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It would be the oddest thing if somehow his best friend and sister had fallen for each other. He would be against it,staunchly, because he knew Simon was a rake of the highest order. He did not need anyone risking his sister’s virtue.

But he would also be thoroughly perplexed because they had never gotten along from their first encounter, when Emmy had been ten and Simon had come for a visit.

She had screamed at him and run away, crying, and they had been at each other’s throats since then. It would be something if they eventually saw past their differences.

“Nothing, Brother,” Emmy answered, shaking her head earnestly.

Simon remained silent, so Richard made a mental note to watch them closely. The man was normally talkative, so his silence meant something fishy was afoot.

Guests started arriving, so he put aside his anxiety. He greeted the lords and ladies of the ton, including their daughters, who were weeping at the fact that he was no longer on the marriage mart.

When they were all seated and it was time for the bride to enter, his heart started pounding in his chest, and the moment he saw her, his breath caught in his throat.

She was a vision in the dress she’d finally chosen after almost two months of indecision. The wedding planning had revealed an indecisive side to her that he found endearing.

When her father gave him her hand, he nodded at him once, and the man patted his hand. They had found shared interests in certain investments and had been working quite closely with each other since Catherine introduced them.

When saying his vows, Richard looked into her eyes, knowing he meant every word, and when it was finally time to kiss her, he did so chastely, knowing if he went any further, his body would embarrass him with his lust for her, which had only burned hotter as she had sworn him to wait until after the wedding to touch her again.

Catherine stared up at him, her cheeks and neck a pretty red as everyone cheered.

The ball was grand, and he watched his sister and Simon dance and laugh. He shook his head, wanting to see what could come out of this new development.

“Who is that gentleman with Emmy?” Catherine asked from beside him.

“Lord Talbot, my best friend,” he answered.

“They look happy,” she noted, smiling.

What was it with married women and matchmaking?

She was only just newly married, and she already had started matchmaking.

“There is nothing there.” Richard shook his head. “They hate each other.”

Just then, Emmy laughed at something Simon said and slapped his arm.

Catherine shot Richard a smirk that had him frowning. She laughed and squeezed his arm.

“Come, husband,” she said, rising from her seat. “Make me happy.”

Richard took her hand and practically dragged her to their chambers. She laughed at the urgency in his steps and quickened her pace.

He looked back at her and wondered what he had done to deserve such perfection in his life. She smiled at him, her eyes shining with love and trust.

He swore to himself that he would do everything in his power to keep that look in her eyes.

The End?