Page 136 of Aurelia

“If Crewe does not behave himself, remember that assistance is only a short boat ride away,” Gideon said, embracing Aurelia and kissing her soundly on the lips before stepping back and smirking at Roland.

Aurelia blushed, Larissa laughed, and Roland smiled sourly.

Larissa threw her arms around Aurelia. “I hate that I am leaving here now that I have met you.” She lowered her voice and added, “And thank you so much for all you have done for me, Aurelia.”

“I have done nothing but write a letter to a friend,” Aurelia chided, guilty that she could not have done more for the other woman. “I shall miss you terribly.”

“But you will come to London, won’t you?” Larissa said. “The earl mentioned you would arrive sometime after the New Year?”

“Yes. He has agreed to deliver a talk at the Royal Society so we will go there directly after visiting my family.”

“I will be living at the academy by then, so please do call on me,” Larissa said, referring to the girls’ school where she would soon be teaching. “Be well, my newest sister,” Larissa whispered, giving Aurelia one last hug.

Aurelia blinked back tears as Larissa and Gideon climbed into the carriage that would take them the short distance to the pier.

Roland slid an arm around her and pulled her close to his side as they stood and waved. “Alone at last,” he murmured, kissing her temple.

She laid her head against his shoulder as she wiped away a tear that had sneaked past her guard.

Roland squeezed her tighter. “Don’t cry, darling. You will get to see Miss Clifford in less than a month. As for Talbot,” his voice changed to a far less indulgent tone. “I daresay he will plague me like a burr in my arse for the next thirty years.”

Aurelia gave a watery laugh.

“But come,” he said, “I don’t want to think about him or anyone else but you, Aurelia. You are mine, mine, mine,” Roland hissed. “Now. Let us go up to bed.”

“Roland!” she gasped. “We cannot. It is barely five o’clock.”

“The doctor said I needed to spend more time in bed,” he reminded her as he limped along, using only one crutch.

“Somehow I don’t think he had in mind what you have in mind.”

“Good Lord, Aurelia. The man is ancient, not dead. Of course he knows what sorts of plans I have in mind for my wedding night. Besides, we need to take advantage of your comfortable bed because it will be the shortest honeymoon in history. We will be closeted with Celsa and Nora inside a coach for the next six days.” He thrust out his lower lip. “I still think I should be allowed to ride alongside like Guustin,” he said, his voice amusingly petulant.

“The doctor strenuously advised against that activity—unless you want to risk permanent damage.”

Roland scowled.

“You will have a lovely time inside the carriage with us. Nora has the latest fashion journal from Paris and you would not believe the new fashion for sleeves—”

Roland whimpered. “Oh, God.”

“And then there are the bonnets—”

“No bonnets, Lady Crewe. I beg of you, no bonnets!”

Aurelia laughed.

***

Roland gave his new wife thirty minutes to prepare for bed but opened the connecting door when only twenty-five had passed.

Fortunately, the maid had wisely buggered off and Aurelia was alone, brushing her hair in front of the looking glass.

Roland paused to admire her, smiling when their eyes met in the mirror, and a pretty flush colored her cheeks. “You get lovelier every time I see you.”

“You only saw me”—she glanced at the clock— “twenty-four minutes ago.”

“It feels like a lifetime.”