Quinn

The early morning hours had been busy with us hustling and bustling, doing the last of the packing, and once done, we bid farewell to Quinn and Eva at their headstones, and of course, the dilapidated cottage that was home, and headed toward Bedford Manor. Hence, here we were in a fancy bedroom with an attached sitting room, getting ready for my wedding ceremony.

I tucked my short curls behind my ear as I gazed at myself through the full-length mirror. Though I knew Quinn, or rather I, was beautiful, I had to admit I was even more so, breathtaking in fact, in a bridal gown of my choosing and making. It was an elegant long-sleeved princess dress with a structured sweetheart bodice on a ball gown silhouette. The airy tulle created a dreamy effect, and with the embroidered lace and beading, the gown was exceptionally majestic. Of course, the color was white with a little splash of red, giving a nod to my Chinese heritage. This was the gown I had always dreamed of wearing for my own wedding day.

Wait! This was my wedding day, wasn't it?

Suddenly, I felt butterflies in my stomach once again. I still couldn't believe I was getting married to a man I had never even seen or met. I was indeed getting married at first sight.

"You look beautiful," Elizabeth said, adjusting the floral ornament in my hair.

I glanced at her and smiled. "Thank you."

Maria wrapped her arms around mine and rested her head on my shoulder. Despite looking stunning in her velvet gown, she wore an expression of concern. She said, "Are you nervous, Quinn?"

"Just a little," I said.

"I'm scared for you."

I chuckled. "Don't be. There's nothing we can do now."

She said, "You have to kiss him, don't you? Your new husband?"

"You mean during the ceremony?" I asked. "I suppose so." Instantly, I conjured an image of a middle-aged man with rotten teeth and foul breath, and I felt my stomach turn.

Cheek! I'd let him kiss me on the cheek, I decided. And I will not allow him to touch me. I will torture him with my magic if he so much as laid his hands on me.

Turning on my heel, I said, "Shall we get going? Lord Bedford is probably breaking out in a cold sweat that I'm taking this long to show myself. It's practically nearly noon."

"Let him stew in his worries," Maria said. "It's not our problem."

Goodness, with only three weeks of my presence and influence, Maria was already thinking and acting like a modern gal and not a commoner living in a medieval-like world with distinct social classes. She learned fast.

With our arms linked, me in the middle and Elizabeth and Maria on either side of me, we headed into the sitting room. Liam and Mrs. Ross stood when they saw us. They both appeared nervous as hell.

I flicked my gaze to Liam, noting that he looked absolutely dashing in a modern three-piece suit of my creation of navy-blue trousers, a white shirt, a fancy navy-blue vest, jacket, and tie, to go with Maria's and Elizabeth's elegant navy-blue velvet gowns.

"You're absolutely breathtaking, Quinn," Mrs. Ross said as she wiped tears from her eyes. "I... never thought I'd get to see you in a gown."

Elizabeth chuckled. "She is stunning, isn't she?"

Ten minutes later, we arrived at the Bedford's chapel within the estate. Mr. Gray, the butler, widened his eyes in astonishment the moment he saw us, or rather me, and gasped. "Quinn? Is that really you?"

I chuckled at the man who had always been kind to the Fairchilds. "It is indeed me, Mr. Gray. Now, why don't you inform Lord Bedford that I'm here so he can stop being so anxious."

He nodded. "Yes, of course." He turned on his heel and headed inside while we waited in the foyer. Moments later, he returned, looking flustered. He nodded at me, and as two footmen opened the double door for us, he announced at large, "Lady Quinn Fairchild and her family have arrived."

Taking a big breath, I, along with Elizabeth, Maria, and Liam, moved forward.

The moment we stepped inside, silence descended, and I could feel eyes, rather too intense for my liking, on me. I glanced around, realizing that there were more people present than I thought. I had expected the Bedfords, the knights and priest from the capital, and of course, Lord Norsewood himself, but not the servants, too.

