'Oh, sweetheart,' Thomson breathed. `Is it any wonder that I love you to distraction?' Yancie smiled a dreamy kind of smile-it all seemed so totally incredible. Thomson gave her a tiny shake. ` So-please-will you marry me?' he asked.

She let go a sigh of a breath. `Oh, Thomson,' she whispered, her heart in her eyes. 'I'm certain that if you can put up with my mother, then I can put up with yours.'

'I'm going to take that as a yes,' he stated positively.

Her heart was so full, she had trouble speaking. But she managed, `I'd be glad if you would.'

And Thomson, hearing her choky words, laughed a tender, joyous laugh and gathered her to him, his mouth against her mouth. `Life,' he murmured positively, `will never be dull again.'

A month later Ralph Proctor escorted his stepdaughter down the aisle. Behind them, dressed in scarlet silk and lace, and looking beautiful, were Yancie's cousins, black-haired Fennia and red-headed Astra. They had attended to her every need that morning. But now, as Yancie went down the aisle to the mann she would marry, Yancie could think of nothing but him.

Tall, dark and straight in his morning suit, he turned as she reached his side, and her heart almost stopped, he looked so handsome. His breath seemed to catch too when he saw her in her exquisite bridal gown. She wore a veil, but he was able to see into her face.

He caught her hand, and, as if he had forgotten the existence of anyone but her, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. `This has been the longest month of my life,' he breathed so only she should hear.

'For me too,' she whispered. And they smiled tenderly at each other, then Astra and Fennia together took charge of her bouquet, and the vicar stepped forward and, amongst joy, tenderness and love, Yancie Dawkins was married to Thomson Wakefield.

They posed for photographs afterwards. `Thank you for marrying me, Yancie Wakefield,' Thomson murmured lovingly, his arm firm about her waist.

'The pleasure was all mine, Mr Wakefield, sir,' she answered softly.

They both burst out laughing. Never had either of them been so wonderfully in tune-or so wonderfully happy.

Jessica Steele


***
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