“This is a nice place, but you belong somewhere better,” he added.
“What about the Church?” Beatrice asked hesitantly.
She wanted more than anything to leave at once with him, to go back to the estate she had grown to love, but she feared it would put their plans in jeopardy.
“Would they grant us our union if they discovered that we have been living together?” she asked worriedly.
Algernon shook his head.
“I will take care of it,” he promised, caressing his thumb down her cheek. “You will never have to worry about anything ever again.”
Beatrice positively vibrated with happiness as he said so. If his words were not enough, the earnest look in his eyes certainly was.
“And no more secrets?” she asked.
Algernon hurriedly shook his head.
“That is what we will do from now until our wedding day. Tell each other everything,” he insisted. Then to her surprise, he smirked.
“After all, I needsomethingto hold me back until our wedding night, and some heavy conversation might just do the trick. While I cannot promise to keep my hands off of you entirely, I should like to give you the wedding tradition you deserve. That is,ifthat is what you want?”
Beatrice bit her bottom lip, caught in thought as her body grew warm and sensitive under Algernon’s touch. He was letting her choose what she wanted, just as he’d promised.
“Can you make the wedding quick?” she asked at last, and Algernon threw his head back and laughed. She smiled with him, already feeling her broken heart fusing back together.
“I shall make it so,” he promised.
“And in the meantime, perhaps we could still partake in our lessons?” she asked innocently.
Another chuckle, deep and delicious and full of wicked promised, erupted from Algernon’s chest as he cupped her cheeks and kissed her deeply again. Beatrice sighed in contentment, loving that their kiss was no longer an ache-filled fantasy she had to long for but something that would forever be a part of her life.
When she pulled away, it was slowly, and though they were both smiling, the moment had grown sincere again.
“Take me home,” she murmured, nuzzling into his chest.
“Yes, my love,” Algernon’s deep voice rumbled as he held her close and stroked her hair.
EPILOGUE
One Week Later
“And there I was, standing in the dining room of Mrs. Kilborn’s boarding house when these two suddenly fling themselves together! Can you imagine my shock?! After everything Beatrice had told me, after how she was sure that she’d never talk to him again, he shows up one time, and within minutes, she’s kissing him! Well, I just gaped, I tell you, I gaped! And thank goodness Mrs. Kilborn had gone to the kitchens, otherwise I fear the woman would have suffered a coronary from such a sight! Oh, and then…”
Henry, Alice, Mrs. Sheer, and Mira all laughed at Deborah’s story as Beatrice felt her cheeks turn beet red. Today, for this particular occasion, there were no roles to fill other than the role of friendship, and they had all gathered to celebrate her wedding.
She had forgotten that her new friend had been standing in the dining room with a perfect viewpoint of her and Algernon’s reunion. That was until Beatrice had gone upstairs to collect her things, and her friend had caught her hand, asking her if she was sure she wanted to go.
Deborah looked over at her presently, her smile wide and genuine as she took in Beatrice in her wedding dress and winked. Beatrice winked back then looked up to the face of her new husband standing by her side. His green eyes twinkled with happiness as they locked eyes, and he tightened the arm already laying across her shoulders, bringing her closer so that he could kiss her forehead.
“She said yes,” Deborah said with a helpless shrug that made the others chuckle again. “She said he was what she wanted, and she had forgiven him.”
Deborah made a mischievous face as she threw a glance at Algernon.
“Well, she may had forgiven, but I had not, so I marched right up to him and asked…”
As Deborah continued the story, Beatrice felt Algernon’s arm tighten around the back of her shoulders. Then, as if that was not enough, he pulled her tightly back to his chest and wrapped that arm around the front of her protectively. Beatrice looked up at him again, curious, and her small smile faded as she found a stern frown on his face and his eyes narrowed and focused on someone among their small crowd of wedding guests.
She looked toward the others congregating in the reception hall, confused, then she felt the blush drain from her cheeks and her blood run cold as she spotted three familiar faces.