A Seven Year Hitch
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“I don’t think Charlie is fairing much better,” Stephen told them. “If you look to my right now, you will see he has been cornered by the Fullerton’s younger daughter. He has been unsuccessfully trying to dodge her for the last half hour. The poor lad looks positively nauseous!”
“Someone needs to rescue him!” Fiona said and looked expectantly at the three gentlemen before her who all looked blankly back.
“Don’t look at me, after the close shave with the sister, I am not going within spitting distance of any of that man hungry family,” Gerald was adamant.
“Oh very well” Fiona sighed and stalked off to rescue her cousin. She returned not five minutes later with an ashen-faced Charlie in tow. “She is seriously scary, that one,” he told them with a shudder. “A positive, man-devouring vampire.”
“Vampires don’t devour, they suck blood,” Fiona scorned.
“That one does!” he retorted.
“You are safe now, for a little while anyway,” Stephen consoled him.
“Safety in numbers,” Gerald muttered. “We need to stick together, Charlie!”
“You need wives!” Trevellyn said and was frowned at by the bachelors.
The toast to the happy couple was to take place before supper, in the main ballroom and as planned, Boodle supervised the distribution of champagne just as the clock chimed ten o’clock. Ross sought out Erica and accompanied her to the small rostrum situated half way down the ballroom where Gerald stood, waiting for them with all the family members gathered round. His speech was all that was expected with genuine delight at welcoming the Marquis into his family and wishing the couple many more years of wedded bliss.
“So please, raise your glasses and drink a toast to the Marquis and Marchioness of Trevellyn.”
Relinquishing his place to Uncle William, another toast was then proposed as he announced; “I have great pleasure in announcing the engagement of my beloved daughter, Charlotte to Mr. Michael Stanier. May we wish them happy.”
The couple were immediately swamped by well wishers, all eager to offer congratulations and to admire the ring adorning Charlotte’s left hand, and it was therefore much later that Erica managed to have a private word with Michael. “I am so pleased for you Michael, I know you will both be very happy,” she said giving him a big hug and receiving one in turn.
“Thank you, my dear, and may I say the same for you. Trevellyn is a good man and loves you deeply, Erica, I am sure your marriage will be as wonderful as I know mine will be.”
“Fiona is going to be impossible though!”
“How so?” he asked, puzzled. “She had observed your growing attraction to Charlotte and informed me of it. She also told me that I would fall for Trevellyn’s charms! We will not hear the end of it you know”
Supper was a lively affair with much to celebrate and also tinged with a little sadness that the two-week family holiday was nearing its end.
“This year’s house party will certainly go down in the family history books as one of the most eventful,” Charlie announced to his cousins as they enjoyed the repast in the supper room. “Secret marriages, kidnappings, premier performances, ghost hunts and betrothals. Whoever is holding it next year has a big act to follow.”
“All the excitement this year will last me a while so I’ll settle for a routine holiday, next year, ” Charlotte told them and they all agreed.
It was much later when many of the visitors had made their way home, that Ross was able to waltz on the terrace with his wife. He held her close and kissed the exposed column of her neck, drinking in the smell of her perfume and enjoying the feel of her luscious figure pressed against him.
“Have I told you how much I love you?” he murmured into her ear in between pressing little kisses around her lobe and down her neck.
“Yes, but I’ll never grow tired of hearing you say it,” she answered. “Who would have thought seven years ago that we would end up so blissfully happy and in love?”
“Who would have thought two weeks ago that we would,” he laughed. “You being such a virago!”
“What about you? Arrogant in the extreme and so sure you could seduce me and win the wager!”
“Which I did! But by the time I suggested that wager, I already knew how deeply I had fallen for you and how I could not possibly live without you. There was no way I was going to let you win, my darling.”
“And the cricket?” she asked. “Were you so determined to win that too?”
“Of-course, how could I resist the opportunity of having you as my own personal slave for the day? But do not worry, sweetheart, I can promise you it will be an exceedingly pleasurable experience for the both of us. And who knows? I may offer to be your slave the following day!” he told her, before claiming her mouth in a deep and satisfying kiss.
Table of Contents
A Seven Year Hitch
Copyright © 2012 Mary Beeken
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Prologue 1808
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve