Page 23 of One Scandal Too Many (Havenwood Academy #1)

I n some ways, this wedding day of hers was more than she could have imagined. Not that Charlotte had taken much time to fantasize about the day she married any gentleman. Her father had ensured any dreaming had been squashed at a young age. He would choose her husband for her. That way, he could make a good match. One that met his strict standards, and no, her opinion didn’t matter in the least. She would do as she was told whether she liked it or not. She had not liked it. Not that he had even bothered to ask.

There was no one to intervene on her behalf. Charlotte was there to further the duke’s goals. Nothing more, nothing less. So, when she had been a part of something scandalous, he had been furious. That scandal had the potential of ruining the plans he had for her. Her wedding to Declan would be just one more disappointment to her father in a long line of them. Her very birth had been the first one, and she hadn’t lived that down.

She had to stop thinking about her father. Something very difficult to do when she still had to say her vows. Marrying Declan was the right choice. She would be happy with him. Whatever man her father chose would make her miserable. It wouldn’t be a romantic match, and even if the gentleman happened to be kind to her, it would still be an uncomfortable union.

Charlotte had gone up to their room after they finished their meal. Declan had only stayed long enough to ensure she was comfortable before he left to check on the progress of their wedding ceremony. Apparently, there would be a small celebration afterward. Not like a wedding breakfast, but a small soiree with dancing and revelry. She wasn’t exactly sure what the innkeeper and his wife had planned. She was only glad that at the end of it all she would be Declan’s wife.

Declan walked in and she turned toward him. She smiled as she met his gaze. “Is it time yet?”

“Almost,” he said, then grinned. “They are finishing their set-up downstairs.” He frowned. “I wish that our wedding day could have been different. You deserve a beautiful gown and whatever you dreamed about having.”

That was ironic. She had just been thinking about how she hadn’t dreamt of much. “The only thing I want is you. The rest is just details. I never wanted anything extravagant.” Charlotte lifted her hand and trailed her fingers over his chest. “My father wouldn’t allow frivolities like planning my own wedding, and I definitely wouldn’t have the luxury of selecting my own husband. So you see, this wedding is going to beyond everything I could have wanted or expected. Because I have the one thing that I never would have believed could be mine: I get to marry the man I choose. The man I will always choose.”

He grinned. “I will always choose you too.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. His kiss was soft and sweet, but it still sent pleasure through her. Would that impact ever lessen?

A knock echoed through the room. Declan sighed and stepped over to answer it. He opened the door to the innkeeper. “Bram,” he greeted the man. “Is it time?”

“Indeed, my lord,” he said jovially. “We are ready for ye to come down to the dining room. We’ve got it all arranged for yer wedding. If ye will follow me, I’ll take ye tae yer altar. Such that it is...”

Declan motioned for Charlotte to come to his side. She happily joined him, and they followed Bram down to the dining room. It almost did not seem like the same room that they had dined in a few hours earlier. All the tables were filled with flowers in a deep shade of purple, and all the chairs were filled with people. She did not know any of them, but that didn’t matter. The only person that she knew was Declan.

They walked to the front of the room. Ginerva was there waiting for them. Once they reached her, she motioned for them to stand to one side. “Welcome, friends,” she said. “These two have come to pledge themselves together in marriage. They want a simple ceremony and you all to act as witness of their desire to be one with each other.” She motioned toward Declan and Charlotte.

“Lord Easton,” she began. “Do you have a ring?”

He nodded and held it out to her. When had Declan had time to get a ring? It was a simple gold band, but it was beautiful nonetheless. She almost started to cry. This was really happening. “This ring,” Ginerva began. “Is a symbol of your abiding love for each other.” She handed it back to Declan. “Place it on her finger and repeat after me.”

“I give ye my heart,” Ginerva said. Declan repeated it, his voice shaking a little as he spoke. “At the rising of the moon. And the setting of the stars.” Ginerva waited for him to say the vows. “Tae love and tae honor. Through all that may come.” Declan’s voice remained steady as he said the words to her. But there was something in his gaze that made her heart warm with the love she held for him. “Through all our lives together. That we may meet and know and love again and remember each other always.”

They were not traditional vows, but somehow, they seemed more meaningful. Charlotte did not have a ring for him, but she repeated the same vows willingly. After she was done with her recitation, Ginerva linked their hands together and wound a rope around them. “A thousand welcomes to ye with yer marriage. May ye be healthy all your days. May ye be blessed with long life and peace, may ye grow old with goodness, and with riches.” Ginerva secured the soft rope and then stepped back. “Ye have officially tied the knot. Ye are husband and wife.” She motioned toward them. “I give ye Lord and Lady Easton.”

The guests all clapped and shouted with joy. Almost as if they were friends of theirs happy to see them wed. The only thing that could have made their wedding better would have been Jaclyn being able to attend. There hadn’t been time. This hadn’t been planned. Hopefully, her friend would understand the necessity that had led them to elope. Declan leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. “You’re mine now.”

“I’ve always been yours,” she said. A tear slipped down her cheek. He lifted his hand and wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. “I’ll always be yours.”

“I love you,” he said.

Her heart stilled. She had thought he would never say it. Charlotte had told herself it didn’t matter if he loved her yet. They would have a lifetime together, and love could grow between them. But she had been lying to herself. She wanted him to love her desperately, and now that he’d said the words she finally believed this would work between them. Doubt was an ugly emotion, and she couldn’t be more grateful to set it aside. She smiled up at him and told him. “I love you more.”

He laughed. “That’s debatable.”

“I’ll prove it to you,” she told him. “Every day that we are together. You will know that my heart is yours, only yours, and you will never doubt that it belongs to you.”

