Morning! Phew! Thank God it's the weekend.
I spoke to my brother this morning! I can't believe it. He had a total of 1 stent and 6 coils put in his brain! We had a good joke about the possibility of setting off metal detectors lol.
A reviewer asked a while back about why Jasper had to ask the Queen and Albert about marrying Alice. Even now, with our own Queen, the royal family has to get permission from the Queen and, believe it or not, the government.
Most of the time, I think, it's to make sure the royal family is looked after. No scandals, poor bloodlines, etc…
In recent history, Princess Margaret, the Queen's sister, had her relationship with someone refused, because her love was a divorcee. King Edward abdicated because the royal family and the government refused his marriage to Wallace Simpson. The list goes on.
Master Edward Cullen
As the Law stated, a marriage must take place in the morn, and certainly not after three in the afternoon, and I was pleased. The sooner we were wed the better in my book. I did not know how to describe my happiness and excitement over the day.
I knew that in my current health I could not do much — if anything — with my new wife, but to know that she would forever be mine was enough for me for the present.
Father came to help me bathe first thing and stayed with me while I was dressed by my manservant.
I would normally have dismissed him, but I was much weaker than usual and needed all the help possible. I might have been stubborn at times, but I did not want to tire before I was even wed.
"How about I tie your cravat?" A voice asked and stunned, I turned on the spot.
There in all his glory was my brother, and I was beyond pleased to see him. He was propped up against the door frame with a smile that was certainly infectious.
"Look at you!" I replied with a grin as he was dressed up quite formally, even his unruly hair that mirrored mine had been tamed into place.
"I could say the same for you, but if she is content to marry such a sight, what have I to say in the negative?" He laughed, but I knew he was joking.
I gently brushed away the servant, and Jasper took his place helping me dress along with Father.
Small talk was done and a cigar or two exchanged between the three of us, and the look in Father's eyes when he watched us was nothing short of proud.
Our idle chatter turned to Jasper as soon as we finished our last cigar and to see him so happy and content warmed my heart greatly.
"Alice's father is here also, and we are due to stay until we all return to the country together just before Christmas." Jasper grinned at me when he helped me sit down carefully on the edge of the bed.
"That is welcomed news. I think we will be here for at least another week, and it will be great to catch up with you all and to get to know her father. Now tell me, have you proposed to her?" I asked simply, but with a smile.
"I have, and she accepted. She only asked that we delay until Isabella is out of mourning so that she can stand by Alice's side. Now I do not know what the plans will be with regards to Isabella . . ." He grinned before carrying on. "And I am afraid to say that I have already upset her father. He had offered me Alice's dowry, and I flat out refused the man. He was gasping like a fish out of water when I said that I would not take a penny from him and that I only wanted her love in return. I swear he thought I was drunk! Father had to step in and agree with me, just to make him sure that I was insane," he exclaimed, and we all laughed along with him.
Soon after I was made ready, we all walked downstairs at a slow pace, and I tried to reign in my anger at how weak I had become in such a short amount of time.
I had to stop several times and lean on either father or Jasper, but they said nothing, and I was pleased with that.
"Edward, Isabella has asked that we all sit throughout the service. She is not used to wearing such a heavy gown and she is afraid that she may feel ill if she stands for too long with the weight of it," Mother whispered in my ear after she walked into the room and I nodded.
Of course I would not want her to be ill, not in the slightest.
"Did she like the gown?" I asked quietly, and Mother's replying smile and nod was all I needed.
I had not seen it, of course, but Albert had written to me to ask me if Alexandrina could send it to her, and I'd readily replied in the positive.
If Isabella needed anything, it was the assurance that she was accepted into our family by everyone.
Mother grinned at me once more, and then kissed my cheek before leaving the room again.
A few minutes later she walked back in with the Vicar, and we all made small talk before Jasper sat at the pianoforte. He was a gifted musician, and when he offered to play the bridal march for Isabella, I could not refuse.
Just as the light music flowed into the room, I turned around to face the door and smiled widely.
Alice looked like a vision in her dress. I gave her a small nod as she walked toward us carrying a small posy of flowers.
I kissed her cheek and thanked her for being with us before she went to stand by Mother.
And then Isabella walked in the room with her arm on my father's.
I had no words to describe the dress or how she looked.
No words at all.
The dress was a deep cream color — almost gold and was covered in roses along the edges and seams. It was pure perfection, and how it looked on her body was nothing short of breath-taking. It had what appeared to be a train following the dress and it just called out regal.
Her hair was pinned up to the side, which was the fashion in town, and her long, flowing locks curled down over one of her bare shoulders and shone in the morning light.
What rendered me breathless though was her shining eyes — so bright and alert — and her beautiful smile.
She looked beyond radiant.
"My beautiful bride," I whispered to her as she stopped by my side, and Father placed her hand in mine.
The Vicar gave us a light cough. We smiled as we looked away from each to face him and our makeshift altar in front of the fireplace.
He gave us a kind grin and motioned for us to sit, and we all followed his direction.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men, and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace."
The room was silent as I knew it would be, and after a moment's breath the Vicar carried on.
"I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God's Word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful."
We all nodded to his words and let the severity of them sink before the ceremony continued and then he turned to me.
"Wilt thou have this Woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?" he asked, and I smiled softly at Isabella before answering.
"I will," I said firm and sure.
He smiled at me, and then turned to Isabella.
"Wilt thou have this Man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"
"I will," Isabella replied, and although her voice was soft it was strong and full of conviction.
"Who giveth this Woman to be married to this Man?" the Vicar asked, and we all smiled when Alice stood in.
"I do," she grinned.
"So be it." The vicar nodded and took Isabella and my hands, joining them in front of us before asking me to recite the vows that had long been used.
"I, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, take thee, Isabella Marie Swan to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I plight thee my troth," I said gently while looking between our joined hands and her beautiful face.
She smiled tearfully as she was asked to say the same, and although she stumbled a few times it was perfect to me. To hear her words, the words that would bind us together until the day we died, would forever stay with me, never to be forgotten.
"Now, may I have the rings?" the Vicar requested.
This was something that I had been waiting for.
Father had gone into town yesterday to procure them, and as soon as I had seen them in his hand, I knew that they were perfect for us.
They were made of gold and were simple bands, but they signified so much for us.
"I would like for you to take up your partner's rings and repeat after me while placing the ring on the finger," the Vicar said clearly.
"With this ring, I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." We both repeated the words, and I fought hard to keep the emotion level in my voice as I watched Isabella place the ring on my finger and when I did the same for her.
"Let us pray," he cut in, and we all bowed our heads in unison.
We murmured the Lord's Prayer together, and my fingers were running over hers as we spoke.
"Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder. For as much as Edward and Isabella have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a Ring, and by joining hands, I pronounce that they are Man and Wife, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you, the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen. You may kiss the bride," he smiled warmly at me.
There was no hesitation with either of us.
I leant in slowly and tipped her head up to mine, and our lips touched.
"Hello, my beautiful wife." I grinned.
Awww! See you later! xx