Briefly, Addie ducked her head to hide the joy she felt. She didn’t want to scare Toni with how excited she was.
Addie’s hair fell forward over her shoulders. With her braids loosened, her hair had a wave to it, and she could smell the wafts ofthe few stray flowers tucked into those waves. Someone had carefully cut the thorns from roses and twisted the thornless stems into the circlet that now sat precariously in her hair, even though Addie had her eyes fastened on the petal-strewn floor.
When she reached the front, Toni’s hand was there, extended to take Addie’s hand in hers.
Addie looked up as Toni touched her cheek with her other hand. “Okay?”
“Yes. Very.”
“Still ready to marry me?” Toni teased quietly.
The minister cleared his throat as Addie simply stood and stared at Toni.
Addie managed to say, “Yes, please.”
Then the minister started in with the very modern, “We are gathered here tonight, last minute, to join these two people, Miss Madeline Wight and Lord Toni Darbyshire, in matrimony.”
He had managed to get both her first and last name wrong.
“AdelaineStewart,” Addie whispered.
“Right.” The minister swayed, and Addie caught a whiff of gin. She wasn’t sure what was accurate and what wasn’t, but a last-minute wedding by a drunken minister made her have to resist a giggle. Maybe that was how women could have gotten married in the 1800s? Drunken ministers. She bit back another giggle at the thought and looked at Toni.
Toni was staring at her like this was as real as it felt to Addie. “You’re sure?”
“I am. I would. I do.” Addie took a quick breath and added her actual truth, “You’reThe Onefor me, Toni Darbyshire.”
Toni looked panicked at that, but they both said their official—but fake!—vow of “I do.”
The minister hiccupped loudly after Toni took Addie’s hand and made her vows, causing a ripple of laughter in the room. But Addie was certain Toni had been trembling in that moment.
In a few short moments, the minister said, “You can kiss her now.You’re all wed. Legal and proper. Why else would anyone do that if not to get the reward?”
It was a cold, drunken statement, but Addie shrugged it off because Toni had her arms around Addie before “now” was even out his gin-soaked mouth.
For a moment, Addie leaned in, forgetting their audience, forgetting that this was to be something they could use later and explain away as a publicity stunt if they wanted. Then Lady Dove cleared her throat loudly.
“The guests are retiring to their drinks and gossip.” Lady Dove rested her hands on her stomach and looked between them. “Most creative solution to rooming problems I’ve seen in all my years…”
Toni’s arm slipped around Addie’s waist, and Addie could swear that the palm of her hand was fire through the dress and underlayers. She bit the inside of her lips to keep any inappropriate noises in her mouth.
“I had a few of the photographers here,” Lady Dove added. “Since you couldn’t look away from your bride, I wasn’t sure you noticed, but I’ll send photos to the studio and your publicist on Monday, Darbyshire. They can decide if they want to use any of the images or not.”
She glanced at Addie but had no words to go with the curious look she gave her. Then she was off, leaving Toni and Addie alone in the ballroom.
“Take me to our room, Toni.” Addie stared up at her. “If I’m your bride the next forty-eight hours, I believe I deserve a fake honeymoon.”
Toni chuckled. “It just so happens that I have a suite at a manor house.…”
“Lead the way.” Addie paused before adding, “I’ve been in corsets for weeks because of you. It’s about time you removed one.”
“With pleasure.” Toni motioned her forward. “Better to follow you up the stairs, love, in case you topple backward.”
“I would like to be naked before you topple me backward,” Addiesaid in her primmest voice. “I have wifely duties, and I cannot manage them with this damned corset.”
They reached the suite door a few moments later, and Toni said, “I feel like I ought to carry you over the threshold.”
Addie laughed and stepped around her. “How about we skip that, and you start freeing me from this costume? Unlike yours, mine isn’t cut for comfort.”
