“I do hope you don’t mind that my mother arranged a wedding breakfast for us.”
“I do not,” she replied. “I think it was rather sweet of her.”
Charles grinned. “I can assure you that my mother has good intentions, but she can be rather forceful when it comes to getting her way.”
“That sounds like my mother, as well.” Henrietta glanced out the window of the coach and watched as the vendors hawked their goods on the street. “When shall we retire to your country estate?”
“I assumed you would want to wait until the end of the Season.”
“Why wait?”
“Are you that anxious to get me alone, love?” he asked with a flirtatious smile.
She felt her cheeks growing warm and lowered her gaze to her lap. “That is not what I was implying.”
Charles chuckled. “I am well aware, but I wanted to take an opportunity to tease my wife.”
She looked up. “Will you say that again?”
“I am well aware—”
“No,” Henrietta interrupted, “the part where you called me your wife.”
“My wife,” Charles said softly.
“I don’t think I will ever tire of hearing that.”
“And I don’t think I will ever tire of saying that.”
She laughed. “Then our conversations might become a little repetitive.”
“So be it.”
The coach came to a stop in front of Charles’s townhouse, and the door was promptly opened by a footman. Charles exited first and then turned around to assist Henrietta. Once she stepped down, he took her hand and placed it into the crook of his arm.
“Are you nervous?” he asked her.
“I am.”
He patted her hand. “You have nothing to be nervous about,” he assured her. “Everyone will love you.”
“I hope that is the case.”
“Regardless, I love you and that is all that matters.”
She smiled up at him. “That is another thing I won’t ever tire of you saying.”
“I’m glad to hear that, because you should be expecting to hear it a lot from now on,” he said as he started leading her towards the main door.
The door opened and the butler stood to the side to allow them entry. “Good afternoon, milord,” he greeted.
After the butler closed the door, Charles turned to face him. “Thorne, I would like to introduce you to my wife, Lady Charles Brooksbank.”
Thorne tipped his head. “It is an honor to serve you, milady.”
“Thank you,” Henrietta replied.
The sound of a male’s voice came from behind her. “It is about time that you got here.”
