Page 16 of Heart of Decadence

Chapter 8

“Such a spate of weddings we’re having this Season.” Lady Celinda Graham had stopped to chat to her as she headed down the receiving line at Amelia’s wedding breakfast. “I do hope Lord Finley and I will be one of them eventually. Papa is being difficult. He’s taken the gentleman in dislike and nothing I say—or how I say it—seems to make a jot of difference.”

“I truly hope your father will come around to your way of thinking, Celinda.” Amelia glanced down the line, but her guest need not be in a hurry. “I would wish for you the same happiness I have with Lord Ainsley.”

“Oh, you can call him Nathan to me, Amelia. We are cousins. Kate and I grew up together, practically, so no need to be formal. Both of you are married now.” Celinda pulled a woebegone face. “I certainly hope that trend continues in the family.”

There had been a flurry of weddings, to be sure. Last week Lord Haversham had married Kate via special license. Nathan had protested, but his friend had told him he must strike while the iron was hot but before he got burned with it. He and Kate were ever squabbling, but Nathan assured her that was their particular way of courtship.

Thank goodness she and Nathan had no such peculiarities. The worst of theirs had been the interminable wait. A fortnight sounded so short, but in reality, it had dragged on so slowly she thought at times she would scream in frustration. She wanted to be married and in Nathan’s bed. For ten years, they’d been waiting, and the wretched man would not even consider anticipating the wedding night.

“We have gone all topsy-turvy, my love.” Nathan had stood beside her watching the dancing at his sister’s wedding breakfast last week. “After what happened before, I cannot believe you are the one who is proposing such a scandalous liaison and I am preaching patience. Normally, I’d think those roles would be reversed.”

“Nothing has been normal about our courtship, my dear. Why should it be so now?” She’d looked longingly at his handsome profile, dreaming about what he would look like without his cravat tied so tightly around his neck, without that shirt with the stiff collar, or jacket, or his breeches. Swallowing hard, she turned her attention back to the dancers as Lord Haversham and Kate twirled by in a waltz. Only one more week of exemplary behavior and then they could ravish one another to their hearts’ content.

Now, with her own wedding day finally here, a glance about the almost-empty room where the breakfast had been set filled Amelia with dismay. She could not help but believe that their recent sacrifice had been for nothing. Their wedding had been a small affair at St. Georges this morning, with only her parents and sisters, Kate, and Marcus, and his sister in attendance. An air of unreality had washed over her as she’d said her vows to Nathan. And the first time he’d called her Lady Ainsley she’d ignored him, not realizing he was addressing her.

Happiness had slowly seeped into her, bringing with it all the fulfillment she’d dreamed of since she’d first met him. At present, however, as she stood in the receiving line, with only a handful of people other than those who’d attended the wedding making their way to them, wishing them happy, the joy began to pall.

Nathan had insisted on inviting half the ton to the breakfast, to assure himself that she would be accepted by the people who would decree whether or not their children would be outcasts because of the rumors and lies told about their mother. When she glanced up at him, his mouth was drawn into a pucker she’d come to learn meant he was dangerously displeased and likely to take immediate action about something. What action he could take, singlehandedly against Society as a whole, she couldn’t fathom. But something must be done or her sisters’ outlooks for next Season were as bleak as they’d ever been.

“Shall we mingle with our guests, my love?” Amelia smoothed her new blue-striped silk gown, one of the extraordinary number of gowns she’d acquired. There was much she would need to get used to in her new life.

“Such as they are,” Nathan grumbled, but took her hand good-naturedly. “I suppose we shall have to come up with another plan for wooing the ton. Perhaps our friends can help devise a way to convince Society that your reputation was ruined in error, although people usually need very strong proof to change their minds.”

“I doubt such proof exists, my dear.” They headed toward Amelia’s parents, who were speaking with Lord and Lady Haversham.

“Well, I suspect it does, but we shall not be able to convince anyone of its existence until it no longer exists.”

Still pondering that enigmatic statement, Amelia greeted her guests, making small talk about the feast spread out in the room around them, but all the while highly aware of Nathan beside her. In just a little while he’d promised they could slip away to their apartments and finally be alone. Despite the disappointment of the many missing guests, she would always remember their wedding day as the most wonderful of her life. Because she and Nathan would be together forever.

“And now if you will excuse us, Mr. and Mrs. Burrowes, Lord and Lady Haversham,” he bowed and grasped Amelia’s arm, “I must finish showing Lady Ainsley the rest of the house. We’ve been so busy settling her things in here and preparing for the wedding that I haven’t had the chance to acquaint her with everything that is now her domain.”

Her parents bowed and moved off to speak with Lord and Lady Ivor, but a strangled sound from Lord Haversham drew Amelia’s attention to him and his new wife. His face had that pinched look about it, as if he were trying not to laugh. Kate seemed to be biting the inside of her mouth and studiously avoiding her husband’s gaze.

“Perhaps you could show us as well, Nathan?” His sister grinned up at him, mischief snapping in her eyes. “I daresay there are things about the house that I have never seen as well.”

“And will have to continue to be ignorant of, my love.” Her husband took her hand. “I believe they are about to play a waltz.” A peculiar light blazed in his eyes. “You would not disappoint me, would you?”

“Of course not, Haversham. You know how much I love a waltz, especially as it is a dance for married couples.” Kate gazed into his face, oblivious of the rest of them. “Another time, brother?”

“Of course, my dear.” Nathan exchanged a look with his friend. “Best of luck to you, Marcus.”

“And to you as well.” Grinning, Lord Haversham took his wife’s arm and led her to the area where a few couples were about to commence the dance.

Nathan seized her arm. “Let us make our escape before Kate decides she’d rather devil us than dance with her husband.” Swiftly, he led her out of the ballroom, down a corridor and up the stairs, finally arriving at the viscountess’s suite of rooms. Her rooms now.

“Your maid is here, ready to assist you in any way.” He dipped his head and kissed her, waves of that lovely heat his touch always brought coursing through her. “I will see you shortly.”

He slipped further down the corridor to his suite and Amelia smiled as she sped inside her chamber. At last the waiting was over.

* * * *

Despite the summer’s day outside, a fire blazed in Amelia’s bedroom, taking the slight chill from the room, though it did nothing to allay the sudden nervousness that assailed her as soon as her maid left. She’d been wishing for this moment for longer than most brides and now that it was upon her, she might fly to pieces. No longer a lady in the bloom of her youth, but a mature woman with plump curves, she’d neglected to consider that her body would soon be on display as never before. What if he didn’t like what he saw? The week before last they’d celebrated her thirtieth birthday, a time when some women were almost past their childbearing years. What if she was too old to bear Nathan’s children? If she could not give him an heir, what would they do? Why had they not discussed any of these things before they married?

She lay back in the bed, her hair fanning out over the pillow, resisting the urge to pull the covers over her face and hide. This was her long-awaited wedding night, and she was determined to enjoy it, no matter what. She would think of all those things another time.

The door that connected her suite to the viscount’s rooms opened, and Nathan entered, dressed in a blue silk banyan with a gold leaf print, carrying two glasses of champagne.