As I strolled along the nave toward the chancel, I felt eyes following my movements. In fact, some had their mouths dropped open.

At the front, I saw the Bedfords staring at me, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of delight at the shocked expressions displayed on their faces. Calla's and Iris's eyes were large, and they couldn't stop running their gaze up and down my gown.

Eat that, bitches. This absolutely majestic gown is one of a kind and not from this world.

As for Austin and Charles, I could feel their eyes on my chest which was lovingly hugged by the sweetheart bodice of the gown.

Yes, I have breasts, you idiots, because I'm a girl.

We were midway now, and I shifted my gaze from the Bedfords to the other side, hoping to get a glimpse of my soon-to-be husband. There was an elderly gentleman who was wearing an obvious robe, indicating that he was the court's priest. I shifted farther, and that was when my gaze locked with the piercing blue eyes I hadn't been able to stop thinking about.

Aldric! What the heck was he doing here? And holy smokes, but he was gorgeous, adorned in a formal attire of dark trousers, a white blouse and cravat, and a fancy dark long coat.

As a habit, I tended to wave when I met and made eye contact with people I knew, and I automatically did that to Aldric, along with a bright smile that'd show my pearly white teeth. I heard some sucking of breaths from my audience, but of course, I paid them no heed. Aldric was here, and that was enough of a reason to make me deliriously happy.

He must be one of the knights from the capital. I suspected he was escorting the priest, and once this wedding was done, he'd return home to St. George and to his wife and child.

Ugh! I couldn't believe the man I had a crush on was here to witness me getting married to another. How depressing.

I shifted my gaze to the men next to him, noting that they were Vincent and Mr. Wakefield. Vincent had a smirk on his face while Mr. Wakefield couldn't seem to stop smiling. As for Aldric? His face was as impassive as ever. Indeed, it was hard to read a stoic person.

I lifted my skirt and paced toward Aldric, ignoring the Bedfords, the priest, and whoever my soon-to-be husband was. I stopped inches from him, and gazing up at him, I said, "Hello, sir. Fancy seeing you here."

Aldric regarded me from his great height. Though his face was a hard mask and impossible to read, I noted a hint of twinkling in his beautiful eyes. Behind him, Vincent said, "Indeed, pipsqueak. Fancy seeing you here, too. My, but don't you look exquisite."

I turned my attention to him and glared. "That's Lady Quinn to you, sir, and not pipsqueak."

Behind me, Maria asked meekly, "Do you know them, Quinn?"

I turned to her and nodded. "Mm-hmm. Aldric saved me from the orcs in the woods only yesterday morning."

"Orcs?" Elizabeth and Maria said loudly in unison.

Liam said, "You were in the woods, and you encountered the orcs? What were you doing that deep in the woods?"

Busted! I chuckled awkwardly and said, "Well, you know, just practicing my, uh, you-know-what."

Liam scolded, "Next time if you plan to practice in the woods again, I'm coming along to keep you safe."

I waved his concern aside. "There's no need to be drastic. I'll be fine, honestly."

Elizabeth turned to Aldric and said, "Thank you for saving my daughter, sir."

Aldric nodded.

Vincent said, "Why don't you introduce your family, pipsqueak?"

I growled at him. "Honestly, I swear I'm going to box your ear, sir, if you keep calling me pipsqueak." I turned to Aldric and said, smiling, "By the way, Aldric, this is my mother Elizabeth Fairchild, and my cousins Liam and Maria."

Elizabeth and Maria curtsied while Liam bowed.

Aldric nodded. "A pleasure to meet you all."

Wow! Aldric was very gentlemanly. Even the way he nodded was dignified and sexy.

"Hello there, lassie," Vincent said to Maria. "You look lovely and not at all suspicious today."

Maria blushed hot on the cheeks. She curtsied as she said, "Uh, sir knight, hello."

I gave Vincent a death-ray glare. "Do not even attempt to tease my cousin. If you do, sir, I will really box your ear."

