Page 82 of Rogue Lyon

“Yes, yes, including duels at dawn,” he said. “Absolutely.”

She nodded. “If you really are sure…then yes…” She pulled in a breath. “I will be your wife.”

Suddenly, she was in his arms and his lips were on hers.

Meredith forgot Mrs. Dove-Lyon was even in the room and clung to his jacket as she sagged against his body. He tasted of everything she’d ever need. Her heart was so full, it was overflowing with love and the heavy cloak of doom that had been weighing down her shoulders was suddenly lifted. Gone. Evaporated.

She was to be a wife.

The wife of Jules Habsburg.

“Well, finally, we got there.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon clapped.

They pulled apart and Jules grinned at her in that devilishly naughty way that had her body trembling for him. She giggled and enjoyed the fizz of longing that went up her spine.

“I apologize,” Jules said to Mrs. Dove-Lyon, “for that sudden display of affection.”

She waved her hand at him. “Oh, do not apologize. It is only right to share a kiss after promising your lives to each other. The only thing to arrange now is the wedding.”

“The wedding…of course,” Jules said.

“Which will be tomorrow.”

“‘Tomorrow’?” Meredith gasped.

“Yes, the sooner there is a real wedding ring on your finger, the sooner the scandal goes away. But don’t worry. I will arrange everything. I can acquire a special license. The minister will come here and the ceremony will be a quiet affair, no fuss, no fanfare, just a union that fixes this terrible fix.”

Jules nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. Yes. Good idea, excellent idea. And then we can kiss this sorry situation goodbye and…”

“Kiss each other to your heart’s content.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon waved at Meredith. “Now off you skip and be sure to tell Nancy—she will help you with tomorrow’s attire and ease any wedding-night nerves. She is well-versed, having four married sisters.”

“I… Oh…” Meredith felt a flush of heat travel up her chest. “Yes, good idea, of course. Wedding-night nerves.”

“Ah, I see that you have no wedding-night nerves.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon frowned. “All the better that we get this wedding over and done with then.”

Meredith didn’t need Mrs. Dove-Lyon to say the words ‘with child.’ They were hanging in the air between them.

And that was something she couldn’t face, not yet, not until she had a real ring on her finger.

So she bid her, and Jules, goodnight, and raced from the room, desperate to get to Nancy and Bethany and tell them the news.

Because this was an outcome she never could have predicted. Wouldn’t have dared hope for.

But this is what was to happen. She was to be a bride.

Chapter Twenty

Jules snapped his jacket straight and then fiddled with his cravat. Was his attire smart enough? This was his big day. He was to become a husband, a married man, something he’d thought might be way down the line in his future.

Until Meredith had come along.

Clever, beautiful, delectable Meredith. The woman, it seemed, he couldn’t live without.

“Are you ready, Mr. Habsburg?” the minister asked.

“Yes. Of course.” Jules nodded curtly. He was more than ready. He wanted his ring on her finger, his claim on her clear for all to see. She was his and he was hers. That was how their life would be.

He pulled in a deep breath and set back his shoulders.