Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
James, Viscount of Paendly, stared at himself in the mirror. There was something different about his reflection today, but it put a broad smile on his face.
There was a ring on the fourth finger of his left hand, and it was gold. They had discussed it of course: James had explained that it was so rare for gentleman to wear wedding rings, and he did not enjoy the feeling of such trifles on his flesh, and he would be quite happy to go without one.
And so of course, he had one.
A pair of hands grabbed him from behind and twisted him around, placing a passionate kiss on his lips. James inhaled the sweet smell of rosemary and lavender, the two herbs woven into his bride’s hair.
Rowena. Rowena Kerr – or Rowena Viscountess Paendly, as she would have to become accustomed to.
James surrendered himself to the passion that they shared, the heat of her tongue in his mouth, the strength of his hands around her waist. It was impossible not to glorify in their union, but eventually he managed to pull away from her and bestow her with a lazy smile.
“We should join the rest of the party,” he growled.
“The real celebration is here,” Rowena countered with a wicked smile. “Surely we would have more fun if we stayed hidden here, upstairs.”
She raised her eyebrows towards the large bed that took pride of place in the Paendly master bedroom.
James groaned. “I want to make love to my new bride more than anything, but this is not the time. There will be plenty of time for that later.”
Rowena rolled her eyes, but nodded, and entwined her fingers in his as they stepped towards the doorway and the head of the stairs.
“There you are – now Rowena, you have not said more than two words to your parents, come on.”
The force of nature that was Adena, Marchioness of Dewsbury, accosted his bride and although Rowena beseeched him silently with her eyes, he did not rescue her.
It was time for the reconciliation between Ro and her parents to formalise.
“Excuse you!”
A tap on the shoulder made James turned around, and his face broke into a smile as he beheld the only other woman of importance to him in his life. “Chloe!”
A beaming woman stood before him, and James embraced his cousin as though they had not met for months – as it had been.
“It is good to see you, Chlo,” said James warmly. “Can you comprehend a more beautiful woman than my wife?”
Chloe nodded with a cheeky smile. “I cannot – but I am not likely to try and find a husband the same way that she did, I must say. ‘Tis a dangerous game she has played.”
Dark clouds gathered across James’ face. Did she really say what he thought she said of his most darling bride?
Realisation of what she had said – and who she had said it to – quickly dawned, and horror overwhelmed Chloe’s face.
“My dear cousin, I am joking,” she said hurriedly. “I am beside myself with joy for you. You have found a real treasure, and so has she.”
Bobbing a courtesy and with pink in her cheeks, Chloe wandered off into the crowd.
James watched her go, and shook his head at his cousin’s impetuous nature. She had been impulsive ever since they had been children, but as they had grown, he had shed that habit whereas it had only grown stronger in his younger relation.
There was emptiness by his side. James looked down, and saw with a wry smile that so accustomed was he to have Rowena by his side, that there was something missing in his life when she was not there.
Taking a deep breath, James strode off into his wedding celebrations to go and find her.
“And you are…well?”
Rowena winced at the forced calm of her mother’s words, but had she really expected anything else? How did you re-establish your familial connections after such a break – after such bitter words had been exchanged?
“She is very well, thank you madam,” Adena said quietly in the silence that Rowena had left. “Eating much better now, thanks to the ministrations of Doctor Sanders.”
Mrs Kerr nodded and looked around her at the marble splendour of Paendly. “To think that you are a Viscountess.”
“I hope you will deserve him, Rowena,” said her father stiffly, and Rowena flushed at his words. “After he has taken you, despite your disgrace.”
Heat was rising in Rowena’s stomach and she had opened her mouth to retaliate when she found her waist held by strong and warm hands.
“Disgrace? I hope you have not helped my best man in his speech, Mr Kerr,” said James jovially, and Rowena relaxed to feel his comforting presence beside her.
“Oh, my lord!” Mr Kerr gave a deep and low bow, so ridiculous that Rowena could not help but roll her eyes – only to see that her mother had dropped into such a low curtsey that someone almost tripped over her.
“Oh, my lord Viscount, ‘tis so good to see you – I mean, it is your wedding, of course we thought to meet with you!” Trilled her mother, and Rowena tried desperately not to allow her cheeks to redden at the desperation to ingratiate themselves into the Viscount of Paendly’s good favour.
“And it is wonderful to see you,” replied James kindly, but coolly. His eyes flickered over to Adena, and Rowena saw a nod of understanding pass between them.
“Mr Kerr, Mrs Kerr, let me show you the parkland,” said Adena swiftly, indicating with a graceful hand the door towards the grounds. “I have been informed that Paendly was…”
Her embarrassment started to fade as her friend took away her parents, and her shoulder slumped with relief.
James was nuzzling her neck, leaving scalding heat in a kissing trail down to her nape. “Ro, my love…”
“James,” she whispered back, “you told me that I had to wait for such pleasures.”
Turning her around quickly, James lowered his face and possessed her mouth, desperate and dark with passion, and Rowena surrendered herself to him as she always would.
“The question is,” asked James in a low voice, “are you sure that you are ready for another voyage with a Viscount, in your condition?”
As one, they looked down at her swelling belly, full of life and love.
Rowena smiled, her heart and her stomach overflowing with devotion to the man before her. “James, no matter where you take me, I could not care less about the destination. It is all about the voyage.”