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“And do you, Lady Selina Elisabet Drake, take Lord Jasper Henry Munro to have and hold, to love, honor, and cherish, from this day until your last?”
“I do,” she said. Jasper grinned broadly, his heart swelling up at the sound of her, agreeing to be with him, forever. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was.
“Do you, Jasper, take Selina to be your lawfully-wedded wife?” the priest asked him.
“I do,” he said. “Wholeheartedly.”
“And do you, Selina, take Jasper to be your lawfully-wedded husband?”
“I do,” she replied. She squeezed his hands, which rested in hers. He squeezed back.
The priest handed Jasper the ring to place on Selina’s finger. “Repeat after me—With this ring, I thee wed.”
“With this ring, I thee wed,” he said, his voice husky with emotion as he slipped the ring over the joint in her finger, claiming her for his own. He looked down at it, the silver against the pale cream of her skin.
“I now pronounce you married,” the priest said. “Lords and Ladies, the Duke and Duchess of Gillingham.” Jasper beamed at Selina, his whole being suffused with warmth at the sound of her new title. Selina was blushing, roses in her cheeks.
They both leaned toward each other, kissing. He held her to him, as all their friends, family, neighbors cheered.
“Your Grace,” Jasper said, offering her his arm. “Come with me to our party.”
“Let’s go!” she said. They both turned toward the aisle, walking together as everyone stood. As he passed, he pressed his mother’s hand. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
He looked over at Selina, just at the same time that she turned to beam at him. He was going to remember this moment, for the rest of his life. He had never been so happy.
* * *
The party continued into the early evening. Selina had never smiled so much. It was the perfect day. As things began to wind down, she and Faith left Jasper to say goodbye to the guests. Faith helped her out of her gown, then into a lacy chemise. She wore a peignoir over the top, tied with a silk ribbon. Faith undid her hair, so that it was long, flowing over her shoulders.
“Thank you, Faith,” she murmured, her heart pounding.
“You’re welcome, My Lady.” Then, Faith left.
She waited for Jasper, her heart pounding. She folded her hands, wondering what to do with herself while she waited. Her mother had long told her what to expect on this night, and it had always made her blush bright crimson. Now that it was happening, she was nervous, but excited.
In the firelight, her hair and skin were golden. The door opened, and she turned.
Jasper entered the room, his eyes drinking in the sight of her. He walked over to her. He reached out, touching one of her long, blonde locks.
He placed his hand on her cheek, lifting her face up to his, covering her lips with his.
Her nerves began to vanish, replaced by the heat of desire. She was his, as much as he was hers. She stood up, placing her hands on his chest.
“Are you nervous?” he asked her.
She shook her head. “Not at all. Are you?”
“A little,” he said, running his thumb over her bottom lip. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while.”
“Me, in particular?” she asked, coyly.
“Yes, Your Grace,” he said, causing a warm tingle to flow through her veins. It was going to take some getting used to her new title.
“Then you shall have me,” she replied, standing up straighter, pressing her hips against him. His body was hard with lean muscle, which she felt through his clothing. She watched as his eyes darkened with desire. He gave her a crooked smile.
He tugged on the ribbon, so that her peignoir opened, like the bow on a gift that he was unwrapping. She let it fall from her shoulders, the silk slipping down her arms.
At that moment, her heart racing, she felt bold. Wanted. Cherished.
