High Stakes Chattel (22 page)

***

As the morning of her wedding dawned, Samantha went over to Charlotte's house to get dressed and have her hair done. Charlotte greeted her, nearly as excited about the big day as Samantha was.

“Nico sent a package over for you this morning,” Charlotte said as they went into the dressing room. “I put it on the table.”

Samantha opened up the long velvet box and found a beautiful pearl choker necklace with a pear-shaped sapphire at the base, surrounded by diamonds.

A note inside the box said:

Samantha, my love,

I cannot wait to wake up with you in the morning, to see your face over dinner every evening, to ride and talk and have adventures with you… for the rest of our lives. Thank you for saying yes.

All my heart, Nico.

P.S. I also can't wait to see you wearing only this necklace.

His beautiful words brought tears to her eyes. She loved him so much, and it seemed like it had been forever since he’d held her in his arms. She wanted to be with him as badly as he wanted her.

With a sniff, she went to go show Charlotte, who oohed and aahed over it quite satisfactorily before helping Samantha into her dress. Feeling like an oversized doll, Samantha sat down at the vanity to have her hair done by Charlotte’s ladies’ maid as Charlotte went to get her own dress on. 

Jolene and some of her students had offered to decorate the church, but as soon as she finished, she joined Samantha at Charlotte’s house. When she entered the dressing room, she stopped and took in Samantha with tears in her eyes. “Oh, Sam! You look stunning.”

“Jolene, don't make me cry
again,” Samantha ordered, thrilled to have her oldest friend here with her and touched by her words.

“I'm so glad you got another chance, a real chance at love. I was sad for you when you married Henry. He never looked at you the way Nico does. And now maybe you'll also have a chance at having children,” Jolene said, coming forward to clasp Samantha’s hands.

“Thank you, dear friend. And thank you for everything you’ve done to help today. Your friendship is so important to me.” She leaned forward to embrace Jolene, careful not to muss her elaborate hairstyle. “Jolene, what about you? We have to start working on your love life right away.”

Jolene gave her a wistful look. “I'm really quite happy teaching school. Although I suppose if you were to drag a gorgeous man in front of me I might give him a look.”

They laughed, and Sam sent up a little prayer that her friend would someday find the kind of love she’d found in Nico. She would, if Samantha had anything to do with it.

“And how are Mrs. Potter and your mother taking the upcoming move to Nico's house?” Jolene asked
.

“Mrs. Potter is excited and my mother… I'm not sure. I saw a bit of a spark in her when I told her about the wedding. She started talking about champagne and how wonderful the bubbles are. So we will definitely have champagne at the wedding! And lots of cake.”

Jolene helped her put on the necklace Nico gave her. Samantha gazed at her reflection in the mirror, stunned and pleased by what she saw. The sapphire sparkled against her skin. She looked and felt like a queen.

“No more gawking in the glass, we have a wedding to go to,” Charlotte exclaimed as she came in the room holding
an armful of shawls and reticules.

* * *

Nico had been a wreck all morning. His staff was running around in a panic, since they were not at all used to throwing parties, especially not for something as momentous as their employer’s wedding. Joseph had hired some temporary help from the village and Mrs. Lotte was swearing up a storm at how things had to be done perfectly. He was relieved to finally be leaving the house. If one more person came up to him with another problem, he thought he might implode.

When he reached the barn, John approached him. “May I have a word with you before we depart, Lord Chattel?”

“Yes, certainly.” Nico eyed his groom warily, worried for a minute that John was going to give him a black eye or tell him he shouldn't marry Samantha.

“I've had my doubts, my Lord, about the fit between you and Samantha.” John paused and shuffled his feet nervously. “Recently though, I realized that was just jealousy talking.
I can see that she truly loves you. She is an extraordinary woman, and you're very blessed to have lassoed her. I wish you the best of luck.”

Nico smiled, surprised by the younger man’s candor. “Yes, I am. Thank you for your kind words and blessing.”

“The staff and I have a wedding gift for the two of you,” John said with a smile.

“You do?” Nico asked in surprise. He certainly hadn’t expected anything.

“Well, with her mother moving in the house and all, we thought maybe your first night together should have a bit more privacy. So we gathered supplies into the gamekeeper’s cabin and made it very cozy and romantic. I think both of you will be pleased.”

“Thank you, John,” Nico said, touched. “And thank you for always looking out for her.”

“Yes, my lord.”

John started to walk away and then turned back toward Nico. “I found a new assistant groom. This one is a man though, so there shouldn’t be any more stealing away my help.”

Nico laughed. “No, I believe this is the only groom I will marry.”

* * *

As Samantha entered the church, the warmth and love inside overwhelmed her. The entire place smelled of the white roses and lavender that Jolene and her students had placed around the altar and beside the pews. Candles flickered merrily and brilliant morning sunshine streamed in through the windows. Nico stood at the front of the church next to Lord Bellamy, looking stunningly handsome in his grey morning coat.

How on earth had she gotten so lucky?

She looked over at her mother and saw a tear on her cheek. Somehow she knew that she was actually here with her today, if only for a minute. As she walked up the aisle, a sea of smiling and welcoming faces greeted her.

Before she knew it, she was standing beside Nico, listening to the ceremony. They exchanged vows, and his clear, confident voice made her feel calm. She couldn't wait to have his children and said a silent prayer that they would receive that blessing.

After the wedding, they took the short carriage ride back to his house and Nico told Sam about the gift from John and the staff. She was touched and knew that was John’s way of saying he approved of her choice.

The breakfast was beautiful and delicious.

“Mrs. Lotte has outdone herself again,” Charlotte said, licking her lips.

“Don’t even think about stealing her away now.” Samantha gave her a stern look as she helped herself to more crispy potato cakes with caviar.

After feasting, the group moved outside where a game of cricket ensued. For once, Sam was satisfied to just watch. She didn't think Madame LeRoux’s underthings could take running and batting. She was happy to observe Nico and his male friends and cousins play while she sipped champagne with the ladies.

After all the guests had gone and she had gotten her mother settled into her new room, Samantha met Nico downstairs in her new apple green walking dress. He held her hand and they walked down to the cabin
, talking over the day’s events.

When they got there, a nice warm fire in the fireplace made the little room glow. The cabin was sparkling clean and smelled of
pine. The small bed had a new, beautiful quilt on it and flowers were placed on the windowsill.

“How beautiful,” Samantha exclaimed, grateful for the thoughtfulness of all those involved.

Plates of leftover delicacies from the wedding feast were spread out on the table, along with champagne. On the side table was a game of Chattel, set up and ready to be played.

Nico smiled at the game. “How high should the stakes be tonight,
my wife?” He pulled her close and kissed her in a long, luxurious embrace.

“Mmmm, say that again,” she purred.

“Yes, my wife,” he obeyed.

She pulled his coat off and began unbuttoning his shirt. “Darling, I don't think I can wait that long.”

“Just one game,” he teased, running his hand along the side of her body and kissing behind her ear and down her neck. She shivered, hungry for his touch.

“All right,” she said reluctantly. “Only this time
, to make things a bit more interesting, I think we should play in our underclothes.”

Agreeing to her terms, he
stripped down to his drawers and stood ready to help her out of her dress.

As the buttons came off and she slowly pull
ed down the dress to reveal the deliciously naughty lingerie underneath, the look of pure hunger on his face was priceless.

She finally had a strategy to beat him at his own game and
knew she would enjoy every minute of it.