ChapterSeventeen
Matthew
It seemed an egregious wrong to schedule weddings in the morning and force the groom to wait the entire afternoon for the wedding night, yet that was how things were done.Once they said goodbye to their guests, there was a flurry of activity as the maids finished setting up the duchess’ rooms to Johanna and his grandmother’s specifications.More dresses also arrived, which needed to be put away.
Matthew flipped his coin.To his relief, he no longer had to hang around waiting; instead, he flipped it a few more times until he got the direction to stay in, but to visit the billiards room.Micah and Bridget were there, finishing up a game, which Micah appeared to have let Bridget win.
Taking the next turn, Matthew was shocked to find that Micah had certainlynotlet Bridget win.Where a girl her age had found someone to teach her billiards, he did not know, but she had enough skill to give his luck a run for its money.He won by the skin of his teeth and made a mental note to bring some of his friends in to play her.
Watching them be humbled by a girl still in short skirts and braids would be extremely entertaining.Especially since no one but Micah and Charlotte had witnessed his own showing.
By supper, everyone was tired, making it rather quiet.Matthew could not help but steal glances at Johanna during the breaks in conversation.Or when there was conversation.
She had changed into a gown of white silk with a violet pattern repeated over and over across its surface, trimmed in an even darker purple.The effect with her white-blonde hair and purple eyes was quite fetching.The tiara had been removed, but the amethysts around her neck and dangling from her ears remained.
Watching her now, knowing that he was finally going to have her all to himself soon… it was very distracting.
He wanted her all to himself.
Which, he supposed, was a good thing to feel about his wife, if a trifle unexpected.When he’d thought about having a wife, he had not truly thought in terms of desire.Especially when faced with the debutantes of theton, none of whom had stirred desire in him when he’d been trying to choose his bride.Some of them had been quite pretty, but they had not stirred him the way she did.
Though, to be fair, neither had Johanna when he’d met her at Blackstone Abbey.He’d thought she was beautiful, of course, because she was, but he had not felt the way he did now.
Maybe it was the difference of knowing that she was his wife.
Maybe it was because they’d already kissed.
Or maybe there was just a touch of excitement from the experience of simultaneously purchasing her and saving her.
He did enjoy knowing that he’d been her white knight, like something out of Arthurian legend.Perhaps a touch different in circumstances, but he thought the end result was much the same.She’d been saved from a dreadful fate, and he’d been the hero who saved her.
Now he would receive his just reward—her hand in marriage and her in his bed.Really, not a bad deal all around.
Though he could see she was nervous as dinner ended, and he escorted her back to their rooms.Her hand felt light as a feather on his arm, and she kept peeking up at him with consternation.Had she been able to talk to her mother about the wedding night?
Matthew was assailed with sudden worry.He might be her hero, but he’d never bedded a virgin.He knew, theoretically, that it should be about the same as bedding any other woman but that he should take extra care to be gentle.Was there anything else he should do?
Damnation, he should have asked Gregory and Nathanial some questions.
But they had kissed, and it had been exhilarating.He could start there.And his coin would not steer him wrong.
Feeling much assured, Matthew smiled as he halted at her door.Johanna took a deep breath before looking up at him.
“Go,” he said softly, lifting his free hand to tuck his fingers under her chin and lift it so that her mouth was accessible.He brushed his lips over hers, softly.Gently.Barely a touch because he did not want to become overcome with desire in the hallway the way he had before.“I will join you shortly.”
Her breath caught, but she nodded, violet eyes wide.Matthew could not help himself.He kissed her again, this time a touch more firmly, but pulled away before the kiss could become more heated.
Opening the door to her room for her, he caught a glimpse of her maid before he shut it behind her.His desire pushed against the strict control he’d held it under, but Matthew forced himself to close the door and walk away.
His valet was waiting for him, and Matthew quickly shucked off his clothing and got into his dressing gown, a splendid affair of plum and gold velvet trimmed with fur.Tucking his coin into one of the deep pockets as his valet exited, taking Matthew’s laundry with him, he paused.
A virgin.
Perhaps it was best to flip for what he should do now before even entering her room.So he could go in with a plan.
Kissing?
Yes, apparently.That made sense.
