Chapter Five

"We don't have a ring right now, Father." Horatio said, red faced.

"Perhaps we could simply use a token for now?" Emma offered. She turned Horatio's hand over. "You're cufflink maybe?"

He pulled the small brass button off his sleeve. "Will it do?" he asked the priest.

"Can't say as I've ever been asked to bless a cufflink before." he said shaking his head but smiling as he took it.

"Have you ever been asked to bless a ribbon, Father?" Emma asked pulling the yellow fabric from her hair.

"No miss, I have not." he said with a small burst of laughter. He held both items in his hand and made the sign of the cross over them. The dim candlelight in the small sanctuary of the chapel made items glow like gold in his hand.

Emma didn't miss the appreciative look in Horatio's eye when she undid the ribbon from her hair, causing it to tumble down her back in soft waves. She hoped he thought she looked pretty today. Maybe he'd forget about any left behind sweethearts if Emma could make herself beautiful. Without time to shop for a proper wedding gown she'd had to make do with the prettiest gown she owned. A pale yellow long sleeved gown with white lace trim and a white lace shawl. She'd added the ribbon in lieu of a veil and was now wrapping some of the fabric around Horatio's finger as a make-shift wedding band while she repeated the priest's words. "Take this rin-..uh ribbon," she corrected with a smile that Horatio echoed. "as a symbol of my love and fidelity." It hadn't occurred to her before, but the question of fidelity could extend to her as well. What if she fell in love with someone else? Would Horatio let her go? Would the vows they were making here be dissolved? Shame on you, Emma Stuart! You're standing here before God saying your vows and you're already wondering about annulments! Emma chastised herself pushing the unanswered question from her mind and finished reciting her promises. "....and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow."

Linking the left over ribbon through the whole in the cufflink, Horatio tied the ribbon around Emma's neck, letting his fingers linger on her collar bone for just one extra second.

Emma heard her father's exhale of relief as the priests next words wound down the ceremony. "I now pronounce you man and wife. What God has joined together. Let no man, put asunder." Let's hope. Emma thought with a shiver. Mother of God. She was married! She was a wife! Emma wondered if her own face mirrored Horatio's stricken expression. He too, had just realized the enormity of what they had done. James clapped his hands with hearty satisfaction as the two of them just stared at each other, not moving and not breathing.

"Well, you may now kiss the bride, Sir." the priest encouraged. Horatio visibly started at the priest's words. Was he going to do it? Emma wondered. Was he going to kiss her? Horatio leaned his head towards hers. Yes, it seemed he was about to do just that. Emma jumped when his hand touched her face. Again, there was that funny little flip inside her chest. Perhaps she didn't mind the idea. She was surprised at the pang of disappointment deep in her belly when it seemed he was going to kiss her forehead. I'm a wife now! I'm a woman, not a child. Kiss me like a woman! she silently screamed. For a horrified second Emma feared she'd spoken out loud because he'd stopped. His lips a mere inch from her forehead. He seemed to be thinking, hesitating. His brown eyes lowered and locked with hers then down at her mouth. Do it! she begged silently, shamelessly. With no further prodding, Horatio tipped up her chin to meet him and lowered his mouth to hers. Yes..... Emma sighed in her mind, following his lead. Wonderful insanity flared deep inside her stomach an seemed to burst out through every pore of her skin. Yes...yes..yes! She wanted to jump about with the wonderful bouncing feeling his kiss gave her. His mouth was soft against hers and oh so very warm. She hadn't realized how chilly the small chapel was until she compared it to the lovely warmth of his body next to hers. Emma leaned into him, she could daresay she sagged against him. Her hands rested on his chest, unsure of what to do. She could feel the faint quick beat of his heart through his crisp white shirt. When she felt Horatio begin to pull away she raised her hands to his face to hold his mouth on hers.

Emma assumed that the women who had referred to a wife's duty as unpleasant couldn't have possibly been talking about the kissing part of the bargain. This was positively......Emma searched for a word to describe the effect her new husband's kiss was having on her. Not sinful. No. They were married now so God gave them permission to kiss until doomsday if the were so inclined. Delicious. That was a good words. It reminded her of the thick pieces of chocolate cake that she had eaten with relish as a child until she was covered in the stuff. Yes. What he was doing to her was positively delicious. A cough from behind her brought Emma back to her senses with a jolt. Horatio pulled away with what sounded like a groan of dismay. Emma wasn't sure. Her brain was too befuddled to think clearly for a few seconds. Her first kiss. Goodness, if the rest of the marriage was this wonderful Emma was certain she'd burst with happiness.