The congregation was in an uproar. Mr. Eldridge did not seem distressed at all since he picked up a giggling Henrietta and carried her from the church. He did not care who he jostled out of the way.
The duke sat down in his front pew. Alone.
He said a silent prayer.
Lord I suppose, You heard what You needed to hear. I asked for a miracle. I asked for a sign that Emily could loosen her stiff ways and love me, flawed though I am. I asked that I might be worthy of her.
I did not expect her to proclaim her love, though I am sometimes a bit daft. I may not have seen the sign if it had been more subtle.
I thank You for creating this Christmas miracle for me. Thank You for Emily.
She had to get to Alexander. “Let me through,” Emily said.
Edmund stood aside and let Emily go to him. She had to fight her way through the exiting crowd to get to the duke, but she managed. Several people gave her sidelong glances.
She supposed no one would ever think she was the proper lady again, but she didn’t care. She didn’t care if anyone thought she was a lady. She only wanted to be Alexander’s.
She slid onto the bench beside him. He looked so lost, so far from her.
“Your Grace,” she said. She saw him visibly flinch.
“Alexander.” She took his hand in hers. “Your hands are cold,” she said. She could feel the chill even though her gloves. She cupped both of his hands in hers and pulled them close to her face.
“I do not have any mittens,” she said softly.
“You are warmth enough,” he said and they sat still and silent, her hand in his, while the parishioners filed out. He smiled at her. “You know all that was most improper.”
“Sometimes there are reasons to dispense with propriety. Friendship and love are more important.”
“You are more important.” The duke replied, cupping her face in his hand. “Did you mean what you said?” he asked at last.
“That I love you? Yes. I think I have always loved you, from the time I was very young. I only did not realize it.” Emily admitted.
“I feel the same,” Alexander said, his eyes shining in his passion. “Emily, I can make you no promises of an upright life. I have never known of such things, but I do love you desperately. I find the thought of life without you unbearable. Agree to marry me?”
Emily felt tears pricking at her eyes, but there was a lightness in her heart. “Yes, Alexander. I will marry you. I too cannot live without you.”
His hand trembled against her cheek. He gripped her other hand tightly, their lips but a breath apart. “I most ardently wish to kiss you,” he whispered, “but if I do I am certain the vicar will have apoplexy.”
The thought of his kiss sent a thrill through her.
“Shall we go then?” She replied. The two of them rose and still holding hands and went out of the now nearly deserted church.
Edmund was waiting for them leaning against the duke’s carriage.
“What are you still doing here?” The duke asked.
“Oh, I know you two need a chaperone today,” he teased. “Anyway, I did not want to ride with Father. Can you believe he thinks I had something to do with this?” He waved a hand towards the church. “I told him it was all you, Em.”
“Thank you,” Emily said dryly.
“Did you have something to do with it?” the duke asked Edmund.
“Does Marksham have chickens?” he answered and they laughed together as the duke handed Emily into the carriage. “Friends have to stick together,” Edmund said and they both agreed.
“Now, I would give you advice on how to speak to my father,” Edmund continued, “but I open my mouth and he derides me. I do nothing to please him, so you are best on your own, my friend.” He clapped the duke on the back. “If he gives you too much trouble, I shall drive you both to Gretna Green.”
“I hardly think that will be necessary,” Emily said.
“I must have your father’s permission to marry you,” the duke said to Emily.
“And he shall give it,” she replied eyes flashing.
“Do you always get your way?” the duke asked.
“Always.”
“Unfortunately,” Edmund added.
“It is because for the most part, she is right,” the duke said.
Emily smiled at him and shook her head. “Not this time,” she said. “I should have listened to you instead of just assuming I knew best. Alexander, I am so terribly sorry. I said such horrible things to you. I never meant them. You are nothing like your father. Please, forgive me?”
“Always, Emily. I too acted rashly. If I ever display such lack of judgment again throw a pine cone at my head or something.”
“Or something,” she said softly. Now that they were in the carriage, she turned her face up for his kiss, and Edmund prudently looked away.
The duke gathered her close and she felt the warmth of him in a hard line along the length of her body. She snuggled against him, breathing him in. He was hers. They were to be married. She returned his embrace, clutching him close. Heat suffused through her; so that she thought she might never be cold again.
She ran her gloved fingers up through the curls at the base of his neck, curls that she had longed to touch since they sat together in a snow bank, since they soaked their feet together in the summer lake, since they rode together to find holly berries.
Dozens of moments shared came to her mind, and she wanted dozens more. Thousands. She wanted to tug her gloves off and touch him skin to skin. Instead, she melted against him. The scent of him stirred her blood and her lips parted welcoming him. A mewing sound escaped her unbidden.
Edmund coughed abruptly. “I am meant to be chaperoning,” he said with false censure.
They broke apart, a little flushed even in the cold. The duke kept his arm firmly about her waist. His smile and his embrace told Emily more than words of his unbridled happiness at their union.
“Sandstowe or Bramblewood?” Edmund asked.
