“Your plan worked, little tigress.” His voice was husky.
“Did you doubt that it would?”
“I know better than to doubt you,” he said tenderly. “Thank you for believing in me. For standing with me against all odds. But most of all, for showing me that what I needed wasn’t vengeance but love. I don’t deserve you, but I will do everything in my power to make you happy. And that includes earning your family’s approval. Whatever it takes, I will do it…because you are my path. My everything.”
Brimming with joy, she twisted her head to look at her papa. Willing him to understand.
He sighed, then shrugged as if to say, It’s up to you. But his eyes were warm and full of pride, and she knew that whatever choice she made, she would have his support and love.
Her heart full, she turned back to Wei.
“I think you already have Papa’s permission,” she said.
Wei slid a wary glance at her father. “I should probably wait to kiss you.”
“Probably.” She wound her arms around his neck, bringing him close. “But you know how impatient I am.”
He kissed her with a love that they no longer had to wait for.
Forty
With a feeling of triumph, Wei carried his new bride into his bedchamber.
“Welcome to your new home, Mrs. Chen,” he murmured.
Her arms around his neck, Glory dimpled at him. “I am glad to be here at last. Our engagement felt like it lasted forever.”
He didn’t disagree, because the last two months had felt interminable. It was his own fault, he supposed, for insisting that they stick to proprieties. But he hadn’t wanted to give Glory’s parents any reason to regret accepting his suit, nor had he wanted to compromise His Grace’s political efforts. Thus, he and Glory had only seen each other during chaperoned visits and hadn’t made their engagement public until after the duke had introduced his bill.
Unfortunately, the bill failed to gain support.
While disappointed, the duke had taken the result in stride.
“You can only lead a horse to water,” His Grace had said philosophically. “I shan’t give up. The next time, however, I shall refuse the help of any backers who belong behind bars.”
He was referring to Rothwell, aka Erasmus Trimble, who was presently a resident of Newgate. While Trimble had been correct that the English courts held no jurisdiction over the crimes he’d committed in China, the local authorities did have something to say about the attempted murder of a duke’s daughter. Given the many witnesses, the case had been open and shut, and Trimble would spend the rest of his days where he belonged.
Yuan fen was a powerful thing.
Wei set Glory by his bed, cupping her face in his palms. Stroking his thumbs across her silky cheeks, he murmured, “Did I tell you what a beautiful bride you are?”
Standing at the altar, surrounded by the beaming Angels who’d served as her bridesmaids, Glory had stolen Wei’s breath. He hadn’t been able to believe that his little tigress, who’d been accompanied by a flower-bedecked FF II, was his at last.
“I am glad you like my wedding dress,” Glory said earnestly. “I wanted Mrs. Q to make it in red in accordance with Chinese custom, but Mama said there is such a thing as too much scandal.”
Wei had to hide a smile. His new mama-in-law had been gracious, welcoming him into the family, and he liked her very much. In fact, he was surprised by how well he was getting on with all of Glory’s kin. Over the last several weeks, he and her papa had gotten better acquainted, discovering that they shared similar values and views of the world.
Like his daughter, His Grace was curious about his Chinese heritage, and he and Wei had spent hours discussing the nation’s culture and politics over brandy and cigars. He had even asked Wei to assist in his next campaign to stop the opium trade. Wei respected his new father-in-law and was gratified that the feeling was mutual. Most of all, he was glad the duke trusted him to take care of Glory.
Gazing at his bride, Wei said, “You are a vision just as you are.”
It was no lie: Glory looked like a princess in her frothy ivory gown trimmed with lace. His mother’s bracelet circled her wrist.
“You look very handsome yourself, Shifu.” The look she gave him made his heart thud as if he’d been practicing kung fu for hours. “And I cannot wait for a lesson on my wedding night.”
Her sweet naughtiness undid him as always. He snatched her into his arms.
“I shall be happy to instruct you,” he said.
