Chapter Fourteen
Harriett and Gerard were married in the stone country church in Temple Ewell. As she walked down the aisle on her father’s arm, her handsome bridegroom stood at the altar with his best man, Mr. Alan Roundtree, a friend from Oxford. Gerard was dressed as she’d never seen him, in a superfine blue coat which made his eyes even bluer, a cream embroidered silk waistcoat, and pale pantaloons. A simple nosegay of white narcissus graced his button-hole. Apart from the day of the funeral, she’d never seen him wear anything quite so fine, but the simple clothes he preferred to wear around the estate suited him just as well in her opinion. She had hoped he found her pretty, and the hot glance he gave her as he slipped the gold band on her finger, told her all she needed to know.
Apart from the pastor and two witnesses, the church was almost empty, with only their immediate family, and the handful of friends who made the journey to see them wed. Tenant farmers and villagers gathered at the church door to see them off in their open carriage decorated with ribbons. The wedding breakfast was held at Pendleton Manor. After the meal, the fiddler played, and she and Gerard danced their first dance together, their bodies moving in perfect unison. “Harrison would have enjoyed this,” he said as he twirled her over the floor.
Harriett smiled, touched that he cared so much for the irascible old gentleman. She and the guests had stayed here the previous night. She was relieved that she never would again. A man with a large family who’d made his money in business, had signed a lease. The county was all abuzz with the news.
In the mid-afternoon, she and Gerard said their farewells. She kissed her mother, surprised to find her teary-eyed. When her father hugged her she breathed in the smell of his familiar tobacco. “I hope you and Mama will come to stay after Leonora is wed.”
“Yes, sir, please do,” Gerard said, shaking his hand.
Her father’s green eyes brightened. “I’m sure I can be of some help, you do spread yourself too thin, Gerard.”
“You would be of great assistance, sir,” Gerard said. “As you have been during this difficult time.”
He bowed and excused himself to farewell his best man.
“Gerard hardly needs to work so hard now that he’s wealthy.” Mama smiled. You’ll never want for anything, my dear. And neither will your sister.”
Leonora threw her arms around Harriett and kissed her cheek. “Promise you’ll come and visit Frederick and me in London. If I don’t have your promise, I suspect you’ll rusticate and turn into a country bumpkin.”
“I promise. Gerard is employing more staff, and once we’ve hired a steward and an estate manager, we’ll visit more often.” Harriett gazed over at her handsome husband. She knew that Gerard would still work around the estate, despite how much assistance he had. They had ridden together over his lands, before she returned to London. The tenants all appeared to love him. “We’ll be up for your wedding, don’t forget.”
Leonora’s eyes brightened. “Practically all of thetonwill be there.”
They arrived at Foxworth to an unexpected welcome from the staff. Gerard introduced Harriett to each of them in turn, and their health was toasted with champagne. It was late afternoon when they climbed the stairs to their bedchamber.
Harriett found everything in the room charming, from the beamed ceiling to the floral carpet. Bunches of wild flowers decorated the bed posts, and a vase of summer flowers sat on the stone mantel.
“It’s perfect.” She smiled at him. “Did you arrange the flowers, Gerard?”
He paused, pulling of his coat. “Ah, no. I can’t say the romantic notion occurred to me.” He grinned. “It was Sally. But I agree, it’s a nice touch.”
The windows and the four poster bed were hung with a pretty, embroidered material that was almost threadbare. She hoped to match it and must employ her mother’s help. The view from the window looked over fields to the river. “Perhaps I’ll be able to see you at work.”
Coming to stand behind her, he wrapped his arms around her. “I expect you to join me out in the fields,” he murmured against her ear. “Bring me my plowman’s luncheon.”
Harriett swiveled and draped her arms around his neck. “I am at your command, my lord.”
“Then I command you to come to bed.” His eyes drank her in. “A perfect gown for my lovely bride. But you shall be even lovelier without it.”
Harriett’s shyness evaporated. Her passion blinded her to anything but him. Impatient, she unraveled his cravat, exposing the dark hair at the base of his throat and pulled his shirt from his pantaloons. She stroked her hand up over his hard stomach exploring the texture of his skin, soft as satin, and the dark triangle of hair decorating his broad chest, that narrowed toward his groin, wiry beneath her fingers.
“Making love in the afternoon might shock the servants,” she said, aware of the nervous throb in her stomach.
He drew his shirt over his head. “Only if we make love outdoors.”
“My lord!” The thought tantalized her.
“We’ll be discreet.” He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her passionately. At the bold caress of his tongue the blood hummed in her veins.
Gerard’s fingers became busy with the ties on her gown. “I’m now more familiar with this arrangement.”
She smiled, amused at his practical mind. Very soon, her breath deserted her. They were both naked. She marveled at his beauty and his difference. A man’s body was exciting. All steel and softness.
Gerard shaped the curve of her waist and hip with his big hands, then cupped her bottom, gently squeezing. “Whenever you walked away I was left with a vision of this perfect, heart-shaped derriere.”
She giggled.
