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Chapter 31
“Please welcome the Earl of Northrive and his wife, the Countess Violette of Northrive.” The welcome was met by warm applause as Marcus helped Violette to her feet.
He had barely taken his eyes off her since she had walked into the chapel that morning, and since then, the celebrations had been nonstop. They had started with the wedding breakfast, which promptly turned into an afternoon of games and celebrations and was now culminating in an evening feast. At one end of the room, fiddlers had taken up their positions and were playing the opening introduction of a song, ready for Marcus and Violette to take their first dance.
He led her forward toward the open space in the ballroom that was left parted for them. Out of the corner of his eye, he was aware of Walter and his father talking happily. It seemed that ever since the Marquess had met Violette, any objection he might had had before to her melted away. Close by to them, Peter and Laurie stood. Laurie was complaining as to why they had to dance at all. Meanwhile Peter was quite engrossed by the appearance of a particular lady across the room.
Marcus’ full focus was on Violette though. Dressed in her perfect white gown, she was the epitome of a lady, but there were the hints of her rebellious streak that he loved. Though her hair was growing longer, she still kept it short. Around her throat was a locket he had purchased for her shortly after their betrothal.
Inside were two miniatures that he himself had painted, one of Violette as Lady Violette and one of her as Victor Blake. He had called it the two sides of her personality. Since he had bestowed the gift, she had rarely taken it off.
As they came together in the middle of the floor to dance, he took one of her hands in his and his other rested gently on her waist. The gentle waltz music played as they began to circle the room. It was traditional for the first half of the dance to be just the newly wedded couple, then others would join in. Despite all eyes being on them, Marcus was not bothered. His eyes were solely on Violette.
“You look rather happy,” she said in a tease as they twirled around the room together.
“Ha! Could you have doubted it?” he said as he turned her back the other way. “Two months is too long to wait to be married.”
“It was necessary,” Violette said. “At least now my mother is set up and secure in London.”
“I know, and I am relieved for it, but I can’t deny I have been impatient to get you alone again.”
“Alone?” she said with a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
“We used to always be alone,” he said, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “I now realise how much of that time we could have indulged in other things if I had only known the truth.” His mischief worked, for she laughed and blushed. Other dancers joined the floor, meaning he had to be proper and not speak out of line in case anyone heard them. Yet, he couldn’t resist. In the end, he just whispered a little more. “When can our wedding night begin and the evening end?”
“You are impatient,” she said with a defiant smile. “What would our guests say if we left them now?”
“They would expect it of a newly wedded couple.”
“What would your father say?”
“He’d probably be pleased I was setting my focus on producing children so soon.” His words pulled another laugh from Violette as they spun around the other dancers on the floor. “Are you not as impatient for it as I am?”
Their dance stilled a little as she looked up into his eyes and moved an inch forward so that her body was nestled perfectly in his arms. That close proximity made his body stir for her. He longed to drag her out of the room at that moment and find the nearest bedchamber.
“I am,” she said softly. “But I am also nervous.”
“Don’t be,” he assured her. “What is there to be nervous of in this?” The hand he had placed on her waist he used to grip her just a little tighter, in a playful squeeze. She seemed to shiver with excitement in response.
“It’s a fair point,” she said with a laugh.
As the music ended, they parted. Marcus felt instantly cold without her body against his. They bowed and curtsied to one another before he offered his arm to her and towed her away from the dance floor.
They did their duty for a while, meandering amongst the guests and greeting them all, even spending some time with Peter and Laurie, who declared how happy they were for the event to be taking place at last.
“Peter, I’ve been wanting to ask something,” Violette said as she took a glass of sparkling wine that Marcus offered.
“Go ahead,” he encouraged her.
“You clearly suspected who I was when I was here. What gave me away?”
“Ah, that is a tough one.” Peter put a hand to his chin and pretended to be in deep philosophical thought. “The way you clambered on and off a horse was a definite clue.”
“Damn,” she muttered with a shake of her head. “I should have pulled my ruse off better.”
“Ha! Not at all,” Peter said, chuckling away. “I was quite thrilled to be the only one to see through it.”
“You could have told me,” Marcus said to Peter, patting him on the arm.
