His Perfect Bride (27 page)

Brianna’s eyes widened as her jaw went slack. She could not believe Richard had been so set on marrying her that he confided in his sister. It gave her hope that his feelings extended further than obligation. A sudden movement brought her eyes to the door. She sucked in her breath as her heart pounded erratically.

Richard stood in the doorway more handsome than ever. It had been too long since she had last seen him, and she felt her stomach doing flips due to his proximity. Her eyes drank him in as he greeted her parents and Lord Winsler. When he turned to her, his smile was easy, but his eyes were intense.

“Good evening, ladies.” Richard greeted them with a slight bow.

“Good evening, Richard,” Elizabeth answered brightly. “Thank you for giving Lord Winsler and I your blessing.”

“I was pleased to bestow it. Lord Winsler is a decent sort, and I suspect he is determined to make you happy.”

“I believe so as well. Now, if you will excuse me, I must go see him.” Elizabeth’s smile took on a dreamy quality. Then she rushed off to her betrothed, whose face appeared to be as love-stricken as hers. Richard simply shook his head and sat down beside Brianna.

“How have you been?” he asked.

“Quite well, thank you.”

“I would like to apologize for my recent absence.” Richard looked into her eyes with a breathtaking half-smile.

“We understand completely. There is no reason to apologize.” Brianna shrugged. “Mother was pleased to not have any distractions, considering all the wedding preparations we have been attending to.”

“What about you? Did you miss me?”

The question, especially asked in such a husky voice, sent a shiver down her spine. She suppressed her reaction, desperate for him not to discover how much his absence had affected her.

“We were much too busy to miss anyone.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Although I too was engaged with my duties, I did miss you.”

“Then why did you not pay me a call?” she demanded, ruining her emotionless façade.

“I didn’t have the time to spare before now, but if I had known what my absence was doing to you, I would have come sooner.”

“What do you mean?”

“I spoke with Jonathan today. He is worried about you. Although he would not say what the two of you spoke about, his concern was unmistakable.”

“Is that why you are here tonight?”

“Partially. I was anxious to see you long before Jonathan paid me a visit.”

“In that case, I’m glad you came,” she assured, beaming a smile up at him. The warmth of his body pressed against her side made it difficult to not become swept up with him and get lost in the moment.

“Why? I thought you said you didn’t miss me.”

“As I said, I didn’t have time to miss you, but I may have been a tad anxious to be in your company as well.”

She turned her face, feeling her cheeks heating. She didn’t realize how much she missed him until now. Her melancholy was gone, but for some reason she felt nervous and awkward around him. The past two weeks put distance between them, and she had no idea how to breach it.

“After tomorrow we will no longer experience this problem. You shall have me to call upon both day and night.” His voice lowered to a whisper, and his eyes grew dark as sin.

Brianna could feel her body reacting to him, and anticipation ran through her, leaving her aching. Tomorrow he would be hers, and she would no longer have to endure this unfulfilled yearning for him.

Knowing she would have new problems to encounter helped a little to contain her amorous state. She would have to fight against him to uphold the position of the Marchioness of Stonemede as she saw fit, regardless of his demands. The sulking would no longer do, she
was
strong, and she would ensure he knew it.

Tomorrow and the days following were going to prove to be more difficult than she had ever imagined.

Chapter 16

The sun was shining, bringing a pleasant glow to the room. Although the windows were closed, the bird’s sweet song could easily be heard, and the bold scent of the flowers permeated the room. Overall, the type of day every woman wished would occur for her wedding, but Brianna was not aware of any of it.

She paced back and forth in the vestry of the church. Her walk took her from the tiny window to the looking glass and back again. Although she didn’t wish for her anxiety to show, she could not refrain from watching the numerous guests filing into St. George’s.

Moving back to the looking glass, she studied her reflection. The light green wedding gown picked up the green notes in her eyes quite well. She stroked her hands over the intricate lace covering the bodice before reaching up to contain another loose strand of hair.

Martha had outdone herself today, teasing Brianna’s hair into a fashionable coiffure. Unfortunately, her hair lacked the ability to stay in place for long. Regardless, the style was more elaborate than she needed, but her mother had insisted she dress up for her new station in life. She only hoped Richard would be pleased.

The knock at the door forced Brianna’s heart into her throat, and she lost the ability to breathe. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on allowing calm to flow through her body. After slowly crossing the room, she opened the door and saw her father waiting for her.

“You look ravishing, my dear,” he complimented. “Everything is prepared for your arrival. Are you ready?”

Not trusting herself to speak, she nodded and took his arm. Her breath returned, but it seemed to be increasing with each step she took closer toward the doors. As they were pulled open, she gasped at the beautiful sight before her. Her nerves forgotten, she allowed her artistic eyes to take over.

Flowers of every color brightened up the normally dark pews. She inhaled deeply, enjoying their scent as much as their beauty. The flowers were not the only decoration she was drawn to, but the guests themselves were something to behold. They provided a myriad of colors and textures all lined up for her to examine.

