“I do love you, Marcus, more than I can say, but since we are negotiating terms of our marriage…”
He raised an eyebrow. “Are we still negotiating?”
“Yes, on one issue, I think we must.”
“I would rather make love to you again.”
When he leaned forward to take her mouth, Arabella pressed her fingers to his lips. “This is serious, Marcus.”
Instantly he sobered. “Very well, you have my full attention, sweetheart.”
“I want to continue managing the academy.”
“I see no reason why you cannot, as long as you make time for our wedding and a wedding trip afterward.”
Arabella smiled in relief. She had worried about Marcus’s response, yet she should have known he would be amenable to letting her continue her avocation.
“I should have ample time for a wedding after school lets out in two weeks,” she replied. “The summer term begins in mid-June, and since most of our pupils will be going home, I won’t be teaching any classes. Jane Caruthers will handle the majority of the work.”
“Then we shouldn’t have a problem. It will be at least a month before we can hold the ceremony. We could be married by special license, but I prefer to have the banns called. I don’t want it to seem as if we are rushing.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “And I want a large wedding. We can be married in the Chiswick church and invite several hundred guests.”
Her look turned dubious. “I doubt the church is large enough.”
“Then we’ll invite half the ton to a wedding breakfast at Danvers Hall afterward. I intend to put my countess on display, since it will help pave your acceptance into society.”
Arabella nodded, seeing the wisdom of his plan. An invitation to celebrate the nuptials of the Earl and Countess of Danvers would go far in winning over even her haughtiest detractors. Yet that was as far as she wanted to acquiesce to the high-browed notions of society.
“I would like my mother to attend our wedding and any succeeding festivities,” Arabella said, knowing that the scandalous former Lady Loring would likely be shunned by the ton’s highest sticklers. “And Fanny Irwin as well. Fanny may be a renowned Cyprian, but she is a dear friend and I won’t turn my back on her simply because I am marrying an earl.”
“Certainly they may attend. And my sister Eleanor would doubtless enjoy helping with plans for a breakfast. As for our wedding trip, I want to take you to my family seat in Devonshire for a few weeks. The Hall will afford us too little privacy with your sisters present. I want you all to myself for a while.”
Arabella’s smile was soft with pleasure. “I would like that.” Remembering the duke and marquess, however, she glanced at the closed door. “Do you think your two friends will come to accept me as your wife?”
“Yes, of course. They will eventually grow to love you. Meanwhile, they’ll be infinitely glad that we finally came to a resolution. I nearly took off Heath’s head this morning during our fencing practice because I was seething with frustration.”
“His grace won’t be overjoyed about our marriage.”
“Drew is just cynical about love because he’s never experienced it before. Heath is more adventurous, so he’s more willing to concede that I might love you witless. But he doesn’t want to see me turned into a tame milksop. I think he worries that you will lead me around by my bridle.”
Arabella laughed. “I don’t intend to bridle you, any more than I intend to wear a bridle.”
“Which is exactly how it should be between us.”
As Marcus gazed down at her, the passion she saw in the endless blue depths dazzled her, but it was the love shining there that made her heart sing. Then he kissed her again and made her heart race as he reached up to pull the pins from her hair.
“I thought you didn’t intend to dishevel my hair,” Arabella murmured.
“I changed my mind.” His slow, very male smile held the wonderfully wicked charm that had won her heart during his admittedly unwanted courtship. “If I can’t have you again until a full month from now, then I mean to make the most of our time here together, Hobbs or no Hobbs.”
She laughed again, her breath whispering against his lips as she gave herself up to Marcus’s incredible passion.
Epilogue
– Arabella to Fanny
– Fanny to Arabella
When Arabella sank into a chair and sighed happily, Roslyn smiled with love and satisfaction. “You made an exquisite bride today, dearest. Being in love becomes you.”
“You do look positively beautiful, Belle,” Lily seconded.
The three of them were ensconced in Lily’s bedchamber, taking the opportunity to say a private farewell. It was nearing midnight and the wedding breakfast and ball were almost over, so the sisters had slipped away from the throng of guests to go abovestairs for a moment.
Lily was putting her nightclothes and a few personal items into a bandbox, since she and Roslyn meant to stay with Tess tonight to allow the newlyweds privacy for their wedding night.
“Thank you,” Arabella replied to the compliments, glancing down at the stunning wedding dress her sisters had helped her don this morning. “I
Her empire-waist gown of ivory silk was delicately embroidered with gold thread at the bodice and hem, and the rich fabric matched the creamy roses and gold ribbons she wore twined in her fair hair.
Her sisters, too, looked beautiful, garbed in pale rose-hued silk gowns, Arabella thought with pride.
She was very glad for this time alone with Roslyn and Lilian after the frenetic activity of the past few weeks. Not only had the renovations to the Hall required finishing, but the sheer size of the wedding celebrations had proved a challenge. A skilled hostess, Roslyn had taken on the task of arranging the enormous wedding breakfast and ball, supervising the army of servants who had prepared frantically for days.
“And thank you for your tremendous efforts, Roslyn,” Arabella said. “Everything turned out perfectly.”
Roslyn smiled. “My efforts were not so exceptional.”
“Indeed they were.”
Lily broke in. “They most certainly were. I could never have managed so many details so flawlessly, Rose. I never would have had the patience even to
“I thought the ceremony was lovely also,” Roslyn said, casting an amused glance at their youngest sister. “I think even Lily enjoyed it.”
Lily wrinkled her nose but laughed. “Surprisingly, I did.”
The ceremony had been held at the Chiswick church in the company of friends and family. As for the groom, Marcus had driven directly from London to the church this morning, along with his sister, Eleanor, his aunt, Lady Beldon, and his two friends, the Duke of Arden and the Marquess of Claybourne. The bridal party had arrived soon after, and the festivities had begun at Danvers Hall immediately following the marriage service.
“It was good to have Mama here,” Roslyn added softly.
“Yes,” Lily replied. “We owe the earl a huge debt of thanks for arranging for Mama to come home.”
Arabella fully agreed, feeling a glow of gratitude for what Marcus had done to unite them with their mother.
Lady Freemantle had helped also, taking Victoria and her French husband under her wing these past few weeks. It warmed Arabella’s heart that Mama was gradually being accepted by many of their neighbors who wished
