Because of his budding partnership with the local university, the scales had been tilted in Arjun’s favour—after Thomas, of course. But that had worked out perfectly, because it had given the two of them time to get to know each other, to figure out if there was more than just physical attraction and mutual respect and admiration between them. And, a few months down the line, it was clear that Arjun intended to stick around, and was fitting very nicely into their arrangement.
As was little Harry—the Golden Retriever puppy Mia had bought Thomas for his birthday back in March. She smiled as she thought about the furry ball of trouble, and wondered if he was behaving himself for Polly—one of James’s granddaughters, who’d jumped at the chance of playing with a dog all day long while its owner was on usher duty. Polly might not think he was so adorable if he started chewing her shoes or her dress, though.
Her smile faded as she remembered the last few months hadn’t just been filled with happy times. There’d been some hard days, like her father’s birthday—her first without him—and Father’s Day, which had been just last week. But then, having lost one parent already, she’d known damn well how difficult it would be and had tried hard to focus on the positives to get her through it. Luckily she had plenty of those positives and was about to embark on the biggest one of them all—getting married to the man she loved. Or one of them, anyway.
She pictured Elias’s gorgeous, smiling face. Those dimples. Those soulful brown eyes. The life they—and that included the others—were going to have together. Hell yeah, she was excited!
Just then, James appeared at the door and knocked discreetly on the frame. “It’s almost time, ladies.” He took in Mia’s appearance and, if she wasn’t mistaken, grew a little misty-eyed. “Elias is a very lucky man. You look stunning, Mia.”
She grinned, her throat contracting as she remembered why James was here. He would be the one giving her away—something that, the moment it had occurred to her, was blindingly obvious. He was the perfect man for the job. “Thank you, James. Right,” she turned to Betty again, “will I do, Betty? Anything else you need to tweak, brush, touch up?” She couldn’t help her smirk as she poked fun at the housekeeper.
The older woman narrowed her eyes and tapped Mia’s arm. “Now, now, I’m just looking after you, that’s all.”
Mia wrapped Betty in a warm hug and whispered into her ear, “You always do.” She kissed her cheek, then said, “Let’s do this!”
Betty, now looking more than a little misty-eyed herself, scurried from the room, leaving Mia and James alone. He walked over to her and held out his arm. She took it. “You have no idea how much I wish your father was the one doing this, Mia, but words can’t express how honoured I am that you chose me in his stead.”
A lump appeared in her throat as she looked at him, and she blinked rapidly. “Oh God, don’t make me cry, James. Betty and the girls will kill me if I ruin my makeup!” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for agreeing to it. I wish it was Dad, too, but in his absence, there’s no one else I’d rather have giving me away. It means everything to me.”
“And to me,” he said quietly, his voice quavering slightly. He glanced at his watch. “We have a couple of minutes, so I’m going to say something you probably won’t like, but I don’t want Edward haunting me for the rest of my days, so I feel it’s my duty.”
Smiling, Mia said, “Sorry, Betty’s beaten you to it. Yes, I’m sure about this. I love Elias and I really want to marry him.”
“Oh,” came the reply. The butler blinked in surprise, but recovered quickly. “In that case, to borrow your words, let’s do this!”
There was nothing else to say. Her pulse racing and butterflies whizzing around her stomach, she left the room on James’s arm, and together they walked along the corridor, down the stairs, and to the back parlour where her bridesmaids awaited. James released her for a moment as the women exchanged hugs and kisses. There was a quick check of hair and clothes, and a touch up of makeup, then they all got into position.
It was time.
Chapter Eighteen
It was a perfect day for a wedding. The sky was a stunning shade of a blue, with only a couple of wispy white clouds floating around. The sun shone brightly down onto the gardens, showing them at their very best. The trees, bushes, and grass were vivid shades of green, while the borders around the lawn currently set up for the ceremony were awash with colour. Bold pinks, purples, yellows, reds looked resplendent and buzzed with insect life. Thomas had worked harder than ever since the decision had been made to hold the wedding at the estate, and it had paid off in spades. At Mia’s insistence, there was not a single cut flower in sight.
The setup for the ceremony itself was very pretty, but simple. White chairs with purple bows were positioned either side of the aisle. A white wooden arch, also decorated in purple ribbon, stood behind the celebrant. The purple theme continued through the belts around the bridesmaids’ waists, and although she couldn’t see them yet, the ushers’ and groom’s bowties. As they drew closer to the back rows of chairs, Mia saw that even little Harry, who was currently sitting nicely on Polly’s lap, his tongue hanging out as fellow guests cooed at him, wore a purple bow around his neck. Thomas’s doing, no doubt. She smiled.
Unobtrusive background music began playing as the wedding party approached the area, and everyone turned to look. Mia held her head high and tried not to blush at all the attention, or think about the people who should be here, but weren’t. As if reading her mind—God, she hoped not—James squeezed her arm, and she gave him a fond smile before turning her attention back ahead of them. From this distance she could take in all four of her men because no one would know who or what she was looking at, so she took advantage of it. As in her fantasy all those months ago, they looked incredibly smart and sexy in their matching tuxedos. It was a real shame she’d only get the opportunity to help remove one of those tuxedos tonight. Ugh, it was her wedding day—why couldn’t she have her cake and eat it, too?
