They crowded around and before long, others joined them in the dining room for what became an impromptu bachelor dinner, which lasted until the small hours.
A touch bosky after the many celebratory glasses of champagne and brandy, Jack smiled as he made his way home from White’s as dawn broke over the city. This warm feeling was foreign to him, making him aware of how much he had changed. Prudence—beautiful, courageous, and smart—would always surprise and challenge him, and he had never looked forward to the future as eagerly as he did now.
After incessant rain, the sun appeared on the day of the wedding. Some important personages attended, which drew quite a crowd outside the Richmond church. Jack wished his parents could be there to see him marry Prudence. Father would have been delighted, and he believed his mother would have been too. Her remains had been released. At the Chilham church, a stone’s throw from Glenhaven Park, while Prudence was busy organizing their wedding. She had wanted to come with him but understood why Jack needed to be alone, to put the ghosts to rest. He had stood silently as his mother had been laid to rest in the family crypt beside his father. When he turnedaway, he relegated that part of his life to the past and eagerly faced the future with Prudence.
Standing at the altar beside Damian, Jack had felt as if a tremendous weight had lifted from his shoulders. He could no longer deny himself the chance to be happy. Prudence looked enchanting in a graceful white net gown over a pastel-green satin slip, and a small veil over her auburn hair, as she walked down the aisle on her cousin Richard’s arm. Emotions washed over him: love for his beautiful bride and the warmth of good friends who filled the pews, who were now Prudence’s friends too.
Prudence joined him where he stood at the altar. Seeing her eyes filled with love for him was all he needed. Any doubts he had had he attributed to the fear that he would not make her a good husband. That he might disappoint or hurt her. But he had put all that behind him, and God willing, their lives together would be perfect.
Epilogue
Glenhaven Park, one month later
After the longtrip home from Brighton, their coach reached Jack’s estate in the afternoon and stopped outside the mansion, the groom hastening to put the steps down and open the door.
“How lovely, and it is not so very old. The timbers won’t creak and groan in a high wind like at Gramma’s.” Prue had been admiring the trees in the park and now studied the handsome, golden stone building with a white pediment and six magnificent columns across the façade.
“Built in the eighteenth century on the foundations of the old mansion that hailed from Queen Elizabeth’s reign,” Jack said as he helped her down.
The staff had assembled on the porch to greet them. “My goodness,” Prue murmured.
They passed along the line from the new butler, Hackett, to the scullery maid, as Jack introduced her. Prudence smiled and promised to remember all their names.
“Is there anything you wish, my lord?” their new butler asked.
“No, thank you, Hackett. Her ladyship and I will rest after the journey.”
When they approached the front door, Jack swept Prudence up into his arms. As he carried her away from the whispering servants, her cheeks grew hot, and she giggled, hanging on to his coat. “Jack,put me down!”
“A bride must be carried over the threshold the first time,” he said, his arms tightening around her. “We cannot have you tripping on the step. Back in Roman times, they considered it bad luck.”
She raised her brows, laughter bubbling up at the sheer joy of being here with Jack to begin their lives together. “You are foolish. Do you think I am clumsy?”
He put her on her feet, and he led her through the great hall. “No, but no sense in taking chances.”
“Oh, you. If we were not watched by the entire staff…”
He chuckled and took her hand. “It was an excuse to take you in my arms, sweetheart.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Then I forgive you.”
“Come to your suite, where you can do what you like with me.”
Prue’s cheeks grew even hotter as they climbed the stairs, glad they were now unobserved. Memories of their passionate honeymoon at the Old Ship Hotel in Brighton, with the perfect view of the sea through their suite’s bay window, made her blissfully happy. They had rarely left their rooms for the first few days. When theyhadventured out, they’d walked along the seafront hand in hand and roamed the Lanes, where she’d bought Gramma a pair of black, lace gloves. They’d dined at the best restaurants. The town had been quiet, as the Regent had not been in residence at the Royal Pavilion. And now she was home.
Jack threw open the bedchamber door, the room sweetly scented by a vase of gardenias on a table. “This is your suite, my love.”
Prue saw the dainty, French furniture, the gold-and-blue Chinese wallpaper, the swags of silk curtains at the tall windows and the wide, fourposter bed with its royal-blue silk bed hangings. She ran in and, with delight, spun around.
“I take it you approve of it, my sweet?” Jack asked, an amused gleam in his eyes.
“How could I not?” She ran back to him and hugged him.
He pulled her close, nudging her neck and pressing a kiss beneath her ear. “I’ve been thinking of this all the way from Brighton,” he said, his voice husky and low.
“You are greedy,” she teased, then she lost her breath at the demanding tug in her lower body when his lips sought hers.
“You make me so,” he said, drawing away.
