Chapter Nine
Graham
Graham stood before the altar of St. George’s.
His hands were clasped tightly behind his back forcing himself to keep his chin high as he faced their wedding guest. The church was filled with faces he didn’t even recognize, all eager to witness the marriage that had been the talk of the ton for the past week.
Matt stood beside him as his best man, occasionally murmuring reassurances that Graham barely heard over the pounding of his own heart.
And his guilt. The weight of what he was about to do…
going against his plan to marry solely for love.
The more he learned about Diana, the more he was convinced that love might have even struck if he could let himself admit it.
But was that even enough when he was binding Diana to him while hiding debts that could destroy them both?
The guests began tittering and Graham saw Diana entering the church on her father’s arm.
He was unable to breathe watching her walk toward him.
She wore a blue silk gown that brought out the deep blue of her eyes.
Her golden hair was swept up, revealing the elegant line of her neck that he longed to kiss again.
Their eyes met across the length of the aisle, and Graham saw his own nervous anticipation reflected in her sapphire gaze.
She offered him a small, private smile that made his chest tighten with something dangerously close to hope.
Something deep inside nagged at him that she was the one that fate had brought them together.
But it was dangerous to allow himself to believe that.
When the Earl of Snowdon placed Diana’s hand in Graham’s, his grip was firm, his message clear—protect her, or else. Graham gulped in response.
The ceremony passed in a blur. Graham heard himself speaking the vows, promising to love, honor, and cherish. Words that should have been mere formality but felt like so much more as he looked into Diana’s eyes. Because he meant them.
When she repeated her own vows, her voice was steady and clear, though he felt the slight tremor in her hands as he slipped the ring onto her finger.
“You may kiss your bride,” the vicar announced.
Graham cupped Diana’s face gently, aware of the dozens of eyes upon them. He meant it to be a brief, proper kiss for their audience. But when their lips met, Diana made a soft sound that nearly undid him. He deepened the kiss for just a moment before remembering where they were and pulling back.
The congregation erupted in polite applause, but Graham barely heard it. Diana’s eyes were dark, her lips slightly parted, and he knew she was remembering their encounter in the stables just as vividly as he was.
The wedding breakfast at her family’s home passed in a whirlwind of congratulations and a few hushed whispers. Graham endured endless comments about the “whirlwind romance” and “love at first sight,” each one making his guilt grow heavier.
He caught snippets of one conversation when he sought another glass of champagne that made his jaw clench.
“…rather convenient for him, inheriting a title and immediately securing an heiress…”
He didn’t think Diana had heard it. The entire day her chin was high and her smile never wavered. But Graham saw the tension in her shoulders, and when her fingers sought his to grip his hand it all truly hit him. They were married. She was his forever.
Diana leaned closer. “How much longer must we endure this?”
“Not much longer,” he promised, squeezing her hand. “We’ll leave for our townhouse soon.”
“Our townhouse,” she repeated softly. “I like the sound of that.”
Elias approached them interrupting the moment, and Graham regretted not throwing Diana over his shoulder and leaving already. “Powis. A word?”
Graham nodded, releasing Diana’s hand reluctantly and followed Elias to a quiet corner.
“I still don’t trust you,” Elias said bluntly. “But Diana seems… content. For her sake, I hope you prove worthy of my sister.”
“I intend to.” And he meant that. All would be as soon as he resolved this business with Rothwell, his full focus would be on Diana.
“See that you do.”
Graham nodded in agreement, and then moved back to Diana’s side. “I believe we have stayed as long as we must.”
“I have to admit that you two certainly make a most striking pair,” a female voice said, interrupting their plan to escape.
Lady Harrowby.
“Thank you for coming, Lady Harrowby. It’s always lovely to see you.
” Diana possessed all the grace and charm to assume the role of his countess.
She was far more equipped for the title than he was.
Graham bowed to the woman before she locked eyes with him.
“I don’t see any of your family present, my boy.
I was aware your father passed, but did your mother not wish to join you in town? ”
Graham slowly shook his head. “She will arrive in town in another week or so.”
The woman’s brow furrowed. “I do hope she is all right.”
It was a curious response. “She is well as far as I know.”
