Chapter 27
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
T hey were married in the grand drawing room of the ducal estate, the elegant space adorned with garlands of summer roses and sprays of jasmine that filled the air with their sweet fragrance. Sunlight poured in through tall windows, catching the gilded edges of the room's ornate moldings and casting a warm glow over the gathered guests.
The wedding breakfast in the adjoining ballroom reminded Matilda of Charlotte's celebration just a few weeks prior, though this day felt infinitely more magical. Long tables were set with gleaming silverware and delicate china, each place marked by a sprig of lavender tied with a ribbon in the couple's ivory and pale-blue colors. Despite the unseasonably warm summer weather, the atmosphere indoors was light and cheerful, with laughter and the clinking of glasses filling the room.
"Happy?" Christopher whispered, leaning down to kiss her, uncaring of the many eyes on them. His hand rested possessively at her waist as though to remind her—and himself—that they now belonged to each other.
Matilda tilted her face to his, her cheeks burning at his show of public affection. “So very happy,” she murmured, unable to stop the smile that had tilted her lips for days. “I didn’t know it was possible to feel this much.”
He chuckled and sipped her champagne. "Mayhap, we could sneak away after dinner and relive our first intimate encounter at the river. I could use a cold dip in the water after the warm day."
Matilda grinned, loving how well that sounded. "I would love to go for a swim, but will not your family notice we're missing?"
"Trust me." Christopher kissed the top of her head. "They will not be looking for us on our wedding night."
Her stomach fluttered at the thought of what was to come before she took a sip of her champagne. She did not wish to count down the hours of their wedding breakfast but was also keen to be alone with her new husband.
Before she could reply, a stir rippled through the room. The murmur of conversation faltered as the crowd parted, revealing Lady Delphine standing in the doorway. Her cheeks were flushed, not with happiness but with a simmering fury that seemed to vibrate in the tension of her stance.
“Lady Delphine.” Christopher instinctively stepped in front of Matilda, wanting to protect her from any insults.
“Do not Lady Delphine me,” she snapped, her tone high-pitched and brittle. “I came to wish the bride my sincerest congratulations.”
The sarcasm in her words were like a blade, sharp enough to draw a collective gasp from the guests. Delphine stalked forward, her elaborate gown rustling like an approaching tempest. On a nearby table sat the wedding cake, a towering masterpiece of sugared flowers and delicate piping. Delphine’s gaze locked on to it, and before anyone could react, she seized a slice from the display.
“You may have his ring,” Delphine spat, glaring at Matilda. “But you’ll never have his honor.” With a wild motion, she hurled the cake at Matilda.
The crowd erupted in gasps, a shocked silence falling as the frosted slice struck Matilda’s bodice.
“That is enough!” His voice was a thunderclap in the stunned room. He signaled to the footmen, who quickly flanked Lady Delphine. “You will leave at once.”
Delphine’s expression twisted with a mix of rage and despair, but when she realized no one in the room was coming to her defense, she straightened. “You’ll regret this, Lord Charteris,” she hissed as the footmen escorted her out. “You have not heard the last from me.”
A ripple of uneasy murmurs filled the room as the doors closed behind his once-childhood friend. Christopher turned back to Matilda, his gaze filled with worry. “Are you all right?”
Matilda brushed at the smear of frosting on her gown, smiling through the dramatic interruption. “It seems Lady Delphine wasn’t fond of the cake,” she quipped, earning a laugh from a few nearby guests.
Christopher cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. “I’m so sorry. She had no right?—”
“She’s gone,” Matilda interrupted. “And I have everything I could ever want and nothing to be ashamed of. While I feel for Lady Delphine, I do not think she is thinking clearly right now, but I hope we can be friends one day.”
"As do I," Christopher agreed.
The breakfast resumed with a renewed air of celebration, and when no one was watching, Christopher leaned down and whispered into Matilda’s ear, “Come with me.”
M oments later, they escaped the ballroom, their laughter echoing about the grounds as they slipped into the sprawling gardens. The heat of the day had given way to a balmy, golden afternoon. Christopher led Matilda to the lake at the edge of the estate, its surface shimmering under the late sunlight.
“Shall we go for a swim?” he asked, smiling at the memory of their first time here?”
Matilda grinned, kicking off her shoes and placing her bare toes into the soft grass as she approached the river. “How could I forget? You were so determined to stop me from swimming. Trying to scare me off with your talk of drowning."
Christopher laughed, the gratifying sound rich and carefree. “And you, my lady, were far too independent and stubborn to heed my warning."