Closer to the front now, she shifted her gaze to Elias and kept it there. They smiled at each other, and his smile seemed to widen as the distance between them decreased. When at last they’d reached the altar and the bridesmaids had moved into position, and James had slipped unobtrusively away to take his seat, Elias drank her in, and said quietly, “You take my breath away, darling. I knew you were going to look gorgeous today, but… wow!”
She took a quick peek over his shoulder to see three very similar expressions on Alex, Thomas and Arjun’s faces. Looking back at her husband-to-be, she said, “Thank you. You all look very smart, too.”
“Before we start,” Elias murmured, “Thomas has a message for you. He says ‘look at the arch’.”
Frowning, she turned to do as she was bidden. Tears sprung immediately to her eyes as she saw the silver angels hanging there, side by side, the sunlight glinting off their shiny surfaces. Her parents were here, after all. Holding her hand to her mouth for a moment, she gulped hard, then looked at Thomas, who was slightly blurry due to the tears that threatened. Figuring no one would know what was going on, or would assume she meant for the work on the gardens, she took her hand away and mouthed, “Thank you.”
He inclined his head, and she hurriedly returned her attention to Elias. “Are you ready?”
“Is the sky blue?”
She grinned and looked up. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen it so blue.”
“Me either. Must be a sign.” He turned to the celebrant and signalled for him to begin.
The background music changed, and the celebrant said, “We are gathered here on this beautiful summer’s day, to witness the union of Mia and Elias. They will be joined together in matrimony, in love, and in life.”
Mia’s heart raced, and she couldn’t resist a peek at Elias out of the corner of her eye. He looked elated. She pressed her lips together to suppress her smile and tried to concentrate on the officiant’s words. They had, for obvious reasons, decided to s
kip the part about who was giving Mia away, and moved directly onto a simple reading, followed by their vows, which they’d also tweaked to fit their situation—by missing out the part about forsaking all others. Asking if anyone had any objections to their being married had seemed like playing with fire, so that had been nixed, too.
“So, if you are ready to exchange vows…” the celebrant prompted.
Mia and Elias turned to each other. Elias cleared his throat, gave her a shy smile, and began. “I, Elias, take you, Mia, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.”
Mia jumped in without prompting. “I, Mia, take you, Elias, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.”
“Thank you.” The celebrant turned to Alex. “And do you have the rings?”
Alex stepped forward, clutching the rings—Elias had probably threatened him on pain of death if he lost them. He handed them over.
They thanked him, and Mia held out her left hand. Elias slid the ring onto her finger as he said, “I, Elias, give you, Mia, this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you.”
After a brief pause, they swapped, and Mia slid the platinum band onto Elias’s ring finger as she repeated the words, “I, Mia, give you, Elias, this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you.”
They looked deeply into each other’s eyes, then, and she could see her own happiness reflected there, as well as an eagerness for the officiant to say the next words. Finally, he did.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You—”
But it was too late. Elias had already looped his arms around Mia’s waist and pulled her in for a kiss, which she returned with enthusiasm. A few whoops and catcalls rang out from the guests, and Harry gave a yap of excitement. They broke the kiss reluctantly, laughing, then hugged tightly.
“Bloody hell, Mia,” Elias said next to her ear, “we’ve only gone and done it. Soon as we sign that certificate, this is all yours.”
“Do you mean you, or the estate?”
He chuckled. “Both! Come on, let’s get it done. Then the party can begin.”
“I like the sound of that.” She pulled away and took his hand. “Let’s go, then, husband.”
“All right, wife. God, that sounds good, doesn’t it? I love you.”
“It really does. I love you, too.”
They grinned at each other, and the music changed once again as the couple led the wedding party back up the aisle. They broke away briefly to finalise the paperwork, making it legally binding, before heading back to join their guests in the marquee which had been set up on another of the lawns.
As they entered, to a round of cheers and tossed confetti, Mia couldn’t remember feeling happier in her life. She’d gained a wonderful husband and secured her own future, as well as that of many others, in one fell swoop. If that wasn’t the most amazing way to spend a day, she didn’t know what was. The fact that they were also sharing it with Alex, Thomas, and Arjun—as well as their friends and family—only made it a hundred times better.
***
The minute the door of the beautiful classic car was closed on them, sealing them off from the grinning faces and cheering voices, Mia turned and snuggled into Elias’s side. “Phew, a bit of peace and quiet at last.”
“Mmm,” he said, putting him arm around her shoulder and drawing her close, “and we get to finish that kiss that was so rudely interrupted earlier.”
“Oh yes,” she replied, turning her face up to his, “that’s a good idea.”
She was vaguely aware of further whoops and catcalls, then the car began moving. It was taking her and Elias directly to Heathrow. She’d been told she’d be away for three weeks, and that was all she knew. It seemed odd to be leaving the estate behind after taking such a big step to ensure it became hers, but it was in the capable hands of James, Betty, and Thomas, so she knew everything would be just fine.
