Page 72 of Daring the Forbidden Earl
As for that cretin’s daughter, Miss Steele, Johanna had recently received the news that the young woman had managed to flee with her lover. The gossip had come from Nora, and though Johanna was somewhat cynical of that union’s success, she could not help but wish Miss Steele the best of good fortune. For even though the girl’s lies had caused such upset, Johanna could understand the panic that had led Miss Steele to tell untruths. Indeed, she had experienced that fear for herself, so many years ago.
Mark smiled. The first genuine smile she had seen from him in two weeks. “Once I have read all of these, I truly believe I will find that peace.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thank you, Sweeting.”
“Whatever for?” Johanna flushed with warmth, delighting in the cheer that transformed his handsome face.
“For everything, my dearest love,” he replied. “For everything.”
And though their romance had been plagued with challenges and diversions, she finally felt as though they were treading upon the right path. With any luck, they would find no more obstacles ahead of them. For they had already proven that, together, they could overcome almost anything.
Epilogue
One Month Later
With the sun beating down upon village green that gave this place its name, Mark and Johanna alighted from the carriage and walked, together, toward the chapel where they would finally pledge themselves to one another in the eyes of God.
It had been a tremendously long journey to reach Gretna Green, not just in terms of physical distance, but they were here, and they were united, and they were ready to turn their love into a legitimate union. Of course, it would not be entirely accepted by society, but neither of them cared. In truth, they were already husband and wife in one another’s eyes.
“Shall we, Sweeting?” Mark flashed a grin at his beautiful bride, and knew he was the most fortunate man in Christendom. For she was not only beautiful, but intelligent, and loyal, and a true defender of the vulnerable.
Johanna nodded eagerly. “We shall, my love. You have kept me waiting long enough.”
“Ihave kept you waiting?” He chuckled. “If you had allowed it, I would have journeyed here weeks ago.”
Johanna’s smile saddened ever so slightly. “Well, we have made it now, and that is all that matters.”
In the six weeks since the fracas at the warehouse, Hugh had continued to heal, gaining strength by the day. Both he and Lizzie had become an integral part of the household, despite Chalke’s outrage, but Mark knew it would not be long before his brother had to leave. The longer Hugh stayed, the greater the chance would be of someone discovering that he was still alive.
But it has been an unexpected gift to have them in my home.
For, thanks to long evenings spent in Hugh and Lizzie’s company, Mark had learned more about the brother he had never known than he had ever thought possible. And they had so many stories to tell, which Mark never tired of hearing. Indeed, he only encouraged them to stop when Hugh began to tire, for he did not want his brother to exert himself for the sake of curiosity.
As for Lord Dresday—he had been sentenced to twenty years aboard a prison ship, leaving his precious reputation in tatters. It did not seem to have affected Miss Steele, who had recently sent word to Johanna that she was blissfully happy in some corner of the Continent with her lover.
“It will not last,” Mark had told Johanna, but she had tutted at him.
“Have faith, my love, for who would have thought that you and I would have found contentment with one another?”
He recalled, pouting slightly. “I always thought we would. You were the stubborn one.”
“Then our memories must beverydifferent,” she had replied, before kissing away his pout and restoring his smile.
If he thought about it, he would not have placed a wager in their favor after his return from Bordeaux. It was, truthfully, nothing short of a miracle that they had learned to set aside their differences and their misunderstandings, in order to discover the untold joy of being in one another’s company.
“I rather like the thought of you being a Countess,” Mark said, as they entered the chapel.
Johanna laughed softly. “I have not yet grown accustomed to the idea. I am more eager to be your wife than to have a title, though I suppose it will be nice to hold the same position as Nora.” Mischief twinkled in her pretty blue eyes. “Now, all we need to do is find a wife for dear Denninson, and then we shall become a trio of Countesses!”
“You have more chance ofhimbecoming a Countess,” Mark retorted, with a smirk.
Despite his two best friends finding love, Kenneth remained steadfast in his determination to be perpetually alone. Still, Mark would not cease trying to push his friend into the path of eligible young ladies, just in case there was one such woman who tickled his fancy.
Unabashedly cheerful, they settled into the annex at the front of the chapel and awaited their turn. In truth, Mark would have preferred to have a large wedding, with all of his friends and acquaintances present, if only to celebrate the remarkable nature of his wife. But as that was not to be, he was determined to enjoy this day with his dear Johanna and let that be enough.
And once they were done binding themselves to one another, he had a whole new letter that Nora had gifted as their wedding present, which he could not wait to explore.
* * *
“Are you sure we will not be discovered?” Johanna whispered excitedly, as Mark led her away from the inn where they were staying for their wedding night. Although, there had beenmanywedding nights since Johanna had moved into his townhouse six weeks ago.
