Page 44 of Marrying a Marquess (Widows of Mayfair #3)

The Wedding

P riscilla awoke on her wedding day feeling jittery and anxious for the ceremony.

She had dreamed of this day for so long that she had trouble believing it was finally here.

The day she would marry her best friend—the gentleman she had loved for most of her life.

Even as a young girl, she had felt that puppy love.

Then that had blossomed into a young lady’s love as she grew older.

But when she prepared for her first Season, her hopes of being his marchioness died a slow, torturous death.

She had married Jasper and truly hoped for a long life with him. But now it seemed fate had other plans.

She stretched her arms over her head, then hugged herself and smiled. She wondered if Nick was as anxious as she was.

There was a knock on the door, and Eugenia’s voice called out, “I have your breakfast tray.” Eugenia let herself in and placed the tray on the nightstand.

“After you eat, we’ll prepare for your wedding, my lady.

” Her maid walked to the windows and swung open the curtains.

“Such a lovely day for a ceremony. I’ll return shortly. ”

Priscilla nibbled on her toast with jam and drank her tea. When her maid returned, she helped her dress in the beautiful gown Madame Serena had made in the most exquisite cream silk with intricate seed pearl flowers sewn across the hemline and waist.

Now that she was dressed, Priscilla sat at her dressing table while Eugenia fixed her hair into an elaborate coiffure adorned with pearl pins. As her maid put in the last pin, her mother entered, looking splendid in a deep-blue gown and wearing the family’s sapphires.

“You look beautiful, Mother.”

Last night at dinner, her father had gifted Priscilla with his mother’s pearl choker, bracelet, and earrings, and Priscilla wore them now. Standing before the looking glass, her hand flew to her chest. She could hardly recognize herself. She looked beautiful. Was this how Nick saw her?

“It is time, my dear. The guests are assembled, and your father is waiting out in the corridor,” her mother said, wiping tears from her eyes. “You look like a princess.” Her mother kissed her cheek. “I am so happy for you. I pray for a long and prosperous marriage. Eugenia, could you excuse us?”

As the maid left, her mother took Priscilla’s hands into hers and smiled. “I know you will think I’m crazy, but I have the strangest feeling in my heart that you conceived a child the night I saw Nicholas sneaking from your room.”

Priscilla couldn’t find the words to reply to her mother’s instincts. She also had the feeling as well. It wasn’t something she could explain. It was just an intuition and an awareness that something was changing inside her body. “I love you, Mother.”

“Oh, my dear girl, I love you. I wish to hug you but don’t want to wrinkle your dress. We will hug later after your nuptials.”

On her father’s arm, Priscilla descended two sets of stairs to the parlor entrance adjoining the dining room, where they paused outside the closed double doors. Her legs trembled, and her heart beat a fast staccato. It wasn’t nerves but excitement at finally marrying the man of her heart.

“Are you ready, my dear?” her father said with a suspicious catch in his voice.

She understood. Her emotions were getting to her as well. “I am more than ready. ”

Her father signaled a footman. The double doors swung open, and the room hushed as all eyes turned to them.

Priscilla’s eyes went to Nick, dressed formally, standing beside the officiant, and her heart calmed.

One glance at his smiling face and his loving brown eyes had all her jitters from earlier disappearing.

They never broke eye contact as she walked down the aisle created by three rows of chairs that were full of their friends and family.

When they stood before Nick, her father kissed her cheek and joined her mother in the front row.

Nick whispered, “You look beautiful.”

Her cheeks heated, and she suddenly felt shy. “You look handsome as ever.”

He mouthed, “I love you.”

And she blushed deeper as she mouthed, “I love you.”

They were so captivated by one another that they didn’t notice the officiant had started the ceremony until he asked Priscilla to repeat her vows.

Several chuckles could be heard from their guests.

When Nick said his vows, he placed a stunning emerald and diamond ring on her finger, which her mother told her had belonged to Nick’s grandmother. It brought tears to her eyes.

Soon everyone was cheering and wishing them well as they entered the dining room for the wedding breakfast.

They sat beside each other at the center of the table, surrounded by everyone they cared about: the Duke and Duchess of Blackstone, Nick’s mother, Lord and Lady Langford, and Mr. and Mrs. James Caldwell, and of course her parents, who sat at either end of the table as the hosts.

Priscilla could hardly keep up with the conversation going around the table. Her mind was on leaving for Hollingsworth House. Her new home. She was the Marchioness of Hollingsworth. Her hands shook as she realized her life would never be the same. She would never live with her parents ever again .

She expected to feel sad, and she was, but the excitement of starting her life with Nick took precedence over anything else. She loved him with everything she had and couldn’t wait to share that love.

*

When Nick had first seen Priscilla enter the parlor, all the air escaped his lungs. He became breathless from her beauty, and knowing she would soon be his had only added to the intensity in the most extraordinary way possible.

She had glided up the aisle, her smile only for him as his grin was for her.

The beat of his heart had accelerated, making him wonder if all the guests could hear it.

He’d held her hands during their vows, knowing they would anchor each other for all eternity.

The past week had been torturous, as his arm began to heal and they prepared for this day.

The waiting and the anticipation had nearly undone him, but their moment had finally arrived.

Thankfully, Priscilla had never completely stopped loving him, and he would cherish her and prove his love for her for as long as he lived.

He silently vowed to himself that he would be a better man, that he would be the man Priscilla deserved.

He would no longer be a damaged person with a defective heart.

Sitting beside her at the center of the table now, his hand resting on her thigh, he wondered how long they needed to stay. He didn’t want to disrespect his new mother- and father-in-law, but he needed to get his bride alone.

He leaned close and whispered, “How long before we can leave?”

Her hand moved beneath the table, covering his and squeezing. “There’s only one course left. I think we can leave.”

Nick didn’t wait another second. He stood, almost knocking his chair over in his haste, then helped Priscilla up from her chair.

“I want to thank the Duke and Duchess of Avery for hosting our wedding and this wonderful breakfast. My wife and I want to thank you for celebrating this special day with us. We bid you good day.” He took Priscilla’s hand in his, brought it up to his mouth, and kissed it. “I’m taking my bride home.”

They left to cheers, clinking glasses, and well wishes.

They held hands, laughing their way through the house, out the door, and into their carriage. “Home, Fitzroy,” Nick said as the driver shut the door. “Come here, dear wife.”

Priscilla giggled as she sat on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck. One of his hands circled her waist, keeping her secure, while the other ran up and down her arm and he ignored the little sting of pain from his wound. “Have I thanked you for never giving up on me?

“You thanked me, but I’m not opposed to you thanking me again,” she whispered with a coquettish look as she rubbed her bottom against the bulge in his trousers. That was something he’d been fighting since he’d woken up that morning, knowing they would spend the entire night in each other’s arms.

“You little minx,” he moaned as he slipped the hand of his good arm up the inside of her skirts to the opening in her pantaloons.

She gasped, “There isn’t time.”

Chuckling, Nick said, “There is.” He crushed his lips to hers, tasting her, leaving no part of her mouth or lips untouched or unexplored.

He familiarized himself with the taste of his new wife.

And to his surprise, she tasted better than ever.

She made little purring sounds as his fingers spread her folds and his thumb teased her nub.

Over and over, he brought her close, then eased until she broke their kiss and buried her head in his neck, gasping and moaning.

“Nicholas,” she breathed.

He gave her what she wanted. Her entire body vibrated as she climaxed. Nick held her tight to his heart as she finally relaxed in his arms. This exquisite woman that he would do anything for. If she asked for the stars, he would find a way to give them to her.