Susan Spencer Paul by The Brides Portion Page A

taken her to her room, finally, and she had sensed a great deal of sympathy in him. He had squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek, the first time a man other than her father had kissed her at all, and he’d reassured her that everything would be all right. Once she had gone into her bedchamber Edyth had taken charge, caring for her while she was unable to take care of herself.
    Somehow she’d found a way to tell Edyth what had happened, and the two of them spent the rest of the day sitting side by side. Edyth had cried and cried. Lillis couldn’t really remember what she had done, other than sit. Alexander of Gyer came later with a priest, and she had mutely signed the marriage contract that was placed in front of her. They had left immediately after.
    Had she eaten that day? Or slept that night? She didn’t know. When had the afternoon passed into the night? And when had the night passed into the next day? Before she knew it she was besieged by servants—servants and a subdued Aunt Leta, who had come to prepare her for the wedding.
    She had only a vague memory of what preparations took place. She was bathed in water that smelled like lilacs, then dried and perfumed. She was dressed in underclothes of the finest white silk, so different from the plain, rough underclothing she was used to. A surcoat of gold-embroidered purple damask was fitted over these and belted with a gold chain ornamented with rubies and diamonds. Her hair was braided and fashioned atop her head, then covered with white silk. A circlet of gold and rubies was carefully arranged on top.
    Edyth cried throughout the whole of it, sitting on the bed and sniffing into her handkerchief.
    Sometime later someone came to get them, and Lillis was led down the stairs, into the great hall, and out of the castle to the inner bailey. Who led her, she did not know, though she thought later it might have been Willem. She remembered being greeted outside the chapel by a great throng of people who cheered loudly at her. Inside she remembered seeing only him, Alexander of Gyer, waiting at the start of the long aisle to lead her to the altar.
    She repeated her vows dumbly, never able to recall later what she had promised to do and not do. He spoke, as well, looking at her with his beautiful green eyes. He was more handsome than she had remembered, his dark hair brushed smooth, his face cleanly shaven. He clasped her hand tightly throughout the ceremony, as though afraid to let go of her. Afterward, having received the kiss of peace from the priest, he kissed her gently on the lips, the second kiss she had ever received from a man, though the first on her lips. From somewhere close by she heard Barbara wailing loudly, while directly in back of her, Edyth began sniffing again. A slight tremor passed over Alexander’s features when he heard the women crying, and Lillis thought dimly that he mourned the loss of his Barbara. He led her outside then, one arm strong about her waist. The crowd cheered and cheered, and he took her into the castle.
    A great feast followed. Her husband escorted her to the long table, set upon a dais at the front of the great hall, seated her in the place of honor and then sat beside her. There was music and feasting; people danced and laughed and ate for many hours. Lillis didn’t recall what she ate, or whether she drank any wine; she was only aware that he held her hand throughout the celebration, sometimes stroking her fingers and sometimes squeezing them. They did not speak to each other at all.
    At last Aunt Leta came and, with some of her ladies, took her away from the table and led her upstairs to her chamber.
    Edyth was there, pale and still tearful, and rushed to take Lillis’s hands.
    “Oh, my dear!”
    “Please don’t cry any longer, Edyth,” Lillis murmured, feeling very weary. “It’s all over now.”
    “Not yet,” Aunt Leta disagreed, though not unkindly. “There is still the matter of the consummation, and then it shall be