Truly I do (21 page)

He looked
crest fallen. "Would it really matter?" he questioned.

"Well, that
depends on whether you wanted to ruin and waste about
twenty-thousand pounds worth of treasure really doesn't it!" she
responded.

"I suppose
not, if you put it that way. But I am disappointed, I had really
imagined you waking up to look at them every day."

"You fool!"
she rejoined, "I guess I'll just have to put up with waking up to
your face every morning instead."

Russell
pouted. "Well, you survived it before. I guess you can again. Now,
help me to undress will you, it's really hard getting my shirt off
over this plaster cast."

She helped him
to remove the jacket that was slung over his shoulders and looked
at the crisp white shirt that had been ruined by having the sleeve
cut out to accommodate his plaster-cast arm. Standing close, she
gently undid the shirt buttons and slipped the shirt over his
smooth, bruised shoulders. As she did so she silently admired his
naked chest and the firm flatness of his muscular belly. After the
shirt she decided to carry on and unbuttoned the waistband of his
moleskin trousers, drawing them down over his iron hard thighs to
the floor for him to step out of them. As she let the trousers go a
small black, velvet box slipped from the pocket.

"Open it."
Russell instructed her.

Trembling, she
opened the box and took out the beautiful diamond solitaire that
she'd first seen on New Year's Eve. 'How long ago that now seems!'
she considered, looking at the lovely ring.

"Put it on
then!" Russell told her impatiently.

She slipped
the ring over her finger, it was a perfect fit. In silence she
gazed at it and made a small prayer 'I promise, diamonds or no
diamonds, huge country estate or broken down shack in the woods -
what ever life sends us . . . I shall love and cherish this man for
ever.'

Russell
reached down with his good hand and wrapped his fingers into the
thick, dark hair at the back of her head, forcing her to tilt her
head upwards and then to follow his hand so that she was standing
up. Sliding his palm skilfully down through her hair until it was
in the arch of her back he pulled her into the shape of his body
and clasped her there while his hungry mouth found hers.

It seemed to
Julie-Anne that Della had been planning the wedding long before she
could have known it was actually going to happen; before Julie-Anne
had even arrived in Yorkshire perhaps. Without doubt it was thanks
to Della's careful planning and wilful control over the events of
the household that the wedding was an absolute dream.

Russell
planned a trip to Norway to see the northern lights, "And maybe
look up a bit of Viking archaeology?" he hoped. He knew that the
spectacle of the aurora would stun and delight Julie-Anne and she
was excited about going.

Dressmakers
sent pictures and patterns for her to choose from. She chose a very
simple ivory gown with a fitted bustier and full skirts that
flattered her petite figure.

Patti told her
she really did look "properly like a princess, Miss!" which made
her laugh.

The February
date meant that the gardeners could supply early flowers from the
green houses that they used to grow blooms for Della to use around
the house every day of the year. But in February the really did
have a good selection of pastel spring blooms to make up a gorgeous
bouquet. It brought life and colour to the ivory dress to have the
flowers arranged in her hands at her waist, she looked and looked
in the mirrors when fitting day came. "I can't believe this is all
happening to me!" she confided to Della.

"Believe it!"
Della responded, "The rest of us are working hard enough at it to
know just how real it is!" Her mock grumble made Russell laugh.

"I could
always let you go you know!" he offered in jest, "if the work's too
hard for you, I mean."

"You just mind
I don't take you up on that - see how you'd like trying to run this
place without me!" she countered.

Being a bit of
a traditionalist Della insisted that Julie-Anne stayed in the hotel
the night before the big day. Julie-Anne was thrilled that her
parents had flown over with her aunt and Ben. They spent most of
the night in the little hotel bar chatting and giggling.
Julie-Anne's father had to scold her and eventually send her to
bed. "Can't have a bride with black circles under her eyes!" he
insisted.

Finally the
morning came. Julie-Anne and her father climbed into a horse drawn
coach that was waiting patiently for them on the cobbles outside
the hotel. They had to allow a long time for the journey to
Russell's house but the horses were pure white and so prettily
decked out that Julie-Anne was thrilled to travel all through the
countryside in the carriage. The sun shone and it was one of those
warm February days that brought the promise of summer to
follow.

When the
carriage was finally clop-clopping along the lime tree walk Della,
matron of honour, walked sedately along behind it to ensure that
Julie-Anne arrived safely. They'd arranged for the ceremony to take
place in the huge hall of the West Gallery and it had been dressed
with garlands of flowers and bouquets overnight while Julie-Anne
was away. When she entered on her father's arm she gasped with
delight.

Standing
beside Russell, looking up into his handsome face Julie-Anne knew
that she would ever feel panicked or self doubting again. She knew
that she was here by his side to stay. When Russell was formally
asked if he agreed to "
take this woman, to be your lawful wedded
wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for
worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love
and to cherish 'til death do you part according to God's holy
ordinance. And thereto to her you plight your troth?
" he looked
deeply into Julie-Anne's exquisite, dark eyes, smiled and said
simply "I do truly, Julie-Anne. Truly - I do!"