Page 5 of Duke at First Sight (Love at First Sight #1)

Epilogue

They were married by special license precisely three weeks later. It rained, as it was won’t to do in London during the springtime, but when Annalise and Derrick emerged from the church there was a rainbow that stretched from one side of the Thames to the other.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Annalise gasped, halting in her tracks to point at the breathtaking display of colors.

“Not as beautiful as what I’m looking at,” Derrick said huskily and she blushed a deep pink when she realized he was looking at her.

“Derrick,” she hissed, poking him with her elbow.

“What?” he said innocently. “Can’t a man gaze at his wife?”

Wife.

Oh, how she loved that word.

The past twenty days had been a whirlwind of activity. From announcing their engagement – Lady Annalise who ? – to finding the perfect dress to helping her father come to the terms with the idea that she was finally leaving to start her own life, she’d hardly had time to draw a breath. But there would be plenty of time for breathing during their carriage ride to Derrick’s estate in the country where they would enjoy a long, relaxing honeymoon. Just them, the staff, and–

HONK!

“Don’t worry, Constantine!” she called out the goose. “We’re coming!”

“I still don’t understand why they couldn’t ride on the roof,” Derrick grumbled as he climbed into the town coach behind her and squeezed himself between two spacious bamboo cages containing Marcus and Augustus while she sat across from him next to Constantine.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Digging around in her reticule, she found a few pieces of corn in her reticule (kept for emergencies) and fed Constantine through the bars.

Derrick snorted. “I would argue that I am not the one being ridiculous.”

“You could do that,” she allowed. “But you would be wrong. Just like you were wrong about love at first sight.”

The carriage gave a groaning lurch and they set off through the crowded London streets. Startled by the unfamiliar movement, Marcus and Augustus huddled low in their cages but Constantine began to honk loudly and beat his wings against the bars, his neck extended in fear.

“Constantine!” she cried. “Oh, you poor thing. It’s alright. We’ll be there in just a few hours. You have to stop. You’re going to hurt yourself!”

“Here.” Leaning forward, Derrick unlatched the large goose’s catch and, to Annalise’s utter disbelief, pulled out Constantine and placed him right on his lap. “There you are, handsome fellow,” he murmured, patting the goose’s ruffled feathers. “Nothing to be scared of, my brave chap. Word has it there is quite the pretty young goose waiting for you in the pond. You wouldn’t want her to hear of such antics, would you? No. I didn’t think so.”

Annalise’s heart, already so filled with love for her husband that it was close to bursting, grew even bigger. “Derrick, you darling man. I knew you liked the geese.”

“Tell anyone about this,” he said, scowling at her over the top of Constantine’s head, “and I’ll deny it. I’m still the Debaucherous Duke, you know.”

“Oh yes,” she said solemnly. “ Very debaucherous.”

“That’s right.” His mock scowl softening, he balanced Constantine in his arms as he stood halfway up and stole a kiss. “I love you, Annalise.”

“I love you, Derrick. And you too, Constantine,” she added when the goose gave a miffed honk. “Do you think my father and Becca will be alright together? I worry about them both, but I am glad she agreed to stay on at the house.”

“I’m sure she’ll keep him busy, and they’re both coming to visit in July.”

“You’re right.” Leaning her head against the cushioned seat, she closed her eyes as the rocking motion of the carriage began to lull her toward sleep. “Thank you for reassuring me.”

“Annalise?” Derrick said several minutes later.

“Yes?” she asked, muffling a yawn.

“To be clear, the geese will not be entering our bedchamber tonight.”

Her eyes popped open. “But what if–”

“No.”

“They might be–”

“My terms are non-negotiable.”

“Very well,” she conceded, the corner of her mouth twitching. “No geese in the bedchamber.”

But he’d never said anything about the parlor…