The Earl's Perfect Match

by Kimberly Nee

  “Everything is wonderful,” she said, grasping the long skirt in both hands and spreading it wide. “Everything is better than wonderful.”

  “Why? What happened?”

  Claudia flung the fabric up, letting the lavender silk flutter down gracefully. “If I tell you, do you swear to not breathe a word to anyone? Not even Conn?”

  “I swear. Now tell me.” Elena couldn’t help but smile. Claudia’s joy was contagious.

  “I’m going to have a baby.”

  “What?” She stared at Claudia in wide-eyed shock. That was not what she’d expected her friend to say at all. “Are you sure? How do you even know?”

  “I don’t know for certain, but I’m late and that never happens. Only I haven’t even said anything to Galen yet. How do you think he’ll react?”

  “How late?” Elena lowered her voice, joining her friend at the wardrobe to minimize their chances of being overheard.

  “Only a week. But I’m never late, Lena. Never.” Claudia’s smile faded, and her brow furrowed. “And you haven’t answered me. Is he going to be furious?”

  “Furious? No. Oh, of course not, Claude. It’s glad tidings, hearing this news. He’ll be concerned for you, of course, but he adores children. You’ve seen him with our nieces and nephews. They climb all over him and he loves every moment of it.” Elena caught her by the shoulders and couldn’t stop the silly smile overtaking her face. “I’m happy for you. Both of you. And even more glad you patched things up.”

  “I haven’t told Mama or Papa yet. I think I’ll wait until we have the wedding behind us.”

  “Probably wise. But you should tell Galen. Only don’t tell him I already know. I shouldn’t know before him. No one else should know before him.”

  Claudia smiled. “I had no idea it was possible to be this happy. I wish I could bottle it and share it with you. It doesn’t seem right that I keep it all to myself.”

  “You needn’t worry, Claude. I think I know what that happiness feels like, actually.” Elena couldn’t keep her smile at bay.

  Claudia’s eyes widened and her mouth hung open. “Cousin Bennett? Really?”

  Elena let her smile grow wider, and Claudia threw her arms around her. “But that’s wonderful, Lena! Oh, I’m so happy for you both!”

  “Don’t say anything, especially to either of my brothers. He and I have kissed, but that’s it.” She gave Claudia a last squeeze, then stepped back. “I think it’s time we dressed, don’t you?”

  “Absolutely.” Claudia beamed at her as she crossed to the heavy woven braid of the bellpull. “Lena, I’m getting married.”

  “I know.”

  “We’re going to be sisters.”

  Elena smiled. “I know. And if Serena were here—”

  “The three of us would be in tears.”

  “No tears. Not today.” Gabby came into the room, and as her gaze fell upon her daughter, her eyes grew shiny. “Or else I will cry as well and your father will never let me forget it.”

  Both Elena and Claudia burst out laughing, but at the same time, sobs caught in their throats. Elena sniffed and dabbed her eyes with one hand. “We should dress, before we all melt down and dissolve.”

  Gabby embraced her daughter, and then held one arm out for Elena to join. As she moved into the hug, she realized just how long it had been since she’d last felt her own mother’s hug and her eyes grew damp again. When the time came for her own wedding, should that day ever arrive, her mother wouldn’t be there. She would never be there. That realization brought a thick lump to her throat and she hugged Gabby even tighter. If there was a heaven and if that’s where Fiona Sebastiano was, hopefully she would feel the love in that embrace.

  “You rang, Miss Sebastiano?” Molly and another maid bustled into the room. “Are you all ready to dress, ladies?”

  Gabby gave Elena an extra squeeze before stepping away and clapping her hands. “Yes. I won’t have Galen thinking you aren’t coming.”

  …

  Elena sat across from Claudia in the coach carrying them to the church in Dunning Village. Her friend was a beautiful bride, in her flowing silk gown of soft lavender, carrying a bouquet of roses that had been selected for her from the Dunning greenhouses and almost perfectly matched her gown. She looked so beautiful, so serene. Galen had to know how fortunate he was, to have won her heart.

