“Very good, my lord,” Woodward said with a twinkle in his eye, and he went to collect his bride as Celeste greeted the dogs.
“I think this is the part where I carry you upstairs,” he said, eyeing her train, “but I’m afraid we might both go tumbling.”
Celeste laughed at that, despite the nerves that were beginning their tingle again.
“Perhaps once we reach the top?”
“A good idea,” he said, holding out his arm to her.
“You know, Oliver,” she said with some trepidation, “it is the middle of the day.”
“You know, Celeste,” he said with a grin, “that gives us all the time in the world.”
26
Oliver had never seen anything more beautiful in his life than his wife on their wedding day.
While her gown was stunning, as was her hair and the jewels she wore around her neck, that wasn’t what had spellbound him. No, what had caught his attention and wouldn’t let it go was the aura of happiness that surrounded her, and the fact that she was now truly his, and would be forevermore.
“Celeste,” he said as, true to his word, he picked her up at the top of the staircase, “there is one more vow we must make to one another.”
“Yes?” she asked, her eyebrows raised high.
“Never again will we keep any secrets from one another. We are partners, in every sense of the word, and no matter how difficult the conversation, we will have it and come through it together.”
She nodded, a smile spreading across her face.
“I like the sound of that.”
“I have a secret to share with you now,” he said, leaning in to whisper in her ear, and he smiled when she shivered at the kiss of his breath upon her neck.
“Oh?”
“You’re about to make me the happiest man on this earth, and whatever there is beyond.”
“Do you think there is other life out there, beyond our world?” she asked, her expression suddenly changing from dreamy to one much more practical, the one she wore when they were at work.
“Celeste!” he exclaimed, willing her back to the moment. “I was attempting romance. We’ll speak of the rest later, all right?”
“Oh,” she said, a sheepish smile crossing her face, “right.”
He just laughed, for the truth was, that was what he most loved about her — that a woman so brilliant, so scientifically minded, also had an air of romance and could lose all thought when a hint of desire overtook her.
He carried her through the door to his bedchamber, not surprised by what she focused on immediately.
“Oh, Oliver!” she exclaimed as he put her down and she crossed over to the window. “Look at the view! And this telescope… it is magnificent.”
He grinned. He didn’t think he would ever tell her what came into his mind when he heard her continually exclaim such words.
“Part of the reason I have brought you here in the middle of the day,” he jested, “is that I knew I might never reclaim your attention if the stars were currently in full view.”
“Oh, Oliver,” she said, returning to him. “No star, no planet, no sun could ever be as magnificent as you.”
As much as Oliver enjoyed bantering about the stars with her, he was done with speaking. Instead, he circled his arms around her and brought her close, reveling in the sensation of having her in his embrace and finally — finally — being able to dispense with the restraint he’d had such a firm hold on for weeks now.
She lifted her arms to his neck before twining them in his hair as their lips met, continuing what they had begun in the carriage ride — what had been brewing between them since she had first arrived here all of those weeks ago.
“Celeste,” he murmured her name as he did his very best to focus on releasing all of the buttons down the back of her dress from their fastenings before he was finally able to push the sleeves down her arms and allow the gown to go billowing to the floor below.
He ran his hands over the soft, freckled skin of her arms before removing his own jacket and waistcoat, letting them join her clothing on the floor. He wasn’t entirely sure how he was rid of his shirt, but he also quickly shucked his boots and unfastened his trousers before lifting Celeste’s chemise over her head.
Oliver didn’t even realize he was holding his breath until his lungs began to burn for air. He had seen many beautiful things in his life before — constellations of stars that seemed as though they had been placed there in the perfect position by the hand of God and surfaces of planets that took on colors nearly inconceivable here on earth. But Celeste standing before him was better than all of that, and he could hardly believe that she was now his.
“You…” he said, his voice nearly as a groan, “are stunning.”
She laughed a bit self-consciously but he reached out and drew her toward him.
“It’s the truth,” he said, “and if you don’t believe me, then I am about to show you.”
He backed her up to the bed, removing the blankets from behind her so that she could burrow underneath if she became cold, as she seemed to be wont to do. He was determined, however, that he could do a very efficient job of keeping her warm by other means. He climbed up the bed until he was over her, bracketing her head with his weight upon his elbows. He kissed her first, wanting her to feel as comfortable as possible, easing her into things. He had thought he was done with restraint, but apparently a little more would be required of him.
Oliver kissed his way over the top of her ear, down the lobe, until finding her neck, causing her to arch up into him. He leaned back, taking her small, firm breasts in his palms, gently kneading them as he took the bud of one of them in his mouth.
“Oh, Oliver,” she groaned, and he nibbled her slightly, causing her to thrust up even harder. She was pushing him to his limits, that was for certain. He trailed his hands lower, over her waist, then the soft hollow of her stomach, until he cupped her hips, his hands spanning ever so perfectly around them.
