JANE

JANE Chapter Twenty-one: Wedding

Chapter Twenty-one

Wedding

Sophie and I rose early the morning of my wedding day. Mrs Fairfax took care of Sophie while I bathed and had my hair and make-up done. The church was filled with more than the usual amount of people from Sunday services and the local community. No expense had been spared in preparations for the wedding, but I'd requested a small and tasteful ceremony. The household staff were dressed in their best and the most luxurious of Nathanial's cars was decorated with ribbons to take us to the church.

We had not seen each other for two days because Nate had to finalise some business in London. I arrived at the church with Sophie who looked so small trying to adjust my train. Leah, Merida and a few girls from the village library, whom I'd befriended, acted as my bridesmaids. I was not nervous, as I knew deep in my soul this would be the happiest day of my life, so far.

When I looked inside the church, preparations had been made for a far more lavish ceremony than I'd intended. Most of the villagers were seated. There were huge bunches of flowers and ribbons at the end of every pew, festive garlands as far as the eye could see. The stained glass windows shed light on the entire room, with just the right amount of sun to create patterns on the walls and coloured light from the glass. These details had been left to Mrs Fairfax and she'd done an incredible job. We had not hired a photographer because one of Nate's friends, a cinematographer, was invited. He'd brought his camera with him. As the music played, I had the feeling this event would irrevocably change my life.

My diamond tiara was covered with flowers. My hairdresser from the village had decided with me that the flowers would be removed after I'd said my vows to reveal the glittering jewellery Nathanial had bestowed upon me. It was a very grand tiara but Nate had insisted upon my acceptance of this family heirloom.

There were mostly unfamiliar faces in the small crowd that gathered to wish us well. I knew some of the people from the village. The band was the same one that played at the local pub on Saturday nights. They were brilliantly talented and had learnt some classical pieces for the occasion, putting their own spin on them. Afterwards, the band would play our first song. Nate, alongside Sophie, had picked the music, which was to be a surprise. Afterwards we would celebrate with a few friends and spend our first night together in a luxurious hotel that overlooked the sea in Devon. The next day we would make our way to the airport and Nate's private jet. Nathanial's sports car, the one he was driving when we met, would be decked out

with a Just Married sign for the trip.

And yet...

There was a look of apprehension on Nathanial's face as Sophie and I walked slowly down the aisle in time to the music. The church was perfect, the faces of the congregation were glowing and Sophie was practically delirious with happiness as she smiled up at me throwing flower petals near my shoes.

I leant down to whisper to her.

'Now you have to go first,' as the music started and Mrs Fairfax ushered her in front and she started dropping the pink petals shyly.

Everything was perfect in that moment and as I glanced through the veil towards the man who looked at me, expectantly, I felt only perfect hope and joy at the prospect of our imminent union.

The service began and our vows were traditional.

Rochester looked nervous as words were spoken aloud. His voice, normally rich and deep, cracked for a moment as a draft edged under the door.

Now, don't quote me on the exact vows that were said. What follows, is my memory of them...

We reached the point in the service where the vicar asked both of us and the congregation if we knew of, 'any impediment why we would not lawfully be joined together in holy matrimony and that if we did we should speak now...' or something