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“Join us.” He held her hand and led her up the steps to stand before the cleric as everyone burst out into the atrium. There were exclamations and applause.

Vivian looked to her mother and Duchess Torrington, and both had smug expressions of having known all along.

She turned to Alexander. “How long have you been planning this? I thought it was my idea.”

“Since the day after I proposed. It is actually my aunt and your mother’s plan. They suspected we’d not wait long to be intimate.”

Her eyes widened, and she looked to the clergyman. Thankfully, he was too busy looking around the room at everyone who was trying their best to get settled.

“This is so wonderful,” Vivian said with a sniff.

“Dearly Beloved...” The clergyman began, and everyone settled to witness the exchange of vows.

Vivian heard very little. In the moment, she was lost, her every thought on the fact that she was to be Alexander Yarnsby’s wife. Repeating the vows took concentration as her entire being hummed with anticipation of what was to come—a lifetime of happy moments like these surrounded by the most wonderful group of people in her life.

“Thank you,” she said, looking to the group after she and Alexander were pronounced husband and wife. “I am so very lucky to have each and every one of you in my life.”

Even Lady Yarnsby, who wiped her eyes, showed emotion. Vivian smiled warmly at Mary, who stood with Penelope and Clara’s companion, Molly.

It was the most perfect of days.

Chapter 13

“I wondered where we would spend our wedding night. I didn’t expect it to be here,” Vivian said, her voice trembling.

They were still at Haven in a large bedchamber that was decorated beautifully. The air was perfumed since there were several vases spilling over with beautiful greenery and red berries that must have taken hours to find.

Her hand trembled as she pulled pins from her hair, unsure exactly what to do after. Should she brush it out and change in front of Alexander?

Sure, he’d already seen her in her nightclothes, but this was to be so very different. The last time they’d been alone. They’d talked for hours, then he’d helped her into her robe and ensured she returned to her own bedroom without being seen.

“You think too much.” Alexander pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “Turn around.”

Vivian did as told, trembling when his fingers touched her skin as he unbuttoned the dress and slipped it from her shoulders.

He removed the next layer, his gaze holding hers in the mirror the entire time. Vivian could barely breathe as more and more of her body was exposed.

When she stood in only her stockings, he rolled them down, deftly pulling them and her slippers off.

“Vivian?”

She looked at his face. His warm gaze met hers for a moment before moving down the length of her body.

For some reason, the way he seemed to appreciate what he saw emboldened her, and Vivian was not embarrassed.

She moved closer to him and undid his cravat, followed by his vest. When she fumbled with the jacket, he yanked it off and tossed it. Soon after, he stood bare from the waist up.

They crashed into each other, his mouth claiming hers like a prize that was offered freely. Vivian wrapped her arms around his shoulders and shook with anticipation.

As if needing to ensure she was there, his hands traveled from her upper back, down to cup her bottom, then up her sides. Every place he touched felt like she was being branded as his and his alone.

Vivian wanted more, needed to be overtaken. If only she wasn’t so untrained in what to do. Perhaps she should have read Penelope’s lovemaking book. She raked her fingers down his back to his waist.

When his mouth pressed on the side of her neck, she allowed it to fall sideways, her eyes closing.

Alexander lifted her easily into his arms, then carried her to the bed, lowering her gently. The cool bedding sent awareness of what was to happen through her, and Vivian sat up.

What a reward it was to see Alexander finish undressing. His body was like a work of art. Every part of him was so very different than her own. His chest was wide with a sprinkling of hair, his arms well formed. There were ripples that went from under his ribs to a flat stomach. Between his legs, just below a patch of hair, was something she’d never seen before.