Page 18 of A Diamond for Christmas (Diamonds of the First Water #6)

C aroline felt Geoffrey take her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. What’s more, he did it in front of everyone. Whatever her parents and his parents said, she knew they would marry, even if they had to run away again, farther into Scotland.

“We are too late for condoning,” Lord Diamond pronounced.

“Or for prohibiting,” her father added. “Our daughter has spent three days alone traveling with this man. They must marry. I think we all know that now.”

Caroline felt a twinge in her stomach, and it had nothing to do with the miracle of snow. Mortification, embarrassment, a little shame over causing their parents to come such a long way chasing after them — were she and Geoffrey selfish?

She glanced up at him, and the warm sparkle in his eyes quashed all her doubts. They were in love after all.

“Very well,” her mother said. “Allow Lady Diamond and I to get our feet under us, and then we shall bear witness to the marriage of our children.”

Caroline was surprised to see Geoffrey’s mother nodding. “Agreed,” Lady Diamond said. “Do they have chocolate here, by the way? Or only tea?”

After all the hullabaloo , the actual anvil ceremony was almost humdrum.

Geoffrey was pleased to have the entire authentic experience once the mothers agreed to the location.

The King’s Head barman said he could do the proceedings if pressed, but referred them to the best officiator, the smithy next to the road in the very center of Gretna Green.

Thus, around two o’clock, the party of six strolled from the inn across the grassy green to the blacksmith’s shop. The apprentice was the first to greet them, and he went to find Mr. Lang, who appeared in his heavy apron in the open doorway.

“Will you marry them?” asked Lord Chimes, nodding toward Geoffrey and Caroline.

The man grinned to see an entire wedding party when usually he was faced with only a harried couple, looking fearfully over their shoulders.

“Aye, if you’ve got the coin.”

Geoffrey was astonished when Caroline’s father did, indeed, pay the blacksmith, handing over two guineas and earning a kiss on his cheek from his grateful daughter. They entered the hot, almost stifling workroom.

And then the man asked them their names as he and Caroline stood before him holding hands. Mr. Lang even managed to bring a little formality to the absurdly brief ceremony, mentioning God and trust and long happiness before proclaiming them man and wife.

When the blacksmith told them they could kiss, Geoffrey thought it would be the most uncomfortable thing he’d done in his whole life.

Moreover, it might earn him Lord and Lady Chimes’s fury.

Regardless, as soon as he locked gazes with Caroline, she smiled up at him.

In front of all those watching, he gave her a brief but firm kiss.

Then Mr. Lang lifted a hammer resting at the wooden base, which held an anvil, and gave the iron a mighty whack .

“The sound will tell the whole village another couple has married,” the man said. Then he handed each of them a calling card. “Tell your friends of my easy, swift, affordable service.”

With that, he walked away, unconcerned about their signing a register. Regardless, the apprentice provided a half-sheet of paper, a “certificate,” he called it proudly, which he said they could put their names on as well as those of their witnesses. Then he, too, disappeared.

Geoffrey glanced down. “The blacksmith can write, apparently. He has signed his name.” He handed this to his father.

“Simon,” Lord Diamond exclaimed. He started to laugh. “My boy, heir to an earldom, has just been wed by a Simple Simon.”

Lord Chimes didn’t look so amused. “As long as it’s legal.” He peered at the card in his hand before shoving it into his pocket. “Tell our friends! Hardly.”

The mothers were silent. Then each sniffed and withdrew a handkerchief, wiping their noses and dabbing at their eyes. It might be because the building was hot as Hades, but more likely, sentimentality had overcome each of them.

“Lady Chimes, please don’t cry,” Geoffrey said. “I have gained a second mother, and I vow never to give your daughter a moment’s grief. I shall make her as happy as I am able.”

The lady nodded before hugging her daughter and then taking her husband’s hand.

Geoffrey’s father slapped him on the shoulder, and Lady Diamond actually hugged Caroline.

“Welcome to the Diamond family.”

“Thank you, my lady. I hope to be a worthy member.”

Lord Chimes, who was still within earshot, let out a loud snort of derision.

Before any unpleasantness could arise, Geoffrey said, “I think it would be a good idea to cross back over into England and lodge at the closest coaching inn before dark. One that has a bit of luxury to it. The Crown and Blade, perhaps.”

