“I wish that were possible but you cannot skip your best friend’s and my sister’s wedding. I don’t think they’ll ever forgive us if we did that.”
“Yes, I suppose that cannot be avoided, can it?” he looked at her, his smile turning leery. “I cannot wait until we are all alone tonight.”
Augusta gasped and smacked his arm. “You cannot say things like that in the presence of the guests.”
Benedict chuckled. “Just married and you’re already being violent towards me. Perhaps the many advice I received had some truth in them after all,” he teased.
Augusta rolled her eyes.
“I received some letters today. Colin has been sent off to Scotland and Juliet has been sent to the monastery to live with her aunt,” Benedict said, suddenly serious. “Perhaps I should feel sorry for them but I cannot bring myself to muster that emotion, not after what they did to you. To us.”
Augusta heaved a sigh of relief. “I don’t believe I can express with words how glad I am that we were able to take Lord Colin out. Now, he cannot hurt anyone ever again. Perhaps if he ever returns, he would be wiser and have a more matured outlook to life past the rakish ways he was so focused on.”
Benedict rubbed his bare chin, his brows lowered in thought. “I don’t believe the man is capable of remorse to the extent that he stops being the rake that he is and lives a new and reformed life. Although, I suppose I find it difficult to see through my grievances after what he tried to do to you.”
Augusta shuddered. “I must confess I am more shaken by Lady Juliet’s actions than by his. Lord Colin was angry with me and sought vengeance for what he believed I cost him, however, she had no reason to try to hurt me in that manner, especially since I’d never had an interaction with her to begin with. I don’t know if I will ever be able to get past that.”
Benedict took her hand in his and looked deep into her eyes. “I cannot change what has happened and I am sorry that her obsession with me caused her to harm you the way that she did, however, I can promise you that I will never let her harm you again. That goes for everyone else who might try to hurt you. I will always protect you.”
Augusta’s heart melted at his vow. She believed every word that he had uttered. There was something about the fierceness in his eyes that made her know that she would never have any reason to doubt him.
As evening came and people began to exit, Benedict took Augusta’s hand in his and led her to his gardens. He let go of her and took a deep breath, looking out into the garden.
“So, my darling wife. How do you wish you want our home to be? Wish for anything and I will scour the earth until I find it and bring it back to you.”
Augusta beamed with excitement. It was the first time he had called her his wife. She could not believe that she was finally married, and to a man who understood and loved her. He truly was the best catch.
“I have all I need. There is nothing else I could wish for, my husband,” she said quietly, wrapping her hands around his waist.
Benedict looked down at her and her breath caught as his eyes darkened. He looked at her lips and lowered his until they were pressed against hers in the sweetest kiss. She moaned, the sound swallowed into his mouth like it had never been made just as his tongue swiped at the entrance of her mouth.
EPILOGUE
Augusta sighed, resting her head on Benedict’s shoulder as the carriage rolled on. Nancy and Matthew had just married and would be off to their honeymoon in a bit. Augusta and Benedict were supposed to be off on their own honeymoon, however, she was exhausted after the two days of weddings and socialization that she could not fathom having to travel so soon.
She had not yet broached the idea of staying home and having a lazy day for a few more days with no one the wiser save the servants but she was certain he would be on-board with the idea especially since he was so exhausted himself.
She yawned, her eyes shutting for a moment as she put all of her weight on him so that he could bear her up. She had been so excited to see her sister wed, although she did not think anyone could beat Evan’s excitement now that his worst fears had turned out to be fiction and they were both married.
Matthew and Nancy’s wedding had been lovely. Augusta’s eyes had been filled with tears for the most part of the ceremony. It was great to finally have a glimpse of what her wedding must have looked like now that she wasn’t the one getting married.
Nancy had looked extremely beautiful in her flowy yellow gown and it had been even more of a treat seeing how Matthew had been unable to take his eyes away from Nancy.
Augusta’s favourite part of the ceremony was the moment after they finished reciting their vows when Matthew had bent over and whispered something in Nancy’s ear that caused her to blush and then laugh so loud, she would have turned the eyes of some members of the ton and be frowned upon had it not been her own wedding.
Augusta had always known that Matthew loved Nancy, however, in that moment, she received an even greater assurance than she ever knew she needed. It was as though she’d asked for a sign and it had been handed to her.
The wedding feast had been entirely different from how her and Benedict’s had gone. As though they had learned from the wedding the day before, Nancy and Matthew had greeted guests together, refusing to allow themselves be parted, as though they were joined at the hip. Their actions had elicited some light-hearted teasing however, it had not mattered to the couple what anyone said and that was all their loved ones cared about.
“it’s wonderful that we can ride the same carriage alone now that we are married. There are no companions to fix their watchful gaze on us and make sure that nothing untoward happens,” Benedict said suddenly, yawning as well.
“I don’t believe you are capable of anything untoward right now. You look so exhausted,” she said, massaging his scalp with her fingers.
“I’m certain that if you continue with that, I really will be incapable of anything like you said,” he said, grinning lazily.
Augusta rolled her eyes. Her cheeks blushed as memories of the night before flooded her mind. She bit the inside of her cheek to stop the heat from spreading further. She flipped her hand fan open, letting the cool air quell the heat in her cheeks.
She looked back at Benedict and laughed shyly before changing the topic. “Can we stop at my- at Evan’s manor?”
