“You should try to get some rest. If we plan on making it back in time for the wedding we are going to need to leave at sunrise.”
Sure that sleeping would be nearly impossible Eleanor wrapped herself tighter around him and moved her head to capture his lips with her own. Now that he was here Eleanor knew that all she wanted was to stay up the whole night making love to him and showing him how dearly she had missed him over the last few days. They had the rest of their lives to sleep.
Chapter Thirty-Three
They arrived home with only ten minutes to spare. Guest had already arrived and awaited the ceremony unaware that the bride and groom were no even on the premises. The only thing out of place was Bonnet who had taken up pacing in the foyer trying to figure out how to explain why there may not be a wedding. At the sight of them rushing through the entranceway Bonnet’s face lit with excitement for the briefest of moments before she started shouting out order. Eleanor found herself being rushed upstairs without even having a moment to say something to Storm.
“We have everything prepared. All we need to do is tend to your hair and get you changed and you will be ready.”
To her amusement she was ushered into the room where Storm had tended to her feet. In a way it was appropriate to start her wedding day in the room where her romance with Storm had begun. Then as she was ushered into her dressing room Eleanor realized, once again, how much she adored Bonnet Westbrook. Even after all the trips to the modiste in regards to her wedding dress Eleanor had realized that with all the love she had for her future husband what she wanted most of all was to marry him in the dress he had purchased for her. Which was the dress that now awaited her.
“How did you know?”
As Bonnet started undoing Eleanor’s laces she simply laughed.
“Eleanor you really should learn by now that I know everything.”
As her future sister in law helped her change there was a knock at the door. Marcus was calling to her begging for an audience. Tears in her eyes Eleanor shook her head to Bonnet.
“Please, I do not want to deal with him right now. Please send him away.”
For a brief moment Bonnet looked like she may deny her request, but as time was of the utmost importance the woman hurried toward the door and, as politely as she could, informed Marcus that whatever apologies he needed to make would have to wait until after the ceremony.
Finally dressed, Eleanor ran her fingers along the soft silk of her gown and knew that she would never feel as beautiful as she did at that very moment. Eyes filled with love, cheeks flush with excitement of knowing she would be Storms wife for the rest of her life, and dressed in the finest gown that she had ever owned Eleanor realized that she finally was the woman she had never allowed herself to dream she could be. The woman that Storm saw every time he looked at her.
“My brother is never going to be able to take his eyes off of you.”
Twirling once, Eleanor giggles as her loose hair flew around her before settling back into place, green ribbons twined through her brunette curls.
“Bonnet, I am the luckiest woman in the world to have found your brother. I only hope that one day you can find such happiness. Thank you so much for everything you have done. For us both. I know he is the man he is because of you.”
Bonnet looked to her with tear filled eyes and Eleanor found herself embracing her dearest friend. Eleanor realized very quickly that Bonnet was not brought to tears often and it clearly made her uncomfortable, so once the embrace ended she linked her arm through Bonnet’s and motioned to the doorway.
“Look, I even have three minutes to spare.”
Smiling again, Bonnet led her to the door.
“Well than by all means, let us get you married.”
Storm knew love existed in the world before Eleanor. There was the love he felt for his siblings, unconditional, never ending. He had seen the love his parents shared every day he had spent with them. And even in some of those rare couples among the ton like the Duke of Oakshire and his new wife. But Storm realized immediately that he had never truly understood love until he saw Eleanor standing beside him in the rose garden telling everyone who could hear that she would forever be his. Love was wonderful and powerful and, once it gripped hold of one’s heart, impossible to live without. Marrying Eleanor was the best day of his life. Loving Eleanor was an honor that he would never feel worthy of for the rest of it.
The ceremony was a blur. Storm knew that he had said all the right things at the appropriate times but all he knew was Eleanor. He knew that she was irritated by the wind that kept blowing her hair into her eyes. He knew the gentleness of her skin when her hand slipped into his. He knew the scent of her in the air that intoxicated him as they took their vows. And he knew how perfectly his lips fit against that curve of her neck which he had already denied himself the pleasure of for far too long. And he knew that when he was an old man he would love her even more than he did today which seemed impossible but utterly honest at the same time. Children or no children Storm knew that he found his home and he would not let a day go by without her again.
There was a cheer from the crowd and Eleanor met his gaze, raising her brow.
“Did you pay attention at all?”
He shook his head without an inch of shame. Leaning in he pressed his lips to her ear.
“Only to you, my love, only to you.”
She pretending to be annoyed but he could see the pleasure in her eyes. As they walked back toward the house nodding at their guest who were all staring back at them still bewildered by their love Storm wrapped his arm around his wife and presses a soft kiss against her locks.
