Enchanted

She surrendered herself to him, melting against him, feeling the beat of his heart on hers with his mouth holding her captive.

Then there was only love and the soft lap of the sea.

There was the scent of flowers, but it was not only of their fragrance that he was aware but that everything around them from the earth to the trees was living and breathing and he could feel their life pulsating through him.

Then the light that came from them both was as dazzling as the moonlight and their love lifted them up to the stars.

The moonlight was dazzling, the music of the trees rose louder and came too from their hearts and the spirits of the wood were waiting for them.

Then there was only the glory that swept them on the shimmering wings of ecstasy up into the sky and they were one.

She knew that the vibrations from the Duke were still touching hers as they had done last night and they were close in a way that was not physical but part of the magic she had always known existed, but had not thought it possible to explain to a human being.

Instead she was something ethereal to which he responded not with his body but with his spirit and the very breath he drew.

It was everything that was sacred, personal and intimate that she could never share with another living soul.

The Duke was in a hurry to leave the Vestry and they then walked down the aisle almost before the relatives had been able to scurry back into their seats.

I am uncomfortably aware that you have manipulated the matter of my marriage entirely to your own advantage.”