Smiling, she scanned the remainder of the room until her eyes fell upon Richard. His face was alight with pleasure, and the very sight of him made her breath catch in her throat. Everything in the church paled in comparison to his brilliance. She no longer had any desire to look upon anything but him.

Once arriving at his side, she forced her gaze away from him to the minister in front of her. Although she could no longer see Richard, she could feel the warmth of his body beside her, smell the clean scent of his soap, and hear his gentle breathing. Every part of her was well aware of his presence.

The minister’s words washed over her without registering. Too preoccupied with pleasant thoughts, she could not shift her focus. Richard’s strong confident voice answered the questions that tied him to her and prompted her to make the necessary responses as well.

Before long, it was over. As she and Richard signed the marriage license, she realized she was Lady Brianna Carrack, Marchioness of Stonemede. Richard turned and offered his arm. Her heart hammered in her chest as she allowed him to turn her to face their guests. The happy faces cascaded past them as her husband escorted her down the aisle.

The cheers outside St. Georges’ were heartening, and she smiled, pleased to see her marriage gained the approval of London. Richard lifted her in the carriage before tossing a few coins to the crowd.

She looked at him and felt the muscles in her face involuntarily turn up to smile. He was hers now. She married the dreaded marquis that she spent the majority of the Season trying to avoid. Although not in her original plan, the new direction of her life delighted her. With her love for Richard guiding her, she felt her heart swell in her chest simply at the thought of him.

“How are you feeling, Lady Stonemede?” Richard asked her as he climbed into the carriage and sat down.

“Honestly, I believe I’m in shock. Everything seemed to move more quickly than I anticipated, and I’m a little overwhelmed.”

“We could continue on to the townhouse now if you would like?” The crease in his brow, combined with his understanding eyes, told her he was serious.

“The guests would be insulted if we didn’t attend our own wedding luncheon. Not to mention what they would be saying about us.”

“I don’t care what they think. As soon as you have determined you have endured enough celebrations, tell me, and we will leave.”

Her eyes widened as she watched him cross the short distance between them. After settling himself beside her, he gently took her hand and removed her glove. The feel of his soft lips touching her skin made her wish she had told him to take her home.

The carriage coming to a stop pulled her from her fantasies. She quickly slid her glove back into place, thankful she didn’t have any other clothes askew. Pasting on a smile, she allowed Richard to assist her down and into the house full of people.

The whirlwind of well wishes and scandalous comments made her head spin, but luckily didn’t last much past luncheon. Regardless, the guests appeared to be enjoying themselves, which made it all worthwhile.

Wandering through the guests, Brianna was pleased to see Jillian heading her way. With all the preparations and festivities, she didn’t have many opportunities to enjoy her friend’s company.

“Congratulations, Brianna.”

“Thank you.”

“I know you originally were not looking to marry a marquis, but you truly appear happy today,” Jillian observed.

“I am, although it will not be the quiet life I imagined.”

“Why not? Surely if Lord Stonemede knows of your desire, he will not expect you to entertain frequently.”

“It’s not the entertaining I’m worried about, but the impromptu visits and innumerable duties required of a marchioness.”

“I had not thought about that,” Jillian admitted.

“Enough about that. What about you? Have you selected a gentleman or two to consider for the esteemed position of your husband?”

“There are too many to choose from,” Jillian mourned, shaking her head.

Both women laughed. Although nearing the end of the Season, a large number of the gentleman were still available, giving Jillian better chances of finding one to her liking.

“I wish you every bit of luck.” Brianna felt the enormity of what the wedding meant. “Everything is going to be so different now.”

“I suppose that is the way of it. Is Lord Stonemede taking you to his ancestral home in the country?”

“Yes. He is anxious to return. We depart tomorrow morning.”

“That is sooner than I realized.”

“I know. It’s strange, but for as long as I can remember, I have been dreaming about enjoying the remainder of my life in the country. All those years, and I never thought of what I would be leaving behind, or how hard departing would be. I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you, too, but we will write. Don’t be upset. This is your wedding day.”

Brianna put her smile back into place.

Turning her eyes from her friend, lest they begin to tear up, Brianna scanned the room for Richard. When she found him, she felt apprehension build within her. From now on her life was an unknown, and she didn’t know if she would long for her old life. Her friends and family would be missed greatly, but would she feel the same of London? The next time she returned, she would no longer be enjoying the festivities as a carefree debutante. Now she was a married woman. In addition, the thought of being a mother terrified her.

“Brianna,” her mother called from behind her. “It’s almost time for you to leave, but I need to speak with you first.”

“Certainly,” Brianna answered, feeling a sense of foreboding settle over her. “Please excuse me, Jillian.”

After a quick hug for her friend, she turned and followed her mother up the stairs. She had an idea of what her mother wanted to talk about, and she was not looking forward to it. Keeping her shoulders back, she walked into the bedchamber behind her mother, determined to keep her poise through the ordeal.

