It would cost Donna Francesca. She was about to commit the final act of treason against her husband—one that she wouldn’t be able to come back from. Father Morris moved away and went to join Gideon and the others.
“I don’t know what to say. If you do this, Papa may never forgive you,” Serafina said to her mother.
“That is a risk I am prepared to take. If I don’t try and get your marriage solemnized by the church, your father will marry you off to Giovanni Magri. And Gideon will still have to fight your brother. Matteo will be honor bound to kill him. I am not having the lives of two of my children destroyed by Enzo’s blind ambition.”
Her mother led her back to the small gathering, where she placed Serafina’s hand into Gideon’s. “I am entrusting my daughter to you this night. This union comes at great sacrifice to a number of us, so please be sure to make her happy for the rest of her life.”
Gideon bent and gave the contessa a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Donna Francesca. I vow to make Serafina the happiest marchioness in all of England. I also vow to bring her home to visit every few years.”
Father Morris shifted to stand in front of the altar. Flynn handed him a copy of theBook of Common Prayer, open at the page which read ‘The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony,’then took his place on the other side of Gideon.
“Well then, let’s begin. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God . . .”
ChapterFifty-Four
“Lady Holwell.” Serafina couldn’t help but smile every time Gideon addressed her by her new formal title. They were married. The gold and emerald ring given to her by the Duchess of Mowbray sat on her wedding finger. Gideon had promised to tell her its illustrious history before they sailed for home.
The wedding service hadn’t been all that dissimilar to the Catholic ones she had attended. There wasn’t a full communion, but Gideon had promised they would attend one as soon as they returned to London. When a smiling Father Morris pronounced them man and wife, there wasn’t a dry eye in the chapel.
It was nearing one o’clock by the time they finally made it to the hotel, Albergo del Sole. Gideon led his new bride up the stairs to their room.
I’m his wife. I can’t believe we did it.
The morning would bring more challenges, but for the next few hours, she didn’t want to think about them. Or what might happen. She had Gideon all to herself.
We deserve this time.
Gideon had booked the best room in the hotel for them. Inside their suite, they stopped and simply stared at one another. Their journey as a couple had just begun.
“I’m sorry that wasn’t the big church wedding that you deserved,” said Gideon.
Serafina moved into his embrace, rising up on her toes to kiss her husband’s lips. “It didn’t matter. Whom I was marrying was all that counted. I’m just glad that my mother was able to attend.”
In the past few days, Donna Francesca had made up for all the years of being aloof and distant with her daughter. Serafina had never understood her mother, but in the face of true adversity, the contessa had shown Serafina what being a mother truly meant. She had saved Serafina from a miserable life.
“The contessa has proven herself to be an incredibly strong and resourceful woman. I just hope she is able to convince Pope Pius that he should support our case,” replied Gideon.
Her great uncle was the one who would have to do the actual convincing, but even getting access to the Holy Father was a miracle in itself.
Serafina turned to the window. “I see you managed to get a room with a view of the Pantheon. That was very clever of you, husband.”
Gideon brushed a stray lock of hair away from his wife’s face, then bent and placed a kiss in the crook of her neck. Serafina shivered at his touch.
“Please tell me that you packed that lace shift in your elopement bag,” he murmured.
An easy smile came to her lips. They had the rest of tonight all to themselves. They could kiss, touch, and explore. Unlike other brides, she wasn’t going to her wedding night ignorant of what happened between a man and a woman in the marital bed.
“I’m glad you ruined me, Lord Holwell. It means we can take our time.” Her fingers flicked open both buttons on the falls of his trousers, and his erection popped free. Serafina gave it a friendly squeeze, enjoying the ragged breath which came from Gideon at her touch.
“It also means that I can do what I wanted to do last night.” She dropped to her knees and gently took him into her mouth.
Gideon whispered a breathless, “You have no idea what that does to me.”
The contessa had been clear with her instructions, and also the news that this was something all husbands wanted, but many did not get.
Running her tongue along the length of him, Serafina quickly became attuned to the signals from Gideon. She settled into a strong rhythm of coming and going, her hand fisted around the shaft of his manhood. When he speared his fingers into her hair and gripped tight, she sensed he was struggling to maintain control. She was doing this to him, bringing him under her command. It was wicked and it was thrilling.
“Please, Serafina,” he begged.
