The following day Sir Thomas, Jo-Anne, and Sir William were to meet Jo-Anne’s maid of honor, Elizabeth at the church.

“I think, Will, I’ll marry you off to Elizabeth. She could likely make a husband and a man out of you.”

“Please Jo-Anne, you will have all the ladies in Normandy in mourning if you marry me off.”

They dismounted, hitched their horses and strode toward the church. From inside the porch stepped a statuesque brunette whose silken red-tinted hair framed an alabaster visage. William was stripped by the blue-green eyes that sparkled on either side of a Roman nose. In awe Will’s eyes explored the rest of the dazzling creature. The figure was rounded in the right places and accentuated by a tight sash around the wasp waist.

Jo-Anne nudged Thomas and the two snickered to themselves.

“Elizabeth, I’d like you to meet Thom’s little brother, William.” Will bristled. “And Sir William, may I present my maid of honor, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Rupert.”

“Enchantez, Madmoiselle!”

“Monsieur.”

Before any teasing could occur a robed figure left the porch.

“Father Francis ! What are you doing here?” Now it was Thomas’s turn to be astounded.

“I met Sir Richard on my return to Rouen and he suggested you would appreciate my conducting your marriage ceremony.’

“Certainment! Pardonnez-moi Father. This is my bride- to -be Jo-Anne of Rouen, my brother Sir William, and Sir Rupert’s daughter Elizabeth.” Pleasantries were exchanged.

“I understand, Thomas and Jo-Anne, you are here for your betrothal.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Good, we will step into the church porch.” Father Francis led them in the vestibule and stopped before the participants. “Thomas, you have picked a beautiful lady for your bride.” Jo-Anne blushed. “And Jo-Anne you have selected a worthy husband.”

Both muttered, “Thank you, Father.”

“William, is this your choice of bride?” Father Francis said with a wink. For once William was speechless. The bride and groom smiled and Elizabeth answered, “Not yet, Father.”

“Please be at ease, Children. There are only five of us here. Although a portion of your ceremony, it is not always celebrated in matrimony. In Normandy the church and your priest adds solemnity to the formal betrothal. Let us pray.”

The young people knelt on the stones. Father Francis launched into a Latin prayer, but mindful of the stone floor kept it short. He blessed the future wedding party and ended with the Lord’s prayer. He drew them to their feet.

“Thomas, face Jo-Anne and take both her hands. Now repeat after me.”

Thomas listened and stated.

“I, Thomas Trivett, take thee Jo-Anne of Rouen, for my betrothed. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part, if Holy church will it permit, and thereto I plight me my troth.”

“And now Jo-Anne.”

“I, Jo-Anne of Rouen, take thee Thomas Trivett for my betrothed to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health till death do us part if the Holy Church will permit it and thereto I plight thee my troth.”

“You may kiss your betrothed to seal the contract of your approaching marriage.”

Thomas in his shyness, gave Jo-Anne a peck on the lips. Jo-Anne, however, wasn’t the least shy and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him ardently. Finally, Will coughed a little and she let his brother loose.

“Do you have the rings?” Will and Elizabeth laid the rings on the Bible. Father Francis blessed the symbols of wedlock. “Children these rings are representative of the marriage, the betrothal and your life together. They are a circle,” and he traced his finger about each, “and have no end. This is a contract for life. Your betrothal is the beginning and only death can be the ending. They represent two bodies, two minds, two spirits united as one in the cycle of life until death do you part.”

Will thought, ‘Mon Dieu, I wish he’d stop saying that !’

“It represents the fidelity of the couple and is stronger than any chain links of iron, expressing its purity in gold of companionship, friendship, honor, trust, love, and passion. Will and Elizabeth you are entrusted with these blessed symbols of contract until the wedding.” He placed his hands on Thomas and Jo-Anne’s heads. “The Lord bless you and keep you and cause his face to shine upon thee in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, Amen.”

“Amen.” The party replied in unison.

“Be pure in spirit until your wedding day.”

“Thank you, Father.”

The agent of Odo slipped quietly through the doors and left the foursome in bright sunshine.

“I’ll see you home, Elizabeth.”

