Page 8 of Boxing With My Duke (A Sweet and Lighthearted Regency #16)
Two months later ~ Bath, England
“ Did you ever think you’d be back in the carriage with me so soon, my lovely duchess?” Carlton Coleman , the Duke of Richmond , asked as he tugged his beloved wife onto his lap.
“ Honestly …no!” Catherine Coleman , the Duchess of Richmond , said with a laugh. “ But I’m happy to go anywhere with you.”
“ That’s good to hear,” he said, pleased as punch. Although he was curious that she hadn’t asked about a honeymoon.
“ Thank you for my special day, Carlton .” She sighed, placing a light kiss on his lips. “ It was like a dream.”
“ I aim to please.” He grinned.
“ It was well done of you to include the Duke of Douglas as a second-best man alongside Damon . With Damon married and now you, it gave the unmarried ladies an unmarried duke to idolize at the reception, re-enforcing that my handsome husband is firmly off the marriage mart.
“ Is that a hint of jealousy I hear?” he asked, waggling his brows.
“ Yes . I suppose it is. It’s still so new, I can’t help it,” she conceded, giving him one of her soft smiles.
“ I feel the same about you, my darling wife,” he admitted. “ And I’m happy you loved the ceremony.”
“ I did love it. Although our hand-fasting ceremony in Scotland was also lovely and romantic.”
“ You cried the entire way through.”
“ Tears of joy, if you recall.”
“ Hmm ,” was all he said, being too busy nuzzling her neck.
Catherine uttered a soft moan as she leaned her head back. “ Few people can claim to be thrice married.”
“ Well , I can have you to thank, my duchess, for changing my mind. I am a reformed man,” he said with a chuckle, leaning back to gaze at his beautiful wife. She was still dressed in the cream silk gauze and satin gown she had worn for their third wedding in front of all their friends and family. When she entered the church, he’d been utterly mesmerized. Her gown shimmered from hundreds of crystals and pearls sewn into the silky fabric, but Catherine’s inner glow would have outshone any dress. He would have sworn.
“ Have I told you that you’ve made me impossibly happy by marrying me— all three times ?”
“ Yes , but I never tire of hearing it.”
“ Good , because I’ll never tire of saying it.” He was damn lucky. Catherine was intelligent, beautiful, and had the most generous heart in the world. She’d taken Serafina under her wing and treated her as a loving older sister.
“ And have I told you that you’ve made me the happiest of women for marrying me three times?”
“ Yes , but tell me again.”
Catherine giggled as she tucked her head into his shoulder and snuggled against his chest. “ I would also add that you are the most valiant, handsome, charming, witty, kind, and thoughtful husband in the world. Sometimes , I feel like pinching myself. I went from never having a Season to spending four days in a carriage with the most dashing duke I’d ever met and becoming his bride, not once, but three times. It’s as though we stepped into a wild, baffling, beautiful dream.”
“ Then , I never wish to wake from it, my darling duchess!” He tugged her head down and claimed her lips in a heated kiss. “ I think that was kiss number 10,433 if I’m not mistaken.”
“ And they keep getting better and better,” she breathed.
“ Good , because I plan on rounding 11,000 by tomorrow morning.”
“ Ruff !” Riggs barked.
“ See ? Riggs agrees!” Carlton teased.
“ Riggs , darling. You were marvelous at the ceremony!” Catherine picked up the pup and set him on Carlton’s lap.
“ He does have a certain panache about him,” Carlton quipped. “ I swear, the guests were more excited about that puppy than they were about us.”
Catherine’s mother and his mother, along with the other Golden Duchesses , came up with the outrageous idea of having Riggs wear a cravat and a tiny top hat and accompany Catherine down the aisle.
“ I’m sure Riggs will be the talk of the ton for weeks,” Carlton added.
“ I think he prefers to be called His Grace , Duke Riggs .” Catherine chuckled.
Carlton could never get enough of her rich, throaty laugh. “ And had we not capitulated to the ceremony, we’d have been forever apologizing to my mother for not giving her the grand event Society expected. Society has some silly mores, although I didn’t mind playing along with this one.” He hugged her closer. “ Besides , the smile on your mother’s face when we told her about the public ceremony made it all worthwhile.”
“ Oh , Carlton , what a lovely thing to say,” she whispered.
His breath hitched at the tears shimmering in her sapphire blue eyes. “ Aren’t you curious about our honeymoon destination?” he asked, wiping a stray tear from her cheek.
She sighed. “ I tried to find out, but no one would tell me a thing. But …yes. I am very curious.”
“ Ruff , ruff!” Riggs barked and smiled up at them.
“ Well , it seems Riggs is as well, although I’m sure he suspects,” he said with a wry grin. “ I swore everyone to secrecy. My darling duchess, we’re on our way to Scotland .”
“ Double damn!” Catherine said.
He threw his head and laughed.
~ Not the End ~