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"Edward!" I gasp "Is this your pearl?"

"No" He shakes his head "It’s your pearl now"

He takes the ring froh and his eyes are tender "Will you marry me, Lenora? Will you be dom demands it, but because you want to?"

I’ve never been a crier, but it looks like thattoo Because tears well in s my throat

"Yes, I will marry you, Edward, because I want to And because I think my favorite title will soon be that I aer and lets out a shout of joy I laugh as he liftshis oes on and on

And it’s perfect A moment of perfect, pure happiness The kind you remember and look back on and cherish your whole life

But those moments of pure happiness are much like the cherry blossoarden They’re so beautiful when they come, but you have to enjoy them while you canbecause they don’t last forever

"ARE YOU NERVOUS?" Michael Fitzgibbons asks, in the vestibule behind the altar in St George’s Cathedral In the last ood friends--and there was no one else I could i to stand beside me as my best man today

I snort "No"

"Most groo," he says "And this is bigger than s"

I peer out the door--celebrities and royals and businessmen of every stripe pack the pews Cameramen are stationed in the chorus box to convey every moment to the thirsty public Outside on the pave for a gli to be a part of this day

"I just want to get it over with Have her be mine, officially"

Michael smiles impishly "The Queen’s a keeper, yeah?"

The anxious palace events secretary, the one in charge of this whole show, scurries into the room "The Queen has arrived outside Places, please, Prince Edward, Lord Michael"

I tap Michael on the back "She certainly is that"

I stand at the altar, in ht, are of a storybook prince The pipes, then strings and hornsall building and swirling together into a surging rendition of the bridal ation stands and double doors open, and there in the centerthere she is

Wrapped in snohite satin and lace, snug around her waist, long in the back, elegant through the shoulders and down her arel fresh from heaven There’s a lace veil over her face, so I can’t make out her features yet, but the tiara on her head--a new one of emerald and diamonds that was commissioned just for this day--winks and sparkles as she walks Alone

Because she’s not being given away She’s giving herself

As she glides down the aisle tothe hard ridge of lasses, and I send my whispered words out across the ether

Thank you, Tho what my destiny could be before I did

I was made for thisfor her To cherish her, protect her and challenge her, to guide her and follow her--to be the man she needs, so she can be the woman, the queen, she was alwaysthe shimmer of her diamond eyes, the rose hue of her porcelain cheek, the delicate china of her tiny nose, and the soft swell of her pink lips My voice is low, so only she can hear my whisper of rapturous awe

"Dear God, Lennyyou takesmile is worshipful and lovely

I offer her h ether to the Archbishop The cathedral is bursting with thousands of guests--the wedding is televised, so there are --but when the time for vows comes, it’s just she and ILenora and Edward In this ht and the sweet scent of lilies, we look into each other’s eyes and pledge our lives--ourselves--to one another

"I, Edward Langdon Richard Dorian Rourke, take thee, Lenora"

"I, Lenora Celeste Beatrice Arabella Pembrook, take thee, Edward"

"to be my wife,"

"to be my husband,"