Chapter Twenty
Jules snapped his jacket straight and then fiddled with his cravat. Was his attire smart enough? This was his big day. He was to become a husband, a married man, something he’d thought might be way down the line in his future.
Until Meredith had come along.
Clever, beautiful, delectable Meredith. The woman, it seemed, he couldn’t live without.
“Are you ready, Mr. Habsburg?” the minister asked.
“Yes. Of course.” Jules nodded curtly. He was more than ready. He wanted his ring on her finger, his claim on her clear for all to see. She was his and he was hers. That was how their life would be.
He pulled in a deep breath and set back his shoulders.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon gave a nod and a harpist played a soft tune.
Jules turned to the door, anticipation tightening his insides as he waited for his bride.
And then there she was. Elegant and pretty in a long, pale-yellow gown that reminded him of spring primroses. Her cheeks were a little flushed and curls of hair hung before her ears. She had on her pearl necklace and in her hands was a bouquet of green fronds and white roses.
His heart skipped a beat as their gazes connected. This was it. Forever. He’d never be apart from her, always protect her, and making her smile, seeing her ponder a new piece of information, would be his favorite thing to do until the day he died.
“Welcome,” the minister said as Meredith drew level with him. “To this blessed sanctum where we will make the most solemn of vows.”
Meredith blew out a breath. It was a little shaky, so he reached for her hand.
“Do not be nervous, my love.”
“I am trying not to be.” She smiled gently. “I feel better that you are here.”
“Where else would I be?” He let out a gruff little laugh. “But here?”
“You are Jules Habsburg. You could have stolen into the dark of the night, never to be seen again. Marriage may have spooked you more than any ghoul could.”
“If it were marriage to anyone other than you, then yes, I’d be in Timbuktu by now.” He grinned. “But luckily, it is you with whom I stand here and there is nowhere else in the entire world I want to be right now.”
Her shoulders softened and her smile was more genuine. “Me, either.”
“Good, good, you are both here and glad to be, so let’s move forward.” The minister held up a battered copy of the Bible. “No time to lose.”
The vows were short and sweet and when the minister had finished, Jules stepped forward and took his bride in his arms.
His heart was beating wildly, a sense of coming home, a new beginning and extreme joy filling him all at once. A mountain slide of love and desire consumed him.
He took possession of her mouth, knowing it would be the first of many hundreds, thousands of kisses they would share as man and wife.
She clung to him, her small hands gripping his shoulders. The flowers had fallen to the floor.
He held in a moan, a deep grumble of relief that he had her back in his arms. That she was his and he’d never lose her again.
That wasn’t an option.
“Yes, yes, we know how passionate you are for each other.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon clapped. “Congratulations. Congratulations and all that.”
“Yes, congratulations, both of you.” Nancy whooped.
“Congratulations,” Bethany called.
They broke apart. Meredith’s cheeks burned scarlet and she retrieved her bouquet.
“And well done on taming the rake of the ton,” Nancy added with a grin.
“And you know all about taming,” Jules replied to her. “With that big snake of yours.” He laughed.
“Sydney is quite tame. In fact, would you like to be his caretaker? I am going away for a while.”
“I’m not quite ready for that,” Jules said with a grin. “But I’m sure you’ll find someone.”
“Where are you going?” Meredith asked her friend.
“To Scotland, a little archeological trip.”
“Are you?” Mrs. Dove-Lyon asked, knotting her fingers. “Maybe we should have a little conversation about that, Nancy. Before you go hop, skipping, and jumping off with the Duke of Newgale.”
“How do you know I am going with him?” Nancy’s mouth dropped open.
“She knows everything.” Jules laughed. “And for that, I thank you, Mrs. Dove-Lyon, and for all you have done for us.”
“I’d like to say it was nothing, that finding Meredith a husband was easy, but it wasn’t, and rest assured I won’t be spilling any of the less savory details when I write to your mother, Mrs. Meredith Habsburg…
Because…well, it just wouldn’t do her nerves any good.
” She paused. “It was quite the dilemma to rectify.”
“Easily rectified.” He winked at her. “In my opinion.”
She let out a low chuckle. “In my opinion, you should take your bride to her new home and from now on, consult her before putting into practice any of your wild schemes or ideas. For you have a very learned and bright young lady at your side now. Be sure to make good use of the fact that she will only every have your best interest at heart.”
“That is true.” Meredith slipped her hand into his. “I only want you to be happy, I want the best for you.”