  Her gaze fell to the simple bouquet, and she smiled. It would be just like Bennett to insist Claudia use the flowers, even if he was no longer the groom. It wouldn’t be long before the men arrived at the church, and her heart beat a little faster at the thought of seeing Bennett dressed in his formal wedding clothes. He would look so handsome. So very handsome, indeed. She hugged that pleasant thought to herself as Claudia said, “Lena, when we were little girls, if you’d told me I’d grow up and marry Galen, I’d have thought you mad.”

  “I’d have thought me mad as well. He despised us both because we followed him all around St. Phillippe.”

  Gabby sighed softly. “It’s difficult to believe any of you are actually old enough to be marrying. It seems as if it was only yesterday that Finn and I were watching you girls play on the beach.” Her gaze fell squarely on Elena. “And you look so much like her, Elena. She’d be very proud of the woman you’ve become.”

  “I never thought I looked like her. Aidrian and Serena do, however.”

  “No. They may have her eyes, but you are so much like her in every other way. You’re headstrong and brash at times and you speak your mind. You may have your father’s eyes, but you are every bit your mother’s daughter.”

  Elena blinked back tears. Her mother had been gone just over four years, and not a day went by without her thinking of Fiona—Finn, to those who knew her before her children were born—and today, she had the feeling her mother was looking down on her. And smiling.

  When they reached the church, the vicar ushered them into a small room. “The groom and his party have arrived, so we will be ready to begin in just a few minutes.”

  “Thank you,” Claudia said, sounding breathless and as if she was about to begin crying again.

  Elena smiled. “I have to see Galen and wish him well. I’ll be back in just a few minutes.” She slipped out to make her way to the sacristy, where she gently rapped on the closed door.

  Conn opened it. “Don’t even tell me she’s changed her mind.”

  “No. She hasn’t. She’s waiting in her own little room. May I come in?”

  Conn opened the door wider. “Of course.”

  “How is the groom faring?” she asked, peering over at Galen, who was staring out the window with a dazed look on his face.

  “He’s faring well,” Galen replied in a low voice. “Just a bit in his cups still.”

  “Conn! How could you let him get foxed the night before his wedding?”

  “As if I could stop him.” Conn closed the door behind them. “He was half in the bag by the time we left the rehearsal. And if you think he’s bad—” He pointed to the far corner. “He’s worse.”

  Elena turned to see Diego sprawled in a rickety-looking wood chair, his head back and a hand over his eyes. “Tio?”

  “Don’t shout, Elena. I’ve a headache,” Diego groaned. “Blasted champagne. It’s the devil’s drink.”

  “You need to get up and pull yourself together. Tia and Claudia are waiting for you. Is this why Tia sent you on ahead? She didn’t want Claudia to see you this way?”

  “I’m fine. I’ve been through much worse.” Diego drew his hand away from his eyes and promptly squinted at the bright light filling the room. “It rains every other day in this country. Why isn’t today one of those days? This light only makes my head hurt more.”

  “Because Mami wouldn’t allow it,” Elena replied, taking him by the hand and drawing him up from the chair. “Come along. Let’s get you to Claudia, since she’s relying on you.”

  Diego held out a hand to Galen. “We’ve had our differences, but I welcome you into our fa
mily. And if you hurt my little girl, I will break you in half.”

  Considering Galen was almost the same size as his future father-in-law, he merely smiled and clasped Diego’s hand. “I will never hurt her in any way. I give you my word.”

  Elena grinned as the two men embraced, just imagining what would happen if she let Claudia’s secret out. Although she would have loved to tell Galen he was going to be a father, just to see his reaction, this was Claudia’s good news to share, not hers.

  Still, a child. Although two of her brothers and her sister had children of their own, Elena had never really thought about what it meant to create a new life with someone, how amazing such a thing was.

  Her eyes misted over as the door opened and Bennett poked his head in. “Captain Sebastiano, are you almost ready?”

