“Well, you know what this means?” Lady Cotswalts gave her daughters a significant look. “We have a wedding to plan.”
“Jane has a wedding to plan, Mother,” Emily pointed out. “You did not even want her to end up with the Duke.”
“I was worried that they were not a good match.”
“I told you they were.”
“You do not know everything, Emily. I expect you will say that Jane should be married in green or some other nonsense.”
“Why should she not get married in green? It is an excellent color on her.”
“She cannot possibly get married in green.”
The two women continued to argue as Jane gave Blake a sidelong look, still smiling.
“Are you sure you still want to marry me?” Jane asked, gesturing to her bickering mother and sister.
“Nothing on Earth could stop me from wanting to marry you.” Blake gave her a wicked grin. “Though if you are worried about me changing my mind, perhaps we should elope to Gretna Green and be married by nightfall.”
“You would like that, wouldn’t you? But I assure you, Your Grace, there is no shortcut to be had here.” Jane moved closer to him, tracing a finger down his chest, her own smile full of mischief. “Do you think you can handle it?”
“With you by my side? I can handle anything.”
And then Blake swept her up into his arms, kissing her as Emily cheered and Lady Cotswalts let out a scandalized gasp.
The world was finally right.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
“Icannot believe I let you talk me into this.” Emily shook her head as she studied herself in the mirror.
“Oh, it is not that bad,” Jane murmured absently, trying to psych herself up to look at her own reflection.
She was in her bedroom at Pembleton Manor with Emily, Cressida, and Lady Cotswalts. Each woman was wearing a stunning dress, but Jane had not yet looked at her own reflection. She felt as though she had swallowed thousands of tiny butterflies.
Cressida gave her a knowing look and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Not that bad? I look like a meringue.” Emily gestured to the dress—a very puffy, green dress.
“You do not. Besides, it does not matter what you look like—you are not the one getting married, Jane is,” Lady Cotswalts pointed out.
“She will not be getting married if we do not set out soon. The ceremony is supposed to start in half an hour.” Emily glanced at the clock.
“There is plenty of time, and the church is only down the road,” Jane said, wishing her stomach would settle.
I wish I had some mint tea or something.
“Besides, I am sure Blake will be happy to wait for a few minutes. He has already waited this long.”
“You really did not have to wait for me to return from my honeymoon, you know,” Cressida said.
Jane frowned. “But I wanted you to be my matron of honor.”
“Well, I appreciate it.” Cressida beamed at her and then looked at Emily. “And Emily, I do not think you look like a meringue. You look lovely.”
“Thank you,” Emily said, though she did not sound convinced. “Jane, are you going to look at yourself in the mirror or not?”
