“No,” Simon shook his head, his gaze not wavering from Violet. “Were you?”
“Surprisingly, I wasn’t either. A little in awe…” his friend answered.
And then she was beside him, and Greystone was placing her hand in his.
“Dearly beloved,” the bishop began.
Simon faced his bride, allowing her to see all the love he felt in that moment.
Because that was precisely what she was. His dearly beloved.
Bonus Epilogue
Crescent Park
* * *
Two and a half years later
* * *
“Guests will be arriving any hour now.” Violet wrung her hands together. “I’ve inspected all the rooms. The kitchen has everything they need, except for the turkeys, of course, which won’t be delivered until Christmas Eve. The decorations are dusted—”
“You’ve taken care of everything.” And then some. Simon took both of her hands in his and squeezed.
His wife had been caught up in the preparations for weeks now, but now that the day had arrived, she was second-guessing everything.
They hadn’t entertained a great deal since their marriage, aside from family and close friends. But having recently completed the renovations to the Manor at Crescent Park, Violet had suggested it was time.
And so they’d decided on a Christmas house party.
“Breathe.” Simon widened his stance, so she had no choice but to meet his eyes, and then pressed his forehead to hers. “Everything is perfect.” He kissed her. “You are perfect.”
This woman, Simon had learned, had more capacity to love than he’d thought possible for one person. Beginning, but not ending, with Simon and their six-month-old twin sons, she always managed to also love and support his sisters and brothers, her cousin and niece, and all of their families, as well as an abundance of friends who made up an essential part of their lives.
“Sometimes,” she whispered in his ear, “I’m almost too happy.”
With an audible sigh, Violet wound her arms around his neck.
And then, his very proper wife nibbled at his earlobe.
“You say they’ll be here any hour?” Simon’s hands roved over his wife’s bottom. “That means we have time…”
Even if Violet had somehow missed some small detail, their servants, who were some of the finest people in all of England, would take care of it.
His staff was the best because he paid more than any other employer—and they deserved it. He also took steps so that they didn’t have to sacrifice having families of their own in order to work for him—unless they wished to do so.
Simon had only unfastened a few buttons at the back of her dress when sounds of approaching vehicles filtered through the windows of their bedchamber.
They froze, neither willing to move out of the other’s embrace. “How much are you willing to wager,” Violet finally said, “that the first to arrive are Bethany and Chase?”
“I’ll not be swindled so easily.” Because Violet only wagered when she knew she would win. And Simon was still smarting from the last one he’d lost—having bet the twins would be girls.
Although, of course, he hadn’t lost at all. Every day with his wife and sons was a win.
When the carriage sounds halted outside, Violet dropped her hands from around his neck with a disappointed sigh. But then she leaned forward to kiss him.
“Tonight,” she said.
