A Viscount's Heart for Christmas (Book 5, Age of Innocence)

by Debra Elizabeth

  Edgerton took his hand in a firm shake. “Thank you, Wetherby.”

  “When’s the wedding?” Julia asked. “What about your Season?”

  Edgerton chuckled at his sister. “We haven’t discussed that yet, but if my betrothed wishes for a long engagement so she can enjoy the Season, her wish will be my command. It will be what she wishes.” He led Courtney to her seat, kissing her knuckles as he took his own seat next to her.

  The rest of the evening was a blur for Courtney. She floated in the euphoria of knowing that Charles loved her, and nothing else mattered. After dinner, she sought out Violet. “I’m so happy we’ll officially be sisters now.”

  Violet hugged her, tears glistening in her eyes. “As am I. I couldn’t ask for a better sister.”

  Courtney went to her mother next. “Mama, are you pleased?”

  Katherine hugged her. “If you are satisfied, then I’m well pleased indeed.”

  “Thank you, Mama. I love him, and he loves me.”

  Lord Edgerton walked over to them. “Your Grace, I want you to know I adore your daughter and will do everything in my power to make sure she’s happy. She will be well cared-for and will want for nothing.”

  “I’m pleased to hear that,” Katherine said.

  Courtney was overjoyed to be on Edgerton’s arm for the rest of the evening, as they talked with all the guests. When it was time to depart, he whispered, “I would dearly love to kiss you again.”

  “As would I,” she said.

  “I will call on you tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow is Christmas, and you should spend it with your family.”

  He raised her hand to his lips. “You are my family now, my dearest.”

  Warmth spread through Courtney’s insides. “I love the sound of that. Until tomorrow then, my love. Good evening.”

  Wetherby, Hannah, and Katherine stood with her as they wished their guests a Happy Christmas. When they retired to the parlor, Katherine spoke up. “We must go see Mrs. Phillips straight away.”

  Courtney smiled, thinking about having a new dress for marrying the man of her dreams. She turned to Hannah. “Will you come as well?”

  “Of course. I’d like nothing better.”

  “You must be married at St. George’s, as befitting your station,” Katherine said.

  “Mama, we haven’t discussed any plans yet. Lord Edgerton will call tomorrow, and we can discuss his preferences as well.”

  Katherine flicked her hand. “Oh my dear, men don’t care about wedding details. Trust me. All he cares about is when the wedding will take place.”

  Wetherby chuckled. “You have the right of it, Mother.”

  Hannah stifled a yawn. “Oh my. I’m more tired than I thought.” She kissed Courtney’s cheek. “I’m so happy for you, my dear. Lord Edgerton is one of the finest men I know.”

  “I think so as well,” Courtney said.

  Wetherby escorted Hannah out of the parlor, leaving Courtney alone with her mother.

  “My dear, there’s something you should know.”

  Courtney’s stomach clenched, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what her mother had to say. She wanted to hold on to the blissful happiness she’d felt all evening. The man she adored loved her in return. That was all she needed to know. “Mama, I don’t—”

  Katherine grasped her hand. “I’ve expressed my displeasure about Lord Carlisle to both Lady Edgerton and Lady Tisbury.”

  “You have?”

  Katherine nodded. “He shall not be getting invitations from them or their friends if he returns to Town in the spring.”

  Courtney’s shoulders sagged in relief. “Thank you, Mama,” she said, hugging her.

  Katherine patted her back. “Good. Let’s hear no more about him. Off to bed with you. You don’t want Lord Edgerton to see you with shadows under your eyes.”

  “Good night, Mama,” she said before exiting the room.

  Courtney didn’t remember walking to her bedchamber. Her mind was churning with the knowledge that three very powerful ladies in the ton would be giving Lord Carlisle the cut direct. While she never wished anyone ill, she was glad she wouldn’t have to see him again.

  Chapter 21

  EDGERTON COULD HARDLY WAIT TO see Courtney again. Now that they were betrothed, he wanted to kiss her sweet lips over and over again. Last night had only been a taste, and he craved more. He hoped Courtney wouldn’t opt for a long engagement, but if she did, he would certainly agree to whatever she wanted.

  The carriage stopped at the Wetherby townhouse, and he hopped down.

  “Drive around and come back in a quarter-hour,” Edgerton told his driver.”

  The driver nodded. “Very good, my lord,” he said, then flicked the reins to get the team moving.

  Edgerton took the stairs two at a time, and the door opened when he reached the landing.

  “Good day, Lord Edgerton,” the butler said. “May I offer my congratulations on your betrothal?”

  “Thank you. I’m well pleased.”

  “Lady Courtney is in the family parlor,” Hester said, stepping back to allow Edgerton entry.

  He handed over his outerwear to the butler before bounding up the stairs to find his betrothed sitting on the sofa with knitting in hand. “Good afternoon, my darling.”

