The Scandalous Son by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page B

toward the window, she stopped and could see the carriages coming up the drive. It was too late to back out anyway, everything was already set. There was a knock on the door and then Mira entered.
    “Are you ready for the dress?” she asked.
    Alice shook her head and walked over to the wedding gown. Mira held out the dress for Alice to put her hands through and then draped the dress around Alice’s form. Mira adjusted the front and then moved to the back to tie the ribbons in place.
    “You look beautiful, the dress is very becoming,” Mira beamed.
    Alice fingered the beaded neckline, “It really is.”
    “Now for the veil.”
    Mira sat the veil on top of Alice’s head and secured it with a few pins. She fluffed it out and then lowered the front to cover Alice’s face.
    Alice was grateful for the veil. It was dense enough to cover her features, but not too dense that she couldn’t still see out of it.
    Mira followed her to the chapel where the wedding was to take place. All of the guests were already there and all she had to do was walk down the aisle and marry the man standing there waiting for her. Easy enough, she thought.
    The organ started to play and Alice slowly started her decent down the aisle. There were flowers and ribbons everywhere, making the chapel seem like a garden paradise. Alice looked at everything in the room except for the man that was to be her husband.
    She made it to her groom and after everyone sat down they kneeled down in front of the priest, which was a bit hard considering the dress she was wearing.
    The priest greeted the guests and then turned to Alice to start the vows. “Do you, Alice Mary Rutledge, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
    “I do,” Alice answered.
    The priest turned to her soon to be husband and asked the same of him. “Do you, Gage Easton Albright, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
    “I do,” he answered.
    Alice must be hearing things because she swore she just heard the priest say Gage’s name. Man, she was losing it. Too many emotions getting in the way.
    They exchanged rings and it was then that the priest pronounced them husband and wife. Her husband lifted her veil and it was then that Alice began t panic.
    Gage smiled at Alice’s panicked expression as he leaned in and gave her a searing kiss that sealed their marriage.
     
     
    It wasn’t until later when they were sitting at the table eating lunch that St. Vincent came over to explain. He sat down on the other side of Alice and reached for her hand.
    “I’m sorry for not telling you sooner,” he said softly. “Gage came to me last night and some things came to light and I discovered that he is my son and that he loved you very much. All I wanted was for him to be happy, and I knew that marrying you would be the wrong thing to do, and I think you knew that too.”
    “We can talk later about specifics, but I want to welcome you to the family and know that I’m so grateful to have you as a daughter in law,” St. Vincent said sincerely.
    Alice nodded at his admission. “Thank you,” she said. And with that St. Vincent got up and she was left with her husband for company.
    She turned to Gage and whispered in his ear, “I just want you to know that I’m still not over this. I want nothing more than to yell and scream at you but alas, I know no good would come of it.”
    Alice got up to go mingle with her wedding guests and left her new husband sitting there alone.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Thirteen
     
                   Alice stared at the large box that was sitting on the bed. She lifted the lid and there, sitting neatly folded, was the most stunning nightgown Alice had ever seen. It was ivory silk with lace throughout. There were two ties, one at each shoulder and when Alice picked it up a note fell