Page 92 of Dukes All Night Long

“Isn’t it wonderful timing?” Bellamy asked, ignoring Arabella’s dismay. “I simply happened to invite a dear friend of mine this evening. A vicar, no less.”

Lucian choked on a laugh.

Arabella gaped at their hostess, then turned to him, her expression warring between exasperation and disbelief. “You cannot be serious.”

Lucian tilted his head. “Are you asking me or Lady Bellamy?”

“Both of you!”

Lady Bellamy clasped her hands together. “Oh, but, you must admit, this is terribly efficient. Lord Rothmere has to marry sooner rather than later, so why not tonight? Unless, of course, you have changed your mind?”

Arabella flushed. “No. That I cannot do.”

Lucian stepped forward, closing the last of the space between them. “Marry me before the sun rises, Arabella,” he said, his voice low enough that only she could hear. “I don’t want another day to pass without you tucked by my side.”

She searched his gaze. A thousand unspoken words passed between them. All the hurt and confusion dissipated. This was him. The one she’d loved since before she’d even met him. Lucian. “Are you sure this is what you want? Tonight? In front of strangers?”

Lucian lifted a hand, brushing his knuckles along her jaw. His voice softened. “I lost you once. I won’t again. We must be married before we leave Lady Bellamy’s home.”

Arabella exhaled slowly and lifted her chin. “We must never lose each other. Not now that we’ve finally found our way back together. I have no one to please but myself, since I’ve been married before. And if this is what you want, then my answer is yes. I will marry you right this moment.”

The vicar cleared his throat, stepping forward. “I must say, this is highly unusual.” He adjusted his spectacles. “But so very romantic.”

“I am clever, aren’t I?” Lady Bellamy grinned. “I can hardly wait to tell your father our plan worked perfectly.”

“What did you say?” Lucian’s mouth dropped open.

“I shall not speak out of turn,” Lady Bellamy replied. “Therefore, I can neither confirm nor deny.”

Laughter erupted throughout the room.

Lucian kept his focus on Arabella. “And you’re quite sure you don’t want a real wedding?”

“This is a real wedding,” Arabella whispered. “And the sooner we marry, the sooner I can get you into my bed.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” He lifted her hand to his lips, brushing a kiss against her knuckles. “Vicar, shall we?”

The vicar began the vows.

“Do you, Lucian Rothmere, Duke of Rothmere, take this woman—”

“I do,” Lucian said without hesitation.

The vicar turned to her. “And do you, Lady Arabella Kingsley, take this man—”

She answered with an affirmative even faster than he had. “I do.”

Lucian wasted no time pulling his new wife into a kiss. The room erupted with cheers and clapping. Lady Bellamy beamed like a proud mother.

When the crowd died down, Lady Bellamy instructed the footmen to bring in bottles of champagne and a cake. As the guests gathered in clumps to enjoy the refreshments, Lucian and Arabella cornered Lady Bellamy in a corner of the room.

“You planned all of this. Even the vicar.” Lucian shook his head as if to rebuke her, but he didn’t have it in him. He was too happy. “And my father was your partner.”

Lady Bellamy sipped her champagne. “Darling, I have to do at least one good deed in a lifetime of selfish choices. In addition, your father has known all along that you would not marry anyone but this lovely lady. We had to come up with a plan. I hate to sound immodest, but I am a genius.”

Lucian and Arabella looked at each other, laughing.

“This is not how I thought the night would go,” Arabella said. “I really should chastise you for your meddling ways. Yet how can I, when you have made me the happiest woman in all the world?”

Lady Bellamy waved a hand. “You must forgive me, Arabella, but I’d had enough of this one mooning about, missing you.

His father insisted that he marry, but I knew in my heart that he would not be happy with anyone but you.

I did not know you as well, but I sensed that a broken heart lurked beneath your charm and wit.

And knowing how Lucian loved you, I had to do something.

It was time for you two to have your happy ending. ”

“My friends won’t believe all of this unfolded in the course of one wicked night,” Arabella gushed. “I can hardly wait to tell them.”

“That can wait. I shall take my wife home now.” Lucian snuck an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Duchess Rothmere, shall we?”

“Should I send word to your father?” Lady Bellamy asked, eyes sparkling. “I have a feeling you two will be busy for the foreseeable future.”

“Yes, please do. He’ll be delighted, I am sure. Thank you, dear friend, for everything you’ve done for me.” Lucian choked up before kissing Lady Bellamy’s cheek.

“Yes, thank you,” Arabella said, tears brimming in her eyes.

“The only thanks I need is watching you two lovebirds. Now go. I have a coach waiting to take you home.”

“Which home?” Lucian asked Arabella. “Mine or yours?”

“I can’t say it matters to me, but my staff will be beside themselves should I not return home,” Arabella said. “Or that I’ve not told them at once that I am now married to Duke Rothmere.”

“Your house then.”

“I shall throw you a proper wedding party with all your friends and family as soon as you give me your permission,” Lady Bellamy said.

“That will be lovely,” Arabella cried. “I shall be in touch.”

“And I will send word home to your valet, Lucian,” Lady Bellamy said. “With the great news.”

“No one will believe this,” Lucian said. “Not the way it’s all unfolded.”

“You must be careful, Lady Bellamy,” Arabella said before quoting from The Tempest . “‘Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, And I would call it fair play.’”

“Yes, turnabout is fair play,” Lucian said. “I shall hone my matchmaking skills.”

“I shall be on guard, then.” Lady Bellamy laughed. “I dare say, I have had the great love of my life already. God rest his soul. There could never be another. We were like you two. Soulmates.”

“Never say never,” Lucian said. “Or you will surely make whatever you cast aside come to fruition.”

“Farewell for now, my lovelies,” Lady Arabella said. “Enjoy your morning.”

“I daresay, we won’t see much of it,” Lucian said.

Arabella certainly hoped not. But how was she going to explain all this to her staff? Never mind that. For now, she was focused solely on the man by her side. Her husband. Her Duke Rothmere.

Lucian tucked Arabella’s arm against his side, and they walked out of the ballroom and down to the street where a carriage waited to deliver them to the beginning of their new life.

Together. As it should have always been.

The End