He kissed her as he held her there, tasting her desire, reveling in it, before he slowly moved his hands to her center, stroking her softly as she bucked up at his touch.
He dipped a finger inside of her, finding her wet and ready for him, and he nearly came undone right there.
He shifted himself up once more so that he was over her, meeting her vivid green eyes, hazy with her own desire.
“Ready?” he asked, and she nodded, her trust in him warming him through.
Oliver slowly eased into her, shutting his eyes with the difficulty of his restraint as he paused for a moment, giving her time to adjust.
“Oliver?” she asked, and he opened his eyes to look at her.
“Yes?”
“Are you all right? You have that pained look to you again.”
He managed a low chuckle, and then nodded, though he was barely hanging on.
“I think I’m the one who is supposed to be asking you how you are.”
“I’m just fine,” she said, “keep going.”
Who was he to deny the request of his bride?
He sheathed himself within her with a thrust, wincing himself when he saw the look on her face.
“It’s all right,” she said, though she took a breath. “I’m all right.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded, and he began to slowly move, watching her to make sure she was as fine as she said she was.
She bit her lip, dug her fingers into his biceps, and began moving along with him, faster now, and when she began to tremble around him, Oliver finally, finally, let himself go, losing himself in her and all that was between them.
When he found his fulfillment, he lay beside her, silent for a moment as she rested her head on his chest, her hand splaying over his shoulder.
She sighed contentedly, and he squeezed her close.
“I love you, Celeste,” he said, running his hand through her hair.
“I love you too,” she said, tilting her head to look up at him.
They lay there together so long that Oliver began to doze off, but a soft knock at the door roused him.
“My lord?” Woodward.
“Yes?”
“I am ever so sorry to disturb you,” he called through the door, “but you have a visitor. A Mr. John Herschel.”
Oliver and Celeste exchanged a look before they rose from the bed as one. Celeste looked around her, not even knowing where to find her clothing as most of it had been moved prior to her arrival.
“Through that door is the dressing room,” Oliver said, pointing, before raising his voice. “Woodward, would you please send Sophia up to assist Lady Essex?”
“Of course, my lord.”
And so it was that a short time later — Celeste and Sophia had worked quickly —Oliver and Celeste found themselves in the drawing room with Mr. Herschel.
“Lord and Lady Essex,” Mr. Herschel said, rising. “I must apologize, for I had no idea until I arrived that you were being married today. I’m afraid that I do not pay much attention to society news.”
“Not to worry, Mr. Herschel,” Oliver said, shaking his hand and inviting him to sit. “Would you like anything?”
“No, no, I shall keep my visit short,” he said. “I am simply here with a quick message — and congratulations. It seems that you are the first to make a claim regarding this new planet, which is wonderful news for you, of course, but for all of England as well.”
Celeste and Oliver shared a look of wonder at the news.
“Thank you, Mr. Herschel, for coming here yourself to share this with us,” Oliver said, trying to contain the excitement that bubbled up within him at the announcement. “We are… well, we don’t even know what to say.”
“Except thank you,” Celeste said breathily, “thank you very much.”
“Has it been decided what it will be named?”
“Not yet,” Mr. Herschel said, “though I do agree with your suggestion of continuing with the Greek names. Neptune does have a nice sound to it, although I am unsure of what pattern will follow George’s Star, as my father named it. At any rate,” he said, standing. “Thank you once more for your efforts. You have done England proud, and I look forward to what your future partnership might bring. Congratulations to you both — on this, as well as your nuptials.”
Once they knew he was gone, Celeste took a few steps and then leaped up into Oliver’s arms. He spun her around in the thrill of the moment, and soon he realized that someone must have let the dogs in, for they were nipping and jumping around their ankles.
“Perseus! Andromeda! Down!” Celeste called out to them, but they were so excited they completely ignored her. Oliver could only laugh. This was what he had wanted, wasn’t it?
As she knelt down to pet them and attempt to calm them, Oliver smiled down at them. Everything he had been searching for had come to fruition, all because of this woman in front of him.
He heard the front door open. Ahh… his mother and Alice must be returning. Celeste looked up at him with a smile, and he knew that, no matter what came their way, they could take it all on together.
Hearing voices in the hall, the puppies took off at a run, leaving him and Celeste alone together.
“How does it feel to be the first woman to discover a planet?” he asked, extending his hand to help her up.
“Nearly as good as it does to be your wife,” she said with a laugh.
It was a sentiment that could only be sealed with a kiss.
Epilogue
“We really shouldn’t be up here.”
“Not to worry, darling, they won’t care.”
“But Oliver—”
He silenced her with a kiss before moving aside so that she could see out the telescope at the view beyond.
“There it is,” she said, a sigh escaping her lips. “I often cannot believe that its really ours. Oh, I suppose that’s a ridiculous thing to say as it belongs to no one, but I shall always think of it as somewhat belonging to us.”
Oliver’s hands spanned her waist as he stepped behind her.