Jo-Anne interceded, “Elizabeth, if Will is to accompany you protect your virginity. Will is a roue and a rake of seduction. Many fathers are after his hide!”

“Sister! I’m as pure as a winter snow.”

“Take care, Elizabeth.”

“Don’t worry my friend. I can handle this jack-a-nape!”

“Elizabeth!” and Will gave her a leg up to her pony. The two young couples waved their good-bye and set off.

Jo-Anne wished to put her cottage in order and her betrothed had work to do on stumps and ploughing and gardens and habitants. Their travail employed every moment until the day before the wedding. Jo-Anne was forced to leave off the cottage and retreat to Sir Richard’s. Poor Richard was subjected to all sorts of badgering, errands, work, bad temper, shouting and clean-up. The large brood was washed and trimmed and warned and sent from pillar to post. The boys pouted and griped. The girls complained about the boys. Joan and Jo-Anne were basically incommunicado except to dart out, shout directions and disappear. The bath tub entertained a steady stream- the older ones grousing- the younger ones splashing.

“Oh God, see me through tomorrow!” Richard prayed.

The Trivett household was much calmer. Mary only had three to bully, nag and direct and she did it with a heavy hand. She didn’t let them escape after breakfast. One at a time she dunked their heads in a tub of water. She generously applied the home-made soap she had prepared at the last porker kill. The lye burnt like fire. Thomas Senior yelled the most. “Sacre Bleu!”

“Close your mouth and eyes, you old fool!” and she ducked him again.

“Watch her boys. She’s trying to drown your father.” Slosh, and down he went again. The boys laughed until it was their turn, but the knights bore the scrubbing stoically and smartingly. Trivett Senior was about to escape.

“NO you don’t! Sit!”

Thomas sat and as soon as Mary had dried her hands, she wielded a mean pair of scissors. Thomas’s shaggy locks fell about his person, a shower of silver and snow white.

“Go easy, Girl! A man’s strength and pride are in his locks.”

“Hmph!”

She took his straight razor and slashed away any fuzz.

“Watch my throat.”

“Thomas, Fermez la bouche!” The boys laughed. “Thomas Junior, on this chair.” Mary took particular pains with the groom. He had never had such a precise haircut. There would be no complaints about this work. Will got the least of the three men and complained the most. The great lover of Normandy cherished his locks.

“Mon Dieu! I itch as if I was wearing a hair shirt.”

“Then, Thomas, you won’t be adverse to taking a bath in the large tub. But, you must wait until later.”

“I can’t wait.” and out of the door he went and down to the creek. He stripped and waded into the stream. He and the boys would claim they bathed in the stream, but knew it would be pointless. Mary would scrub him with a brush. That wife had a clean fetish.

Mary released them, but with due warnings about their behaviour that day. She spent the rest of the day with clothing and her own ablutions. Pots of hot water filled the fireplace.

“Thomas, strip!”

“Later, Mary, later”

“Now.”

In went the water; in went Thomas. “It’s boiling!” and he danced his naked shape about the tub.

“Down, Thomas.” And soon the paunchy stomach was awash in hot water. Mary scrubbed without mercy.

“I’ll just get dirty again.” Mary didn’t bother to answer. She booted Thomas Senior out and crooked her finger at the boys. Out went the water and in went Thomas Junior into another steaming caldron.

“Mother, you can’t bath me. I’m a man.”

“Boy, I bathed you from birth. Strip!” Thomas did handle the scrub brush for everything but his back.

“Leave the skin.”

“Be quiet, you hairy beast.”

Will tried to escape. A finger snap froze him in his tracks and a rigid index finger sent him to his place. He faired no better than his father and brother.

“Tomorrow, early, you shave meticulously. I’ll not have your faces looking like some Saxon outcast. Do not dress until you have had your breakfast. Do not go to the barn. Your brother has his directions.

Surprisingly, both homes were organized in the morning. The ladies with painstaking planning and the men in complete compliance followed orders.

“None of you touch those horses. I’ll not have you at a wedding smelling like a stable.”

“What was that/”

“I said, I wonder it Richard will serve soup.”

