AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When Edwina's eyes met Albert's, he gave her a smug smile, mouthing the words, “I told you.” A little giggle escaped her, and the other two pairs of eyes around them turned in her direction.
"Oh, Mrs. Martins, would you mind standing in as our second witness?" Albert asked before she went back into the manse to summon her husband. This drew Mrs. Martins’ attention away from her, and she smiled.
"But of course," Mrs. Martins responded eagerly. "It would be an honor, Your Grace."
As she went in to speak to the parson, Albert led Edwina to the chapel. The eagerness with which Mrs. Martins and Chessman agreed to be witnesses at their wedding was telling of their high regard of him. His idea of marrying at this hour was absurd, but they appeared to support him.
Mr. Martins met them at the chapel and gave Edwina a kindly smile when he saw her. They had been introduced at the Country Assembly.
When it came time for them to exchange their vows, a nervous flutter began in her stomach.Are you certain you truly wish to do this, Edwina?a tiny voice in her mind asked.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Do you, Edwina Catherine Pierce, take Albert Alexander Winfield to be your lawful husband, to love and to cherish until death do you part?”
She trembled and looked up into Albert’s eyes. He silently implored her to say the words. She opened her mouth but no sound came out. He tightened his grip on her fingers.
Reaching deep within her, she summoned the courage to commit her life to him. Taking a deep breath, she said, “I do.”
Albert released a breath, then smiled at her, squeezing her hand. “I do,” he said when Mr. Martins asked him.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. May your union be blessed by the Almighty. You may seal your union with a kiss.”
Albert drew her close and placed a chaste kiss against her lips, then whispered close to her ear, “I promise you more.” Her cheeks warmed.
"Who would have thought I would live to see the day you would finally take a wife, Your Grace," Mr. Martins said as he congratulated them.
When they finally returned to the Mansion Albert turned without warning and scooped her into his arms. She let out a surprised squeal as the butler averted his gaze, but not before she caught his smile. "I cannot believe what we just did," Edwina breathed as he carried her up the stairs.
"Where are we going?" she asked when she observed that he was carrying her away from the guest wing of the Mansion.
"When I make you mine, Edwina, it won't be in the guest wing," he murmured. Her cheeks might as well have caught fire with how warm they felt.
He opened the Master Chambers door and walked in with her, crossing the sitting room to the bedchamber before setting her down at the foot of a massive four-poster bed with velvet curtains. "Welcome home, Your Grace." He flourished an elegant bow.
"Your Grace?" Edwina echoed, grinning. "It will surely take some time to get accustomed to it."
"It feels right, though, does it not?" He removed the coat around her shoulders and circled his arms about her waist. Edwina silently admitted that he was right. She was uncertain of what the future had in store for her, but in that instant, she was happy. She was free of Prudence’s grasp, and she now had a home she could truly call hers.
Her new reality was re-established when Albert pulled her against him, his lips catching hers in a searing kiss that stole her breath. His mouth moved expertly over hers, sucking, biting, brushing. For a long moment, he did nothing but hold her in the circle of his arms, kissing her, promising her a night of pleasure.
When at last they parted to catch their breath, she asked, “Are you no longer in a haste?”
His fingers traced a line down her neck, from the base of her ear to the swell of her breasts. “We have all night, Darling, and the rest of our lives. You are mine now.”
“Not yet.” She placed one hand on his chest, a sly smile coming to settle on her lips. “We have time, you say?” She tugged her dress down one shoulder, stepping away from him.
“I—” Whatever he had been about to say vanished as his gaze heated. He did not move from where he stood, but he followed her with his eyes, dark and hungry.
She tugged the dress down, exposing her shoulders. She wore nothing underneath, no shift, no stays. If she drew it any lower, she would be completely exposed to him. Tonight, she was feeling bold, and it reminded her of that night at the masquerade. She lacked experience, but she had knowledge.
Tugging her dress, she allowed it to slip down her body to pool at her feet. His breath caught audibly, and she smiled. Her hands went up to cup her breasts. In an instant, he was in front of her. "My God, Edwina!" he rasped. "How do you know just how to be perfect?"
"A few words on some pages might have helped," she confessed, trembling when he cupped her bottom with both hands.
"I need to buy you more of those books, then," he said before lifting her and placing her on the bed. He stood back and gazed at her body, an amazed look in his eyes. Then he pulled his shirt out of his breeches before pulling it over his head.
He joined her on the bed, kissing her first on the lips, then down her neck. Every part of her body that he kissed made her feel revered. Paying each of her breasts attention with his mouth, his fingers deftly caressed her body, kneading and stroking. Resting his hand on her knee, he looked into her eyes.