“How very true,” he murmured in her ear. “I do apologize for taking you from your friends, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see it on such a beautifully clear night.”
She turned around, looping her arms about his neck. “I am not particularly upset about it.”
Celeste stood on the tips of her toes and placed a kiss on his lips, smiling up at him as she brushed back an errant lock of his straight, dark hair that had once again grown a tad too long.
“We best go back down,” he murmured, “otherwise I might be tempted to keep you here all night, and that would be the height of rudeness, would it not?”
“It most certainly would,” she said, though she didn’t move for a moment, taking some time to simply enjoy standing in his arms.
Finally, he solved their dilemma by turning her toward the door, though he kept his arm around her so that they wouldn’t be far.
“To be continued,” he whispered as they reached the landing of the first floor and slowly walked toward the drawing room. She nodded, willing her cheeks not to fill with crimson.
“Ah, here comes our newlyweds,” Jemima said with a sparkle in her eye. “We thought we had lost you.”
“Not at all,” Oliver said, recovering before Celeste could do so. “We had business to attend to.”
“Is that what it is called these days?” The Duke of Wyndham drolled before Rebecca swatted him.
Celeste shared a look of mirth with Jemima before she saw her gaze flick around the room. Sympathy tugged at Celeste’s heart, for she knew what it must be like for her friend to look at the three of them, now sitting with husbands on their arms while she remained unattached.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Jemima said, narrowing her eyes at Celeste. “I am perfectly fine as I am. I am far too busy to worry about catching a husband, or even worse, looking after one.”
“It’s not all bad,” Celeste said with a shy smile, causing Jemima to laugh.
“I’ll have to take your word for it,” she said and then leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. “Now tell me, what is this I hear of your brother’s upcoming nuptials?”
“Can you believe it?” Celeste asked, shaking her head, realizing that the rest of the group had now gone silent to listen to their conversation.
“I certainly never would have thought it possible,” Oliver said but then shrugged. “Although sometimes, it is simply a matter of finding the right person, I suppose.”
“They do seem happy together,” Celeste said, “and Nicholas has been quite contrite about all that happened.”
“Helped by the fact that your father threatened to cut him off from everything if he did not shape up and remain with the company.”
Celeste lifted her eyebrows and nodded, acknowledging the truth in Oliver’s words.
“My father toured him around some housing that would be more within his budget if he does not begin to instill much more effort into his work. It seemed to make quite the difference in his outlook.”
They all had a good chuckle at that before Freddie raised her glass with a fond smile at Lord Dorrington.
“Here is to finding happiness — in whatever form it may come in.”
They raised their glasses with her, clinking them together before taking a sip.
“Here’s to you, my Andromeda,” Oliver murmured in Celeste’s ear, tilting his glass toward her.
“And to you, my Perseus,” she acknowledged. Celeste was about to take a sip when the dogs, hearing their names, came bounding toward them. Before she knew it, they were both on her lap, her glass of wine was on the floor, and her husband was turning red with his attempt to hold in his laughter.
When she smiled at him, however, he let go of his own mirth, and soon they were all joining in.
Things often looked as though they were perfectly aligned, Celeste thought with a smile, just like the cosmos. Only, sometimes, it took going
slightly off orbit to find what you were looking for.
That was love.
THE END
Sign-up for Ellie’s email list and “Unmasking a Duke,” a regency romance, will come straight to your inbox — free!
www.prairielilypress.com/ellies-newsletter/
You will also receive links to giveaways, sales, updates, launch information, promos, and the newest recommended reads.
The Valet Experiment
Preview Jemima’s story, book 4 of The Bluestocking Scandals…
A Sneak Peek…
London, 1822
Jemima bent down and peered at the clear liquid in the beaker in front of her. It looked so innocuous, yet could be so dangerous. As could most chemicals, of course. She shook her head. Onto the task at hand.
She picked up the vial of ammonium nitrate powder she had placed to one side, before picking up the zinc powder and carefully stirring them before placing them in a bowl in front of her. She stood up and took a deep breath. The moment of truth. She rearranged her headband, ensuring that her hair wouldn’t fall in front of her face, and pushed her glasses up on her nose. She wore them primarily to protect her eyes from any stray liquid or gasses, though she should probably look into finding spectacles that could actually help her see. She had noticed lately that objects far away were becoming rather blurry.
Jemima had no wish to become a regular spectacle-wearer, however. She was already known and often shunned for her scientific leanings. She didn’t need to give any further cause for ridicule. Not that she would ever let anyone know of her secret vanity.
The last time she had added the hydraulic acid to the powders, the powder hadn’t been fine enough, leaving her with only a small flicker that quickly died out. She had fixed it quite properly now, she was sure.
She stepped back as far as possible, holding out her arm to squeeze out a few drops of acid into the powder. That should be enough.
Discovering the Baron (The Bluestocking Scandals Book 3) Page 18
