Miss Harvey's Horribly Lovable Fiancé: Four Weddings and a Frolic, Book 3
Page 11
He loomed above her, two fingers to her chin. “To have and to hold from this day forward.”
Her breath caught. “In sickness and in health.”
“To love and to cherish, you are my beloved, Esme Beauchamp.”
She opened her arms and drew him to her lips. “You are my only love, Giles Beauchamp.”
“May I kiss my bride?” he asked with glee upon his handsome mouth.
“More than once, please, good sir.”
“Before I do, my sweet, you’d better roll over and let me have that license beneath your pretty arse. I want to marry you today…and that means we have no time to replace it.”
She dutifully turned to one side and heard the crinkle of the parchment as he removed it.
“You’ve pressed out all the wrinkles quite firmly, darling. Thank you.” His eyes danced.
She cuffed him.
But he caught both her hands and bent down to nip her lower lip. “We must find a vicar.”
She narrowed her eyes on him, saucy in her happiness. “Tomorrow.”
“One hour.”
“Two,” she insisted.
He clamped her so close, all the air left her lungs. “This clergyman had better live close by.”
“He does. An older gentleman. You’ll like him, he’s a scholar of the Old— Ouff!”
He shut her up with a devouring kiss that made every bone in her body soft as porridge.
“Oh, Giles. From this moment on, I promise to be a good wife. Uncomplicated. Dutiful and—”
“Oh, well.” Pushing away, he frowned at her. “In that case…”
“What?”
“This prospect of marriage…” He appeared seriously affronted.
She pushed up on one elbow. “What about it?”
“I could not abide it.”
“What? What could you not—?”
“A dutiful wife? Uncomplicated? Sedate? Without your pistol? Darling, I don’t know. That sounds appallingly…boring. I cannot bear being bored.”
“Bored!? Are you mad?”
“Yes!” He hauled her against him once more. “About you.”
Her mind jumbled, she saw he joked and pinched his arm. Then she kissed the spot. “Oh, Giles, you are the only man I wish to please each second of my life. I shall be as complicated and unpredictable as you wish. I shall aim to be erratic and untamed. Pistols and all! But do love me.”
“Always. Now do be quiet,” he said. “You are wasting away your hour.”
“Two.”
“Tick, tock, tick, tock.”
So as she laughed, he flowed down around her and until late the next morning introduced her to the truest meaning of a love that forgave, endured and enchanted.
Tales of the Ton!
Published each Monday!
June 24, 1816
Your Ever Faithful Correspondent happily reports that the Marquess and Marchioness of Northington have recently arrived at the Marquess’s home in London from Wiltshire.
The news that the bride, Her Ladyship, formerly Miss Esme Caroline Harvey daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Courtland, visited her frail Great Aunt, Lady Elizabeth Warrington, near the town of Marlborough before her wedding has been verified by many who saw her whilst on her travels. Her husband aided his new wife in her kind desire to visit her elderly Aunt. Their nuptials—to have been celebrated at her parents’ estate of Courtland Hall—were performed by the Reverend James Powis, vicar of St. Peter’s, Marlborough.
The happy couple, we are told by a credible source, remain in London for only one week before they retire to their country home for the summer months. While in Town, they will not be receiving nor calling on acquaintances.
However, when they return to town in late October, they begin their polite calls upon Society.
Reliable sources have it, too, that they will do us the honor at that time by hosting a ball for family and friends.
THE END
Who is Cerise DeLand?
Cerise DeLand
Cerise DeLand loves to write about dashing heroes and the sassy women they adore. Whether she’s penning historical romances or contemporaries, she has received praise for her poetic elegance and accuracy of detail.
An award-winning author of more than 50 novels, she’s been published since 1991 by Pocket Books, St. Martin’s Press, Kensington and independent presses. Her books have been monthly selections of the Doubleday Book Club and the Mystery Guild. Plus she’s won nominations and awards for Best Historical of the Year, Best Regency and scores of rave reviews from Romantic Times, Affair de Coeur, Publisher’s Weekly and more.
To research, she’s dived into the oldest texts and dustiest library shelves. She’s also traveled abroad, trusty notebook and pen in hand, to visit the chateaux and country homes she loves to people with her own imaginary characters.
And at home every day? She loves to cook, hates to dust, goes swimming at least once a week and tries (desperately) to grow vegetables in her arid backyard in south Texas!
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Box sets, Historical romances:
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