to their bed he thought about how in future long after they were dead and buried that someone could look in the hall of records and see that they had wed. He inhaled sharply at this fact and Isobel's hand reached for his left one gently encircling his fingers and his ring. "How do you feel?"
He slowed the car and looked at her and she saw his face was filled with wonder, "Different, oh Isobel! I feel different!"
A/N: Hope you all have enjoyed!
