Chapter 250

❤️HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY READERS! ❤️

I hope you are enjoying the love between Erik and Pearl and I hope you have had a wonderful day yourselves!

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"The rings are here. I cannot believe I was able to get them so fast. Two days cousin!" Sebastian said. They were the traditional Welsh gold rings that had been a royal tradition for years. It was expensive, but Erik had them speed up the process.

"I love you as my own flesh." Erik read aloud. It was the inscription in Pearl's ring. A quote from Mr. Rochester to Jane Eyre. He was so excited for her to see it.

"Thank you so much, Bash." He said.

"Auggie has all the transportation set up and the marriage license should be ready by tomorrow. Anna's father is all set to perform the ceremony and the church, Cruggleton church, will look perfect. Anna's mother is helping decorate it." Bash said.

"Bash, I can't thank you enough. Truly. I know I wasn't there for you when I should have been but I promise I will never let anything come between us again. I love you and I will always be here for you." Erik said.

"I know." Sebastian said, patting his shoulder.

Everything was ready. Now he needed to make Pearl believe the excuse to fly somewhere the next evening.

"Hello nightingale. How are you feeling today?" Erik said, finding her reading in the library.

"I'm feeling good. Just a little tired. And missing you. Where have you been the last couple of days?" She asked, reaching up for him and giving him a hug.

"Helping father with things for the wedding. And keeping mother calm." He said. Pearl nodded. She knew it was a lot, for all of them.

"I'm sorry." She said. Erik sat next to her and took her hand.

"For what?" He asked.

"For being selfish and wrong. It's not your fault that a big wedding is happening. It's something that comes with marrying you and I should have understood it better. I'm so sorry. I love you and I will help and do whatever I can to make it the best day possible. I told you mother this morning that I want to help more." She said.

"Pearl, relax. I understand. And I love you, too. It will all work out. We have a huge team of people doing this. It will be fine. I promise." He said.

Pearl smiled and hugged him. "Thank you for being so wonderful to me." She said.

"Thank you for... you." He said. "I'll leave you to read and rest." He said, standing up. "Oh, one more thing. Tomorrow evening, I have a surprise for you." He said.

"Oh really?" She asked, smiling.

"Yes. Make sure you dress up. Hair. Makeup and the lot. And we are flying." He said.

"Flying? Where are we going?" She asked.

"I told you, it's a surprise." He said, kissing her forehead.

"Ok. I'm excited." She said.

"Me too, my love. Me too." He said.

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"I found a dress, a veil, a cape and a head piece. She is all ready to go." Maggie whispered.

"Wonderful. Please give it all to Bash. You all will fly out earlier and we will leave around nine. The ceremony will begin at midnight." Erik said.

"Let me know if there is anything else I can do." Maggie said. "I'll see you tomorrow night."

Erik hugged her and thanked her.

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"I am starving." Erik said, as he sat for dinner with everyone. Frances updated them all on the wedding plans they all listened and complimented her progress. Erik's father talked about other state affairs and Auggie talked about school and what he planned to do after graduation. It was a wonderfully calm and happy dinner.

"Ian and I are going to help with the reception planning. We are all here and can help more than just saying we support you." Fi said. "Iris is running the company, so we can help, too."

Pearl smiled and thanked her. "I have the best friends of anyone in the whole world. I love you all so much." Pearl said.

After dinner, Erik pulled Dylan aside. "Can I see you in the library for a moment?" He asked.

"Sure, man." He said, following him.

"I have a request." Erik said, closing the door behind them.

"Sure. What's up?" Dylan asked, looking around, wondering what the big secret was.

"I need you to get on a plane tomorrow, after dinner, to Scotland." He said.

"Scotland? Why?" He asked.

"There's a medieval twelfth century church in Galloway. I'm taking Pearl there tomorrow night and making her my wife." Erik said.

"Wait...What? What about this ridiculous wedding your family is planning?" Dylan asked.

"That's not for us. Pearl deserves something private. Something real. And I was hoping you would walk her down the aisle." Erik said.

Dylan took a step back. Asking him to be his best man was one thing. Asking him to give Pearl away was another.

"I don't know." Dylan said.

"There is no one else as close to her as you are. And I trust you. No one can know." Erik said.

Dylan sat down and processed it for a moment. He knew Pearl and he knew she hated the thought of a public showing of her personal life. He knew this was the right thing for her but it seemed so odd to him. Uncomfortable in a way.

"Isn't this against the rules?" Dylan asked, "A secret royal wedding in a secluded church in the middle of the night. How Henry the eighth of you." He said.

Erik smiled. "Some of the greatest legends of all time began this way. Why not?" He said.

Dylan hesitated and nodded. "I'll do it. Tell me the plan." Dylan said.

Erik smiled and hugged him. "Thank you." He said. "You are a wonderful friend and human."

Dylan nodded and smiled. He had resigned to giving Pearl up but giving her away was going to be the hardest thing he has ever had to do.