A March Bride (A Year of Weddings 1 #4)(29)

“Home.” She glanced down at him. “Avery’s my ride . . .” Her heart fluttered, revelation dawning, her body responding with fiery pulses. “Oh—” A deep blush crested her cheeks. “I hadn’t even thought . . .”

“I surprised you. I understand.” He stood, reaching for her. “But this is our wedding night.”

“I-I guess so.” She laughed low, shoving the lap blanket from her shoulders. Did someone turn up the heat in that fireplace? “I was all mentally geared for our wedding on the twenty-first. It didn’t register that, you know, tonight is—”

“We have the whole cottage to ourselves. No Jon, no servants or staff. Not even Liam.” He swept her into his arms and held her against him. “Come with me.”

He led her into the house, through the kitchen where the staff, the locals, and the Stratton Palace team talked and laughed, cleaning up.

Walking hand-in-hand up the broad, winding staircase, Susanna made the last mental adjustment she needed to realize that this was her wedding night.

Oh, she was staying. She could finally let her heart and desires go. She’d not deny this man. Not deny herself. She’d waited ten long months for this night, and she wanted to be with him every bit as much as he wanted to be with her. Plans and schedules be darned.

At the top of the staircase, a soft light glowed from the master suite at the end of the hall.

Nathaniel had turned his bedroom into a bridal chamber with dozens of candles, fresh white linens, and a fire flickering in the old stone fireplace. A small bowed gift and a bouquet of roses awaited her on the dressing table.

“Nathaniel, oh my . . . will your surprises never end?” She laughed and shoved him out the door. “Now, get rid of our last guest and the cleanup crew. Give a girl a chance to prepare. Got a dress shirt I can borrow?”

His eyes glinted with passion. “In the closet.”

She rose up on her toes and kissed him. “My heart is beating so fast I can’t breathe.” She pressed his hand over her heart. “Give me a few minutes, and then the rest of the night, I am 100 percent yours.”

As Susanna closed the suite door, Nathaniel raced down the hall and shook the entire cottage. “Everyone out! Out! Good night and good ’morrow.”





Sunlight filled the room when Nathaniel woke up, reaching for his bride. Her side of the bed was warm but empty.

“Suz?” He sat up, listening for the sounds of life.

She popped out of the bathroom. “Morning, sleepy head.”

He grinned. Seeing her wrapped in a towel, her wet hair combed back, his desire for her stirred. “You going somewhere?” He patted the bed next to him. Nothing had prepared his heart for what he’d feel for this woman once she was completely his and he was hers.

“It’s twelve thirty. We all leave tomorrow, so I thought it would be fun to go to the Shack for lunch and hang out with the friends and fam.”

He crawled out of bed. “I thought it would be fun to hang with my wife.”

“You have the rest of your life to hang with me.” She kissed him, teasing and slow. Then she turned him toward the shower. “Get ready. Let’s go see everyone and continue the celebration.”

“Married not even twenty-four hours and my wife is bossing me around already.” He reached for another kiss, letting her love awaken his sleepy heart.



After his shower, Nathaniel headed downstairs, snatching up the SUV keys from the dining room table. “Suz, love, let’s go. I’m dialing Liam. Making sure he’s at the Shack with everyone. I’d like him there so he can have fun and we have security.”

He’d kept this wedding private, away from the watchful eyes of the media, but he didn’t want to venture far without Liam. Word was bound to spread over St. Simons sooner or later that a royal wedding had occurred.

Though he felt sure they were safe for one more day, he didn’t want to risk it. Two Royal Air Force planes had crossed the Atlantic in less than a week. Surely they’d alerted someone, somewhere.

“Liam, we’re on our way to the Shack. Yes, see you there.” Nathaniel tucked his phone in his jeans pocket. “Suz, love, you ready?”

She bounded into the room glowing and beautiful, free and sweet. He hooked her with one arm and kissed her. “Want to walk on the beach later?”

“Whatever you desire, Your Majesty.”

“Whatever I desire?” He nuzzled her neck. “You . . .”

Susanna laughed softly and leaned into him for another kiss as he fumbled for the doorknob. As he swung it open wide, a gush of cool, fresh air swirled around them, along with the battering sound of a dozen camera shutters.

Photographers flooded the front veranda, the lawn, and down the driveway.

“King Nathaniel, is it true you were married last night?”

“Your Majesty, if Susanna is still an American citizen, how does this impact your monarchy?”

“Susanna, King Nathaniel, look this way, this way . . .”

Nathaniel slammed the door shut, grimacing at Susanna, anger boiling in his bones. “I’m sorry, love, but our honeymoon is over.”





KING NATHANIEL II IN BREACH OF MARRIAGE ACT; PARLIAMENT TO TAKE ACTION

THE KING’S POLITICAL OPPONENTS HEAT UP: “HIS MARRIAGE TO THE AMERICAN DEFIES OUR LAWS”