  “He is. I’ll see you down at the altar, Gale.” She closed the distance between them to embrace him warmly. “I love you, and I’m so happy for you,” she whispered.

  He squeezed her back. “Thank you, Lena. For everything.”

  She drew away to kiss his cheek. “You’re welcome.” She turned to Conn. “I’ll see you down there.”

  As she stepped around the door, she smiled up at Bennett. “They are commiserating in their overindulgence from last eve.”

  The door swung shut, and he grinned. “They aren’t the only ones who overindulged.”

  “Do you keep spirits hidden in your chambers, my lord?”

  “I had Matthews bring me a bottle. I had some trouble sleeping last eve.”

  “Do tell?”

  His grin grew feral. “A woman kept me up far too late, wrestling with lusty thoughts and no outlet for them.”

  “My lord, I’m shocked to hear this.”

  “If you call me that one more time, I’ll—”

  She stopped to face him and smiled. “You’ll do what?”

  He bent toward her, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, “I’ll kiss you into silence right here, my lady.”

  “I’m not a lady.” She rolled her eyes. “I mean, I am, of course, but—”

  “We can change that.” His voice was a low purr.

  Her heart skipped a beat. “Is that a proposal?”

  “I don’t know.” His forehead creased. “Perhaps. It just rather slipped out.”

  She smiled. “You’re learning, my lord.”

  “Learning what?”

  “To not be such a fatalist.”

  He pulled away, his eyes glittering in the sunlight spilling through the windows high up on the walls. “Did I have a choice? Elena—” He cocked his head to the side. “What is your full name?”

  “Elena Dawn.” She smiled. “I was born at sunrise.”

  “An optimist from the start. Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me,” he remarked. “And as I was saying, Elena Dawn Sebastiano knows nothing other than the sunny side of life. I daresay it’s contagious.”

  She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Go. I have to get back to a nervous bride and her weepy mother.”

  “That color suits you, Elena.”

  “This?” She gestured to the lavender silk and lace confection of a gown she wore. It was very similar to Claudia’s and not a color Elena favored herself. “I feel like an oversize lilac.”

  “You don’t look like one. You look lovely.” He winked. “I will see you at the ball.”

  “Of course.”

  He strolled toward the nave, whistling softly, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. She watched him, admired him for a moment. He did look quite dashing in his formal attire of black breeches and morning coat, and blindingly white shirt and cravat. Every bit the dashing earl, indeed.

  The dashing earl with the silver tongue.

  She smiled all the way back to where Claudia and Gabby were fussing with Claudia’s lacy white veil. The vicar was with them. “We were wondering if you’d run off, miss.”

  “I beg your pardon,” Elena said, her cheeks growing warm. “It seems the groom and the bride’s father are feeling a bit under the weather.”

  “Are they all right?” Claudia asked, glancing at her mother, who looked ready to spit nails.

  “They are fine. And Galen is nervous, but happy.” She passed Claudia her bouquet. “And he’s waiting for you. Let’s not make his day any more difficult, shall we?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  When the ceremony ended and the couple were pronounced married, Galen kissed his bride and everyone in the full church cheered. Elena stood beside Conn, smiling and blinking back tears of joy as the newly married Captain and Mrs. Sebastiano made their way up the aisle. Elena didn’t know if she was the only one smiling and sighing with relief at the same time, but judging by the look on Conn’s face, she wasn’t.

  From the church, they went directly to the wedding breakfast, and by the time they returned to Dunning Court for the nuptial ball, the sun had begun its descent in the sky, with twilight on its coattails.

  The ballroom at Dunning Court was awash in pale gold candlelight and white silk bunting, and fresh flowers scented the air with the delicate perfume of vase after vase of roses. It was a sea of elegance from the white runners leading in from the corridor to the rear wall of glass overlooking the lush gardens.

  Elena smiled as the orchestra played. She’d already indulged in a glass of champagne and the bubbles made her feel weightless and breezy. It only added to her nearly giddy happiness.

  “Would you care to dance, Miss Sebastiano?” Lord Dunning’s smooth, deep voice was low in her ear, and his hand came to rest on her hip.