“Sandstowe,” the duke said. “I must ask Lord Kentleworth permission to marry his daughter immediately.” Emily tucked herself against Alexander’s side. She knew that somehow she had done the impossible and her world was right again, now and forever.
31
It was Christmas Day at Sandstowe and Emily had passed out the gifts to her young cousins, who were currently enjoying chocolate and peppermint sticks by the fire. She could not imagine how it must feel to have lost their mother. No gift could replace her, but Emily was certain to be supportive of them as Aunt Agnes had been of her and the other youth of Northwickshire.
Even though she and her mother did not always see eye to eye, she knew that her mother loved her dearly. William and Edmund were enjoying a round of cards and her parents seemed content to visit with Aunt Agnes and Uncle Cecil.
Emily pulled Alexander aside to give him his Christmas gift. He opened the box with the cufflinks in it and smiled warmly. “You remembered,” he said.
“I know you used to lose them,” Emily said.
They smiled softly at one another.
“I admit I have been extra careful not to lose my cufflinks,” he said. “Now, I must be doubly careful.”
“I know jewelry is a very improper gift,” Emily said, “but I saw them and could not resist.”
“You have been most improper lately,” he teased. “I must be a bad influence on you.”
“Certainly not,” she said. She blushed as he took her in his arms. “We were not even engaged when I bought them, but they seemed perfect. They have an etching on them.”
He held them up to the light to see the engraving. “They are exquisite.”
“It’s a candle flame,” Emily said. “I thought it was appropriate since you always warm my hands.”
“And you are my light,” he said as he traded his own cuff links out for the ones Emily had bought him.
A moment later he pulled something from his pocket. “Give me your hands,
” he said and she laid them both in his. She trusted this man more than any other. “I hope you will wear this as my token,” he said revealing a glittering ring. “I should have given you my promise years ago: a promise to be faithful, a promise to be yours. My heart has always belonged to you, Emily.”
Emily nodded eagerly holding out her hand. She found that words escaped her at this moment.
He slipped the ruby ring upon her finger and she gasped at its stunning beauty. “Forever and ever,” he said being simultaneously the boy who was her friend and the man she loved.
“It belonged to my maternal grandmother,” the duke said, “and my grandfather’s mother before her. She and my grandfather had many wonderful years together as I hope we shall have.”
Her heart was filled with joy. Nothing could make her happier than every day spent at his side.
“I love you, Emily,” he said.
“I love you, Alexander,” she replied, her eyes shining with tears
They shared a gentle kiss and rejoined the others in their Christmas celebration.
Sometime later after several glasses of wassail punch, Alexander caught Emily under the mistletoe and cupped her face in his hands as he placed a tender kiss upon her lips. “Twelve more days,” he whispered.
“Are you sure you do not want to wait until the chapel at Bramblewood is restored?” Emily teased with a twinkle of mirth in her eye.
“Absolutely not,” the duke said. “The chapel will take months to repair.” He paused thoughtfully. “Perhaps it shall be done in time for the christening of our first child,” he said making Emily blush.
They had planned to marry on the Twelfth day of Christmas, although there was some debate as to whether or not the day the duke broke his engagement with Henrietta counted as the first Sunday of reading the banns for himself and Emily. The duke argued that the whole congregation knew of the matter and that constituted a reading of the banns. The vicar was unwilling to argue with the duke.
No one was surprised when the banns were read on the second week. No one opposed. In fact, the church was filled with well-wishers.
“How close we came to ruining this,” Emily whispered against Alexander’s chest as he held her. They stood swaying under the mistletoe. Christmas carols were being sung in the sitting room.
The duke chuckled. “Your brother would have never allowed it,” he assured her. “It seems Edmund knows our minds better than the both of us.”
“Gads! Don’t tell him that. He will be insufferable.”
The duke kissed her again, running his finger along her collarbone, and then following his finger with his lips. It was all very scandalous, as his lips traced the exposed skin just above her décolletage and then turned her head so he could kiss her behind her ear. Emily shot a glance towards the other room. He caught her chin and turned her attention back to him. He planted another kiss on her lips, and then whispered against them.
“I understand your mother wished you married before the Season’s end, but this country wedding cannot be what she wished for her only daughter.”
Emily sighed. “She is happy that I am happy. Moreover, I am marrying a duke. Mother does love a title. She insists we have an announcement ball in London in the spring.”
“What of you?” he asked pulling her close with a grin. She gave a little squeak as he asked, “How does the appellation Duchess of Bramblewood feel?”
“Being a duchess does not matter one whit to me. Your wife is the only title that matters.” She smiled up at him as he kissed her nose and then her cheeks. “Still, I will not complain.”
“You may when you see the amount of effort involved.”
“Never,” she said between kisses.
“Could you live permanently at Bramblewood, in the country?” he asked. “I hope to only go to London during Lords. Would that be enough to satisfy you?”
“Hmmm?” she said unable to concentrate on his words as he continued to kiss her. He kissed the back of her neck.
He chuckled.
“More than enough,” she assured him. “I do believe Father sees a project in you.”
