Chapter Thirty-One
The contract had been modified for his name, the bans had been posted, and in what felt like no time at all, Xander found himself dressing for his wedding.
He’d spent every minute he could with Evie, and every other minute either planning their tour of their properties or doing almost anything to avoid dealing with the logistics of the wedding day itself.
Bruce had made it down from Northumberland, as had Evie’s Aunt Louisa from Rutland. They’d kept the invitations to the ceremony and the breakfast following it to a minimum.
Evie’s father had a few cronies who had been like uncles to her.
The Marquess of Hollibrook had been invited, but sent his regrets with his well wishes.
And they both agreed that Xander’s new friends should be there.
The women at least had been rooting for this union, and he hoped they would become fast friends with Evie.
Despite Bruce and Luke both keeping him company last night and this morning at North’s London home, and the brevity of the guest list, Xander was becoming increasingly anxious.
What if someone took issue with Bruce’s presence?
Or for that matter, Belle’s? It wouldn’t do for a duke to engage in fisticuffs at his own wedding.
Given his anxiety, if someone said something even slightly derogatory, that outcome would become more and more likely.
He did not want to embarrass Evie or upset her or her family in any way.
His mother and North met them downstairs in the front hallway. When Xander yanked at his cravat twice on the way down the stairs, North stepped aside and spoke to the footman.
As the five of them climbed into the carriage, Frazer came hurrying out and joined the coachman on the driver’s seat.
Alighting at the church, Xander yanked at his tie once again. He strode into the building, intent on finding Evie and getting this done. Why hadn’t they hied off to Gretna Green, dammit? He wanted to marry her more than anything, but the formality of this even more than balls was unnerving.
The others hurried after him.
His mother caught his arm and said, “I see Cravens’ carriage on the street. Allow Frazer to fix your cravat and then keep your hands off it for a quarter hour, please.”
“Yes, Mama.” He modified his internal dialogue. He didn’t want to embarrass Evie or his mother. Taking a deep breath, he focused on the fact that he was marrying the love of his life. Once Evie’s hand was in his, even before the words were spoken linking them forever, he’d relax.
His mother put her palms on his cheeks, then dropped one hand to hold his and reached for Bruce’s with her other. “I am so proud of both of you. You are both good men, and I am glad Xander has found a lovely woman who recognizes that. I am so happy.”
With that she burst into tears. As the brothers rolled their eyes and patted her shoulders, North hurried over. He steered her away and folded her into a hug, freeing Xander to Frazer’s ministrations.
They paced down the center aisle, nodding to guests already in attendance.
The organ began, and all fidgets and feelings of strangulation flew out of his head, because there was his bride.
The first thing he noticed was her gleaming chestnut hair.
No more scratchy caps for her, and although jeweled combs kept it away from her face, his fingers itched to run through the rest of it.
She was in a copper gown, the folds of the skirt catching the light and shining as though they were truly metal.
He smirked. The color both mocked and elevated the idea of a brown maid’s uniform, and the grin lurking on her lips told him it had been a deliberate choice.
Only his Evie would think of such an idea.
Her lips were a warm rose against her pale face, and he guessed he might not be alone in his nerves.
He clasped her hand in his as she reached him and gave it a quick kiss, ignoring her mother’s gasp.
The clergyman had to clear his throat twice to get Xander’s attention off his bride.
After the ceremony, he could not say what transpired. He would never be able to recall his full formal address that included several lesser titles. Thankfully, Jacob Lancaster had been happy to provide those to the minister presiding over the ceremony.
At last, he and Evie were in the carriage. Alone. Only then did he release her hand to cradle her head and angle his mouth across hers. Sweet peace swept over him. She was his. He was hers. Forever.
There was still the wedding breakfast to get through, and he was still uncomfortable with the various titles, names, and nicknames.
It seemed most of the men had at least one nickname, sometimes more.
He’d learned some on his previous stay with Luke and Belle—Luke was South, or Lyon, or Lynwood, as well as Luke.
It was exhausting, trying to recall how to introduce people to others.
Once inside, he again clutched Evie’s hand on his arm with his other hand and refused to let go, declining food or drink.
They would be at his London home for the night before departing for two of his homes in the south to evaluate them for sale. North and his mother had hosted the breakfast thankfully, so he hoped to escape this purgatory soon.
When Evie asked for a private moment, he sighed in relief and nodded. When they stepped into the rear drawing room, his parents were waiting.
