She blinked back the dampness in her eyes and smiled her pride at him. “Then you have no regrets?”
“No. We had to travel the road that led to here.” He traced her bottom lip with the tip of his thumb. “Have you regrets? You lost so much—”
She bit his thumb to stop him. “I gained so much.” He kissed her and she lost herself in his mouth, as she always did. Then another feline yowl assaulted their ears. She drew back with a rueful smile. “Although I think Colin and Pru might owe us a new set of china.”
Jack sighed. “I just wish Melody and Evan were able to get along better. Ever since Evan decided to go off to Eton next term, Melody has been so upset. I don’t think she’ll ever forgive him.”
Laurel smiled knowingly. “Oh, I don’t know. Women tend to forgive the men they love.”
Jack started. “Love?”
Laurel laughed and left the room.
“Laurel?” Jack scrambled up, forgetting his nakedness. “Laurel? What do you mean, love?”
Melody dabbed at her eyes. “They went through so much to be together! Evan and I didn’t have to suffer nearly so much!”
Button finished adjusting the veil upon her head and stepped back. “Perfection,” he stated serenely. “Of course.”
Melody blew her nose violently. “It’s so romantic!”
Button took the handkerchief away and handed her a clean one. “Your own tale is romance personified, pet. At this moment, Evan is downstairs, waiting to stand with you at the altar, willing to vow his love forever and ever. What do you say? Shall we join him?”
Melody smiled, like the sun emerging after a storm. “Oh yes. Let’s.”
A knock came at the door. Button opened it and swept a bow. “My lord, she is ready!”
Melody sniffed. “I am?” She blinked at herself in the mirror. From the elegantly beaded slippers on her feet to the miles of veil that began at her brow, she was completely and entirely ready.
The Marquis of Strickland stepped into the room. Tall and lean, dark hair handsomely edged in gray, his eyes widened at the sight of his eldest daughter. “You look just like your mother,” he whispered.
“She does?” The marchioness bustled into the room, carrying a bouquet of fresh pink roses. She stopped and gazed at Melody. Then she let out a long, damp sigh. “Oh damn. When did you grow up?”
Melody held out her arms. “Mama!”
The marquis stood to one side, manfully containing his own tendency to leak while his wife and daughter embraced and sniffled.
Then Button stepped in. “Yes, lovely, how nice to see you, my lady, shall we fix this veil?” Having repaired Melody to his satisfaction, he cleared his throat. “I have a gift.” He held out his hand.
Melody blinked. “Button, you needn’t—”
It was a handkerchief, a square of stained linen, carefully hemmed and trimmed in lace. The cloth was brown with age and rather nastily smudged.
Melody frowned at it. “Goodness. Er . . . thank you?”
Button’s face creased in a smile. “I know that you thought she fell to bits years ago, but there was a piece I saved, from inside the knot—”
“Gordy Ann!” Melody gasped, then threw her arms about Button’s neck. “Gordy Ann will be at my wedding!”
Button patted her gently on the back. “Something old, you know.”
Sniffling a little, Melody drew back and carefully stuffed the grubby cloth into her beaded bodice, close to her heart.
Then she lifted her chin and smiled at her mother and father and dearest Button.
“Come along, then,” she said brightly. “Let’s get merry!”
The romance never ends…
Look for these other series from New York Times bestselling author
CELESTE BRADLEY
THE HEIRESS BRIDES
Desperately Seeking a Duke
The Duke Next Door
The Duke Most Wanted
THE LIAR’S CLUB
The Pretender
The Impostor
The Spy
The Charmer
The Rogue
THE ROYAL FOUR
To Wed a Scandalous Spy
Surrender to a Wicked Spy
One Night with a Spy
Seducing the Spy
…and don’t miss her latest series
THE RUNAWAY BRIDES
Devil in My Bed
Rogue in My Arms
Scoundrel in My Dreams
From St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Scoundrel in My Dreams Page 28