“Whatever do you mean?” He lifted his head from her skin to look at her.
She deepened her voice to mock his. “I don’t know much about politics, Sir,” she parroted his words to her father swatting at him playfully.
“Well, I don’t.”
“That was a tacit invitation to Father to take you in hand.”
“I do not mind it,” he said. “I have a lot to learn. I don’t even remember my father going to Lords. I am sure many people have forgotten that there even is a Duchy of Bramblewood.”
“Well, I believe that Mother and Father would do well to remove from London on occasion, particularly at Christmastime. Father works too hard. He needs a holiday.”
“They do not know the country as we do,” Alexander said. He went back to nuzzling her neck and sending shivers of delight up her spine.
“Yes, and I wish them to learn to love it, as I do” She caught her breath as he kissed her ear lobe. His breath tickled her as he murmured something.
“Are you counting?” She asked.
“Yes,” he said as he kissed her again.
“What are you counting?”
“Freckles,” he said. “Now, do be still, or if shall have to start over.”
“I shan’t mind,” she said breathlessly.
He nibbled on her ear.
“Then it is settled,” he breathed, his breath tickling her. “Christmas shall always be in the country.”
“Yes, as long as you do not presume to know what I am thinking,” she said.
“I shan’t,” he agreed, kissing several ticklish spots on her neck.
“And neither of us would wish to ask my brother,” she said.
“Agreed.” He said with a laugh.
She lifted her face for another kiss and molded her form to his.
Edmund peeked into the corridor. “What were you going to ask your brother?” He asked.
Emily waved an annoyed hand at him “Go away.” She turned back to her betrothed.
“And here I thought I was bringing good tidings,” Edmund said waving a letter between the lovers. Emily frowned as she looked at the seal. It was from Henrietta. “How long have you had this?” Emily asked her voice full of suspicion.
“So cynical, dear sister, it has only just arrived.” Edmund said as Emily tore open the seal.
“What does it say?” The duke asked.
“It is an announcement of Henrietta’s wedding,” Emily said looking up with a smile. “She eloped to Gretna Green and married Mr. Eldridge last week.”
“So soon?” the duke said.
“True, a lady who breaks an engagement is supposed to wait a year to be wed,” Emily said, “but this is Henrietta.”
“The man is most fortunate.” The duke commented.
“Are you jealous of Eldridge?” Emily looked up at him sharply.
“Most envious, yes.” Alexander admitted. “Mr. Eldridge can hold his bride all night long and may kiss her whenever and wherever he wishes.”
“You could be in Scotland by tomorrow,” Edmund invited.
“I think we shall do things the proper way,” Emily said.
“As you wish, my love,” the duke said. He ignored Edmund entirely and kissed her quite soundly.
“I am still here,” Edmund said sulkily.
The duke paused giving Emily a moment to breathe. He pointed upwards. “And mistletoe is here,” he said. “It is quite proper to kiss under mistletoe.”
Alexander bent to her again with all the promise of his love and she melted in his arms.
Epilogue
Alexander Burgess, the Duke of Bramblewood and Miss Emily Ingram were wed on the Twelfth Day of Christmas. Edmund and Anne stood as witnesses. Emily’s parents did not go back to London until spring. Lady Kentleworth commented on the quaintness of the country wedding, and Lord Kentleworth pulled the duke aside to scho
ol him in politics. Alexander said he did not mind. He had a lot to learn about London and Lords.
Emily had made a stunning winter bride. She was given a snowy white fur stole from the duke’s mother’s collection that kept her warm and made her look fine enough for royalty. Aunt Agnes found a bolt of blue velvet at a dress shop in Northwick for her gown and her mother brought a cascade of diamonds to adorn her hair and neck. Alexander gave her his grandmother’s ring as a token, but she was most pleased when they were alone after the ceremony he placed a bit of holly in her hair and called her his winter fairy queen.
“I thought I was your mermaid,” she teased.
He shrugged. “Sometimes fairy creatures are interchangeable.”
“I am no creature!” Emily decried playfully, but the duke insisted that she was his fairy creature and captured her lips with his own halting any further protest.
The duke had eyes only for his new duchess and refused to release her from his side for the entire event. The knowledge that Alexander might kiss his wife whenever he wished was enough to leave a constant smile upon his face. He did so as often as possible and without hesitation, to the point where the assembled crowd cheered and whistled causing Emily to reveal her deepest blush.
The duke did not even mind the travel to London since Emily was with him. Their wedding announcement ball was the highlight of the London season. Alexander reminded his bride when she was overwhelmed with her mother’s zealous preparations, it was nearly impossible for a member of the peerage to have a small country wedding.
Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge arrived in London for the ball and toasted the bride and groom and Mr. Eldridge waxed poetic about his own sweet Henrietta. It seemed, if possible, he was even more passionate about his new wife than he was about his agricultural pursuits.
“What an unexpected couple they make,” Emily whispered against her husband’s shoulder as she pressed her cheek against him. “And yet, they suit one another.”
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