Although the banquet was lavish, the fast was required to last until the following morning. Matilda, therefore, ate only a few slices of bread and drank a few sips of wine.
After the wedding gifts were exchanged, she was sent back to the Church.
The bride and groom were to spend the night before their wedding in the Church.
In more secular weddings, the fasting and the vigil in the Church were treated as mere formalities, just going through the motions.
But with the Holy See in attendance, no such shortcuts could be taken.
For the first three days, Matilda knelt and prayed before the holy icon.
On the fourth day, she stood up.
On the fifth day, she sat on a bench.
On the sixth and seventh days, which was now, she walked into the Church and lay down on the bench without hesitation.
'She felt she had to maintain her Devotion, but her body was protesting.'
The fast left her head groggy.
"Want some of this?" Eric's voice rang out.
