are we going to enjoy the day, our wedding day, or are we going to spend the time discussing people and events that have no bearing on our future?’
‘That went better than I had hoped,’ Sophie said as they left the wedding breakfast in Richard’s carriage. She had changed from her wedding dress into a smart bottle-green dress with a matching tailored jacket. Her tiny pillbox hat with its dyed green feather and the beaded gloves completed the outfit. She thought it set off her blonde hair admirably. The warmth she had seen in Richard’s eyes when she came down the stairs with her crinoline imported directly from Paris slightly swinging to reveal her ankles encased in half-boots made the time she’d spent getting ready worth it.
The tiny hard knot in the pit of her stomach faded.
Contrary to her earlier fears, Lord Hallington had proved remarkably charming at the wedding breakfast and had gone out of his way to be kind to her stepmother, even going so far as to compliment her on using wax flowers rather than the real thing. Apparently Lord Hallington had recently developed a passion for collecting china pugs, but her stepmother had a number which he had not seen before.
‘Did my father say how long he was staying in Newcastle? He merely told me that he was staying as long as necessary. I want to start the wedding trip as soon as possible. I have promised you the Alps and you shall have them.’
Sophie laughed at Richard’s expression. It had been obvious to her at the wedding breakfast that Lord Hallington adored his only child. He had simply been upset at the suddenness of the marriage and hungry. Once he had eaten a bit, she could see where Richard had acquired his charm from.
‘He has taken rooms at the Neville Hotel on my stepmother’s advice. He said nothing to me, but from what I understood from my stepmother when I changed into my going-away dress, it will be a week or two, possibly three.’
‘As long as that?’
‘He plans to visit his mother’s grave. My stepmother has undertaken to be his guide as he is now family.’ Sophie tapped her finger to her chin. She should have remembered what Lady Parthenope had said on the first night about visiting her mother’s grave. It provided the perfect explanation as to why Lord Hallington was uncomfortable in Newcastle. ‘That must be the reason he never visits here. The memory is far too painful for him.’
‘I am thankful that he had enough sense to realise that he would not be a welcome addition to our rooms.’ Richard wrapped his arms about her and pulled her close. ‘I am postponing the wedding trip on his account. I’m not postponing anything else.’
‘You shall have to take me to your grandmother’s grave so I can pay my respects.’
He loosened his arms and a surprised expression crossed his face. ‘I will find out from my father where it is.’
‘Don’t you know?’ Sophie asked in dismay.
‘Until my aunt said something the other day, I had forgotten—if I had ever known. My grandmother died before I was born. I know its general location.’
‘It would be a good thing for me to visit it.’ Sophie forced a smile. ‘Something to discuss with your aunt when I next meet her.’
‘I do refuse to discuss the dead, departed and most particularly my aunts on my wedding day, Sophie.’
The tiny hard knot returned with a vengeance. Her husband was a stranger. She had thought she’d known, but could she count on him in a crisis?
She reached up and brushed her lips against his. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘That’s better.’ He gathered her to him again and returned the kiss, nibbling her bottom lip. ‘I have wanted to do this all day.’
‘Do you think it is too early? The sun hasn’t set. What will the servants think?’
He put his hands on either side of her face. ‘Promise me never to be shy with me, Sophie. You are beautiful and I want to unwrap all the layers of your clothes and feast on your magnificent body.’
‘My stepmother sent Jane on ahead, so that she’d be there with my things, waiting to help me get ready. We have everything planned.’
‘Your stepmother and your maid have no place in our marriage bed.’ He put his forehead against hers. ‘It is well that I told Myers that the entire staff were to have the afternoon and the evening off. He will ensure your things have been safely put away, but no one remains. You will have to allow me to be your maid for tonight.’
Sophie gulped. ‘We will be entirely alone.’
‘What passes between us, Sophie, is strictly private. No audience needed.’
Rather than glancing at his face, Sophie toyed with the beaded portion of her glove. She wasn’t sure if she should feel pleased or distinctly shocked. He made it seem as though it was an everyday occurrence. And for him perhaps it was. She didn’t want to think about all the other women he must have known. She had to wonder if Myers was used to disappearing when Richard brought his new mistress back to his rooms. Not mistress, she corrected her thoughts. She was his wife. ‘Is it normal for married people to behave this way?’
‘Normal people be damned! It is how I want to behave.’
Sophie folded her hands together primly. ‘I merely asked. I didn’t want to provoke comment. I know how servants talk and gossip. I was brought up to respect convention.’
‘There won’t be, not about that.’ He took her hand and slowly removed her glove, finger by finger. The gold band gleamed against her naked flesh. ‘People do not pry into the bedroom of married people, Sophie. Our marriage will be on everyone’s lips for a few weeks. Can your conventional soul withstand that?’
‘Yes.’ She put her hand on Richard’s cheek and felt the soft bristles against her palm. ‘I have never done this before.’
‘We are both new at marriage.’ He turned his face to her palm and kissed it. ‘We shall grow in it together.’
His words sent a soothing balm over her jangled nerves. He might be infinitely more experienced in the ways of love than she, but he had never been married before, either. This was the start of a new life for the both of them. It was something they could share together.
‘It is a good thought.’
Sophie started to lean towards him. The carriage jolted to a halt and the coachman opened the door. Instantly she sat bolt upright. Richard got out first and turned back to her with his hands outstretched.
‘Are you ready?’
‘Ready?’
‘I intend to carry you over the threshold.’
‘You don’t have to. I must weigh a ton. I ate far too much of the seed cake.’
‘You will be as light as a feather. I want this to be perfect.’
‘Very well. You may carry me.’
He put his arms about her and she looped her hands about his neck. Sophie noticed the servants filed out after the door had been opened. Richard had arranged everything to perfection.
Richard
