The process of courtship was a long one. An exchange of gifts, hand-holding, and not much more. The young couple was more often than not supervised, which made it harder to truly be honest with each other. And then there was the rule that no true touching could happen before the wedding.

But despite all of that, John was more than happy to do it for you. He loved you perhaps more than he had ever loved anyone else. Getting your father's blessing had been hard enough - Baron Blackwood was not an easy-to-please man.

Quite frankly he'd nearly soiled his trousers at the mere idea of asking for your hand in marriage to the Baron's face.

But... seeing the way you lit up when the Baron agreed, all those months ago, he knew that you were the one for him. You were intelligent, well-read and well-spoken. And lord, could you hold a political debate as well as any man. You could quote the writings of Voltaire and Payne without a second thought.

And you were just so... proper. He sometimes wondered how on earth he'd managed to charm you.

The two of you had met at Alexander's wedding - him there for Alex, and you were there for Eliza. Now, as he watched you walk down the aisle to him, he was thanking everything he was that you'd chosen him.

After the vows and the party wound down, he found you on the balcony. "Hey." He wrapped his arms around your middle.