Page 91 of Scandal’s Daughter

He’d not known who to ask to accompany him this morning.

The idea that Beau wasn’t invited to his wedding seemed impossible. He’d thought Percy would refuse too, as it was hardly appropriate as he’d offered for Georgiana as well. But Percy had seemed genuinely pleased to be asked and Sebastian had been grateful for it. He tried to put the unhappy face of his friend far from his mind. There was no use dwelling on it.

Beau had made his own bed.

Georgiana loved him, not Beau. That he knew with no question or doubt in his mind and the thought eased away the tension that had made his shoulders tight as the carriage drew up outside the grand portico of the St George’s church in Hanover Square.

The church’s tower stood proud against an azure summer sky as they walked into the cool gloom cast by the six massive Corinthian columns and made their way inside. It was a rather plain, if impressive structure with a wide nave, and gave the impression of light and space. With relief Sebastian noted that they had made good time and took a moment to gather himself before the day he had been waiting for with such anticipation began in earnest.

He smiled and greeted Georgiana’s aunt and uncle, who looked rather daunted at first meeting him. They had been unable to come before the wedding, as a sudden outbreak of scarlet fever had kept the good doctor with his hands full until that very morning.

Happily, they soon relaxed as Sebastian took pains to make clear that he really wasn’t as high in the instep as Georgiana had teased him about being.

For the fiftieth time Sebastian reached for his watch chain to check the time, just as Percy elbowed him in the side. Doctor Bomford had slipped discreetly away to meet his niece and now Lord and Lady Falmouth entered the church.

Céleste looked ravishing in a pale peach colour which set off her golden hair beautifully, and Falmouth, looking unbearably smug, gave Sebastian a wink of encouragement.

And then, there she was.

Sebastian caught his breath and held it as she made her way down the aisle on her uncle’s arm. Doctor Bomford looked proud enough to burst something and Sebastian was quite taken aback by the force of emotion that came over him at seeing his lovely bride make her way to the altar.

Her glorious red hair shone copper and gold in the sunlight and was no less dazzling than her smile and the light in her eyes.

She carried a simple bouquet of three white lilies surrounded by fern leaves and if she was in any way as nervous as Sebastian suddenly felt, the bouquet hid any noticeable trembling of her hands.

The exquisite dress she wore clung to her curvaceous frame in such a way that he wanted nothing more than to dispense with the ceremony and the blasted wedding breakfast with all haste and get his bride alone so he could divest her of it in short measure.

At least some of his impatience must have been visible in his eyes as his irrepressible bride chuckled in a very unmaidenly fashion and had the temerity to wink at him.

Sebastian snorted and promised himself the delight of extracting retribution in the very near future as the ceremony began and everyone fell quiet.