“I know.” Lydia burrowed into him. “I just needed to be alone with you a little longer. It’s going to feel like forever before all the banns have been read.”
Lydia couldn’t help but slide her gaze to the vase on the table behind them. “It is only a replica?”
“It is.” But he wasn’t looking at the vase. He was staring at her, his eyes looking darker than normal, pupils dilated. His lashes dropped when his gaze flicked to her mouth.
“Was it expensive?” Lydia asked, licking her lips.
“It’s worthless. Almost a disgrace to display it in my home.” He was stroking her lips with his thumb now, and she could see the pulse at the base of his neck racing.
Almost as fast as hers was.
“In that case…”
Lydia turned and straddled him the same as she had before.
“You’re dangerous. Do you know that?”
Lydia simply nodded. “I love you Jeremy.”
“I love you, Lydia.”
Not quite ten minutes later, the new vase lay shattered on the floor.
BONUS EPILOGUE
THREE MONTHS LATER
“When do we get to eat?” Ollie fidgeted at Jeremy’s side where they stood with the lady benefactors on a raised platform overlooking the celebratory gathering.
“When Lady Liddy has finished her speech,” Jeremy answered firmly, but with affection. Blackheart had taken Buck under his wing, and although given the choice to go and be with his brother, Ollie had wanted to remain with Jeremy and Lydia.
Although Ollie could never legally be considered his son, Jeremy had decided to raise him as such. It was a choice that had been made with one hundred and ten percent approval from his wife.
“She’s awful brave to talk to all these ladies and gents at once,” Ollie murmured in awe.
Although most of thetonhad returned to their country estates upon the onset of summer, there were a handful who remained in London and had come to celebrate the grand opening of Tuesday’s Choice: A New Home for London’s Children in Need.
With teachers and staff in place, Lydia and Clarissa, with help from Lady Westerley, had organized not only the opening,but also the ribbon cutting, which was a grand affair that involved closing off part of Wapping Street and giving away all sorts of food and gifts and favors. And even though it was mostly symbolic since 72 children already resided at Tuesday’s Choice, it was a most significant event for the orphans who struggled daily in order to survive life on the docks. Twelve of the students had once been members of Farley’s gang, but the others had simply presented themselves at the door, hesitant initially, but more enthusiastically as word spread.
Jeremy looked on as Lydia greeted a few other ladies, still clasping his hand while nodding and confirming last minute details. Watching her in amazement, he wondered for the hundredth time how it was that she grew more beautiful each day.
She’d been Lady Tempest now for two months. But she was so much more than that. She was his best friend, his lover.
Lydia.
Jeremy hadn’t thought he would ever know joy again, and yet he’d never been happier.
“I am so damn proud of you,” Jeremy dipped his head to growl near her ear. He couldn’t help but inhale and then kiss that sensitive spot along her jaw.
She shivered and then turned in surprise, her face flushing as she met his gaze.
“None of this would have happened without you,” she said.
He merely shook his head.
Dozens of people had been involved in the opening of the orphanage, but Jeremy knew that the heart and soul of it had been driven by Lydia.
Lydia bit her lip and then met his eyes.
