“I hate to tell you this,” Purity said, and even those words said lightly made his stomach twinge. Matthew wouldn’t truly relax until they were legally wed.
“What is it?” he asked, returning to take the soggy napkin from her and drop it upon the tray before drawing her up beside him.
“Tell me,” he said, nuzzling her temple with a small kiss.
“That is actuallyMisterWriggles.”
They both started to laugh again, as Miss Soft tipped over the basket and made her escape, too.
“What have you done to my orderly household?” he demanded. “I thought you were going to bring your persnickety skills to organize me after we wed. Instead, we’re not even married yet, and you’ve brought feline chaos.
Still, he tried to kiss her.
She squirmed like one of the kittens.
“I would be content if we could stay right here in one another’s arms, no matter the impropriety. However, I believe we ought to find them, or at least tell your staff. If someone should leave a door open or if the kittens were to get access to the coal chute, then it might be a very sad ending.”
“Agreed,” he said. “I cannot credit that I’m going to put off kissing you to chase cats.”
“That’s the sacrifice we parents must make, I suppose,” she said.
He blinked. “Are you saying you will help me raise her?”
“Yes,” she said, offering an emphatic nod. “I shall.”
The wedding of LordDiamond’s second oldest daughter to the baron, Matthew Norland, Lord Foxford, was hailed as a splendid if surprising event. Some went to watch because they couldn’t believe the Fox was tying the marital knot. Others attended because they couldn’t believe Lady Purity would attach herself to such a wild fellow.
Many witnessed the ceremony because St. James’s Church was large enough that no one noticed them sneak in, but only their true friends and family would be at the wedding feast afterward.
“I shall tell everyone you are ready to go to the church,” Lady Diamond said, pausing at the door to Purity’s bedroom. “Another gorgeous bride in the family.”
Humming to herself, she descended the staircase.
“It’s funny, isn’t it?” Purity said to Clarity as they stood side-by-side, taking a last look in the mirror. “I shall have a daughter who is older than yours.”
Clarity sent her a happy smile. “And without having to wait, I shall have a niece old enough to play with. I shall be the most entertaining of aunts.”
“Undoubtedly,” Purity agreed.
“Then let us get you married, for I am certain it is the wedding night to which you are most looking forward.”
“Clarity!” Purity exclaimed, turning away from her reflection after seeing her own cheeks become as red as August tomatoes.
Her sister chuckled. “You are marrying the renowned Fox, after all.”
Thankfully, Clarity said nothing more. And Purity was able to gather her nerves into a wiry bundle and control them when her father took her arm and walked her up the aisle to give her away.
After he kissed her forehead, she was certain she heard him say, “Two to go,” as he stepped to the side to join her mother.
Then her focus was purely on her husband-to-be, in a black tailcoat with a gray waistcoat and bright white shirt, finished with a black cravat. A more perfect bridegroom she could not imagine. As his amber eyes found hers, she let everything else fall away, wondering if she would even hear the words of the clergyman who officiated.
Naturally, Diana wore a new white dress to match Purity’s, who had decided to follow the example set by their queen. Yet where Diana had a crown of flowers in her hair, Purity wore a tiara with a single diamond in the center and a row of sapphires stretching out along either side.
Throughout the eleven o’clock ceremony, Purity continued to keep any jitters at bay and was elated not to make a misstep. At the afternoon wedding “breakfast” in her parents’ home, she managed to stave off any anxiousness over the events to come that night — or at least, she did during the first four courses of the relatively modest six-course meal.
Lord and Lady Diamond had foregone any vulgar display of ostentatious abundance, having no need to prove their wealth and standing. Therefore, Purity knew they would be finished in under two hours, from the soup through the final toast to their health accompanying a slice of the wedding cake.
Despite the tastefully inelaborate meal, when it came to the cake, Lady Diamond had decided on a large, lavish confection. It had a place of prominence on the sideboard and had held Diana’s gaze for an hour.