With everyone in agreement, they returned to the King’s Head and packed up, much to the disappointment of the barman.

“For the first time, I am helping you into our carriage as my wife,” Geoffrey said to Caroline, who hadn’t stopped beaming since he’d kissed her at the blacksmith’s.

She offered a squeak of excitement and settled in on the same side as him. The bricks had been warmed, they had a woolen blanket over their laps, and a flask of brandy. Their mothers had been joined by their fathers in the earl’s coach with the horses tied up to follow.

“I am extremely glad not to be in my father’s carriage,” he said. “I cannot imagine how thick the silence, nor conversely how tense the conversation.”

“And to think, we brought about their new friendship,” she said teasingly.

He laughed. In the next instant, she’d twisted to face him and put her arms around him.

“That was a tepid kiss at Simple Simon’s, dear husband. I think we can do better.”

Long before sunset , they reached the Crown and Blade. A celebratory meal was ordered, and the three married couples were assigned their rooms.

“I don’t care if we were given the smallest room of the three,” Caroline said. “We only need room for the bed.”

“You are a wanton wife,” Geoffrey said, “and I would strip you now had we time. Being without you last night was torture. But our parents will be waiting in the dining room.”

“I’m sure they are already drinking wine and won’t notice if we’re a little late. In fact, isn’t it expected? ”

“I believe you are the wiser of the two of us, Lady Diamond. In fact, you would be expected to change from that pretty gown into something less delicate.”

“Daphne was an angel to loan it to me, but no one saw it under my redingote.”

“I see it now, and you are the loveliest bride I could ever imagine.”

“Thank you. But undress me quickly.”

With the hearth already glowing, warming their small room, Geoffrey removed all her layers until she stood bare before him in the rosy light.

“What is my excuse for appearing downstairs in different clothing?” he asked, shedding his jacket and waistcoat before tearing off his cravat.

She sighed. “No excuse is needed. You are a new husband. And if you don’t touch me this instant, you will have broken your promise to keep me always happy.”

She took the two steps to the bed, which sported a thick mattress, puffy with down. Scrambling onto it, she gave him a delightful view of her rear end.

He stepped out of his trousers, nearly tripping in his haste, and joined her. First a thorough kiss, with dancing tongues and sighs of relief at having made it exactly where they wanted to be.

Then he ran his finger across her nipple which pearled, begging him to kiss it. He complied.

“Are you truly mine to love and pleasure for the rest of our lives?” He could hardly believe it.

“I am. But we must make love hastily at this moment and can do it again more languidly after dinner.”

“As I said before, you are the wiser of the two of us.” He covered her body, settling between her thighs.

In a short while, they reached the pinnacle of their passion together.

As they were dressing, Caroline said, “I half expected my mother to knock on the door and ask what was taking us so long. ”

“That would have diminished my ardor considerably,” Geoffrey told her.

“I confess I am more comfortable in a thicker weave. And I am exceedingly grateful we don’t have to go any farther than the dining room tonight. Will you do up the buttons, please?”

“I am already turned into a lady’s maid,” he teased.

“Is it every husband’s dread?”

“Not this husband,” Geoffrey vowed. “I am honored. Glad you didn’t accept either of those young men I saw you with in the autumn, one at the theatre and the other at the park.”

Furrowing her brow, Caroline considered, and then she widened her eyes.

“Oh, sweet husband. I hate to tell you this, but you were jealous of my own brothers.”

Stunned, Geoffrey considered.

“Then I guess I should be glad they didn’t ride to Scotland, too. They might have been less understanding than your parents.”

“Truly. My eldest brother might still wish to punch you in the nose for eloping with me. I suppose they are having Christmas alone this year.”

“They’ll blame me for that, too.”

“Probably.”

“Before I get into any more trouble,” Geoffrey suggested, “let’s go down to dinner.”

After a sumptuous Christmas repast of two soups and sixteen dishes, including doe-venison and goose, a roasted vegetable dish of parsnips, potatoes, and leeks, and poached pears and walnuts with fresh cream, their party of six sat with three empty carafes of wine on the table.

With their stomachs bulging, the Diamonds and the Chimes began to bicker .

“What was the wretched wager?” Lady Chimes demanded of her husband. “Didn’t this rascal,” she jerked a thumb at Lord Diamond, “try to make you claim his wife was the most beautiful woman in London?”

