Theres nothing wrong with your hair. It looks great. You look great, she insisted.
Hmm. It isnt because Im a lawyer, is it? I mean, Ive heard all the lawyer jokes and I know were not the most popular people.
He was deliberately being absurd to calm her, she realized. Its not any of those things. Youre handsome, charming, kind and one of the nicest men Ive ever known.
Jack winced. You make me sound like my grandfather. Id much prefer you thought I was sexy.
Her lips twitched. I do think youre sexywhich you already know. Otherwise, we wouldnt be in this situation.
But we are in this situation, he said. In four months, were going to be parents. And I thought we agreed that for the babys sake, we should get married.
I know we did. But we were wrong. I was wrong, she told him and, unable to sit still, she stood. I should never have agreed to it. Its crazy to think this marriage would ever work. I dont know what I was thinking to have agreed to it in the first place.
You were thinking about whats best for our baby. He rose and came up behind her. Our baby needs a mother and a father, Lily.
He or she will have a mother and a father, she insisted. We dont have to be married to be good parents. Lots of couples raise children without being husband and wife.
We already covered this, Lily. Neither of us wants our child to grow up being shuffled from one house to the other, splitting time between Mom and Dad on holidays and weekends. I want our baby to have a real home, a real family. I want our baby to have what you never had. I thought you did, too.
She hated that he was right. She did want that type of home for her baby. She wanted the picture-perfect home for her baby that shed always longed for, but had never known. The kind of home shed read about in books when she was a girl where children were loved and felt secure. She wanted to sit at the dinner table together as a family, to decorate the Christmas tree as a family, to bake cookies together and have picnics in the backyard. She wanted her child to have a family and never, ever feel alone as she had. I do want those things. Making sure my baby feels loved and secure its its whats most important to me.
To me, too. And we can make sure our baby is loved and secure by providing him or her with a real home with both of its parents. He placed his hands on her shoulders, turned her to face him. Our child can have that, Lily. All you have to do is marry me.
He made it sound so easy, so logical. But it wasnt. She knew it wasnt. What about love, Jack? You know you dont love me. And that was the problem. She couldnt let go of the idea that she wanted to marry for love.
And you dont love me. But we both love our baby, he pointed out.
But what if thats not enough? Well be trapped in a loveless marriage.
I dont see marriage to you as a trap. I see it as a gift. Ill be getting a smart, beautiful wife and the mother of my child.
And love? Dont you even believe in love, Jack?
There are all kinds of love. Love of family, love of a parent and child, love of a friend.
What about love between a man and a woman, a husband and wife? Dont you believe in that? she asked. Dont you want that?
I believe that there are some people, like my parents, who find that kind of connection. I dont know if it starts out that way or if its something that grows over time out of respect and caring for one another. What I do believe in is the power of hormones between a man and a woman, he told her. He drew his fingertip down her cheek and Lily could feel her already nervous stomach flutter at his touch. I still want you, Lily. And I think you want me.
She swallowed past the knot that seemed to have lodged in her throat. Youre talking about meaningless sex.
Im talking about desire, passion. Its still there between us. Just like it was that night.
It was true, Lily admitted silently. The pull between them that had drawn her to him that night and that had led her to breaking all her personal rules by sleeping with him was still there. In fact, it was even stronger now that shed gotten to know him better. What if desire isnt enough to make it work?
Its more than a lot of people have, he said. I think we owe it to our baby to at least try.
Once again he made the whole thing sound so simple, so logical. Jack was a good man, an honest man and she had no doubt that he would be a good father to their child. Yet, it felt wrong to start any marriage this way.
Its your call, Lily. You know how I feel, that I think the two of us marrying is the right thing to do for our babys sake. So whats it going to be? Should I go out there and tell everyone that the bride has changed her mind and there isnt going to be a wedding after all? Or do I go out there and tell the minister to get the show on the road before the ice sculptures melt?
She took a deep breath and met his gaze. Tell the minister to get the show on the road, she told him.
You wont be sorry, Lily. I promise.
She certainly hoped Jack was right, she thought as he disappeared out the door. When she heard the bridal march start once again, Lily picked up her bouquet. As she exited the powder room and started toward the garden where she would pledge to become Jack Cartwrights wife, she prayed she wasnt making a mistake that both of them would live to regret.
