circles and moved like a shadow, a man who looked like a paragon and spoke in paradoxes. She had no business being here, in this society, with this silver-tongued stranger.
“Of course you will get a better offer,” Ardeth murmured to her. “You are beautiful and kindhearted. Any man would die to have you as his wife. Well, perhaps not die,” he quickly amended. That was the whole point. “But I hope you will choose me, for I will spend what time I have being a good husband, I swear.” He brought her hand to his mouth for a kiss on her glove. “Do not be afraid, lady. I would never let harm come to you. You believe that, don’t you?”
She wet her lips and nodded. “Yes, I do, I think.”
“And you believe that we are both entitled to the chance at finding some happiness in this life?”
This time she spoke louder, with more conviction. “I do.”
Twenty witnesses let out held breaths, relieved that there would be no more embarrassing moments. Now no one would have to solve the awkward problem of that rotter Macklin’s widow. Now no men would have to worry about their wives sighing over the elegant earl.
Ardeth thanked Heaven, Hell, and everywhere in between.
“I do, too,” he whispered.
“Me three,” came the squawk from atop the unlit chandelier, then another, louder squawk from the unfortunate turbaned lady sitting beneath.
Chapter Five
For all the differences, weddings had not changed a great deal. Nor had the wedding nights, except that now no one was expected to hang bloodied sheets out the window, or consummate the union with witnesses present. The male guests at the hotel fete still made raucous, ribald jokes, perhaps more so because the bride was no shy virgin.
Ardeth was offended. What kind of gentlemen spoke so in front of a lady? He might have done the same in his time, but had these puny people not learned better manners in all the years? He would not reprimand any of them or order the innkeeper to stop pouring the wine and ale that loosened even well-bred tongues. He needed their goodwill back in England. Besides, taking umbrage for such a small slight was a poor reflection of his own character, he decided. Instead, he decided to leave.
Genie was exhausted and embarrassed. She believed that half the risqué songs would not be sung if she were a real lady, born to the aristocracy. She hated the thought of the earl realizing he’d married so far beneath him, and on the same day as the wedding. Leaving was appealing, but impossible. “We cannot simply disappear, my lord,” she said with regret. “This is our party. We are the hosts.”
“We are an earl and his countess, my lady. Have you not yet realized that we can do almost anything we wish? Watch.”
He tapped his wineglass. It was a small enough sound, but everyone in the vicinity stilled. “Friends, my lady and I thank you for coming to help celebrate our wedding. Your good wishes are sincerely appreciated. As you know, marriage is a journey, an exploration of uncharted waters, learning which shoals are treacherous, which reefs offer safe harbor. We begin our voyage tonight. So we bid you farewell. Let the celebration continue.”
The cheers were for the new bottles of champagne being brought out. The party would be more festive anyway without the groom’s disapproving glares.
Instead of leading Genie upstairs to their rooms, Ardeth led her out to the carriage, where Marie sat up with Campbell on the driver’s seat. Trunks were already strapped to the back and the roof, and Ardeth’s black stallion was tied behind.
“We are not to spend the night here?” Genie asked.
“We travel to the coast, to the yacht I have hired to return us to England.”
At her quiet “Oh,” he took up her hand again. “Should I have consulted you? I fear I am not in the habit of asking another’s opinion. I was right—we have much to learn about each other and being part of a pair. I have been solitary too long.”
“No, traveling
“Of course you will get a better offer,” Ardeth murmured to her. “You are beautiful and kindhearted. Any man would die to have you as his wife. Well, perhaps not die,” he quickly amended. That was the whole point. “But I hope you will choose me, for I will spend what time I have being a good husband, I swear.” He brought her hand to his mouth for a kiss on her glove. “Do not be afraid, lady. I would never let harm come to you. You believe that, don’t you?”
She wet her lips and nodded. “Yes, I do, I think.”
“And you believe that we are both entitled to the chance at finding some happiness in this life?”
This time she spoke louder, with more conviction. “I do.”
Twenty witnesses let out held breaths, relieved that there would be no more embarrassing moments. Now no one would have to solve the awkward problem of that rotter Macklin’s widow. Now no men would have to worry about their wives sighing over the elegant earl.
Ardeth thanked Heaven, Hell, and everywhere in between.
“I do, too,” he whispered.
“Me three,” came the squawk from atop the unlit chandelier, then another, louder squawk from the unfortunate turbaned lady sitting beneath.
Chapter Five
For all the differences, weddings had not changed a great deal. Nor had the wedding nights, except that now no one was expected to hang bloodied sheets out the window, or consummate the union with witnesses present. The male guests at the hotel fete still made raucous, ribald jokes, perhaps more so because the bride was no shy virgin.
Ardeth was offended. What kind of gentlemen spoke so in front of a lady? He might have done the same in his time, but had these puny people not learned better manners in all the years? He would not reprimand any of them or order the innkeeper to stop pouring the wine and ale that loosened even well-bred tongues. He needed their goodwill back in England. Besides, taking umbrage for such a small slight was a poor reflection of his own character, he decided. Instead, he decided to leave.
Genie was exhausted and embarrassed. She believed that half the risqué songs would not be sung if she were a real lady, born to the aristocracy. She hated the thought of the earl realizing he’d married so far beneath him, and on the same day as the wedding. Leaving was appealing, but impossible. “We cannot simply disappear, my lord,” she said with regret. “This is our party. We are the hosts.”
“We are an earl and his countess, my lady. Have you not yet realized that we can do almost anything we wish? Watch.”
He tapped his wineglass. It was a small enough sound, but everyone in the vicinity stilled. “Friends, my lady and I thank you for coming to help celebrate our wedding. Your good wishes are sincerely appreciated. As you know, marriage is a journey, an exploration of uncharted waters, learning which shoals are treacherous, which reefs offer safe harbor. We begin our voyage tonight. So we bid you farewell. Let the celebration continue.”
The cheers were for the new bottles of champagne being brought out. The party would be more festive anyway without the groom’s disapproving glares.
Instead of leading Genie upstairs to their rooms, Ardeth led her out to the carriage, where Marie sat up with Campbell on the driver’s seat. Trunks were already strapped to the back and the roof, and Ardeth’s black stallion was tied behind.
“We are not to spend the night here?” Genie asked.
“We travel to the coast, to the yacht I have hired to return us to England.”
At her quiet “Oh,” he took up her hand again. “Should I have consulted you? I fear I am not in the habit of asking another’s opinion. I was right—we have much to learn about each other and being part of a pair. I have been solitary too long.”
“No, traveling
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