There was nothing the Earl could do but follow them as he had been told to do and the Vicar started the Service.
He intoned the words of the marriage service clearly and sincerely.
The Earl considered that under the circumstances he would have thought that the wedding was very well conducted and in fact quite moving.
Yet because of the woman standing beside him, the Earl could feel resentment rising in his breast and it was with the greatest difficulty that he forced himself to attend to what the Vicar was saying.
When it came to the point where the bride was given away, the elderly man did so.
Next the ring had to be blessed and the Earl, with a start of horror, realised he had done nothing about providing one. It had simply not occurred to him.
He wondered what he could do.
But he