“How long before we can vanish to our bedchamber.”
Eleanor playfully hit him.
“Everyone is here to celebrate our love Storm. We are staying here until all the guest leave.”
As the crowd was escorted toward the ballroom Eleanor did allow him to sneak her into the study for a few moments. Storm did not waste a moment of his victory and quickly captured her lips with his. Eleanor sunk into his embrace as if she was as thirsty for him as he was for her. Nothing in the world could ruin his happiness. Nothing, of course, until he heard Bonnet clearing her throat.
“Um, I am truly sorry to interrupt, but I really think you need to hear this.”
Storm lifted his lips to find Bonnet in the doorway with Marcus. Releasing his wife Storm found himself rushing forward, fist in the air. At the very last moment his sister jumped in front of the man and Storm was forced to divert his anger.
“Get out of the way Bonnet.”
His sister actually looked at him with a bit of fear in her eyes, but she tilted her stubborn chin and shook her head.
“Storm, believe me he deserves it, but please listen to what he has to say and then you can hit him.”
Beside him, Eleanor slid her hand in his, her delicate voice reaching out to him.
“Storm, I do not want to talk to him.”
The heartbreak in her voice was enough to have him moving again. Getting ready to forcefully remove Bonnet from blocking the man Storm froze when Marcus had the nerve to speak.
“Eleanor can have children. I lied to Garret. I had no idea she was listening.”
The silence in the room was deafening. It felt like a lifetime before Eleanor’s trembling voice filled the air.
“I… I can have children?”
Marcus moved from behind Bonnet and stepped toward his sister.
“I am so sorry Eleanor. I truly had no idea you heard that stupid conversation. Garret has just been such a pest about you and I thought he would try to stop the wedding so I said the only thing I could think that would make him stop his notion of marrying you. It was not until you and Storm were both gone that Bonnet told me what happened.”
Tears in her eyes, Eleanor stared at her brother. Storm managed to remain as he was which took all the restraint in his body. The only thought that managed to keep him from lunging at Marcus was the ec
ho of Eleanor’s soft voice repeating that she could have children. Then, as if to herself, his wife whispered once again.
“I… I can have children.”
The tremble was now replaced with another emotion and all at once Eleanor threw herself into him with such force they almost tumbled backward.
“Oh Storm, we can have children.”
Her arms clung to him with such intensity that Storm instantly forgot that there were other people in the room. All he could see was the completely happiness in Eleanor’s eyes. As if she still did not believe it she gripped him tighter and buried her head into his chest.
“Storm, we can have children!”
The news seemed to finally settle over both of them and Storm lifted his bride into his arms and spun her through the air before kissing her fiercely. She returned the kiss eagerly and with such excitement Storm thought he may actually convince her to forgo the wedding celebration all together to start working on making children. When their kiss broke she was laughing happily until she met his eyes and her excitement was replaced with yet more emotion. Utter love is the only thing he could describe it as.
“Oh William, you married me anyway. You married me anyway.”
Then again, she was in his arms and Storm was glad that his sister ushered Marcus out of the room with her because he was sure he was not going to let go of her anytime soon.
“Oh, I love you so much.”
He chuckled at her, placing a soft kiss on her forehead, before teasing her.
“You keep saying oh in front of all your sentences and I may have to ban you from seeing your sister.”
Laughing she pressed her lips to his.
“I suppose now I know why my sister does it. The world is such a wonderful place sometimes oh is the only expression that suits.”
“Eleanor Westbrook, life is only going to get more wonderful from this moment on.”
Smiling his wife looked to him and kissed him with every ounce of love in her heart. He returned the kiss and was slightly annoyed when she pulled away from him.
“It is starting to rain.”
She was right, and he followed her to the window to stare out as the heavens poured down over the garden they had just taken their vows in. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, Storm rested his chin against her shoulder and whispered to her softly.
“Promise me one thing Eleanor.”
Leaning back against him she turned her face toward him and met his gaze.
“Anything.”
Smiling he pressed a soft kiss against her lips.
“Promise me that you will never scold Rosepetal about how loosely she ties her bonnet ribbons or Thunder for tossing chestnuts in the air.”
Eyes lit with love Eleanor smiled at her husband.
“That will be the greatest promise that I will ever make, my love.”
The End
About the Author
Elizabeth Elliot started reading romance novels nineteen years ago because of a co-worker’s dare. She’s been in love with the genre ever since. When not writing Elizabeth likes musical theater, singing in the shower and spending time with her dog, Wesley.
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