Page 20 of Lord Fournier’s Shameless Princess (Scarlett Affairs #4)

T heir wedding three days hence was to occur in the parlor with the guests who’d accepted the hand-written invitations of Charlotte, Lady Fournier. Dozens replied in the affirmative to coming down from London. Fournier Park was to bulge with guests, their servants, their carriages, and horses too.

“All but the queen will attend,” said Charlotte, Liesel’s soon-to-be mother-in-law, at dinner one night before the guests were to descend.

“I don’t mind. I hope you don’t.”

“No, my dear.” The lady lifted her wine glass in a toast. “I am pleased she refrained. As reward for my years of being at her beck and call, I am pleased.”

Liesel sat quite still. “She gave us what we need when we called on her. In fact, I will be content if I am never called to court again.”

“You may yet be, my dear,” Charlotte said as she smiled at her, then her son. “The queen forgives. She understands love.” Then the baroness picked up her fork and knife and paused. “By the way, Cook told me a tale today that I was shocked to hear.” She took a bite of her pot-au-feu and munched with delight.

“What was that, Mama?” Dirk asked.

“I understand that we have a new kitchen hand who graces us with her services occasionally,” she replied with raised brows.

“We do.” Liesel put her utensils down and waited for the reprimand to never set foot in the kitchen again.

“She does a marvelous pot-au-feu. ” Charlotte’s dark eyes flared with humor. “Quite a bit of garlic, don’t you think?”

Liesel was mortified. “Oh, ma’am, that new maid can leave out all the garlic next time.”

“Really? Hmmm.” The baroness mulled that over, took another bite, swallowed it, and looked confused. “I rather think the pot needs more. Don’t you, Dirk?”

“I do indeed, Mama.” He chuckled.

“I enjoyed her brioche the other day. No garlic, of course. But I do wonder if this maid comes around often. Have you any idea, Liesel?”

Liesel hesitated. Should she tell Charlotte now that she was the maid?

Dirk piped up. “I think, Mama, she will soon become a permanent member of the household.”

“Thank God for that,” said the baroness, tucking back into her stew. Then she added, “I wonder. Does she do sauerbraten ?”

*

Another two mornings later, Liesel entered the parlor exactly at ten o’clock. It was crowded in every inch with those she knew and many she did not. Nikky and Katrin walked on either side of her. Katrin was her maid of honor. Nikky stood for Rainer and was to give her hand to Dirk.

At her appearance, the guests murmured their approval and parted as Dirk strode forward, his hand out to Nikky. Her brother gave her over with a grin. She let Dirk lead her to the vicar. He had not come to her last night, saying it was not appropriate for them to be together. But she had tried to sleep without him and failed. By the wee hours, she had made her way to his bedroom and crawled in beside him. As always, he had awakened and taken her in his arms. Then, as he had the previous two nights, he’d led her into memorable hours of ecstasy.

Now, as he faced her with a grin, his eyes danced with the same desire he’d shown her time and again. “Never will you want for safety, peace, and this man who loves you.”

“I will love you beyond my last breath.”

“So then,” he whispered as he lifted her hands to his lips, “marry me, my darling. Our future awaits.”

She took those words as their vows, but happily recited the words the vicar gave them anyway.

*

Throughout the breakfast reception, Dirk traced his wife’s steps as she greeted and conversed with their guests. His wife was a vision of serenity as she laughed with everyone. Scarlett Hawthorne and her man, Todd Carlton, had come together, though even his mother knew to give instructions to Jameson that they sleep in separate rooms. Lord and Lady Ashley plus Lord and Lady Ramsey had come, too. Lord Appleby had declined for himself and his wife. She was expecting their first child in a few weeks and dared not leave home to ride in a carriage for days. But they sent their congratulations and an invitation to join them in London next spring.

Dirk, grateful his friends had descended upon the park in such numbers, was thrilled to see Liesel’s friends come as well. A young widow who had attended the girls’ finishing school with Liesel had arrived yesterday.

Lord Carlisle, Liesel’s contact in the Foreign Office, had appeared late last night. A devil-may-care-looking creature, Carlisle—Dirk recalled—had made a name for himself as an expert in protection of the southern coast. His father had been a naval captain and had engendered love of the sea in his son. Though Carlisle had never gone to the navy, he nonetheless was an expert fisherman and sailor. What was more, all that sunshine had honed his body into a muscular machine and turned his brown hair into shocks streaked with gold and platinum.

Dirk noted how Carlisle greeted his new wife with a kiss to her hand. His possessiveness stirred. Never having encountered her in the presence of another eligible man, Dirk marveled in that most elemental way that she had chosen him.

He strode over to them, impatient to take her away from them all.

Minutes later, he led her up the stairs into their new suite and pressed her to the closed door. “I wanted to kiss my wife.”

She caressed his cheeks and grinned. “How good of you. You waited so long to take me away, I worried that my husband may have wearied of me already.”

He traced her lower lip with his thumb. “That will never happen.”

*

And so Baron Fournier kept his new wife well occupied the rest of that day and night. Their guests did not inquire as to their whereabouts, wishing to be discreet. The next morning, he and she left for Brighton. It was a short trip, and his bride was most grateful for its brevity, even when the coachman pulled up to their hotel and interrupted Dirk’s scintillating seduction of his new wife.

The wedding of Baron Fournier to the Crown Princess of Rittenburg was a topic of many articles in international newspapers for many weeks afterward.

All described how Lord Fournier had recently been cleared of all wrongdoing by the two who had tried to blackmail and defame him. Most went on to report that the baron was devoted to the German princess who was now his baroness. That their marriage had been blessed by the Crown. Few mentioned the princess once had been betrothed to a member of the royal family.

However, the baron gave not a fiddle for any of the news. He was free, his life was orderly, and his beloved was his.

He and his wife returned to London in early November. The dowager Baroness Fournier did not go to Town. She remained at the park because she was preparing to move to the dower house near the southern coast. The newly married couple, as was the custom, called upon their friends and others in Society. Their visits were brief, as it was whispered that the new Baroness Fournier appeared to be a few months with child.

Nonetheless, in many Society columns, the couple let it be known they were both at home to anyone who wished to call.

Their journeys abroad were finished. They were tending home fires only.

*

The challenge continues…

*