What a Reckless Rogue Needs (The Sinful Scoundrels, #2)(101)

She took her father’s arm. He escorted her down the stairs and into the waiting carriage. Her mother and Penny followed inside. The carriage rolled off, and Angeline inhaled. “Oh, goodness, I have butterflies in my stomach.”

“That is normal,” her mother said.

The duke looked at Angeline. “You have always been beautiful, but you are even more so today.”

The carriage arrived quickly. Her arms were a little shaky as her father escorted her down the aisle. Colin’s friend Harry nudged him. Colin turned to watch her, and she knew she would never forget the look of love in his eyes.



At last Angeline stood beside him. Her little sister held her posy, and Harry winked at him.

The familiar words of the ceremony washed over Colin. Not long ago, his life had seemed so aimless, but standing in this church beside the woman who would be his wife from this day forward, he knew that there was a purpose to all things. Even before he took the marriage vows, he had sworn that he would never take her for granted, and he would tell her that he loved her every single day of their lives together.

Then it was time to repeat the vows. He slid the ring over her slender finger and looked into her eyes. “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.”

Reverend Quimby said, “For as much as Angeline and Colin have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands: I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”



Deerfield

There was much rejoicing at the wedding breakfast. Angeline ate very little because she still had butterflies in her stomach. Colin made up for it by eating two slices of cake. Bellingham and his wife attended. Three times Bell had to grab his son, who tried to pull Hercules’s curly tail.

The footmen circulated with glasses of champagne. Bianca and Bernadette got scolded after Margaret found them draining two glasses of champagne. The marquess was worried that they held their liquor like a man. He confessed to Colin that it didn’t bode well. Colin advised him to have locks installed on the sideboard.

Penny took a slice of cake to Harry. When Angeline remembered Penny asking about kissing boys, she steered her sister away from Harry and took her aside. “He’s too old for you, and he’s a rake.”

“He’s ever so witty,” Penny said. “I know he’s too old, but a girl can look.”

Someone dropped cake on the floor, and Hercules gobbled it up. Mrs. Quimby asked every single guest if they had made the acquaintance of Baron Overton. Mr. and Mrs. Faraday congratulated Colin and Angeline and said they had never had a finer time as actors.

The celebration lasted for hours, but as the autumn sun started to set, Colin took Angeline’s hands, and she thought she might melt on the spot from the way he looked at her. They said good-bye to all their friends and family, and then they took the carriage six miles to their home, Sommerall House.

There was a chilly breeze as they hurried to the door. Colin unlocked the door, picked her up, and carried her over the threshold. Then he slid her down his body. “Welcome home, my wife.”

She cupped his face. “My husband.”

They removed their wraps and walked up the familiar stairs. A fire was burning in the bedchamber where they had made love that rainy night. Someone, probably Margaret, had put the servants to work. The covers were turned down, and there was a bottle of wine.

He removed her stunning gown and all the rest of her clothing. Then he laid her on the sheets gently as if she were made of the finest crystal. After he shed his own clothes, he joined her in the bed and turned on his side. “Tonight is our first night as a married couple. I don’t want to think what my life might have turned out like if not for you. Now I have my family and yours and ours together. All because of you, my beautiful Angeline.”

She rose over him. “Lay back, Husband.”

“Why?”

“I want to take advantage of you.”

“Help,” he said in a mocking meek voice.

In the next moment, he gasped for real as she used her tongue on him. “Have mercy, Wife.”

Her only response was a wicked laugh.





Epilogue



London, spring 1822

At Angeline’s request, Mrs. Norcliffe delayed the ball for Angeline’s return to society in deference of the debuts for Penelope, Bianca, and Bernadette. Colin looked into his wife’s shining eyes and thought she was even more beautiful. She did look as if she were glowing within. Now and then she placed her hand over her slightly rounded belly.

Colin leaned down. “Is she kicking?”

“He is stretching and pushing as if he thinks he can get out.”

“She is anxious to make her debut, but it is too soon,” he said.

Angeline shook her head. “Every other man in the world wants a boy, except you.”

“I really don’t care, love. I just want you and the babe to be healthy.”

“We are,” she said. Then she grabbed his forearm. “Look, a boy asked Penelope to dance.”

He frowned. “Do her slippers have red stripes?”