Epilogue
Bedford Square
Mayfair, London
Nathaniel stood at one of the drawing room windows with a slight grin curving his lips.
Dried brown leaves danced and swirled on the pavement, pushed along in a dance by an autumnal breeze.
From where he stood, the ambient chill in the air seeped through the glass, but that didn’t bother him, for it just meant an extra excuse to snuggle with his wife.
Earlier this afternoon, he’d married the love of his life, Diana.
Yes, he’d waited five months to finally make her officially his, but then, she’d been observing mourning for her father, and though she still had one more month left in that period, she’d decided that since she was already a widow and because the ceremony was held at home in private with a very limited guest list, that society matrons would understand.
Not that it mattered, since she didn’t need their blessing any longer. She’d chosen him and didn’t need to relaunch herself into society to land him.
When he’d said vows to her today, he’d meant every word.
No longer was he the same man he’d been before he’d met her.
From the first day she’d come back into his life, he’d not looked at another woman let alone tried to flirt with one.
That’s how much Diana had changed what he wanted from his existence.
“Nathaniel? What are you doing in here?” The sound of his wife’s voice sent a shiver down his spine, for she always managed to affect him. “William and Mama have finally left. I never thought they’d get on with their day.”
“They lingered quite a while.” When she joined him, he immediately slipped his arms about her. “God, you’re gorgeous today.”
“Because I’m glowing or due to my gown?”
“Both?” However, the gown she’d chosen to wear for their nuptial ceremony was exceptional.
Made from dove-gray taffeta, ruched black satin ribbon lined the low bodice, the wrists of the long sleeves, and the hem of the skirt.
A row of small jet buttons decorated the back.
“I like the simple lines of the frock, but I’ll adore it even more seeing it on the floor of our bedroom. ”
“Ha. There is time enough for that, and I do have plans for you in that regard.” A smile curved her lips. As always, his world brightened. “William is just annoyed that Mama has turned her attentions and is trying to find a match for him.”
“It might be good for him. Marrying certainly was for me.”
“So charming.” She laid a palm against the side of face. “Do you feel any different as a married man?”
“Not really. The only difference is I can finally spend every day and night with you instead of a handful of hours here and there.” Which he couldn’t wait to begin. “Oh, there is some news I forgot to share with you since the ceremony took all of my attention.”
“What? Is it good news? Lord knows we’ve had enough of bad for a while.”
“That we have.”
Over the past five months, planning a small, discreet wedding had been met with a few problems gleaned from last year when horrible, unexpected weather had destroyed food supplies and disrupted shipping of products, such as stationery, or even procuring the most mundane things like ribbon and fabric and buttons.
To say nothing of food scarcity at times, due to everyone in England trying to obtain the same things to eat.
But they got through it with cursing and tears.
Also, discussions to renovate his townhouse and redo it into Diana’s style had been thwarted by much the same issues. Eventually, they’d be able to take care of all the ideas they had between them, but right now, they were revising their original plans.
Not that he minded, for all he’d wanted from the engagement was her.
“Well?” she asked with anticipation in her expression as he tugged a folded piece of paper from the interior pocket of his tailcoat and then gave it to her.
“We have secured the lease on the shop off Oxford Street,” he said with a grin as she read the confirmation letter with shaking hands.
“How wonderful!” Joy reflected in her eyes as she looked at him. “Now we can move ahead with the plans for the bookshop and start stocking it.”
“Indeed. If all goes well, we can open after the first of the year.” Caught up in the excitement of something they’d both wanted since becoming engaged, he pulled her into his arms. “You will be the most attractive shop owner.”
“Do stop, Holdcraft.” But she gave him that special smile she reserved only for him. “I am looking forward to everything about this new venture of ours, but especially the nights we will set aside for you to read poetry aloud for intimate gatherings. Including your own.”
“We shall see.” Ever since he’d written his first poem for her, she’d encouraged him to continue on and see where his muse led him. “I don’t know that I’m confident enough to share my work with the public.”
“You will be.” With her arms about his middle, Diana laid her head on his shoulder. “I can’t believe we’re married and soon-to-be shop owners.”
“Are you pleased with that?” Surely, she wasn’t entertaining regrets already.
“I am, and I can’t wait to see what else we’ll get up to together.”
“Mmm.” Feeling far too amorous to linger in the drawing room longer, Nathaniel swept her up into his arms. “Perhaps we should make inroads into finding that out right now by consummating this union.”
Her squeal made him grin and went straight to his stones. “Obviously, we’ve come together many times over the past five months, but since I adore how you set my body on fire, I’ll most definitely agree.”
“This afternoon’s session will be long and quite thorough.
We must work up an appetite to do justice to my cook’s wedding dinner, you see.
” A hunger of a different sort chased through his insides, for he couldn’t believe the woman in his arms was finally his and they could start their life together.
“Such bragging, Nathaniel.” She tsked her tongue. “It’s almost as if you’re trying to make up for shoddy attention between the sheets.”
“You should know that’s quite the bammer, but I suppose I’ll need to refresh your memory,” he said as he carried her out of the room toward the stairs. “Planning for this day and your trousseau has apparently rotted your memory.”
She giggled then pressed her lips to the side of his neck. “I look forward to your primer then.”
Never had he made his way up to his suite so quickly. Once he had her behind the closed door, he set her onto her feet then trapped her between the wooden panel and his chest, kissing her at his leisure, for they had all the time in the world.
It was mindboggling how a man’s whole outlook and direction changed when he decided to chase something entirely different. That was also when he stumbled upon the most wonderful gift he never knew he wanted. And now, he couldn’t imagine how he’d made it this far in life without her.
Something to think about, indeed.
The End