Althea lowered the cards, watching his reaction. She hid a smile.
He was nervous.
“Evan.” A part of her relished his fear. His good looks and charm, never mind his bags of money, had made navigating relationships too easy. But a much bigger part of her loved him for all of that and in spite of it, and she wanted to soothe his unease. “I love you. Your charm, your wit, your unconscious flirting with every girl from eight to eighty. The depth of your love and care for your mother. Your teachings and your willingness to be taught.” She thought of his tutelage in sensuality as well as his willingness to ask Penelope, a common-born woman, for guidance. “Your humility. And yes, your skills in the art of intimacy, however they were learned. Besides, ’twould be rather hypocritical of me to condemn a past that has awakened me to so much pleasure these past months.”
He closed his eyes, his exhale whooshing out in relief. “How many people do you want at our wedding? If ’twas small, we might have it within the sennight.”
Althea shrugged. “You are the earl. I need only Beth there—and Charlotte if she is available.”
Epilogue
In the end, Evan and Althea were married in the chapel at Greenborough Park a fortnight later. Evan was disappointed his mother could not attend. He had hoped she would have one of her few lucid periods that day, but it was not to be. They stopped by the dower house after the ceremony to visit with her.
Only their closest friends were in attendance, Michael and Penelope, Beth, and Ford. Charlotte declined to travel quite yet but sent a long letter of congratulations to both of them. Her gift, only given after approval by Althea, was her loan note, stamped as forgiven, with the stipulation that she would receive a lifetime supply of free shampoo.
He’d needed the extra time to arrange paperwork of his own. Althea had been ecstatic when she’d received the formal documents securing the shops in her name, with a separate account also in her name for all profits from them. They’d worked out a rough schedule of the amount of time each of them needed for their business ventures, to allow together time. She would help him with his responsibilities, and he arranged for his clerk to handle the shop books under her watchful eye.
He supposed they’d renegotiate when and if she became pregnant. In fact, he looked forward to it. He always enjoyed bargains with Althea, as even when he lost, he was happy she won.
He leaned toward her over the wedding breakfast table. “I have a wedding surprise for you after breakfast. ’Tis why I put the guests, even Ford, in the other wing.”
“Oh?” Althea’s voice was breathless. Then she leaned in. “I have something to show you as well, husband.”
He’d never imagined being someone’s husband. But already he could not imagine his life otherwise. He wanted to spend every minute with Althea and leave the damnable estate and investment paperwork to his solicitor. Conversely, he was proud of Althea’s desire to drive her shops forward and succeed in business in her own right.
He dropped his knife to reach for her hand. Squeezing it, he whispered, “I love that title. You have made me so happy, lady wife.”
As soon as breakfast was finished, he stood.
Ford and Michael immediately hooted and hollered. “Leaving so soon, my friend? Shan’t we get another toast from the groom? Mayhap a drink in your study?”
He smirked at them. “Jealous, lads? Just like in university, I must lead by example. This”—he gestured—“is the way to happiness. Michael, you drab fellow, you ought to know.”
They all laughed, including the ladies.
“And now, if you will excuse my lovely bride and I, we are off to the family wing of the house. We shall see you on the morrow.” He offered Althea his hand to help her rise, then bowed at his guests.
She blushed prettily.
“Are you feeling shy, wife?” he teased.
“I cannot imagine why. I’ve literally seen Beth in the throes of a sexual encounter. But I am.”
“I have just the thing. We shall give you something else to focus on.” He led her to the room that had been used for whist the first night of his house party. The room was darker, and the furniture was quite different, however.
A settee in a deep sapphire was set in a corner. A low table with a bottle of champagne and two glasses sat in front of it. A soft cream-colored blanket was thrown over one end, matching the decorative pillows on the couch. Strangely, the candelabra on the wall were not lit, nor was the chandelier in the center of the room, and all the window drapes were drawn.
Althea turned her head and gasped.
In the corner opposite the settee sat a chaise longue and a bed. All the candelabra in that corner were lit, as well as candles on a table in the center of the tableau. On that table sat a flogger that Evan had procured from Ford. Given her enjoyment of the flogger, he rather thought watching it being used would titillate.
He steered his still-blushing bride to the darker corner, gesturing to the settee before pouring her champagne.
Observing her gold gown, he hoped for as few petticoats as possible. He removed his bronze jacket, worn over black trousers for the church wedding. Perching beside her, he undid his cravat and slid it from his throat, leaving his white shirt open at the neck and his waistcoat that matched her dress and his eyes.
“Evan? What is this? Why is there a bed in here?”
“You recall that many of my servants are hired from the school?”
