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Chapter 28 - Dearly Beloved

 L POV

Grace sat next to me in her scarlet robe, her auburn hair caught up in a black ribbon as she finished eating a crumpet and wiping her mouth with a cloth napkin. "Well," she shrugged, giving me a teasing smile. "I must eat something. I refuse to be one of those silly brides that faints during her vows."

Gods, if I could only say the word, the cathedral's bishop would be hurriedly thrown in his vestments to marry us for real. Instead, I coughed and fidgeted in my seat. "Oh, does that happen?" I asked, noticing Ella draping a folded tablecloth over Jude's shoulders and handing him a fireplace poker, her approximation, I presume, of a vicar.

I loved it when Grace laughed then, and lifted up a cooling cup of tea to her lips. "Of course it does! If you don't eat anything on your wedding day because you are so distracted with dressing and pictures and such you can prepare to blackout in front of all of your guests. No thank you. People don't forget that sort of thing. I'm teased enough as it is."

"Oh," I answered dumbly, entranced as always by her liveliness of mind, the way she brought vivid images to her words and lastly by her extraordinary eyes sparkling with excitement.

She sipped the tea and raised an eyebrow. "Rather like how unforgettable your impersonation of Her Majesty was a few minutes ago. Mind you, it's forever emblazoned in my memory."

I rolled my eyes, frustrated. Of all the things for her to remember, I wish it wouldn't be that. "I am ever so pleased." I replied dryly. "Perhaps I have a future as an actor."

"Well, you've got the looks for it." Grace answered back quickly, then sucked in a breath as shock crossed her face. "Good heavens, er, I mean, uh, that is to say..." her cheeks were collecting more color by the second.

I smiled watching her sputter and leaned in close to her ear. "Well, I fear I am no Harrison Ford."

Her torment disappeared with a look of surprise. "How do you know who that is?" she demanded as Ella now showed Jude the correct way to stride around the room as a pompous member of the church. I wondered where she had obtained her ideas.

"Well, I researched him yesterday afternoon after you explained about Indiana Jones. He is the actor that portrays him, yes?"

Her bright smile returned and I felt like a bloody hero. "I didn't think you cared enough to actually conduct research about it." she remarked with seeming admiration.

I shrugged humbly. "I do have the extra leisure time. It has been rather slow as of late with cases."

"I've noticed that. It's curious, I'll admit." She answered and before I could question her further, Ella clapped her hands and called us to attention.

"All right, everybody! We're ready! L, you go stand with the vicar. Miss Gracie, you stand with me!"

Grace laughed and got up from her chair, taking Ella's hand as she led her to the far side of the room by the high windows. I slowly joined Jude by the door and couldn't handle his knowing smirk.

"Having fun, L?" he asked, his tone much more light-hearted than was customary. I was curious at the change.

"I did not know you had taken orders at the abbey." I joked back, picking up a corner of the tablecloth tied at his throat. "You resemble the pope more than any vicar I have ever encountered."

"And you remind me of a twenty-three year old bloke playing house." He returned, pulling his "vestments" out of my grasp and rearranging them on his shoulders.