Page 61 of Her Rogue of a Duke

Joshua smiled down at Francesca and gently cupped her cheek. Leaning in, he tenderly captured her lips in a kiss filled with love and promise. Everything he felt for her seemed to flood from him at that moment. He was so engrossed in their kiss, he barely registered the applause of their guests.

Finally, Joshua lifted his head, reluctantly breaking their kiss. He took Francesca’s hand and they turned to walk down the aisle together as their friends, and what little family they had remaining, celebrated the dawn of their new lives.

As they made their way out of the chapel, Joshua leaned down and murmured, “Must we go to the feast? I would rather we spend the rest of the day alone together.”

She gave him a teasing smile followed by a playful smack against his chest.

“You know we cannot simply disappear,” she chided him lightly. “We have to attend our own wedding banquet.”

Joshua rolled his eyes and grumbled, “Very well, but only because you insist, my darling. The first opportunity I get, however, I am whisking you away from this sorry audience. I refuse to share you for the entire day.”

She giggled, the sound music to his ears, and they made their way down to the open carriage that would bear them back up to the manor, where the celebrations would continue.

And their new lives together would begin.