Page 53 of His Scandalous Lessons
“Hello, Julian,” Caroline said softly.
“Hello, Linnie,” the duke returned.
Caroline stiffened, as if the pet name were a jibe. She dismissed the butler and said, “Will you permit me to introduce you to—”
“Grey,” Hastings said with a nod. “We’re quite familiar with each other from parliamentary matters.” He looked at Anne. “And Miss Anne Sheffield. I must say, this is quite the surprise. The last time I saw you, you were in a window seat pretending to read as your father discussed matters not fit for a daughter’s ears.”
Anne raised her chin. “Depends on the daughter. I admired your position on the reform bill. It’s not every day I hear a titled gentlemen argue for giving working class men the right to vote. My father would prefer it remain a right of the privileged.”
Hastings tilted his head a fraction. “And you don’t.”
“No. I do not.”
“Interesting.”
Caroline stepped in front of Anne. “Enough. Do you have someone to perform the ceremony? I’m afraid your laconic single word telegram didn’t indicate.”
His icy eyes flickered to Caroline. “In the library.” He indicated a door with a nod. “When it’s done, you have a lot to explain.”
Caroline’s smile was sweet. “My darling husband, when it’s done, we shall have a wedding dinner for my friends, and I’ll explain when I damn well feel like it.” She grasped her skirts and strode into the library, followed by Anne.
Richard lingered behind and cut Hastings a look. “You might try not acting like a complete arse.”
Hastings returned his look with a cold glare. “You might try minding your own damn business.”
* * *
The ceremony was short,and the vicar left soon after. Richard loved the way Anne blushed when he gazed into her eyes and murmured, “With my body, I thee worship.” For they were not just vows, but promises to last a lifetime. They were words to whisper in bed during the years to come, as they aged.
Then he kissed her, and she smiled beneath his lips, and he knew the choice to marry her was the best decision he had made in his scandalous life. He would worship her with his body later, tomorrow, the next day, forever.
When they finally retired, Richard was relieved. He didn’t waste any time going to Anne’s bedroom and dismissing the maid.
Anne sighed as he came up behind her and worked to loosen her hair from its chignon. “That was lovely. It was kind of the duke and duchess to help us.”
“You’relovely,” he said, dropping a kiss to the side of her throat. “And I know what you’re worrying over.”
“Worrying?” she said innocently. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
Richard shook his head with a chastising smile. “Don’t pretend with me. I know how that mind of yours works. We can’t help everyone, sweetheart.”
He couldn’t say he blamed her. Caroline tried to keep a brave face through the wedding dinner. While the Duke of Hastings was courteous, the strain between wife and husband was clear. Though Anne had softened the duke until he’d smiled — how could she not? — he’d never looked at his wife directly.
Anne leaned back against Richard. “I want to see everyone happy, now that I am.”
“Yes.” He began to unbutton her night-rail. “But you must know it’s not over for us, either. When we return, your father—”
“Shh.” She pressed a finger to his lips. “Let us worry of these things later.”
It wasn’t long before he had her in bed naked, is lips and tongue speaking a language he could not say in words. Every kiss was a declaration, a promise, a vow. “I love you,” he whispered, as he kissed his way down her breasts, her hips, lower. “God, how I love you.”
She arched and cried out his name. He loved how his name sounded on her lips, the way she breathed words of assent, of commands, telling himyesandpleaseandmore. When he settled between her thighs and pushed his cock into her, she held his face in her hands and told him she loved him back.
Richard fell asleep smiling.
Epilogue
Thorne sat behind his desk at the Brimstone Club with an amused smile on his face. “You two have upset the balance of things, haven't you?”
