Part 42 (2/2)

This time she was pledging herself to the right man.

The man she loved.

She did hope Leo would think her beautiful. Rather than white, she'd chosen a gown of sky blue silk that billowed around her ankles when she walked. The bodice and half sleeves were sewn with Belgian lace. The dress also had a sheer overskirt that was just as ethereal as the rest of the ensemble. Her hair was swept high on her head, yet simply dressed with only the hair combs she'd borrowed from Tilly and a lace veil that matched her gown.

Esme came forward and handed her the bridal bouquet, made from lily of the valley and forget-me-nots. The fragrance was sweetly intoxicating.

Thalia thanked her sister-to-be with a smile.

She was still getting to know her new family and liked them all. But Esme held a special place already, perhaps because of her love of animals-she adored Hera-or maybe it was because she was the youngest and saw the world through fresh, enthusiastic eyes. Esme had also been unconditionally supportive from the instant she and Thalia had met, coming up to give her a deep, warm hug as though they'd been friends for years.

”Perhaps I shall be able to do this for you soon, Lady Esme,” Thalia said. ”Are you quite sure there were no handsome suitors who caught your eye this Season?”

Esme laughed. ”Very sure. Several gentlemen were handsome, but none took my fancy. Frankly, I shall be glad to get back to my animals and my painting at Braebourne. There is nothing like the countryside this time of year.”

”Maybe next Season, then?”

Esme gave a noncommittal shrug. Unlike most girls, she was in no hurry to marry.

”It is time, my dear,” Ava Byron told Thalia, sharing a happy smile with her. ”Ready?”

Thalia nodded and listened to the strains of music winding up the stairs. Tightening her fingers around her bouquet, she followed the other women from the room.

Leo waited next to Lawrence, whom he had chosen to serve as his best man. His heart hammered, his gloved hands slightly unsteady.

”You have the ring?” he asked his twin in a low voice.

”Yes.” Lawrence sighed. ”It's right here in my pocket, where it's been the other ten times you've asked. Relax. She'll be here any minute.”

”Easy for you to say. Just wait until it's your turn.”

Lawrence gave a gentle snort. ”I guess I'm in the clear, then, since I have no interest in taking a wife. Not for years, not until I'm old and gray.”

”You won't say that once you meet the right woman. Once you do, you'll wonder how you ever managed without her.”

”We'll see.”

The music began moments later and they both turned toward the door.

Leo forgot everything but Thalia, his heart filled to bursting as he watched her walk toward him. He'd thought her beautiful before, but today she was radiant, her dark eyes s.h.i.+ning with happiness and love. Then her small hand was inside his own, the minister prompting each of them to recite the words that would join them as one before the world.

”I do,” he repeated.

”I do,” she said, never looking away from his eyes.

He slid the diamond ring that had somehow appeared in his palm onto the third finger of her left hand.

”I now p.r.o.nounce you husband and wife.”

Family and guests clapped, cheers bursting to life around them. But all he cared about was her. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he pulled her near.

”Leo,” she said on a breathless laugh, ”everyone is watching.”

He grinned and bent his head. ”Good. Let them watch. Because I want to kiss my bride.”

And then he did, quite thoroughly, before one and all.

Read on for an excerpt from Tracy Anne Warren's next novel, Happily Bedded Bliss Coming soon from Signet Select September 1818

Gloucesters.h.i.+re, England

Lady Esme Byron hiked her sky blue muslin skirts up past her stocking-clad calves and climbed onto the wooden stile that divided Braebourne land from that of their nearest neighbor to the east, Mr. Craycroft.

Craycroft, a widower near her eldest brother, Edward's, age of forty, was rarely in residence and never complained about her trespa.s.sing on his land, so she was free to use it as if it were quite her own. Not that Braebourne didn't provide plenty of beautiful acreage to explore-it did, especially considering that her brother owned nearly half the county and more besides. But Craycroft possessed a lovely natural freshwater lake that sat a perfect walking distance from her family's house. The lake attracted a rich variety of wildlife, so there was always something fascinating to sketch. Plus, no one ever bothered her there; it was quite her favorite secret place.

She jumped down onto the other side of the stile, taking far more care of the satchel of drawing supplies slung over her shoulder than she did for her fine leather half boots. She wobbled slightly as she sank ankle-deep into the mud. She stared at her boots for a few seconds, knowing her maid would give her a scold for sure. But she was always able to talk dear Grumbly around, so she wasn't worried.

Grabbing hold of the fence, she unstuck herself one boot at a time. She sc.r.a.ped the worst of the mess off into the nearby gra.s.s; then, with a swirl of her skirts, she continued on to her destination.

She sighed blissfully and turned her face up to the sun.

How good it was to be home again after weeks in the city.

How wonderful to be out in the open again, free to roam wherever she liked, whenever she liked.

A tiny, guilty frown wrinkled her brow, since technically she was supposed to be back at the estate helping entertain the houseguests visiting Braebourne. But all seven of her siblings and their families were in residence, even Leo and his new bride, Thalia, who had just returned with celebratory fanfare from their honeymoon tour of Italy. With so many Byrons available to make merry, she would hardly be missed.

Besides, her family was used to her penchant for disappearing by herself for hours at a time as she roamed the nearby woods and hills and fields. She would be back in time for dinner; that would have to be enough.

An exuberant bark sounded behind her and she glanced around in time to watch her dog, Burr, leap the stile and race toward her. She bent down and gave his s.h.a.ggy head a scratch. ”So, you're back, are you? Done chasing rabbits?”

He waved his golden flag of a tail in a wide arc, his pink tongue lolling out in a happy grin, clearly unapologetic for having deserted her a couple of minutes earlier to hunt game in the bushes.

”Well, come along,” she told him before starting off toward a stand of trees in the distance.

Burr trotted enthusiastically at her side.

Several minutes later, she reached the copse of trees that led to the lake. She was just about to step out of their protective shelter when she heard a splash.

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