It occurred to her that perhaps he did not mind very much after all.
Then it was Harriet’s turn to speak, murmuring softly to hide the fact that she had substituted her own name for Martina’s.
“I, Har-riet, take thee, Hugh to my wedded husband, to have and to hold – ”
When the speech had finished the priest looked down at his book and seemed to lose his place.
While his attention was thus occupied, Harriet stepped quickly back and Martina moved forward to stand at Hugh’s side.
The priest was now ready to proceed. With his second bride beside him, Hugh took her hand in his and said,
“With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.”
His voice was low and deeply moving and a strange sensation swept over Martina.
This might have been r
