The reaction was stunned silence. All of them... Enoch, Judge Mayhew, Magistrate Willford, the clerks who had remained, even Ebenezer himself... stared at her as she made her pronouncement. Ebenezer had been fairly sure she would go through with it; he did feel a tad bad about blackmailing Mirabella into this marriage, but she would learn that it would be for the best all around. In time. The others were simply stunned that a young girl would assert herself so before so many of the village's leaders! It was Reverend Stone, of all people, that broke the silence.

"It would seem that the young lady has made her mind and heart clear to us, good sirs," he advised in a quavering voice. "As we are Christians, we can not allow her to marry a man she does not love. A marriage without love is... anathema to our society. The law must be in service to God's will, not its master, and so as your clergyman I would give my blessings to this union between Mirabella and my son."

Judge Mayhew frowned as he glanced at the preacher. "Of course, you approve. He is your son, is he not? We will seek lawsuit in this matter." His son nodded sharply with a scowl to match.

"A lawsuit," Magistrate Willford advised, "That you will have to recuse yourself from, Mayhew. You may not sit in judgement in case involving yourself and you son together."

"Nor should you give spiritual counsel in this, Reverend Stone," threatened Enoch, his massive brow furrowed in thwarted anger. "You should recuse yourself as well!"

The rest of the collective men glanced in his direction and coughed in embarrassment before his father leaned in to whisper, "A preacher can not recuse himself in spiritual matters, Enoch. Not unless he comes in direct conflict with the teachings of Christ and then must be brought before his brethren." His glare then settled towards the Reverend. "We can, however, seek a new clergymen."

"By which time," Ebenezer cooed, "it will be too late. Magistrate Willford. Will you record this marriage between myself and Mirabella this day. Now?"

Seeing no other option, Willford slowly nodded. "I can see no other course to take, other than to advise you all against any of this. But as the young lady has made her wishes clear... and Ebenezer here has shown both his commitment to the marriage and his knowledge of law and Scripture..." He nodded reluctantly again. "You are considered wed in the eyes of the law."

"And in the eyes of God," added her new father-in-law. "All that remains is for you to consummate your marriage."

Enoch'ss eyes went to narrow slits, his lips twisting in hate. "And may God have mercy on your souls," he spat before stalking out, his father at his heels.

The day won, for the moment, Ebenezer took Mirabella's other hand in his so that they faced one other. With another gentle smile, he whispered softly to her, words said so quietly that they were almost mouthed. "You have kept to your promise. I will keep to mine."