  Courtney put her knitting down and rushed into Edgerton’s arms. He bent down and gave her a chaste kiss. When she melted against him, he licked the seam of her mouth. She opened for him, and he deepened the kiss. His hand cradled her head as he explored the sweetness of her mouth. It was several minutes before he stopped.

  “How are you faring today, my love?” he asked as he led her to the sofa.

  “I’ve never been happier, and it’s all because of you. I missed you greatly last night.”

  “I missed you as well.”

  “Where are my manners? Would you like tea?”

  Edgerton shook his head. “No, thank you. Unfortunately, I can’t stay long. Have you given any thought to how long you’d like our engagement to be?”

  Courtney gave him her prettiest smile. “I’ve thought of little else. I don’t want a long engagement unless that’s your preference.”

  Edgerton chuckled. “I’d marry you tomorrow if that’s what you wanted.”

  Courtney shook her head. “I would like nothing better, but I don’t wish to disappoint my mother. She’s throwing herself into all the wedding preparations and has never looked happier. She’d be so very disappointed if the banns were not read and we weren’t married at St. George’s.”

  Edgerton leaned forward and kissed her again. “Then that’s what we shall do. I’ll pine for you every day for the next three weeks.”

  Courtney threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you, my love. I’ll be counting down the days until we marry and I never have to be parted from you again.”

  THE NEXT THREE WEEKS flew by in a flurry of activity. Finally, her wedding day dawned, the day Courtney would marry the man who’d captured her heart. Even her mother had warmed considerably to him. She stretched her arms over her head and couldn’t keep the smile from her face.

  “Good morning, my lady,” Nell said, entering her chamber. “Your bath will be ready momentarily in the dressing room.”

  Courtney sat up in bed. “Nell, will you come with me when I marry?”

  “I would be most honored, my lady.”

  She slipped out of bed and hugged her lady’s maid. “Thank you, Nell. I would be lost without you.”

  The older woman was blushing when she stepped back. “You do me great honor, my lady. Let me see to your bath.”

  This was the last day she would spend in this bedchamber. Edgerton had told her she could renovate her new rooms however she liked, but she found her new bedchamber at Edgerton’s townhome, with its sage walls and
pale yellow curtains, most pleasing. Her stomach did a little flip as she realized that tonight, her dreams of being with her handsome husband would come true. She would be truly wed, and she could hardly wait.

  It would be fun to live with her new sisters. She’d never had a close friend when she was younger. Camden was several years older, and no boy wanted his little sister following him about. She wanted to forge loving bonds with all of Edgerton’s sisters. She and Violet were already the best of friends, but she couldn’t remember a dozen words uttered by Emma. She seemed almost on the verge of painfully shy when interacting with others. Of course, with Julia, one was lucky to get a word in edgewise. She chuckled to herself, as Julia had tried to insert herself into the wedding preparations for the last few weeks. Her mother had graciously given the young girl plenty to do.

  She went into her dressing room and as she lay in the warm bath, all thoughts fled except those of Edgerton. His masculine beauty put marble statues to shame. She’d never believed a flesh-and-blood man so sculpted could exist, let alone that he would belong to her. While she was a little nervous about their wedding night, she trusted him to expose her to the delights of the marriage bed.

  “My lady, if you want to be ready on time, you must get out of the tub.”

  There wasn’t anything that would make her late to the church and the man she adored. She rose and took the drying cloth from Nell, wrapping it firmly around herself before taking a seat at the vanity. She stole a look at the beautiful gown Mrs. Phillips had designed for her—the most gorgeous blue velvet gown with an overskirt of white tulle that sparkled in the sunshine.

  Nell dressed her hair and wove pearls and a blue velvet ribbon through her curls. When she finished, she helped her dress. “You’re stunning, my lady.”

  Courtney did a little twirl as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She’d never felt more beautiful and was eager to head to the church.

  Nell handed her the matching blue kid gloves. “Your trunks will be delivered to the Edgerton house as soon as I finish packing.”

  Courtney nodded and swept from the room. She descended the stairs to find Wetherby, Hannah, and her mother in the parlor.

  Wetherby came forward and, taking her in his arms, kissed her forehead. “My dear sister, you look beautiful.”

  Her arms went around his waist for a hug. “Thank you, Camden. Do you think Charles will think so?”

  “He already thinks that, my dear.”

  Hannah was next to hug her. “You’re a vision of beauty. Charles is a lucky man.”

  When Hannah stepped aside, Katherine grasped her hands. “My darling daughter, I can hardly believe you’re to be married today. I wish you and Lord Edgerton much happiness,” she said, pulling Courtney into a tight embrace.

  “Thank you, Mama.”

  When Katherine stepped back, Courtney could see unshed tears in her eyes. “No tears now. This is a most happy day, Mama.” She looked at Wetherby. “Shall we go?”

  The ride to St. George’s Church in Hanover Square was short, and soon her brother was handing her down. She took a deep breath as she walked up the stone steps. A crowd of well-wishers had gathered outside the church. It wasn’t every day the sister of a duke got married.

