Dusk til Dawn

-5-

I made my way up the tall, majestic stair of the chapel. Peter had left me to walk alone for the rest of the way. The butterflies in my stomach have now been replaced with nerves. I can't explain how nervous I am. The fear is rising in me. I still can't wrap my head around why the Duke would want to marry me? But at the moment I have more important things to worry about.

I have now reached the top of the stairs. Standing before me is a huge rustic door. At least three times my height. What is on the other side of these doors will depict my entire future. For the better, or for the worst.

A hand reached to my side. Grabbing my hand from its place and pulling up towards the mysterious persons face. The person leant down to place a wet kiss on my knuckle. It was a lot less enjoyable than the one Peter had planted on my knuckles earlier. As he pulled his lips away from my hand, I could feel the pricks from his moustache scraping the soft skin on my hand. I looked to the mans face. He was as grey haired as John, but with a much rounder face. He looked a little bit older then John as well. His moustache, groomed and curled to an upright position. He had a rather annoyed look on his face, as if someone had forced him into this encounter. He reached to entangle his arm with mine. " Miss Miller. I am Sir Manuel Di Rosa. I am here to walk you down the isle." The thought of walking down the isle, to marry some man I have never met before had me stuck in my place. I couldn't say or do anything. All I could do was look at the man with a face filled with terror. His eyebrows raised as he could tell something was wrong. " Miss Miller, are you okay?" He asked. I couldn't reply with anything more then a small nod. He moved his hand to lift my chin to look up. " Woman, the most prestigious man in the country has personally asked for you to marry into his family and you are standing around here wasting his time."

The stern look upon his face told me he was not messing around. I decided to keep my mouth shut, rather then risking anymore trouble. If only Peter could have stuck around. Maybe with him by my side I would be able to get these stupid questions out of my head. What if this is a set up? What if I have been brought here for execution? The second question I ruled out. No man would waste time and money tricking a young woman, who is at no interest to the public, into an execution. I felt a tug at my elbow and the man began to lead me inside the colossal building standing before us.

Two guards stood tall beneath the doorway. Both not giving the time to look in our direction. To say the doors were intimidating would be an understatement. To think, my whole future is depending on whatever is on the other side of those doors. The guards pulled on each handle, creating an opening in the doorway. The sound of the church pews screeching as people stood and the bridal music began. All eyes on me. The looks from people, wondering who I was. Questioning if they had replaced Sydney Miller with a much more beautiful girl. A groomed girl, with not a single hair out of place. That girl was me.

Sir Manuel continued to guide me down the isle. I couldn't bring myself to look at the man waiting for me at the other end. I kept my eyes on my feet, watching how the carpet bounced back after feeling the weight of my body. I hear a small grunt from beside me, and it triggers me to look at the man guiding me down the isle. He is giving me a look, telling me to look anywhere but my feet. So I do. Except I look directly where I wish I wouldn't. Straight into the eyes of my husband to be.

His eyes, bright blue. More beautiful then the river waters on a perfect summers day. He stood tall, with perfect olive skin. His suit tailored immaculately to his muscular frame. His face made him look maybe a year older then me. The burning sensation of eyes from all around the room, watching as I examine the man at the end of the isle. He wasn't familiar, but then again, I knew no one anymore. A small smile crept upon his face.

Sir Manuel and I made it to the end of the isle. He left me hand by my side and walked to take a seat on one of the pews. I stood in front of my soon to be husband, keeping my face hidden under my vail with my eyes looking down at my feet. A rumble spread through the chapel as everyone retuned to sitting. The priest cleared his throat, alerting me that the ceremony was beginning. I lifted my eyes to the priest, too afraid to look the boy in the eyes. " We are gathered here today," the Priest began, " to bring these two young people together in Holy Matrimony."

The nerves bolted through my body. I stole subtle glances at the boy before me. Wondering who he was. He seemed too young to be the Duke, but then again I could be wrong.

The priest continued and finally motioning for the vows to begin. I had not prepared anything because a day ago I was sitting my a river, watching the clouds drift past, and the hours I spent in town, were mainly filled with me crying and wondering why I, of all people, could be so unlucky. The boy before me reached his hands out, bringing them close to my face until he was able to grasp the vail that kept me hidden from the other around. He pulled it over my head, taking a long look over my facial features. He brought his hands back to his sides and retuned his gaze to the priest. A new man rushes up to the priest and whispers something in his ear. The priest gives a shocked expression an turned to the crowd. " The bride and groom have not prepared vows, so we will continue on the ceremony." A wave of relief rolled over my body.

The boy reached for my hands, bringing them to chest height. He gave me a soft smile and looked back to the Priest. " And I now pronounce you," I took a deep breath," Husband and Wife, you may now kiss the bride." I forgot about this part...

The look of unease spread across both of our faces. I looked back over the crowd to spot my Aunt, sitting in the front row next to some rich looking man. She signals for me to give the boy a kiss. The silence within the chapel making everyone uncomfortable.

Without thinking, I bring myself onto my toes and close the gap between my face and the boys. Our lips meet for no longer then a second. An uproar of cheers and claps erupt from the pews.

" Congratulations to the Howards, may your life together be long lived and filled with Love."

Let's introduce myself, I am Sydney Howard. Married to a boy in which I don't know his name. A very forced marriage. Am I happy? That's a great question. To answer it simply, yeah no.