Page 81 of Seduced By the Rakish Duke

Jenny looked up at her brother. “And how should that be?”

“Radiant.”

Jenny blushed. Her brother was not one for platitudes. Much like her husband-to-be, he only offered words when they were absolutely necessary. His one-word compliment meant more to her than any gift he could have purchased for her.

“I’m serious, Jenny. Frannie and I are very happy with your match. I’ve come to know Marlow well, and he is exactly the man I would have picked for you.”

“Is that so?”

Thomas shook his head. “It is. And if I had any doubts about his character, his actions at the church put them to bed.”

Jenny couldn’t contain her joy. She leaned against her brother’s shoulder as they turned the corner to step onto Lady Staunton’s porch.

“And if, by chance, there were any lingering doubts, this would extinguish them immediately.”

Thomas led her onto the porch that was decorated with floral arrangements and candles as far as she could see. A white cloth lay on the steps off of the doorway and down the path to where David was standing.

Jenny’s breath caught in her throat. Small candles lit the pathway to David, while strings of flowers hung from the trees. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen—it was exactly what she had envisioned when she dreamt of her wedding day.

“If a man can go through the lengths he did to pull this off, he is a better man than me. I thought dealing with Frannie was frustrating. She has nothing on Lady Staunton,” Thomas joked.

Jenny’s eyes filled with tears. She couldn’t wait to get to David’s side. She even began tugging on Thomas’s arm as they walked.

“Calm down, woman. We’ll get there,” Thomas chided, lengthening his strides to keep up with her.

David had never dreamed of his wedding. Hell, he had never even given it much thought. Sure, the prospect of marriage was always there. He was a duke, after all. He just assumed when the time was right, he’d find a formidable woman, and that would be that.

Never in a million years did he expect the woman of his dreams to sneak into an unlit library and upend his entire life. But she did, and he couldn’t be happier for it.

He watched as Jenny and Thomas walked down the aisle Lady Staunton’s men created in her garden. She never looked more beautiful. Her auburn hair was twisted up into a chignon, and a couple of stubborn curls were framing her face.

The low afternoon sun created a halo around her, giving her an ethereal glow. Which fit her perfectly—she really was an angel sent by God to rescue him.

She saved him from a life of misery and a self-imposed prison sentence. The fact that he almost lost her to Harry still caused his hackles to rise. Jenny’s frightened face when Harry grabbed her still haunted his dreams. It was the same look in Heather’s eyes the night she died.

David promised himself on the night he lost Heather that he would never put someone in that position again. When Harry held Jenny hostage in front of their peers, he knew it was his turn to make it right. He was forever grateful that his actions resulted in a better outcome. The thought of losing Jenny the same way would have killed any reason for living.

Now, watching Jenny walk towards him, he felt relief, as if a weight was finally lifted off his shoulders.

When Jenny and her brother reached him, Thomas reached out and shook his hand. “Good luck,” he said quickly, before joining his wife and son in the chairs.

“Took you long enough.” David winked at his bride.

Jenny’s smile ignited a fire in his gut. He wanted to grab her hand and run for the nearest empty room, but he knew how important this day was to her.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. I didn’t realize you were waiting for me.”

David took her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. “I’ve been waiting for you my entire life, kitten.”

EPILOGUE

Jenny stood looking out over the garden David’s sister and mother had created. She felt David behind her and leaned back against him. “I was thinking, I would like to tend to your family’s garden. I’d like to continue the tradition.”

David brushed her hair from her shoulder so he could trail kisses down her neck.

She giggled in delight. “David? Are you listening?”

“Nope.” He continued his ministrations on the other side.

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