He doubled back on himself and held out a hand to her.
"We mustn’t hide from our guests, wife," he said, and she blushed and giggled and took his hand.
"I suppose not," she said, with an apologetic glance towards her sister. "I am not used to being the centre of attention."
He squeezed her hands.
"Nor am I. But after today, we needn’t do so regularly, I promise."
"I’m so happy for you," a feminine voice said, and he turned to find the Duke and Duchess of Coldingham entering – the Duchess rather pulling the Duke along in her wake as she hurried to greet the newly married couple.
"I knew at the dinner, didn’t I, Nate? I said – anyway, never mind all that. I’m very pleased for you both, and excited to have such a lovely couple nearby for social occasions. London’s not a patch on Northumberland, is it!" she said with a laugh.
"Not at all," the Duke and Duchess of Dunloch said, entering behind them. "I cannot imagine why anyone would want to go to such a busy city when there is such beauty andsociety here in Northumberland – and across the border, of course."
"Well said," Ezra said, raising his glass. "To the wonderful society in Northumberland, and never needing to go to London."
???
She knew Ezra had been out of society for some time, and yet he had such an ability to charm, to put everyone at ease, to make everyone laugh. She felt dull by comparison, and wondered – certainly not for the first time – why on earth he had wanted to marry her.
He was the handsome, funny, intelligent Earl of Gracewood. He could have had any wife he chose – so why would he choose her?
"You’re hiding again."
Constance jumped as her sister Charity threaded her arm through hers and pulled her away from her usual position as a wallflower.
"I don’t mean to."
"Hard to break the habit of a lifetime, I’m sure. But these people are here to see you; you mustn’t shrink away from them all."
Constance shook her head.
"They’re here to see Ezra, really."
"Constance, you are the bride. They’re here to see you the most. And Ezra only has eyes for you, so you must try to stop pulling away from him. He loves you – you can see that, right?"
Constance nodded. "I can… I just don’t really understand why."
Charity sighed. "I could give you twenty reasons why, but we don’t have time for that right now. And it doesn’t really matter whether you understand why or not – what matters isthat it’s true. He loves you, and you love him, and you mustn’t look so terrified."
Constance smiled. How well her sister knew her.
"I’ll try," she promised, before allowing her sister to push her into the centre of the room, beside her husband.
???
"If I could have your attention for a moment," Ezra said, and the room fell quiet, with all eyes on the earl and his wife by his side. She shrank away from the attention, but he kept hold of her hand, keeping her beside him while he addressed them all.
"Thank you all for joining us on this special day. I think it is fair for me to say that neither Constance nor I expected this. Indeed, when she broke into my castle, she didn’t expect to find anybody here at all."
There was a ripple of laughter from those in the room who knew the story, and Constance felt her cheeks flush red.
"But life surprises us when we least expect it, and I must take a moment to toast the beautiful, intelligent, incredible Lady Gracewood – the woman who made it worth coming back out into the world, and the woman who has brought life back into this castle, and back to me. Please, raise your glasses to the new and incomparable Lady Gracewood."
Tears sprang to her eyes at the strength of emotion in his words, and although it was hard to be the centre of attention, it was rather wonderful to hear him speak so. Their guests applauded and raised their glasses, repeating her name, and then – thankfully – returned to their conversations, allowing her to slip into the corridor to get a breath of fresh air after such an overwhelming morning.
"Ah, Lady Gracewood."
