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After the ceremony, the carriage was waiting at the gates with ribbons on the horses’ harness. They left in a shower of rice and petals, with Alice running alongside until she was out of breath and Marian waving a handkerchief the size of a flag. Leonora leaned out of the window and waved until the church tower dropped behind the trees and the lane turned.

Then she sat back, and there was nothing but the two of them

“Miss Ashcroft…” Anthony said. “…is no longer your name.”

“The Duchess of Glenhaven,” she said, trying it aloud. “It sounds absurd.”

“It sounds like you.”

She took his hand. His thumb moved over her knuckles, over the plain band that had not been there in the morning, and she watched it as though she had never seen a hand before. She was very conscious of how near he was. Of the heat of his leg against hers. Of the way he was looking at her.

“I love you, my darling,” he mumbled.

“I love you,” she said.

“I know.” His voice was low. “But I want to hear it again.”

“I love you. Husband. I love you so much that it frightens me. I am not frightened any longer. I only wanted you to know.”

He did not answer. He lifted her hand and pressed his mouth to the inside of her wrist, and when he looked up, his eyes were burning.

“Come here,” he said.

She went. She closed the gap between them and pulled his face down to hers, and his arm closed around her waist pulling her even closer. This kiss was slow, and deep, and it sent vibrations through her body. She felt his fingers tighten in the small of her back and heard her own breath catch, and she pulled him closer by the lapels.

Somewhere beyond the glass, the horses trotted on toward home, and neither of them noticed the road at all the entire way.

The End?