Page 184

Her abigail woke her up just past the hour of six, as per Lady Elizabeth’s instructions, and a bath was waiting for her.

As Jacqui was washing her hair, she imagined how it would be the next time she took a bath at Darcy House, and possibly with two in the huge bathing tub she had seen on her tour.

The thought of bathing with her husband made her stomach flutter and her body grew heavier with aching for his touch.

It was but a few hours more that she would be required to wait, and then finally she would have the chance to express her need of him, and fulfil his obvious needs of hers.

There was no more waiting; she would wed her duke today.

She was marrying for love, as she always swore that she would, and oh how she loved him!

One of the things that had opened her heart to him was that he was generous to a fault.

The Haven House administrator, Miss Ethel Cookson, had lately informed Lady Elizabeth that New Haven House was ready for occupation, and that in addition to his generous pledge, her betrothed had told Miss Cookson to come to him directly if there were any shortfalls or any other needs that arose.

Once she got past her own pride and prejudice, she had allowed herself to admit that he was the only man for her.

He had bewitched her body and soul, and she loved him most ardently.

From the moment that she had admitted it; she never wanted to be parted from him again.

Elizabeth wanted to bring back the joy that had been absent from his life since his father was murdered, and she was honoured when he confided that he had at last began to heal because of her.

During one of their discussions, he had told her that he had been walking through life as a shell of a man; going through the motions; not experiencing life; just living life going through the days; hiding from the world until he had fallen in love with her.

Just like she would help him, he would do the same for her.

He already had. He grounded her and directed her passions to positive pursuits.

She felt like she was floating on air when he smiled at her, and when he allowed his dimples to show, she felt like she could fly on the wings of angels.

Lady Elizabeth Bennet always knew that she would only marry for the deepest love, but even in her imaginings she had not understood the depths that love could reach in its truest form as she had found with her William.

She exhaled in relief when she pressed her hand against the need building but restrained from releasing the tension as she would gain the true relief of having him as she had been longing for since she had first seen him in her dreams. The tension would only serve them better when she was finally in his bed, so she slowly slid her hand away, the last touch sending a shiver up her spine, as she revelled in the sensation before closing her thighs to avoid temptation and was eventually pleased she had.

Not a minute later, Jacqui returned and helped her mistress out of the bath.

At Birchington House, the Marquess was dressed and ready by seven that morning, he was pacing back and forth, trying to burn off the nervous energy.

It was all real now. Amy’s belongings had been delivered to the mistress’s suite yesterday, and in a few hours, she would be his marchioness.

The real question was how long they would be the Marquess and Marchioness of Birchington.

He hated the fact that his Uncle Sed had to leave this world for him to become a duke.

He had known it would happen one day; it was just far too soon.

He would miss his uncle almost as much as he would if, heaven forbid, it was his father who was sick.

Uncle Sed had prepared him, taught him everything that he needed to know, but still, he did not feel ready.

He prayed fervently for the miracle of which they all beseeched of Him, then concentrated on the woman that held his heart.

She was the love of his life, and he could not regret that they would marry a little more than a fortnight early.

He hated the reason, but loved the consequence, as it was the idea of not sharing the moment with his uncle was unthinkable.

At Darcy House, his Grace was being shaved by his man Carstens.

His poor valet had to request that he stay still more than a few times, but it was hard.

Fitzwilliam Darcy was not a patient man, and it was only a few short hours that she would be his forever, but he was begging Father Time to speed up his clocks.

He smiled at asking a fictional character for help, and Carstens had to halt his shaving once again to avoid cutting him.

He took a slow breath and closed his eyes, bringing a vision of her to soothe him.

He was about to marry his soulmate. She was the only woman that he would ever have agreed to marry.

If she had not returned his feelings, he would have been devastated and remained a bachelor.

She loved him in return, had finally admitted it openly, and there was no mistaking that her eyes turned green as they filled with passion when he prolonged a touch or slid his finger along her side to barely touch the side of her breast. He bit back a smile as he diverted his thoughts until he could act on them, but there was no doubt in his mind that marriage to his duchess would never be drab or boring.

After he was dressed, he joined his mother and sister in the family sitting room where there was a tray with some fresh baked pastries, tea, and coffee. He helped himself to one of his favourites, a lemon filled pastry; the sweet and tart awakening his pallet delightfully.

“In two hours, I will not be the only sister, my cousins will be my sisters,” Lady Georgiana bounced on the balls of her feet. “And Richard and Andrew will be our brothers!” she exclaimed.

“What about Tom and James,” her mother teased.

“Tom will be my brother, but…” A furiously blushing almost seventeen-year-old could not yet voice her thought.

“But you can only think of James as a cousin?” her mother completed the sentence for her, and all Georgie could manage was a nod of her head.

“We will address those concerns later, please, Georgie. Right now, I need you to do the very sisterly thing and make sure I am at the alter for your sister, or I hate to think how she will exact revenge,” Darcy teased her into a laugh, smiling when his mother’s lit the room, her happiness at the finding of his evident for all to see.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Lady Amelia Ashby looked around her former room at Ashbury House.

She had very fond memories of growing up between the estate of Ashbury and the house in London, but she was about to embark on a new adventure at a new estate and home in Town.

She was not sure how long they would be at either, but again prayed that Uncle Sed would be spared for the sake of all her new family.

Before her mother’s talk the night before, she had felt a level of trepidation about the marriage bed, and now she was anticipating it.

The times that she and her betrothed had managed to steal a kiss, she had revelled in the feel of his lips sliding against hers, and for the two or three times she had opened, and his tongue had teased hers as they tasted each other, she was almost weak at the knees with the dizzy aftereffects.

She knew that Tom had some experience as they had discussed the subject one day at Birchington, but he was not a rake.

She was very much in love with the man who accepted her for who she was, respected her, and did not want her to be other than who she was.

Tom Bennet was the one; her one and only, and in a few short hours she would be his wife, irrevocably joined with him until death do them part.

She took one last look around then went to join her parents and her brothers and sisters in the drawing room for some refreshment before they departed for Bedford House.

The three families arrived at the Bedford’s house at almost the same time. In keeping with the tradition that the grooms not see the brides before the ceremony; they were rushed into the house so that their brides could exit the conveyances at their leisure.

Lord James, who was standing up with him, accompanied his brother to the parlour off the ball room which for the day was designated as the grooms’ waiting room.

They found the Duke and Earl with Reverend Finch and his curate.

The curate checked his special license and found all in order, then verified the one that the Marquess had been issued.

A quick check confirmed there was no impediment to the weddings proceeding.

Lady Anne, Mrs. Gardiner, and Mrs. Phillips had done a masterful job of decorating.

The two ladies who had selected the flowers had chosen red and white roses that were simple but fit the day perfectly.

Hattie, with the assistance of her two daughters, and Louisa Hurst, had decorated with white and red ribbons and bows so that the flowers and the ribbons matched well.

Like the wedding itself, all was understated but elegant.

There was a raised platform in front of the two columns of chairs where the ceremony would take place, and to the left of the platform was another with the Dukes special chair, one on his right for his wife, and to his left four more very comfortable seats for the Queen and her three children accompanying her.

Lord Sed was brought into the ball room and placed in his chair, aided by two footmen.

Once he was seated, his valet covered his legs with a blanket.

His duchess entered and sat next to him, taking his hand in hers.