“Darling,” he said. “I could make that same promise. In fact, I will. No other woman has held my interest, fascinated me, frustrated me, and made me want to be better. Only you. Those vows we made—they were not nearly enough. I vow to you now, that loving you will be not only my greatest pleasure, but my greatest honor. I don’t deserve you, but I’ll be damned if I am going to allow that to prevent me from claiming you as mine. I’m selfish, and I am keeping you with me. No one will ever come between us. That I promise you.”

God help her. She was going to start crying again. She threw her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. This time the kiss wasn’t soft or sweet. It was all the passion she had inside of her for this one man, and even the cheers from their wedding guests wouldn’t distract her from spilling it all out for him.

*

As much as he would like to stay and enjoy this celebration, Declan wanted to be alone with his wife even more. He wanted the pleasure of stripping that gown off of her. Again. He wanted to kiss every inch of her soft skin. Then he wanted to sink to his knees and kiss her center and bring her to climax and drown in her cries of pleasure.

He hadn’t lied. Declan was a selfish man. Especially when it came to her. If he could, he would never share her with anyone again. He knew that was unreasonable and he might feel differently when they had children, and they would have children. His heart was big enough to include them along with his wife. He loved her enough to give more of himself. He just needed her all to himself for a little while. Was that too much to ask?

Declan reluctantly pulled away from her. He could kiss her all night, and then start all over again in the morning light. But they would still need sustenance. He would not allow her to go without. “We should eat. Ginerva and Bram went through a lot of trouble to arrange all of this for us.” The cost was going to hurt a little, but it was worth it. There would be nothing to invalidate their marriage. He had ensured that.

“I’m not hungry,” Charlotte told him.

“You should still try,” he encouraged her. “Because once we go up to our room, I’m keeping you there until morning.” He grinned down at her. “I have plans for the evening, and food is not one of them.”

“As it happens,” she said as she trailed a finger over his chest. “I believe I have similar plans.”

“Then you should be well aware of the lack of food included.” Declan would not allow her to distract him from his goal. “If they’re that similar.”

“Oh, they are,” she reassured him. “So, I will concede that we should add food to the list. But that doesn’t mean we need to eat it here.” Charlotte leaned a little closer and said, “Why don’t we see what will keep until we want it later.” She motioned toward the table. “There are several different biscuits that we can take.”

“Biscuits are not a proper meal.” He laughed.

“But they are tasty.” Charlotte grinned. “We can also grab a couple of those Scotch pies. They’re savory enough and more of a meal.” She licked her lips. “And should hold until we want to devour them.”

He wanted to devour her... that sounded wrong, even in his head. He almost laughed aloud. “All right, darling. I’ll grab some of the biscuits and pies. Why don’t you go grab a bottle of that wine over there and meet me upstairs?”

“Now that’s an excellent idea, husband dear.” She winked. “Let’s see who can get there faster.”

“And if I win, what do I get for my effort?” He lifted a brow.

“That’s simple enough to discern.” She licked her lips suggestively. “You get to unwrap me from this gown and have me at your mercy.”

He groaned and went to work gathering the items. Meanwhile, she snagged two bottles of wine and laughed as she rushed toward the stairs. The minx thought to deny him his winnings. She would soon learn that he never lost. He would be unwrapping his gift, and then he would savor every bit of her naked flesh while she begged him.

Declan had a basket filled with biscuits and pies and rushed toward Charlotte. He lifted her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. Their guests cheered as they left the room. None of them had believed they would stay by their shouts of glee. They all had known what Declan had planned, and not that he really cared, but he was sure they wouldn’t be disappointed with his intentions. Charlotte loved him. She’d told him so, and he believed her. They were married. Nothing could separate them ever, and he would make love to her the entire night.

He pushed open the door and set her down. “You cheated.”

“I made a wise and expedient decision.” He set down the basket and pulled her into his arms. “That gave me the advantage I so desired.” He kissed her neck, and she melted in his arms. “Do you disapprove?”

“As I know exactly what you have in mind,” she said breathlessly. “I would be a fool to do any such thing.” She pulled on his jacket. “You have too many clothes on.”

“I was about to say the same as you.” He turned her around and started working on the buttons. Once they were all free, he pushed her gown down and worked on her stays. Was it only the previous night that he had been doing this exact thing? What a difference a day made. Now she was his wife, and he was going to make love to her knowing that they had the rest of their lives together. They could make love each night and each morning. Hell, they could in the middle of the afternoon if they so desired. “Take off your shift, darling. I want you naked.”

She turned her head to meet his gaze. “What about you?”

“In time,” he said. “I’m going to take care of you first.”

“Such a gentleman,” she said. “Or perhaps this is your roguish side.” Charlotte stared at him with desire in her gaze. “Either way, I like it.”

Her shift fell to the floor soon after. Declan stared at her and couldn’t believe how lucky he was. Not that long ago, he had been cursing the institution of marriage and wondering how any man could willingly give himself over to it. Now he was grateful that it existed.

Charlotte stepped toward him. He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. Tonight, he would make her scream with pleasure, and once she climaxed, he would start all over again. He would hold back his own pleasure for as long as he could. This night was all about her and her needs. Especially since it hadn’t been long ago that she’d been a virgin. He wanted to ensure that she would have nothing but pleasure this night. It was one they would remember their entire lives.

“I love you,” he said as he lowered his head to her breast.

“I love you more,” she said, and he laughed.

He still didn’t believe that to be true, but he’d allow her to believe that. Declan would do anything for her. Even swallow his pride. For now, though, he had pleasure to give, and he had best start. Because come morning light they would have questions to answer, and he would not give her any reason to regret marrying him. Declan would never let her go, and he wanted to ensure she never wanted to leave. They were meant to be together. He had never been more certain of anything in his life.