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She immediately spotted Grayson standing next to who she assumed was his friend, Mr. Westbrooke. Since he hadn’t been due to arrive until this morning, she had not yet met him. Her knees were shaky, and she was grateful to have Father’s arm to hold onto.
Was she doing the right thing? Should she abscond back to Bath and take up her comfortable life?
They reached the sanctuary and she looked into Grayson’s deep brown eyes as he looked back at her. His crooked smile did strange things to her insides. He was so handsome it hurt her eyes to look at him.
Her groom’s wedding attire fit his large body perfectly, and his hair, although slicked back for the occasion, had already begun to settle on his forehead. She licked her lips and leaned in as Father kissed her and then handed her off to Grayson.
He squeezed her hand. “Relax, sweetheart. It will be over soon.”
“I am afraid not, my lord. This is just the beginning.”
Grayson took Addie’s hand in his and they turned to face the vicar. He tried not to think about the last time he’d done this very same thing and it had ended so badly. After Margaret’s death, he swore he would never do it again, but here he stood.
However, comparing Margaret with Addie was more than foolish. Margaret had been all things evil. Things he’d never seen in her when they were courting and first married. Love had blinded him to her vain, selfish nature. In her eyes, nothing came before her wishes and desires. Not even her baby son.
Addie, on the other hand, was a loving, caring person, and he knew in his heart she would never betray her marriage vows.
The actual ceremony seemed to be over rather quickly. He spoke clearly the words that would bind him to Addie for life, and then slid a wedding band on her finger. He gave her the expected chaste kiss and they turned to face the friends and family gathered in the church.
It was done. He had a wife again. God help him.
Later that evening, Grayson paced the soft deep brown carpet in his bedchamber waiting for word from the newly hired lady’s maid that Addie was ready for him. They were spending their wedding night at his townhouse, and in the morning, they would leave by train for a short wedding trip to Brighton Beach. Michael was in good hands with Mrs. Banfield, and Mrs. Mallory had already taken on her role as grandmother and been delighted to learn a little bit of sign language herself.
Grayson ran his fingers through his hair and admitted he was anxious to bed his new wife. The bit of passion he’d felt in her when they’d kissed had stirred him in a way that he hadn’t felt since he and Margaret were first married.
Truth be told, even Margaret had not brought him to the edge of losing control as Addie had the few times they’d kissed.
There was something about the voluptuousness of her body compared to Margaret’s slender form that appealed to him in a way he’d never expected.
“My lord, Lady Berkshire is ready.” The demure young maid gave a quick bob and fled, her face red. Ah, the innocence of youth.
He tightened the belt on his banyan and entered the sitting room separating the two bedchambers. He gave a slight knock and entered Addie’s room.
He realized that they’d not even had enough time together since their betrothal to discuss where she would sleep. He much preferred to have his wife by his side all night, but Margaret had been adamant that she could never enjoy a good night’s sleep with him tossing and turning next to her.
Whenever they made love—in his room—she would quickly dress and hurry away. Since his parents had a stilted relationship and to his knowledge never shared a room, he didn’t find that so unusual. Since then he’d made friends with men who eschewed the ‘sleep apart’ nonsense and he hoped he could convince his new wife of the benefits of that.
One benefit, of course, was knowing who was occupying one’s wife’s bed.
Addie stood before the fireplace, bringing his thoughts and movements to an abrupt halt. She was achingly beautiful. Her silky hair flowed over her shoulders and ended right at her full breasts. She wore a deep rose satin nightgown that clung to her curves in a scandalous manner. It was cut low, with only two narrow bands of fabric over her shoulders holding the entire thing up.
“My mother picked out my nightgown.”
Grayson slowly walked toward her. “Remind me to buy her a dozen roses and a very expensive bracelet.”
“You like it?” She looked as if she wasn’t sure, which only convinced him the woman did not own a mirror.
“Oh, yes. Yes, indeed.” His steady continuous advance caused her to back up.
He reached his hand out. “Stop, sweetheart. If you get any closer to the fireplace, we will spend our wedding night at London Hospital.”
Addie chewed on her lip and took his outstretched hand.
“Come here.” He gave her a slight tug then wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to his chest. “Are you frightened?”
She tilted her head and studied him. “No. Not exactly. Curious, certainly. Well, maybe a bit nervous.”
“I had a bottle of wine brought up earlier. Would you care for a glass? It might relax you.”