Richard raised his glass of brandy in salute to his friends, grateful for the brief respite from the constant activity of the day. While his wife disappeared to prepare for him to take her home, he and his friends had escaped to Lord Ransley’s study. Anticipation struck him, and he finished the remainder of his brandy in one gulp. Tonight he would have Brianna writhing under him, as she would be every night hereafter.

“Now Richard,” Jonathan began, his tone serious. “Since your bride is off learning what is to be expected of her on her wedding night, we thought it only fair to extend you the same courtesy.”

Greyson raised one eyebrow, but didn’t comment.

Richard laughed. Neither he nor Brianna needed a lesson, but he would love to have the chance to see her reaction to her mother’s instruction. He wondered if she would learn anything new, but he immediately dismissed the thought. More than likely she was learning the basic mechanics.

“This tradition makes me glad I had the foresight to begin my wife’s education before now.”

“I imagine you had other purposes at the time,” Jonathan pointed out with a lecherous grin.

“I wonder why women feel the need to have such discussions,” Greyson chimed in. “Would it not be better for the bride to learn from her husband?”

“Women are very odd creatures. When you finally think you have one figured out, they turn around and surprise you.” Jonathan’s mouth quirked up. “Although, I have found those surprises can be incredibly pleasant at times.”

“Perhaps, but I would much rather understand them and not be forced to endure the surprises. Regardless of how pleasant they can be, I prefer to know what I’m getting into,” Greyson threw back.

“That is your loss.” Jonathan’s faraway eyes were fixed upon something only he could see.

Greyson shrugged and then turned his attention back to his cards. Richard wondered what Greyson was thinking. Normally his friend’s intent focus as he shuffled his cards meant he was planning something.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts and brought back his restlessness. His duty to his guests almost complete, he and his bride would be free to make their escape.

“My lord,” Ransley’s butler called as he entered the room. “Your carriage is prepared, and Lady Stonemede is awaiting your presence in the drawing room.”

“Thank you,” Richard replied and dismissed the man. “Well, gentlemen, that is my cue to leave you now. I have no doubt my perfect bride is as anxious to retire as I.”

As he hurried from the room, he could hear Jonathan’s laughter following him. Shrugging to himself, he didn’t slow his pace. His friends could think whatever they wished. Besides, Richard recalled many occasions where Jonathan was the one fleeing from the room to meet with a lady.

Seeing Brianna alone and waiting for him in the drawing room, he almost rubbed his hands together in anticipation. She had not removed her wedding gown, and the thought of pulling the yards of fabric off her body brought a strained smile to his lips.

She raised her head at his entry into the room. He smiled upon seeing the deep crimson color of her face. It gave him no doubt as to the topic of her discussion with the females of her family.

“Are you ready to leave, my lady?” He offered his arm to her.

“Yes, my lord.” She readily accepted his escort.

“Good. Let’s go home.”

He ushered her through the guests, accepting final congratulations as they were offered. They only paused when they reached his mother and Lord and Lady Ransley. It was strange to think of his mother now as the Dowager Marchioness, for she looked much too young for the part.

“Richard,” his mother began. “I can’t say enough how pleased I am that you have chosen such a wonderful bride. She will represent Stonemede well.”

“Of that, I have no doubt,” he answered, smiling down at his blushing bride.

“Thank you, my lady.”

“You may call me Mother now, as we will be very close.”

“I sincerely hope so.” Brianna beamed at her.

“Oh, Brianna,” Lady Ransley gushed, pushing herself in front of her husband. “I’m so pleased by this union, I can hardly speak. We will visit often and—”

“My dear, I believe it’s time for them to depart. Let us not keep them waiting any longer,” Ransley interjected.

Lady Ransley nodded then clasped her daughter briefly. After the last of the goodbyes were exchanged, Richard escorted Brianna outside to his carriage. Once settled inside, he leaned back into the cushions and sighed. The relief he felt was too great for words.

“Are you tired?” Brianna questioned him, raising her brow.

“I’m afraid I am. The day has drained me of energy. I believe it would be better if we go straight to bed once we arrive at the townhouse.”

“We can’t,” Brianna exclaimed, shock coloring her words. “It’s still midday. What would the servants think?”

“First of all, you are much too preoccupied with the thoughts of others today. Secondly, considering the events of the day, our exhaustion is understandable. And lastly, they would be grateful for the reprieve as we will have no use for anyone the remainder of the night.”

Richard reached his hand toward her and brushed a lock of her hair off her shoulder. Earlier today the strands were securely tucked into place, and the sight of them, tumbling about her shoulders, now made him think about how she would look in the morning. His trousers became uncomfortably tight, and he could no longer deny himself. Keeping his eyes fixed on her parted lips, he slowly leaned forward.

“Richard,” she rasped, turning her face slightly as she cleared her throat. “I know we shall live at Stonemede, but will we have opportunities to visit London or my family?”

Her voice broke with the mention of her family, and he felt like a cad for not realizing how much the move would affect her. She’d often mentioned how she longed for a quiet life in the country so he had imagined she already prepared herself to leave. It appeared he was wrong.