“Come now, Lady Thornton, let us not overwhelm the newlyweds with emotions. I’m sure there are a lot of people waiting to wish them well,” the duchess said kindly, gripping her friend’s arm and leading her away, but not before leaning into Charlotte and whispering, “It’s a good thing he came to his senses; otherwise I would have had to beat him about the head.”
Charlotte stifled a giggle, gripping her husband’s arm as he shot her a questioning look. “Never mind, My Lord, it’s just a secret between ladies,” she said and hugged his arm, pressing her face into his shoulder.
It was Lady Elizabeth who stepped forward next, a sheepish look on her face as she wrung her hands nervously in front of her. “I want to congratulate you both on your union. And I hope that you share many happy and fruitful years together,” she said, averting her gaze.
Feeling her heart soften towards the young woman, Charlotte gave her a friendly hug, leaving Jameson’s arm just for a second. “Thank you, Lady Elizabeth, and I hope that we can leave the past behind us. I would like it very much if you would come to tea.”
“In a few months, once the honeymoon is over,” Jameson interjected, causing his bride to blush and his sister to shake her head at him.
“I would like that very much, Lady Charlotte. I hope that we can be friends,” she said with a relieved smile and embraced her brother.
“I hope you have seen the light where Lady Henrietta is concerned?” Jameson lifted an eyebrow in a fatherly manner that made Charlotte’s heart skip a beat. She hadn’t given children much thought, but now that they were married, she hoped they would have more than just a few.
Turning away from them, Lady Elizabeth nodded across the room. “Actually, Lady Isabella has tried to play the matchmaker and introduced her to Lord Dunham. I’m not sure if the match will be successful; she seems to be asking him an awful lot of questions,” she said, slightly exasperated as she glanced at her friend.
Glancing across the room, they spotted Lady Henrietta deep in conversation with Lord Dunham, who kept glancing at the open doors.
A soft giggle escaped her throat as Charlotte shook her head. There wasn’t a chance that the two of them would make a good match, but then again, stranger things had happened on Heaven and Earth.
Jameson chuckled as he led his wife to the side, away from listening ears. “I hadn’t wanted to spoil our day, but I’m afraid you might hear the news from someone else. Your uncle has been charged with murder and is facing the hangman’s noose.” He relayed the news gently and stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers.
“Please, don’t refer to him as my uncle anymore. I would rather forget that part of my life. I will remember my parents for the wonderful people they were; any other relations to them are of no consequence to me. I don’t even want our children to know about him,” she said, speaking from the heart and holding his gaze.
Charlotte had contemplated going to visit him in jail, hoping for one final conversation that would put her mind at ease. Yet time had made her realize that nothing he could have said to her would bring her parents back or make up for the fact that he had taken their lives.
A cheeky smile spread across his lips as Jameson leaned in a little closer, whispering in her ear, “Have you been giving a lot of thought to children?” His tone was seductive and meant for her ears alone.
“Perhaps.” She returned his cheeky smile.
“Well, I can honestly say that I have been giving a great deal of thought to making those children.” His voice was heavy as his lips brushed the tip of her ear.
Charlotte’s insides knotted with passion as she gazed into his eyes. The promise of a heated night hung in the air between them.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention for just a moment?” Lord Ashburton called over the heads of the crowd with a glass of champagne in his hand.
Tearing her gaze away from her husband, Charlotte looked to the stage where her friend stood, blushing at his side.
“I know that our mutual friends will be happy to share their joyous occasion with us as I announce my engagement to the wonderful Lady Isabella Thornton!”
A round of cheers filled the air as Charlotte felt her heart lifting with joy for her oldest friend. “Did you know about this?” She turned to her husband with a stunned expression.
“I did. I wanted it to be a surprise for you. I hope you don’t mind that I allowed them to share in our happy moment?” He searched her face.
Turning back to her husband with a bright smile, Charlotte shook her head with tears in her eyes. “Mind? You have taken me into marriage and allowed my oldest friend to announce her engagement on the same day. I can’t think of a better way to end the festivities.”
“Oh, I reckon I can think of many more ways to end the festivities.” He drew her into his arms and kissed her with enough passion to still her breath.
***
The fire flickered in the grate as Charlotte stood before her husband, her dress discarded to the side on the floor.
“Have I ever told you just how beautiful you are?” he breathed in a husky voice, pressing gentle kisses across her shoulders as the light of the fire flickered across her naked form.
A gasp escaped her throat as her lips parted, his hands finding her breasts with gentle squeezes. Her hands moved down his naked torso, moving his breeches down his hips.
Jameson growled a response and let her go, kicking his clothes across the room before drawing her back in for a warm embrace. His arms snaked around her body, pulling her breasts against his chest.
Their tongues danced together in a heated battle, each searching to dominate the other amidst the soft moans of pleasure that escaped them both.