She tilted her head, grinning. “Shall we relive the memory?”
Before Christopher could answer, Matilda reached for the hooks and eyes at the front of her gown, her fingers moving with a mix of excitement and anticipation. The fabric pooled at her feet in a cascade of cream silk. Her petticoat and false rump were easy to remove, but she paused, turning her back to Christopher for assistance with her stays.
He stepped closer, his warm hands brushing against her as he worked the cord, untying it with haste. With each loosened knot, her breaths deepened, free of the constraint. The stays slipped from her shoulders, leaving only the soft linen of her underpetticoat and shift. One by one, those too were shed, along with her stockings, until she stood bare beneath the twilight sky.
The warm sunset air embraced her like a silken shawl. Matilda glanced at Christopher as he removed his clothes, his movements confident and unhurried. The light played over his strong, chiseled form, highlighting every line of the man who was now hers in every sense.
Her husband.
The thought filled her with a profound joy that nearly brought tears to her eyes. How odd and wonderful it sounded, yet how effortlessly right it felt.
Christopher reached for her hand, his touch grounding her in the moment. Together, they ran down the dock, their laughter carrying over the still water before they leaped into the lake. The water's cool embrace shocked their skin, drawing a gasp from Matilda.
They surfaced together, their faces mere inches apart. She gazed at him, her heart swelling with love and desire. They swam lazily for a time, their playful splashes punctuated by laughter. But soon, Christopher reached for her, pulling her into his arms. His hands found her waist, as his lips claimed hers in a slow, deep, and all-consuming kiss.
“I love you,” he murmured. “I will spend every day of my life making sure you never doubt that.”
Tears prickled Matilda’s eyes as she cupped his face, her fingertips tracing the angles she had come to cherish. “And I love you. You’ve given me a happiness I never dreamed possible when I first came to stay with your sister. You were the most wonderful and unexpected surprise.”
Her fingers trailed over his chest, his strong beating heart a steady rhythm beneath her palm. With a sudden motion, he lifted her, and she wrapped her legs instinctively around his waist.
As she sank onto him, her breath hitched, the fullness of him igniting a sweet ache that coursed through her body. Christopher sucked in a breath, his gaze dark with reverence and longing.
“You’re so beautiful,” his said unsteadily. “I’m so thankful you’re mine.”
His words made her heart sing. “And I love how you make me feel,” she teased, a playful smile curving her lips. “Has anyone ever mentioned how skilled you are at this?”
His wide eyes and the chuckle that followed told her she had taken him by surprise. “No,” he admitted, his grin returning. “And nor have I ever asked.”
She grinned
“You’re wicked,” he growled, “and I adore that about you.”
She began to move, her body finding a rhythm that matched his. Each movement sent ripples through the lake, their union mirrored in the shimmering reflection on the water’s surface.
“You’re not looking to change me, then?” she asked, hoping that was the case and that she had chosen right. That the man she had placed all her trust and love in would not disappoint her.
“Hell no, I’m not. I want you to remain just as you are—full of fire and life, independent and opinionated. I couldn’t stomach anything less. You are a marvel, Matilda, and I’m in awe of you.”
“You’re a flatterer,” she murmured, her hands tangling in his damp hair. “But don’t you change, either. I love you just as you are, too.”
He tightened his hold on her, his thrusts growing deeper and more deliberate. “And I love how you feel in my arms,” he groaned, his lips brushing against hers. “When I’m deep within you, nothing else matters.”
The heat between them built to a crescendo, their teasing words giving way to moans and sighs of pleasure. The tension inside her coiled tighter with every thrust, her body trembling as she neared the precipice.
“Come for me,” he commanded. His eyes locked on to hers, a rule to do as he said. “Let go, my love.”
The words, spoken with such authority and devotion, sent her spiraling into release. Her body arched against his, her cry echoing across the still lake as waves of pleasure overtook her. Christopher followed moments later, groaning her name as he buried his face against her neck. His shuddering breaths warmed her skin. The sound of his satisfaction sent another shiver down her spine.
They remained entwined, their bodies weightless in the water as they clung to each other, letting the remnants of their passion ebb and flow around them.
“I will never tire of this,” Matilda whispered, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his damp shoulder.
He kissed her, a smile tugging at his lips. “Nor will I. This is only the beginning, my love.”
Matilda felt a contentment she had never known as they remained entwined in the water. The life ahead of them stretched out like the calm expanse of the lake, filled with possibilities, love, and the unshakable promise that they would always face its challenges together.