As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann Page B

your words?' Caro whispered.
    'Yes, but no matter if I forget.' I had insisted we should have the sponsalia (as the betrothal was called in Latin) de praesenti, for such a betrothal, even without witnesses, made us one just as if we had been joined by the priest. It needed only the swearing of vows. I had a horror of being married by My Lady's 'spiritual director', who stank of Rome, or by Doctor Phelps, the pastor of the village church, who had once preached there that the poor, being God's special care, should rather be envied than relieved, and that a poor man who complained of his lot did so at the instigation of Mammon, naked greed, 'for sure he had not the breeding to make right use of riches if he had them'. On that occasion I had sat sizing up the man of God, allowing myself- in fancy- to beat him to his knees. No one had ever fought me and won, and I did not think the good doctor would be the first. Now, with Peter's glass of wine warming me to a pleasant freedom, I felt more than ever that Phelps was best away. Wed to such a wife as Caro, I thought, 'tis a poor return to break the parson's teeth.
    'Why do you laugh?' Caro pulled on my sleeve.
    'I'll tell you later.' Smiling to myself, I glanced up and saw Godfrey coming over to us.
    'It is now. O, I feel sick,' murmured Caro.
    My Lady looked tenderly at her across the dishes of food, calling, 'Take heart, child. A few minutes and you are man and wife.'
    Now I was the one suddenly sick, not for the stumbling words of a vow, or that I might speak foolishly before the company, but for the huge thing I had undertaken. There might come a time, and soon, when my wife repented of her bargain, but there was no breaking off after this, though we should prove scorpions to one another. I saw Zeb staring at me, wondering, it might be, what was become of Patience, or envious of what I had won for my own.
    'Here, wife.' I put my arm under Caro's to steady her trembling. Under our feet was the flagged square at the centre of the maze, and around us the knot garden, with other stone flags supporting the trestles. The young men gawped and grinned, while their lasses dug them in the ribs and devoured Caro's gown with their eyes. Older people looked wistful, or dabbed at their cheeks. My mother sniffled. I heard speeches on my looks, and on hers, spoken out loud as if we were both of us deaf. Izzy nodded to me as if to say, it would come right. Most of all I remarked Zeb, whose features looked to be carved in stone. Though I fixed him, eye to eye, he appeared unaware; one would say he looked not at me, but through me.
    'Have you the ring? Give it here.' Godfrey thrust a swollen square of lacy stuff towards us.
    Caro glanced down at the lace and giggled. 'My Lady's pin-cushion.'
    I put the scrap of gold on it. Godfrey snapped his fingers. A little boy in silks ran forward and was placed officiously to my left to hold the cushion. The steward, plainly happy in his work, stepped aside with a swirling movement and the guests grew quiet.
    'Friends, we are here to witness the solemn contract of two of our company,' Godfrey announced. 'Known to us all, and respected by all as honest folk and faithful servants. We pray that their union may be long, happy and fruitful.'
    'Amen,' I answered along with the rest. The moment was come. Clearing my throat, I took a firm grip on Caro's left hand. 'I, Jacob, do take thee, Caroline, to my wife, from this day forth, and do call on these here present to witness.' I then took the wedding band (the boy near bursting with importance all this while) and worked it over her finger. 'In token of which, I do give thee this ring.'
    Her flesh was cold and damp: I pressed it between my warmer, drier palms to infuse her with strength. The music had ceased, and as I thus soothed her I heard jackdaws bickering somewhere on the house roof. Caro now turned to me and said in a high breathless voice, 'I, Caroline, do take thee, Jacob, to my husband, from this day forth,