  Violet was waiting for her just inside the doors. “Courtney, you look stunning. Wait until my brother sees you.”

  “I’m anxious to see him as well,” Courtney said.

  Wetherby left the two young women while he escorted Hannah and Katherine to their seats in the front pew of the packed church. He nodded to Edgerton before walking back down the aisle to escort his sister in to marry his best friend.

  “Are you ready, my dear?” he asked.

  Courtney nodded. “I am indeed.”

  Violet started down the aisle with Wetherby and Courtney following. Courtney stopped noticing anyone else in the church when she saw Edgerton standing at the end of the aisle. He was breathtaking in a dark blue jacket and white waistcoat, and she nearly stumbled. She was glad she was holding onto her brother’s arm.

  “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met,” Edgerton whispered in her ear when she stood beside him.

  She felt the blush climb up her neck and face. “Thank you.”

  The vicar opened his book and began. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here, in the sight of God and in the face of these guests, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”

  He continued, “Charles Bainbridge, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”

  “I will,” Edgerton said.

  The vicar turned to Courtney. “Courtney Elizabeth Darkin, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him and serve him, love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”

  The love shining in Edgerton’s eyes brought tears to her own. She blinked them back and answered in a clear voice. “I will.”

  “My lord, please take her hand,” the vicar said, “and repeat after me. I take thee, Courtney Elizabeth Darkin, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance, and thereto I plight thee my troth.”

  Courtney repeated the same vows.

  “My lord, do you have a ring?” the vicar asked.

  Edgerton nodded and repeated after the vicar: “With this ring, I thee wed; with my body, I thee worship; and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” before placing a beautiful sapphire-and-diamond band on her finger.

  Courtney stared at the ring, then looked into the face of the man she loved. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

  The vicar concluded the ceremony by announcing to the congregation that they were now man and wife. He led them to the church registry, along with Wetherby and Violet as their witnesses.

  When the registry was signed, they only had eyes for each other as they walked down the aisle into the brilliant sunshine. Edgerton handed her up into the waiting carriage and climbed in to sit next to her.

  “I’m so happy, Charles.”

  Edgerton took her face between his hands and kissed her long and deep. When he finally sat back, they were both breathing heavily. “I will do my best to make sure every day is a wonderful, happy day for you, my darling. I love you with all my heart.”

  “I love you more every day and can’t wait for our life together to begin.”

  “Neither can I, my love.”

  Epilogue

  PHILLIP STEVENSON, THE EARL OF Carlisle, sipped his morning coffee as he read the paper. He’d been at his country seat, Meridian Manor, for the past six weeks, plotting his return to London come March. If it had been anyone beside Edgerton who’d caught him with Lady Courtney in a compromising embrace, they would be married now and he’d have control over her hefty dowry. He needed the influx of money into his coffers, as he had no more ready cash. He’d already spent most of his sister’s dowry and needed the rest to fund his return to London. One way or another, he’d corner Lady Courtney again in a compromising situation in the most public way possible. Wetherby would have no choice but to allow the marriage to go forward if he didn’t want his sister’s reputation in tatters.

  Everything was in turmoil at the moment. His carefully planned smuggling operation was in tatters with the removal of the magistrate who’d looked the other way whenever contraband moved through the county. The cove on his country
estate was only one way to bring in the contraband; he wanted a land route as well for goods that came in from the London docks. His plan had been to own all the properties on the smuggling route, especially the well-placed farms of the rioters, but then the magistrate had disappeared and all the men were released. He’d run out of money before he was able to secure the mill or the abandoned estate that would at least have given him a presence in the county. Even the rents from his newly acquired farms did little to help with his cash flow problem. To compound his money problems, there hadn’t been a shipment by sea in a while.

  He turned the page and nearly choked on his coffee as the truth hit him with a devastating blow. “Damn you, Edgerton,” he hissed.

  Arabella, who was enjoying her own breakfast, looked at her brother. “Phillip, what’s wrong? Why are you cursing Lord Edgerton? I find him most attractive and hope to gain his attention in the spring.”

  Carlisle speared his sister with a vicious glare. “You’re more of a fool than I thought.”

  Arabella’s mouth fell open at her brother’s unkind comment. “Whatever do you mean?”

  “Edgerton has married Lady Courtney.”

  “No!” Arabella cried. It didn’t take long for tears to roll down her cheeks. “He was supposed to be mine,” she said between sobs. “I thought he…”

  “Oh, shut up, Arabella,” Carlisle shouted at her. “And one more thing: you’ll not be traveling to London for another Season.”

  Arabella lifted her tear-stained face to her brother. “Why are you being so cruel?”

  His sister’s question enraged him further, and with one swipe of his arm, all the cups and plates on the table crashed to the floor. He grabbed her chin in cruel fingers. “You’ve already had two Seasons to find a husband and you’ve failed to do so.”

  “I know, but…”

  “There is no money,” he said before stalking from the room, vowing, “You’ll pay for this, Edgerton.”