“I won’t keep you. I know you’re only staying long enough to be respectful to your guests.
” The woman gave a knowing smirk and nodded to each of them before walking away.
She was an odd duck. But it was their wedding day and his new bride was far more important than deciphering the dragon of the ton.
They set out hand in hand to seek out Diana’s family. The goodbyes were emotional, even though Diana would just be a few blocks over. At least for the time being until they ventured to their country home.
“You know where we are if you need us,” her father said quietly, his eyes finding Graham’s over Diana’s head. The warning was clear.
The carriage ride to Graham’s townhouse was silent but charged with awareness. Diana sat beside him, close enough that he could smell her lavender scent, and she kept shifting in her seat.
“Are you all right?” he asked finally.
“We’re married,” she said, as if testing the words.
He gulped. “That wasn’t an answer. Are you all right?”
She turned to look at him fully. “I’m…nervous.”
“About…intimate matters?” He stumbled over his words.
“No,” she said quickly, almost as if he’d grown a second head. “Not that. Not at all. This is just all an enormous amount of change. I don’t know what my life will look like each day, or if you will eat supper with me every night, or what my bed chamber looks like, or—”
He reached out and clasped her chin so she looked at him.
“Why don’t we take things a day at a time? I have hardly been an earl for a fortnight, and here we are married. Let’s just go on as we wish.”
Something in her expression softened. “Did you get the estate ledgers?”
“Yes. But might we celebrate our marriage in the more traditional sense and save the ledgers for tomorrow?” He leaned closer and brushed his lips against her ear. “Because I have thought of little else since…”
He placed a few kisses behind her ear.
The carriage rolled to a stop, putting an end to such notions. But that was to be expected given they didn’t have a long ride. The staff was assembled to greet their new mistress. Graham watched with pride as Diana charmed each one, remembering names and making them feel at ease.
Mrs. Mitchell, the housekeeper, showed Diana to the suite of rooms that adjoined Graham’s. Graham followed, hovering in the doorway as Diana took in the room after Mrs. Mitchell had departed.
“It’s lovely.” She ran her fingers along the carved bedpost.
“You can change anything you like,” Graham said, but then regretted it since he wasn’t ready for such expenditures. But he assured himself it wouldn’t always be that way.
“Are you in need of rest?” Graham asked, though every fiber of his being wanted her.
“Graham.” Diana moved closer to him. “I do not wish to rest.”
His body was aflame with want. He was seconds away from pulling her to him. “I didn’t want to presume—”
“You’re my husband now.” She reached up to caress his face. “And I…I want you.”
Graham caught her hand, forcing himself to take things slow as he pressed his lips to her palm. “Diana, are you certain?”
“I’ve been dreaming of this,” she admitted, her cheeks flushed. “About what…being with you fully would be like.”
Graham groaned, this time he pulled her against him and walked her toward his bed chamber through the adjoining door. Once they were inside, he kicked the door closed. “You don’t want to know the ways I’ve imagined you.”
“And what if I do?” She was already working at his cravat. “I’m allowed to be as wanton as I wish as a married woman.”
Somehow he had managed to marry the most perfect woman that had ever existed.
He kissed her with all of the intensity that had been building the last couple of days he’d spent apart from her, pouring all his longing and guilt and hope into it.
She responded eagerly, her arms winding around his neck.
“Help me remove my dress,” she whispered against his mouth, turning to present her back to him.
Graham forced himself to take a deep breath as he worked through the long row of tiny buttons. With each one undone, he revealed more of her skin, and he couldn’t resist pressing his lips to the nape of her neck.
Diana shivered. “Graham…”
He helped her step out of the gown, then her stays and chemise, until she stood before him in nothing but her stockings and slippers. Graham forgot how to breathe.
“You’re magnificent,” he managed.
Diana’s blush spread down her chest, but she didn’t try to cover herself.
Instead, she began removing his coats and shirt.
He brushed her hand away when she started to unbutton his breeches.
He would have to pace himself to have any chance of making the experience what she deserved for it to be.
And that meant his pants needed to remain on for the time being.
Graham pulled the blankets back and then lifted her onto the bed, settling beside her. The feel of her bare skin against his nearly undid him completely.