"Ouch!" Vincent chuckled. "My Lady Quinn is feisty."

A throat-clearing sound came our way, and I heard the priest say, "Lady Quinn?"

I turned to him with a raised brow.

"Perhaps we should get the wedding ceremony underway?"

I sighed. It looked like my reunion with Aldric would have to be cut short. "I suppose." I scanned about the vicinity and said, "So, where's the groom?"

The priest stared at me, looking quite appalled. I shifted my gaze to Lord Bedford, expecting him to at least introduce my future husband to me, but he simply stood there, his face as red as an overripe tomato. Behind Aldric, Vincent burst out laughing. Well, if he reacted that way, then that meant he at least knew who the groom was.

I turned to him, and he said, "He's right here," slapping his hand on Aldric's shoulder.

I blinked, confused. Then I shifted my gaze to Aldric, who merely nodded his head. Slowly, it sank in, and I felt dazed.

Aldric. But yes, of course, it was Aldric, as in Aldric Templeton. Oh, my lord! I was getting married to Aldric?

I dropped my mouth open, and he said, "Do you find it distasteful that I am your groom, Quinn?"

I hastily shook my head. "No!" I said, feeling my body trembling. "That's... not... it." I licked my lips. "I was expecting..." An old man with foul breath and rotten teeth, but I kept that to myself and said, "So you're the Aldric Templeton, Earl of Norsewood?"

He nodded. "Yes, I am." He regarded me seriously and asked, "Are you... afraid of me?"

I widened my eyes, surprised he'd ask me such a strange question. I said honestly, "Why would I be afraid of you? You saved my life. Rather, I owe you a mighty mountain of gratitude." I curtsied. When I straightened, I added, chuckling, "Looks like we're getting married to each other?" Then I thought that I didn't have to let him kiss me on my cheek after all.

Lips! Yes, I'll let him kiss me on the lips.

I drifted my gaze to his very tempting one, feeling my cheeks growing warm at the thought.

"Yes, indeed we are," he said softly, his eyes on me.

"Uh, now that we've established who the groom is," the priest said, "shall we get things underway?"

I nodded, still dazed.

"My Lord Bedford, please step forward," the priest said. "Allow us to perform the affirmation of the lineage."

Lord Bedford waddled forward. I watched the priest proceed with this lineage affirmation act as he summoned a magic circle in an elaborate golden bowl of water. I could see the glowing of the magic circle, and then he pricked Lord Bedford's finger with a needle. The blood dripped into the water, changing the color of the glowing magic circle from gold to blue and then back to gold again.

Turning to me, the priest said, "My lady, please step forward."

As I bid the summon, I didn't miss that every pair of eyes were on me. I suspected they were intrigued to find out whether I was indeed Lord Bedford's daughter or not. Elizabeth seemed relaxed, so I knew I had nothing to worry about.

The priest pricked my finger and my blood dripped into the water. Instantly, the magic circle changed from gold to blue, and the priest sighed, as if in relief.

He announced at large, "It is confirmed that Lady Quinn is of the Bedfords' lineage." To Aldric, he said, "Now, shall we get the wedding ceremony underway?"

I didn't know how many times he had to say that. He was perhaps desperate to get his task over and done with?

"Wait a minute!" Charles's voice came loudly, drawing everyone's attention to him. His eyes on me, he said, "You really are Quinn?"

I sighed. "I think we've established that I am indeed Quinn Fairchild, your father's daughter, despite an illegitimate one."

"And you're a girl?" he asked, looking as outraged as could be.

"Of course, I am," I snapped. "What else could I be?"

"Since when?"

Gosh, didn't he sound very confused and incensed. Well, not just him, but his whole family, in fact, if anything were to go by the looks on their faces. But of course, I didn't blame them. Quinn had been paraded as a boy since a young age, after all.

"Since birth," Elizabeth said.

That shut him up, and the priest said, "Now, if no one has any more objections or interruptions, can we please get on with the ceremony?"