“What!” exclaimed Lady Diamond. “I never heard of such a thing. It would be vulgar, no matter its veracity.”

“In fact,” Lord Chimes said, already red-cheeked, “the scoundrel tried to get me to claim that you , my lady wife, were not the most beautiful woman.”

Lady Chimes’s mouth worked as she considered. “Are you saying you lost the wager because you wouldn’t disparage me?”

“When Diamond set up the wager and said he would name the most beautiful woman in London and that I couldn’t disprove it, how could I know he would name my own wife?

But he was correct, I couldn’t disprove it.

I couldn’t lie,” Lord Chimes said. “You are the most beautiful woman, not just in London, but in all of England, as far as I’m concerned.

Before a room full of our peers, I wouldn’t gainsay him. Thus, I paid my debt.”

“You thought I would name my own wife, I suppose,” Lord Diamond said, looking far too delighted at having outfoxed the other man.

“Any honorable man would have done so,” Lord Chimes stated, wiping the glee off the other man’s face.

Lady Diamond’s expression was furious as she rounded on her husband. “In front of all the men at White’s, you declared Lady Chimes to be the most beautiful woman.”

“In London ,” Lord Diamond corrected. “And you were at our country home in Derbyshire.” He let that sink in.

Meanwhile, Lady Chimes had moved closer to her own husband. “Then you didn’t wish you had ended up with her?” She jerked her head toward Geoffrey’s mother.

Lord Chimes appeared shocked. “Of course not. She’s vain, fickle, and flighty.”

“I say!” Lady Diamond interrupted .

“Indeed,” Lord Diamond added, setting down his glass and leaning toward Lord Chimes. “You must apologize for such slander at once.”

“Oh no, dear husband,” Lady Diamond said. “He speaks the truth but still! He didn’t have to say it so boldly.”

“Indeed,” said Lord Diamond again. “Apologize to my wife for stating the truth so boldly and in mixed company, too. She may be vain, fickle, and flighty, but she’s perfect for me.”

Lady Diamond started to laugh. “I’m glad to hear that.” And then her husband draped his arm around her.

Lord and Lady Chimes stared at them as if they were in a madhouse. But then, the lady had another question for her husband.

“So, you don’t hate Diamond for taking her away from you?”

“No, I hate him because he swindled me out of a goodly sum with his tricky wager.”

“Well, do you loathe Lady Diamond for going with him?” Lady Chimes persisted.

“Again, no. I’m glad she went with him because it opened the way for me to find you. But why do you hate him?” Lord Chimes demanded of his wife.

“I don’t really,” she confessed, “only for your sake, dearest. I thought he’d pricked your pride and was a dishonorable dog to boot.”

Lady Diamond patted her husband’s cheek. “He’s not a dog, but he’s no saint, either. After all, he did lead me down the garden path,” she pointed out. “I never had a blemish upon my reputation before.”

This caused Lord Diamond to break out into whoops of laughter that instantly snatched the affectionate expression from Lady Diamond’s face.

Ignoring them both, Lady Chimes spoke only to her husband. “Anyway, it was her I hated because I thought she had won your heart before I ever had the chance. ”

“No, my love. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were meant to be mine.”

Finally, Geoffrey spoke up. “That is precisely how I felt when I first saw Lady Caroline. That is, when I first bumped into her.”

“And I, when I saw him,” she admitted. “I didn’t know he was meant to be mine exactly, but I felt a sizzle of interest to discover if I wanted him to be mine.”

“And did you?” he asked.

“Most certainly, I did.”

Not a single one of their parents was bothering to listen.

“But after our long journey together,” Lady Diamond said, “we don’t hate one another anymore.”

Lady Chimes frowned. “Why did you hate me?”

“Because you so easily took my place with Lord Chimes, as if I didn’t matter. Also, because you’re a mushroom.”

“Shall we take a stroll outside and discuss our future?” Geoffrey asked her.

“It’s rather frosty out,” she reminded him. “Perhaps we could stroll inside the inn instead. Or maybe we could simply retire for the night.”

By her sparkling gaze, he knew they would find something interesting to do in their small but plush room. Offering her his arm, which she took, they left behind their parents, still squabbling and discussing the distant past.

He didn’t care. All he cared about was having fulfilled his goal for the year, finding and marrying the most perfect woman!