Six
As he returned to his position at the altar, Jack didnt miss the looks and whispers that followed him. He glanced over at the front row on the right where his mother sat on the edge of her seat, her white gloves clasped tightly in her hands, a worried expression on her face. His father met his gaze and when Jack nodded, John sat back and took his wifes hand.
Everything okay? Scott asked in a low voice.
Everythings fine.
Despite what he told his friend, he wasnt at all sure everything was fine. Lily had looked terrified when hed found her in that powder room. Shed been hit by a major case of cold feet. He couldnt say he blamed her. Her entire world was being turned upside-down. Not only was she pregnant with his baby, she was marrying a man she knew very little about and she was becoming a member of the Cartwright family. In his opinion neither of those things would inspire much confidence.
He wasnt sure which was more dauntingmarrying him or marrying into his family because, as much as he loved his family, he knew being a Cartwright wasnt always easy. A lot of expectations and responsibilities came with the family name and the fortune. Hed had his entire life to learn to deal with both. Lily had had less than two weeks.
When the first chords of the bridal march sounded once again, he stared at the entrance. Despite the fact that shed agreed to go through with the wedding, he wasnt at all confident that she would. And just when he thought she had decided against marrying him after all, there she wasstanding at the entrance beneath the flowered arbor.
She was beautiful, he thought as she stepped up to the end of the white runner. Hed heard the old wives tale about women who were pregnant having a glow about them. Hed never put much stock in it, never had reason to before now, he guessed. But Lily was living proof that it was true. She glowed. Shed put her hair up in some kind of twist thing, but little pieces had slipped free and fell around her face. The effect of the deep red strands against that creamy skin was striking. And just as he had done when hed seen her for the first time at the ball five months ago, he was unable to take his eyes off her. There was something about her, something beyond her beauty and the physical chemistry that drew him to her, just as it had drawn him to her that long-ago night.
He could see the stress swirling in those ghost-blue eyes of hers as she started down the aisle. He didnt miss the slight tremor in the hands that were holding the bouquet either. When she finally reached him, she looked as though she still might turn and run. So he reached out and caught her hand. Judging by the Reverend Lawrences frown, hed just committed some kind of sin. Evidently touching the bride at this point in the ceremony was a big no-no.
Too bad, Jack thought. Rules or no rules, if holding her hand made any of this easier for Lily, then thats what he intended to do.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony, the minister began.
Jack could feel three dozen pairs of eyes on his back, watching him, watching her, watching them. Hed shocked his friends and business associates when hed announced that he was marrying Lily and that he was going to be a father. Hed known they had had some reservations, but they also knew that when he made up his mind about something, there was no changing it. So theyd wisely kept most of their reservations to themselves. Fortunately, his family had rallied behind him with their support.
If there be anyone here who knows why these two people should not be joined in wedlock, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.
Lily tensed beside him and he half expected her to object. Wouldnt that be a first? he thought, amused at the image of the bride objecting to her own wedding. Talk about a scandal on top of a scandal. He could just see the headlines in Bunny Baldwins Social Diary. Jack Cartwrights Bride Bolts from Shotgun Wedding. Poor Bunny, the lady must be giving them hell in heaven because she was missing some of the juiciest gossip to hit Eastwick in years.
His thoughts wandering, Jack felt Lily squeezing his hand. Shaking off his musings, he looked down at her, noted the anxious look in her eyes, the twin spots of color on her cheeks. He knew she was trying to tell him something. But what? That she was scared? That she had changed her mind?
Jack. Jack. The minister repeated his name.
Jack jerked his gaze over to Reverend Lawrence and realized then that hed missed something.
Do you, John Ryan Cartwright, take Lily Miller to be your lawfully wedded wife, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health? Do you promise to love her and honor her, forsaking all others until you are parted by death?
I do, Jack said firmly.
Then repeat after me. I, John Ryan Cartwright, do take thee, Lily Miller, to be my wedded wife.
I, John Ryan Cartwright, do take thee, Lily Miller, to be my wedded wife
For richer, for poorer. In sickness and in health, the minister continued.