Evie turned and said, “I already said my goodbyes to my parents. It’s been clear you are not enjoying yourself, so say farewell, and I will have the carriage brought around.”
With that, she kissed the older couple on the cheek, thanking them each in turn, and hurried out. He turned.
“It does not seem fair to skip out on guests who are as much ours as yours.”
“’Tis your wedding day. The bride and groom are exempt from fairness, and almost everyone in there has been anxious to start their wedding night at one point,” North said, with a smile at Eleanor who was tucked under his arm.
“Eh, now I feel a little sick, and I haven’t even eaten anything,” Xander replied with a grin.
“Oh, away with you. You enjoy your night and we’ll enjoy ours. So there,” his mother teased.
Grimacing, he kissed her cheek before hugging North. “I owe you both a huge debt of gratitude. You helped me when this mess began, you helped me navigate London, and more importantly, you supported my quest to win back Evie. We shall send you a card from our travels and come see you soon.”
In the front hall, Evie was nowhere to be seen, but the footman directed him outside and pointed to the carriage with the closed curtains.
Inside, Evie was waiting for him, a smile on her face.
He returned it, relishing the knowledge that he’d won the rights to all of her smiles.
He grabbed the cravat pin he’d made note of that morning and removed it, tossing it in her lap to yank at his neckcloth.
She chuckled as he slid it free and leaned in to place a gentle finger in the hollow of his throat, murmuring, “Mine.”
When he reached for her to drag her into a tight hug, it might have held the remnants of relief, but as that drained away, happiness filled him as her scent encircled him.
* * * *
In his bedroom, another fantastically comfortable bed beckoned. Xander stared at it. He had every intention of that being their marital bed for every night. Evie could do what she wanted with the duchess’s suite.
The best way to make her want that, too, would be to make this night perfect for her. He grew nervous. Excited, certainly, but also apprehensive. He’d waited so long for this moment, as had she, and he wanted it so badly he wasn’t sure he could be patient.
For a moment, he wished they’d engaged in the fullest of intimacies in Rutland, where there were no expectations, just two people in love. But he couldn’t regret any of their trials and tribulations, as it had brought them to this moment.
He spoke his thought out loud. “You’re mine forever, now, my little maid.”
“And you’re mine, my pub manager cum duke.”
That sounded spectacular. Gulping a breath in, he spun her and found the fastenings of her dress. Pausing to palm his erection and remind himself to keep things slow, he undid them one at a time.
She shivered under his touch. “Xander, hurry, please.”
“We have all night, love.” But it was gratifying to hear that she might be as impatient as he was.
“Yes, but you’ve kept me waiting for weeks!” she exclaimed.
He laughed under his breath, but when she turned around and he saw the stunning corset and embroidered chemise under it, barely covering the rose-hued tips of her breasts, his laughter caught in his throat.
“Evie.” He batted her hands away as she reached for his waistcoat, needing to cement this picture in his memory.
“Let me look at you. I always pictured you like this. In silk and satin, because that is what you deserve. I hated seeing you in that maid’s uniform.
And I spent more time thinking about your gorgeous hair hidden under that cap than I did about my correspondence.
You are every inch a lady and were always going to be my lady, uniform and cap or not. ”
“Husband, you’ve forever ruined my appreciation for a well-tied cravat or a sparkly cravat pin. I never knew how sexy a man’s throat could be. Your throat, anyway. But now, I need to see more of you.” With that she pushed his chest.
Xander allowed himself to be pressed onto the edge of the bed. Evie dragged his waistcoat off, made short work of his shirt, then attacked the fall of his trousers.
Unable to remove the rest of his clothes with him sitting, she tugged at him again.
Instead, he took matters into his own hands to hasten the process, leaning down to remove his shoes before standing and shucking the trousers, stockings, and smallclothes.
He spread his arms wide and smiled at his wife. “There. Is that better?”
“Oh, yes.” Her whispered words were a stark contrast to the shove that sent him back onto the bed, half lying with his feet still on the floor. “Now, where to start…”
Still in her petticoats, chemise, and corset, she clambered on him, settling across his thighs. There, she paused, looking flummoxed.
He chuckled, enjoying the view but ready to move things along. “I appreciate your eagerness, my lovely bride. But perhaps if you allowed me to lead this once? You can have a turn later.”
She nodded, chagrined.