He was in love and marrying the woman of his dreams. How had this happened? When had everything fallen into place so perfectly? And how was it he was only just now realizing this?
His eyes caught hers as she drew nearer to the front of the large cathedral on her father’s arm. She appeared a little pale, more delicate than usual. Her cornflower blue eyes were large in her face. They looked uncertain as she met his gaze.
Until Garrett smiled at her.
In that smile, he allowed all the love he felt at that moment to overflow from his heart. Watching him, she stumbled slightly. Her father caught her so that it was hardly noticeable. Garrett loved her. He loved her.
Ah, yes. I love her.
The bishop began speaking, and all Garrett managed to think of was how very lucky he was to have been saved by Lady Natalie Spencer. He would spend his life doing all he could to bring her happiness. He would take her abroad, on the travels she’d missed out on this summer. While the manor was rebuilt, he would show her some of the most beautiful places in England and on the continent. He would take her to Italy, to Spain, hell, even to India. He would show her the world! And then when the construction and furnishing at Maple Hall were all completed, they would return, and they would begin a family. And he would cherish her.
He felt like a groom.
Stepping into the church,Natalie nearly collapsed in relief at the sight of her fiancé standing at the end of the aisle.
She was also glad to see her brothers were not lined up behind him with pistols pointed at his head.
Ifhe showed, she had half expected he would be attired in his normal unrelieved blacks. And although he looked handsome enough in those, she was oh, so pleased to see him dressed for this occasion. He looked more handsome than any man she’d ever known.
His chiseled features were strong and sturdy, his eyes honest and true. As she stepped toward him, holding onto her father with one hand and her bouquet in the other, her doubts returned, for he looked grim.
Her feet felt leaden as she approached the altar.
And then he smiled at her.
Not a wry smile, or a condescending smile, or even a smile of laughter. She’d seen all of those over the past few weeks as they’d attended balls and parties and all sorts oftonevents together. This smile was different.
This smile spread a warmth from the top of her head, through her breasts, her abdomen, and down to her toes. This smile was one she’d not experienced before.
It was love.
The power of it nearly sent her toppling to the floor. Her father grasped her tightly, however, and kept her from making a fool of herself. She looked again into Garrett’s eyes and marveled at what she saw. He looked as though the weight of the world had been lifted from him.
Leaving her father, she allowed Garrett to take her hand in his, and together they turned to face the bishop. Her senses hummed as she inhaled the scent of his masculine cologne and felt the warmth of him beside her. Her knees weakened in relief. She’d not been mistaken after all!
The priest spoke of how the two would become one. Andshe felt as one with him. The distance she’d felt before was gone. She felt as though she was in a dream, a wonderful dream, as he slipped the wedding band on her third finger. When he’d slid it all the way on, he lifted her hand to his lips and placed a kiss there as well. The congregation sighed, seeing such a sign of what was surely a love match.
And in the blink of an eye, they were man and wife.
BY THE TIME THE NEWLYWEDS DEPARTED
By the time the newlyweds departed the large formal wedding breakfast, with kisses and hugs all around, the sun was high in the sky. The weather held all the promises of an Indian summer day.
Garrett helped Natalie into his elegant town coach, and they waved together as the driver signaled the horses. Natalie sat beside her husband with his arm draped behind her. They were alone.
Finally.
As the carriage drove away from the throngs of well-wishers, Garrett reached across her and closed the curtains.
And then his lips were on hers, and his arms clasped about her fiercely. Pausing only to whisper endearments, he gasped her name in between kisses. “Natalie,” he said, “my dearest, my love.”
She could not hold back tears of happiness. With each drop that fell, Garrett kissed away the pain. He seemed to understand that she’d not been certain of anything. “You knew all along, didn’t you?” But it wasn’t really a question. Taking a fewdeep breaths and placing a hand upon her hair, he pressed her head into his chest. “You knew.”
She pulled her head back and tilted it to gaze into his eyes. “Knew what?” she asked, knowing the answer. Knowing what he was going to say, but needing to hear it nonetheless.
“You knew that I loved you,” he said. “You knew that I needed you…And you were courageous enough to face the world for both of us.” His hands cradled her face as he looked at her in awe. “I have been such a fool, thinking all along that I was protecting you.” He kissed her eyes, her forehead, her nose. “But in the future, dearest wife, will you allow me to do the protecting?”
With both hands in his hair, Natalie pulled his face down to resume where his kisses had left off. She inhaled the fragrance of his skin before flicking her tongue out to taste it. “Of course,” she said. But she could not help herself. “My lord.”
