Bloomsbury Square, London—1749
After months abroad, passed in lengthy negotiations and countless diplomatic functions, the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle had concluded eight years of war spanning three continents. Lord and Lady Russell returned home in triumph, their part in the delegation’s success the toast of London.
“My felicitations on your success and promotion.” Nicholas raised his glass to Marcus upon their first meeting at Russell House.
“I never could have done it without Lydia,” Marcus confessed with unusual humility. “She proved herself a more-than-capable ambassadress. The Spanish and Austrian delegates were quite taken with her and the Italians completely enamored with her beauty, wit and charm. My new bride is truly a goddess among women.”
“And far too good for you,” Nicolas answered back with a grin. “Which now begs the question of how you ever managed it? I didn’t believe she would ever have you.”
“Ye of little faith.” Marcus arched a brow. “I told you when we departed for Woburn that I would convince her.”
“It seems to me you said you would seduce her. You don’t mean to say you really carried out that nefarious plan?”
“The deed was done most thoroughly.” Marcus smirked. “As I said, Nick, I only needed the chance to have her alone.”
“But that never would have happened had not Mariah’s gown torn. Wait a minute…no, I can’t believe it.”
“What, Nick?”
“Your mother trod on the gown.”
Marcus raised a telling brow.
Nick was incredulous. “You can’t mean to say your mother was in on this Machiavellian scheme?”
Marcus laughed unabashedly. “In truth, it was Mother’s idea entirely!”
Nicholas rolled his eyes heavenward. “Surely, the acorn doth not fall far from that tree.”
“One could learn much from my mother,” Marcus said. “But in the end, even my expertise in seduction was not what truly won Lydia.”
“No?” Nick asked dryly. “Then how did you manage it?”
“By diplomacy, of course—aided by a superior understanding of the feminine mind.”
Nick looked thoroughly unconvinced. “Do tell.”
“What a woman wants above all things, Nick, is to believe herself the most important consideration in the world, the center of a man’s universe.”
* * * * *
In an adjacent chamber
“Lyddie!” Mariah embraced her cousin. “How wonderful to have you home at last. And you positively glow! Are you truly happy?”
Lydia beamed. “Deliriously so.”
“Then you have no regrets at all?”
“In truth?” Her lips curved impishly. “Only that it took so long to discover how many ways a man and woman can be united as one flesh. Marcus had surely lived up to his promise of conjugal bliss.”
Mariah gasped. “You are truly scandalous!” Recovering from her feigned shock, she asked, “Is it truly so wonderful?”
“Indescribable, my dear, but then again, most everything about Marcus is. Although I once despised him for false vanity, he truly is a gifted man. He has proven both an attentive husband and a most considerate lover, and all that a woman could desire, at least all this woman desires.”
“I am so very glad that you didn’t settle for less, but I never would have conceived that he would finally succumb to marriage. How did you ever convince him?”
“I must actually credit Lady Russell. She explained to me that a man desires above all things to think himself his own master. Thus, I had only to convince Marcus that marrying me was entirely his own idea.”
The End
About the Author
Victoria Vane is a multi-published author of highly sensual and well-researched historical romance. With the success of a twenty-eight-year marriage, she is a true believer in happy ever after and of continually stoking the embers of passion and romance.
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