Page 68 of A Wicked Business

“Oh, well done, Belle! You realise you are practically family now, don’t you? Felix and I grew up together, his parents and mine are such close friends. Come along, my father wishes to congratulate you.”

Rather daunted by the prospect of speaking with Montagu, Belinda opened her mouth to protest but Cat gave her no opportunity, towing her inexorably towards the marquess and his beautiful wife.

Cool silver eyes met hers and she swallowed anxiously, but his usually unsmiling face warmed as he looked at her.

“Lady Belinda. We are so happy for you and for Felix. We hope you will come and visit it us at Dern when you are able to.”

“Oh, yes, Belle, do come. Ciarán and I will come too, and it will be such fun,” Cat said with enthusiasm.

“Did I invite you?” Montagu asked his irrepressible daughter.

“There was no need, Papa. I know I’m always welcome,” Cat said, sliding her arm into her father’s and gazing adoringly up at him.

Montagu shook his head and sighed. “I am much put upon,” he grumbled.

His wife patted his arm soothingly. “Stop pretending you don’t like visitors,” she scolded him, though her eyes danced with laughter. She turned to Belinda, a look of warm understanding in her lovely blue eyes. “We hope you will both be very happy, my dear. You certainly deserve to be.”

“Thank you, Lady Montagu, Lord Montagu. Felix has spoken so fondly of you both I am sure we will accept your invitation soon.”

“See that you do,” Montagu said, and then looked around as his son walked up to them. “Ah, Philip. You’ve congratulated Lady Belinda?”

“Not yet, but as I was instrumental in getting the happy couple here, I believe I shall kiss the bride.”

Belinda looked at him in surprise. She had never known him to be so relaxed and jovial. He leaned in and kissed her cheek, his eyes glittering with amusement. “Well done, my lady,” he said gravely. “And I cannot help but think I had a lucky escape.”

Belinda laughed in outrage. “Oh, you devil. How could you?”

Ashburton shrugged, unrepentant. “I think we both know it’s true.”

“Well, for me as well as for you, in that case,” she replied tartly, a truth he acknowledged with a slight inclination of his head, his lips twitching.

The next hour was a whirl of snatched conversations as everyone wanted to speak to the bride and groom and felicitate them. Though for most of this time Felix and Belinda stood hand-in-hand, she barely shared a word with her husband until it was time to cut the bride cake. A servant whisked away the top tier, and Felix leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“Don’t worry, love. You’ll see that cake again soon enough,” he promised.

Belinda choked, knowing it would be used when they christened their first child, and batted his hand away as he squeezed her waist, making her squeal and giggle like a schoolgirl.

“Behave,” she scolded, but he was too full of happiness and joy to do anything of the sort and looked as unrepentant as a boy.

She laughed, shaking her head and drank the glass of champagne he handed her far quicker than she should.

As the afternoon wore on, the room grew hotter and noisier. The double doors were flung open to the garden where the youngest guests ran about, laughing and playing chase. The house had never felt so joyful and brimming with life and Belinda looked over her at her father to discover him smiling and looking quite merry as he bent his head to listen to Lady Helena.

Well, if anyone could charm him, that lady ought to manage it, she thought with a smile.

“Belinda?”

She looked up to find Felix watching her, a look in his eyes that made her breath hitch.

“Yes?”

“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked her gently.

“Oh, yes, it’s been the most wonderful day,” she said, gazing around the room at their guests, all chattering and sharing in the joy of their celebration. “I’m so happy I could burst,” she said, feeling a little giddy with it and wondering if she should not have drunk that last glass of champagne.

“I’m glad, love, but… do you think you could bear to leave now?”

Belinda turned back to him, blinking. “Leave?” she repeated, really feeling a trifle floaty and blurry about the edges. “Oh! You want to go to bed,” she said, and then hiccoughed.