The thought of Thomas made her break the kiss with a sigh.
Elias raised his eyebrows. “Bored of me already? Bloody hell, that’s got be a record.”
She chuckled and lightly tapped his jean-clad leg—they’d got changed into casual clothes to travel. “No. Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just… don’t take this the wrong way, but it seems weird that it’s just the two of us.”
“I know I’ve got friends in high places, darling, but even I can’t make polyandrous marriage legal.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “Weird that it’s just the two of us going away.”
“Oh, I see…” He sat back in his seat, and a sick feeling seeped into Mia’s stomach at the idea she might have upset him. She’d married him, after all, not all four of her men—though in some kind of spiritual way, the fact they’d all been standing right beside them at the time made it feel like she had. “What would you say if I told you that it wasn’t just the two of us? What if I told you we’re meeting the others at the airport later on?”
Mia stared at him, unable to believe her ears. “Are you serious? We’re all going… wherever the hell we’re going?” She bounced in her seat, the sick feeling having been eradicated and replaced with ferocious excitement. It looked like she could have her cake and eat it, after all.
Elias raised his eyebrows. “I’ve told you this before, my beautiful wife, I don’t joke about things like this.”
“Bloody hell, Elias—you arranged all this and managed to keep it a secret? You are the best husband ever!” She cupped his cheeks and planted a loud kiss on his lips. “So,” she batted her eyelashes at him, “where are we going?”
He shook his head. “I know I made vows, Mia, but I never vowed to spoil surprises for you.”
“Damn it—I knew there was something we should have added.” She paused. “Not even a hint?”
“Nope.” He was resolute.
“A teeny-tiny clue?”
“Not a chance.” He folded his arms across his chest and gave her a stern look. “Now stop asking or I’ll throw your passport out of the window when we get on the motorway.”
That shut her up. She settled back in the soft leather seat, her grin spreading from ear to ear and excitement filling every cell. It didn’t matter where they were going. Now she knew all her men were coming along for the ride, they could be going camping in Devon for all she cared.
But deep down, she knew perfectly well that, whatever their destination, it was going to be amazing.
***
A note from the author: Thank you so much for reading Mia’s Wedding (The Heiress’s Harem #2). If you enjoyed it, please do tell your friends, family, colleagues, book clubs, and so on. Also, posting a short review on the retailer site you bought the book from would be incredibly helpful and very much appreciated. There are lots of books out there, which makes word of mouth an author’s best friend, and also allows us to keep doing what we love doing—writing.
What’s Next For Mia?
If you want to find out what happens after the wedding, then visit the link below for all the gossip on book three in the series, Mia’s Choice, and to purchase your copy.
More information and buy links.
About the Author
Lucy Felthouse is the award-winning author of erotic romance novels Stately Pleasures (named in the top 5 of Cliterati.co.uk’s 100 Modern Erotic Classics That You’ve Never Heard Of, and an Amazon bestseller), Eyes Wide Open (winner of the Love Romances Café’s Best Ménage Book 2015 award, and an Amazon bestseller), The Persecution of the Wolves, Hiding in Plain Sight and The Heiress’s Harem series. Including novels, short stories and novellas, she has over 170 publications to her name. Find out more about her writing at http://luc
yfelthouse.co.uk, or on Twitter or Facebook. Sign up for automatic updates on Amazon or BookBub. Subscribe to her newsletter and get a free eBook: http://www.subscribepage.com/lfnewsletter
If You Enjoyed Mia’s Wedding
If you enjoyed this reverse harem romance, you may enjoy these other romances with multiple partners—as well as the other books in The Heiress’s Harem series. My full backlist is on my website.
Eyes Wide Open
An ordinary girl catapulted into an extraordinary world meets two even more extraordinary men—but what will she do when she discovers their sexy secret?
Fiona Gillespie moved to London shortly after graduating to take advantage of the opportunities the capital could offer. However, months later, she’s still living in a horrid flat and working in a grimy East End pub. The problem is, she doesn’t really know what she wants to do, career-wise. So when she happens upon an advertisement for a job at a plush Mayfair hotel, she jumps at the chance. A great deal of determination and a spot of luck land Fiona her dream role.
But working at the Totally Five Star London is just the beginning. She adores the role and flourishes, impressing her bosses and making her increasingly determined to climb the career ladder.
While her career is flying, though, her love life is non-existent. She hasn’t even thought about men, never mind met or dated one for months, so when she bumps into two gorgeous businessmen in the hotel, she’s surprised to find her head has been well and truly turned. Even more surprisingly, they flirt with her—both of them! She’s drawn to James and Logan, despite feeling that they’re way out of her league.
When a misunderstanding leads Fiona to James and Logan’s sumptuous top-floor suite, she has no idea what she’s about to uncover. Scenes of people-trafficking, drug-pushing and wild sex parties all appear in her active imagination. Yet what she actually sees is something she’d never even considered before, something that piques her interest.
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