Mary didn’t press it. Off the Trivetts went to the church. Mary, Thomas Senior went immediately into the nave. Sir William and Sir Thomas waited in the porch. Will would direct John in the ringing of the bells as both had served as altar boys. Joan and the children preceded the father of the bride and his lovely daughter Jo-Anne. From the forest land that would be Jo-Anne and Thomas’ came the clatter of a team and coach. Sir Richard handled the reins and Jo-Anne and Elizabeth rode in virgin white. The Trivett boys watched awe-struck. They didn’t even notice Father Francis and his attendants enter the porch. Father Francis nodded to John and the bells rang out joyously. Meanwhile Joan of Rouen and Mary Trivett lighted individual candles on either side of the altar for their children. The high stepping arab cross team drew up before the church. A young lad secured them and Sir Richard assisted Elizabeth and Jo-Anne from the carriage. Thomas and Will gasped at the luminous beauty of the faces of their escorts. Sir Richard beamed. His face had some trouble adjusting as he was unaccustomed to smiling. Jo-Anne’s hand rested on Sir Richard’s and he took it and placed it for Thomas to take.

“Welcome, Children, to your nuptial mass. May it be day one of an endless love affair and marriage. Let us proceed to the altar.” A young Richard of Rouen, Jo-Anne’s brother , carrying the cross led the procession, followed by Father Francis, his altar boys, Jo-Anne’s sister as ring bearer, the maid of honor and the best man, the bride and groom, the father of the bride. Sir Richard genuflected and stepped into the pew beside Joan. They clasped hands and gave each other a little squeeze.

“Welcome my friends, to the nuptials of Sir Thomas Trivet and Jo-Anne of Rouen. It gives me great pleasure to be associated with two of my favorite families again. It seems our destiny to be forever linked, with the grace of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Let us pray.”

The families dropped to their knees and Francis offered the Pentitential Rite- a prayer for mercy and forgiveness for everyone. Two of Richard’s boys looked terribly sheepish with the mention of forgiveness. Joan noted that for future reference.

“My handsome Thomas, I take thee for my wedded husband to have and to hold from this day

forward for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health till death do us part so help

me God.”

“And now for the annulus fidei. The rings Sir William.” William retrieved them from the ring bearer.

“These blessed rings exchanged, symbolize the eternal bond incorruptible of the marriage between Thomas Trivett and Jo-Anne of Rouen and the unification of God and humans faithful to one another as God is faithful to those who love him. Thomas take the ring.”

“Jo-Anne, my beloved, with this ring I thee wed.” He placed the ring on her thumb, “In the name of the Father,” He slipped it on the index finger, “ in the name of the Son,” He moved the ring to the middle finger, “And the Holy Ghost,” Finally the ring took up residence on the ring finger of the left hand. “Amen.”

William presented him with the perfect gold and silver coins from Thomas Senior. “With this gold and silver I offer dower. I thee give with my body, I thee worship and with all my worldly goods I thee endow per solidus et denarium so help me God.”

Jo-Anne needed no urging to take the other ring from the Holy Bible.

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“Thomas my betrothed, with this ring I thee wed. She moved the ring finger to finger as Thomas had done. In the name of the Father—In the name of the Son—In the name of the Holy Ghost—Amen.”

While the hands were still clasp, Father Francis wrapped their hands in his stole. “ Ego conjungo vos in matrimonium in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. I unite you in wedlock in the name of the Father , the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

The married couple released from the shawl took the candle lighted by their mothers and lighted the unity candle Their individual candles were snuffed, but their united light shone brightly, their individual lives now one.

“You may kiss the bride.”

The gentle giant Thomas religiously lifted Jo-Anne’s veil and brushed her lips reverently.

Father Francis recited the Credo from the Prayer of the Faithful and then began the liturgy of the Eucharist. After the Pater Noster, the bride and groom came and knelt before him The Propitiare Comine prayer sought mercy from God and begged forgiveness of sins. With the Deus qui potestate he praised the power and glory of God. He blessed the bread and wine and delivered communion.

After an effusive nuptial blessing he sprinkled the newlyweds with Holy Water.

“My friends may I present Sir Thomas and Lady Jo-Anne Trivett.”

Father Francis slipped away with his acolytes. The beaming bride and groom led the two smiling families from the church.