The Duke's Wager: Defiant Brides Book 1
Page 20
When the kiss broke, he did something that she had not expected, at least not exactly. He picked her up in his arms and spun her around, making her dizzy in the process.
She slapped his arm even as she laughed. “What was that all about?” she asked.
“I wanted to sweep you off your feet,” he replied with a smile.
Her heart melted right there on the spot. He truly had come to understand her, and a feeling of joy overcame her as a new thought entered her mind. She had once thought dreams ended here in this garden, but the opposite was true.
It was where they started.
***
Their engagement party was being held in Buckthorn House, which would soon be the home which Sarah would share with the man she loved. Sarah looked around the room, a smile on her face as she observed her guests mingling and appearing to be enjoying themselves. There were many people she knew and even more she had only been introduced to this night—all friends or acquaintances of James and the Dowager Duchess. All had been courteous to her, and whether they spoke behind their fans, in shadowy corners, she did not know, nor did she care. This celebration was for her and the man she loved; what others thought mattered not.
Much to Sarah’s relief, the Dowager Duchess would be returning to live with her sister in London and not staying on at the estate once they were wed.
“A newly married couple must have the house to themselves,” she had counseled. “My own mother-in-law, God rest her soul, would not allow Lord Foxworth and me even a moment’s peace. However, I will be nothing like that old crone.” She said the last in a near whisper and added a disdainful sniff as way of punctuating her words.
Sarah’s mother walked over to speak with a woman Sarah had known since she was child. Mrs. Abrams was a tall, thin woman with an easy smile and a laugh that belied her size. She was to bake the cake for the wedding, much to the Dowager Duchess’s astonishment. However, she said nothing, which had surprised James, for later he mentioned as much.
“My mother has stated on more than one occasion that Brambly Bakers would make my wedding cake.” Apparently, anyone who was anyone had their cakes baked by the famous baker, but the Dowager Duchess brooked no argument, which was a great relief to everyone involved.
Then her eyes fell to her father, who was busy talking in a circle of men, discussing business or conquests, the only two things that men knew how to do decently well. Expect for one man who stood in that group. He was different. He was not a beast, and though he would need some correction in certain areas, he was actually just fine the way he was.
James looked up as if sensing her looking at him and his face broke out into a smile. A moment later he hurried over to her side. As they stood together, he cast a glance over the crowd. “I believe it is going well. Would you agree?”
She looked around the room one more time and then back at him. “It truly is spectacular,” she said with a smile. “Thank you.”
“Wait until our wedding,” he said and then leaned in to add in a whisper, “and then our honeymoon. I believe you are going to love it.”
“You have decided already?” she asked as she brought a hand to her hip, unable to believe he would continue to make decisions without her.
He gave her a curt nod. “I have,” he stated firmly. “It is a man’s decision, and you will love it.” His smile was mischievous and he gave her a wink, a wink that two months earlier brought about anger but now made her feel lightheaded, much like his smile.
“Very well, then,” she said as she jutted out her chin. “Though I hope it will be somewhere I will enjoy.”
“It involves a bottle of brandy and the top of your hand,” he said, taking her hand in his and placing a kiss on her knuckles.
“James Foxworth, out of all the things you could say!” she whispered harshly and then let out a small laugh.
Her mother came hurrying over, and James bowed to her and then walked away. Sarah’s heart was filled with such love for him she would never need to drink spirits to be with him, that was one thing for certain.
Epilogue
Sarah glanced down at the letter from Alice once more. A man had been sent to Cornwall in search of the woman, and he had inquired at every milliner in the region until she was found. The two had exchanged several letters, each sharing stories of their adventures over the past year after meeting on the road to each of their destinies. They set up a time to meet once Sarah had returned from her honeymoon, and Sarah looked forward to seeing her friend again.
She refolded the letter, slipped it into the pocket of her dress, and then looped her arm in James’s. The weather was cool, and there was a slight chill in the breeze that brushed past them. Then she leaned in and placed her head on James’s arm and sighed.
“Is it what you expected?” he asked.
“It is everything I dreamed of and more,” she replied, her eyes looking out across the great expanse of water. The dark blue waves seemed to go on forever, a crest of white topping each one just as he had described. It was hypnotizing, and she found herself mesmerized by them.
They had been wed a month, and their ship left England two days earlier, heading to the continent of Africa. They would stay there for a month, and James had promised her the adventure of a lifetime during their visit there. She knew very little of Africa, only that which she had read in a few books, but she was excited to see and experience the land and its people.
Captain Solomon approached and gave them a deep bow, his face clean-shaven, unlike the sailors who worked under him. “My Lord,” he said, “as requested, your dinner will be served at precisely seven from this evening forward.”
Sarah shook her head at the audacity of her husband to continue his strict scheduling even on their honeymoon.
Then the captain turned to Sarah. “My Lady, we will pass by the place where your parents were killed by pirates tomorrow at noon. I have planned to have my men stand at attention on deck as a show of respect. Again, my condolences for such a tragic loss.” He bowed his head and then turned and marched away.
“Killed by pirates?” James asked with a small smile and a raised eyebrow.
“Dinner at seven?” Sarah replied with a pointed look, which caused them both to laugh.
As she returned her gaze to the ocean, she sighed contentedly once again, removed her arm from his, and turned toward him as the last rays of the evening sun highlighted them.
He turned toward her, as well, that same boyish smile she had adored from the moment she first met him still on his face and took her chin in his hand.
As they kissed, the ship rocked softly across the waves, and Sarah never felt more secure than she did at that moment in his arms. Love coursed through her body and between their souls.
She had always wanted to go on an adventure, and Africa would be one that indeed they would talk about for a lifetime. But it was not the place that made the adventure wonderful.
It was having the man of one’s dreams hold you tight—the one you loved with every ounce of your being—who made it so.
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