For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, Jack repeated.
I promise to love you and honor you, forsaking all others, until we are parted by death.
Repeating the vow, he never took his eyes from Lilys face as he said, I promise to love you and honor you, forsaking all others, until we are parted by death.
After Lily repeated the vows to him, the reverend asked for the rings. Jack took the ring from Scott and turned back to face Lily.
Repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.
With this ring, I thee wed, Jack said and he slid the platinum band onto Lilys finger as he pledged himself to her.
The minister turned to Lily, who took the ring from his sister, then, sliding the ring onto Jacks finger, she said, With this ring, I thee wed.
Moments later, Reverend Lawrence said, By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.
Jack kissed her. Hed meant for the kiss to be brief, a simple brush of his lips against hers. It was tradition. It was expected and he didnt want to add to Lilys stress by keeping her on display any longer than necessary. But when his mouth touched hers, he lingered. Only for a moment, but long enough for the taste of her to fill his head, long enough for his pulse to begin beating like a jackhammer, long enough for him to remember why theyd found themselves standing before a minister exchanging vows in the first place.
And judging by the look in Lilys eyes, she was remembering, too.
Ladies and gentlemen, Reverend Lawrence said. May I present to you Mr. and Mrs. John Ryan Cartwright.
It was done, Jack told himself as he and Lily turned to face the applauding guests. He and Lily were now man and wife. The pianist hit the keys again, and as the joyful tune rang out, he placed Lilys hand on his arm and led her down the aisle.
An hour later, Jack decided hed had enough. From the look on Lilys face, she had, too. Excuse me, he told his longtime friend and fellow attorney Dan Granger. Id better go rescue Lily before my mother ropes her into joining her bridge club.
Sure, go ahead, Dan told him. But, Jack, I hope you wont be too quick to rule out the senate race. With Carltons group behind you, youd have a good shot at claiming that seat. And we could certainly use someone like you on Capitol Hill.
I appreciate that, Dan. But right now, my focus is on my new wife and our family, he explained. While he hadnt ruled out a run for office, after speaking with his father, he wasnt sure he wanted to put Lily through the ordeal. He had absolutely no qualms or reservations about Lilys unplanned pregnancy and their marriage. Nor did he feel anything but pride for where she came from and what she had made of herself. He knew from her comments that her lack of family and knowledge about her heritage bothered her.
I understand. I shouldnt have even bothered you about this on your wedding day. Well talk about it in a week or two. And congratulations again on your marriage.
Thanks, Jack said, and, after shaking Dans hand, he headed across the patio to where Lily was standing with his mother and two women he recognized as part of her bridge group.
Jack, darling, his mother said and beamed as he joined them. You remember Louise and Pamela from my bridge group, dont you?
Yes, of course. Good afternoon, ladies, he said with a bow of his head.
I was just telling your mother what a beautiful bride you have, the ash-blond Pamela told him.
Thank you. I happen to think shes beautiful, too, Jack said and he stared directly at Lily. He didnt miss the rush of color to her cheeks. If you ladies dont mind, Im going to steal my wife away for a few minutes.
He reached for Lilys hand and as he was hustling her away, he spied his great-aunt Olivia Cartwright heading toward them. Aunt Olivia at two oclock. Come on, he said and led her out to the center of the floor.
Jack, what are you doing? she asked as he took her in his arms and spun her around the stone patio floor in time to the music.
Dancing with my wife.
But why?
Because my great-aunt Olivia considers herself the authority on everything from business to marriage to giving birth. Trust me, you dont want her to start offering us advice.
Oh, she said. Did you say she was your great-aunt?
Yes. My grandmothers older sister. Grateful that the band was playing a slow tune, he held Lily close. It reminded him of the night at the ball when hed held her in his arms for the first time. Just as on that night she felt soft and silky and as elusive as moonlight. He breathed in her scent, the hint of roses and sunshine and some mysterious scent that was hers alone. She fitted him perfectly and he was keenly aware of the weight of her breasts against his chest, the way her dress swished against his pant legs as they moved their feet in harmony. He was also aware of the roundness of her abdomen pressing against him.