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The minister William had bribed to perform the ceremony spoke the words, but William didn’t listen. Two witnesses, also compelled by William to participate, stood to the side, ready to sign the register.

However, William’s entire focus was on Victoria, who stood in front of him, holding his hands and gazing deeply into his eyes with anticipation and excitement.

Then the minister turned to William. “William, will you take Victoria to be your wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, honor her, comfort her, and keep her, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?”

William gently squeezed Victoria’s fingers. “I will.”

Turning to Victoria, the minister repeated his question. Victoria cast a playful glance at William before answering with a broad smile. “I will.”

“Do you have the rings?” The minister raised an eyebrow.

Victoria began to shake her head, as they hadn’t had the chance to buy or order the rings. However, William raised a reassuring hand. “No, we don’t have rings, but I do have this.”

He reached into the inside pocket of his coat and produced a pearl necklace. “Will this suffice?”

The minister frowned but accepted the necklace with a sigh.

“Where did you get it?” Victoria whispered, her eyes sparkling.

William grinned. “I stole it.”

Victoria chuckled, probably thinking he was joking, while the minister gave him a knowing sidelong glance, likely suspecting the truth. William simply shrugged, confident in his choice.

“Hold up your hands,” the minister commanded. William took Victoria’s hand in his and raised them before the minister. He took the pearl necklace and draped it over their wrists twice as he said, “Repeat after me. With this necklace, I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

William repeated the words, and the minister covered their hands with his. “Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.”

Not willing to wait any longer, William leaned in and kissed Victoria on her lips.

Their hands still joined by the necklace, William wrapped his other arm around her waist, while Victoria caressed his cheek. Their kiss deepened, as if their souls were reaching out toward each other.

They were lost in their sensual kiss, savoring each other’s taste and reveling in their closeness when the minister cleared his throat. “We still need to sign the register. And… um… consummation of the marriage is not allowed on the church premises.”

Victoria broke the kiss, wiping her lips with the back of her fingers. William stared at her in wonder. He couldn’t believe his luck.

He slowly unwound the pearl necklace from around their bound wrists, then reached up and draped it around her neck. “Now that we are married, I would love to see you wearing just this necklace… and nothing else,” he whispered in her ear as he secured the clasp.

Victoria glanced up at him, mischief dancing in her eyes. “Soon.”

The minister cleared his throat again, and William chuckled. He pressed a swift kiss to Victoria’s lips and whispered against her skin, “We’re married.”

She grinned at him, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “We are married. Now and forever.”

Chapter 3

Forty nine days before the execution…

Victoria left the Stranton ball in a hurry, still wiping at the red wine stain on her ice-blue gown. She loved this gown. She had imagined wearing it one day at her wedding. The one she’d ended up wearing was a much simpler, midnight-blue gown because it was a spur-of-the-moment wedding. And at the time, she didn’t regret that.

Now… well, now, she realized she had made poor decisions. Both in her choice of wedding gown and in her husband.

Not that the ruined dress mattered anymore. She would never wear it down the aisle. Never marry again period.

She continued wiping at the stain, her fingers shaking as she moved toward the line of carriages farther down the street. She was in no hurry.

She had told Uncle Bastian and Lavinia to finish their night and not to worry about her. She’d be waiting for them in the carriage.

The night was not going well anyway.