“For us.” He smiled and had to bite back a sudden wave of emotion when his eyes stung suddenly. She was in his corner, the way he was hers. They held each other’s hearts…forever.
“Jules!” Meredith gasped and clung to her husband’s jacket. “What are you doing?”
“It is traditional for a man to carry his bride over the threshold, is it not?”
She laughed again. “Yes, I suppose it is. Though people are watching.”
“Good, then they will know for sure we are man and wife.”
He stepped into the hall of his home, his lips against her cheek, and then kicked the heavy door closed.
“Sir, it is good to see you.”
“Oh…good day, Cook.” Jules stopped moving. “Er…may I introduce you to Meredith Habsburg, my new bride?”
“Your ‘new bride’?” The rotund woman wound her hands together and studied Meredith with wide eyes. “Well, that is most sudden.”
“Not at all. We have been stepping out for some time.” He grinned wickedly. “Can you rustle us up a wedding feast?”
“A wedding feast. I… Well… Yes, of course, sir. And I have help today, my niece.” She smiled suddenly. “We will get straight to it.”
“Champagne, too. We must celebrate properly.”
“Of course, champagne too. I will make you a feast to be proud of, sir. Just give me a few hours.”
“A few hours is perfect.” He pressed his mouth to Meredith’s ear. “Perfect for me to remind you just how much I adore being naked with you.”
“Jules.” Meredith bit on her bottom lip, holding in a laugh at his brazen words. “Honestly.”
He held her tighter and chuckled. “Thank you, Cook. We will see you at dusk.”
“Dusk, yes, sir, and very nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“And you. Please, could you put these in water?” Meredith held out the flowers.
“Yes, ma’am, right away.” Cook smelled the petals. “They really are very pretty. Just like you.”
“Thank you.” Meredith felt her cheeks blush. How nice to be called pretty. How nice to be a bride.
Meredith swung her legs as Jules carried her to the wide staircase and began to descend. “You really shouldn’t have dropped news of our marriage on her so suddenly.”
“It was sudden.”
“I suppose…but the feast is a lot of work.”
“She has help, so she said.” Jules reached to top of the stairs. “And I have known her for many years. She knows me as well as anyone.”
“Not as well as I know you.”
“That is true.” He used his elbow to open the bedchamber door.
“And tomorrow, if you wish to hire more staff, acquaint yourself with the running of the house, then of course you may. A lady’s maid, perhaps, but until then…
you are mine, mine to do with as I please.
” He held her a little tighter and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
She was giddy with anticipation, her body alive with the need to be close to him, to connect with him in the way they were so good at.
And now finally they were in their own private space. No judgment no gossip, just Mr. and Mrs. Habsburg doing what came so naturally to them.
He set her down and kissed her, his lips roaming to her neck as his hands roamed to her behind.
She spotted a screen decorated with woodland creatures—foxes, squirrels, badgers, and deer—and pulled from his arms. “Wait, please.”
“What is the matter?” He frowned.
“Nothing. I just don’t want this particular dress ripped by your frantic passion.”
He laughed. “I’ll admit I do feel as though there were a storm of passion inside of me, but I promise I will not rip your bridal gown.”
“Good.” She stepped toward the screen. “Undress. Wait for me on the bed.”
“But where are you…?”
She didn’t answer. Instead, she turned and sashayed out of view. She felt powerful, feminine, capable, and in love.
So in love.
Carefully, she removed her gown, toed off her shoes, and then removed her necklace. When she was completely naked, she tweaked her nipples to hard points and then pulled in a deep breath. “Are you ready, husband of mine?”
“Very ready and very hard.” His voice was deep, slightly strained.
She grinned and stepped from the screen, placing her hands on her waist and jutting her hips. “I am glad to hear that because I am all yours and ready for whatever you want to give me.”
“Jesus, give me strength.” He stood from the end of the bed, gloriously naked and his erection jutting forward. “You are a vision to behold.”
Meredith had never considered herself to be a vision, but the way he’d said it made her think, just for a moment, that it was true.
He walked up to her, purpose in his strides, and took her in his arms. As their warm, bare flesh connected, a shiver of desire traveled over her skin. Her nipples pressed against his chest hair and he cupped her ass cheeks with his big, hot hands to pull her closer to him.
She tipped her head and their kiss deepened. Tongues tangling, breaths quickening. “Oh…Jules.”
“My love…how I love you so.”
“You do?”
“Of course.” He captured her face in his hands. “More than I have ever loved anything or anyone, even the Ruben’s I held in my possession for a short time.” He grinned and a mischievous glint caught his eye.