  “I would love to,” she replied, setting down her glass on the nearest tray to allow him to draw her out onto the dance floor.

  He smiled down at her, holding her closer than was appropriate, but between the champagne and the fact that it was him, Elena didn’t mind the scandalous nature of it. In fact, she was of a mind to show him how they danced on St. Phillippe. It would make the gossips practically foam at the mouth.

  Emboldened by the champagne, she cocked her head up at him and said, “Back home, we don’t bother with keeping quite so much distance from our partners.”

  His eyebrows crept up a tad. “Is that so?”

  She nodded, letting her left hand come to rest on his shoulder. “Perhaps it’s an island custom, but we aren’t so concerned about making certain only hands touch.”

  To prove her point, she tightened her fingers on his shoulder and drew him closer. He didn’t resist, even if his eyes widened when her hip bumped him. “What’re you doing?”

  “You’ll see.” She smiled angelically up at him, laying her right hand in his. “Now, step. Step. Step. Turn. Step. Step. Step. Turn.”

  He did as she instructed, stumbled once or twice, but then fell into an easy, flowing rhythm. He was a graceful dancer and for some reason that didn’t surprise her one bit.

  “What do you call this dance?”

  “I don’t call it anything. I don’t know if it even has a name. Does it have to?”

  “Not at all.” His eyes met hers and they glittered in the golden candlelight. “Elena, I have been blessed to have you come into my life. Have I told you that?”

  “No. But it’s nice to hear. Thank you.”

  “No, thank you.” He turned, narrowly missing a stern-faced couple trying their best to barely touch one another. “You’ve given me much to think about. I won’t be marrying Rosamund any time soon.”

  Her heart soared at that, and perhaps it was only the champagne, but she felt as if she was floating. “Is that so?”

  “It is.” His eyes took on a more serious glint. “You do realize there is a good chance I’ll make you a very young widow, don’t you?”

  “I told you, I don’t believe in curses. And even if I did, I’d take the chance.” She could scarcely breathe, her heart hammered so hard against her chest. This had nothing to do with the champagne and all to do with finally having a wish come true.

  “Are you certain, Elena? I don’t ever
want to be the reason why you cry. Not ever.”

  “My lord.” Her eyes prickled with tears, and she blinked to clear them. “Please…you need to stop saying such things. No one knows the future, and the past doesn’t mean yours is written in stone. It’s fluid. It changes. For all you know, my coming here has changed the path, because tonight, instead of dancing here with me, you could have been somewhere else. Down at the lake, maybe. Or perhaps you’d have gotten set upon by highwaymen coming home from London at some point. Don’t you see?” She searched his eyes, her fingers tightening about his. “It doesn’t have to come to pass the way you think it will.”

  A slow smile curved his lips. “How do you do it? Always the bright side. I’ve been so very fortunate, that we crossed paths when we did.”

  She wanted so much to slide her arms about his neck and draw him into her, to kiss him breathless right there, in front of everyone. But since she couldn’t, she squeezed his hand again. “You aren’t the only one who counts their blessings, my lord. Not by half.”

  The music died away and she reluctantly stepped away from him. He bent slightly at the waist and brought her gloved hand to his lips. “I need to check on your brother and Cousin Claudia. They should be making their entrance soon. And when I return, I should like another go at this dancing you do on St. Phillippe. I rather like it.”

  “Come find me and I’m all yours.”

  “Dangerous words, darling,” he replied with a wink. “You have no idea what thoughts they put into my head.”

  She laughed, but as he turned and disappeared into the crowd, she whispered, “Oh, I beg to differ, my lord. For they are probably close to the thoughts you put into my own head.”

  …

  It was, without a doubt, the most wonderful ball Elena had ever attended. She danced more times with Lord Dunning than was probably considered proper, but she didn’t care. She also didn’t care when Conn gave her a long look as she and the earl parted from their fourth dance that evening.

  He came up to her and smiled. “Would you care to dance?”