Page 4 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
She also regretted the fact she didn’t have a mother to give her advice. Unlike some ladies of the court, Adorra had managed to resist the urges of the flesh and kept herself pure. Her heart fluttered again as she thought about her upcoming marriage night.
Adorra had to wonder if every bride went through this on their wedding because she was finding the mixed emotions very perplexing. She had love driving her forward and fear yelling at her to run.
But when she finally met Edmund’s sea-green eyes, all her fears flew away in a flutter. He was still the man she had met at court. The man who had courted her until she couldn't resist anymore. He had swept her off her feet with his rapt attention, and it still hadn't lessened even though she had accepted his offer of marriage.
It seemed like it took her the whole day until she finally stopped in front of Lord Gothar and the priest.
Letting out a long steadying breath, she tried to calm her heartbeat as the priest began to speak.
“Slow down on the wine, or you won't remember your wedding night,” Isabel advised as she walked up beside Adorra, picking up a goblet of wine for herself from the table Adorra stood beside.
“It calms my nerves,” Adorra said before she took another large swallow of the ruby liquid.
Isabel raised her hand to Adorra's goblet, wrapping her fingers around the stem of the glassware guiding it away from Adorra's lips.
“Trust me. You will want to remember your first night with your husband. It will be the night that begins your life together. It could even be the night that conceives your first child.”
“I thought I already had a life?” Adorra grabbed the glass back eager for the liquid courage inside that had the ability to calm her nerves before she flew out a door screaming like an insane woman.
Isabel shrugged, “Do as you wish, but don't complain to me when you regret not remembering your wedding night.”
Adorra nodded as she set down her glass. Isabel was correct, now that the ceremony was over and she wasn’t standing in front of so many eyes she was feeling less anxious. She was now Adorra Gothar. She may not have any close family, but there was no reason she couldn’t make this her new family. Lord Gothar still had a few living relatives that she could get to know.
And soon she would hopefully be a mother as well as a wife. She could only pray they wouldn't have any troubles conceiving children. It would be one too many blows. Life had already been cruel enough to her, and she wasn’t sure how much more she could take before life broke her.
“Will you just sit up here all night watching others enjoying themselves, or are you going to join in?”
Adorra shook her head while pursing her lips. “No. I do believe I will have enough excitement tonight.” She was also enjoying watching people as they celebrated this new union.
Isabel smiled kindly, “Tomorrow morning you should have a warm bath prepared for you. Trust me when I say that you will want it.”
“Don't scare me away from the marriage bed, Isabel.” Adorra grumped as she shifted in her tight corset.
“I am advising, not scaring.” Isabel corrected her. “As a woman who has been married before, I’m just telling you what I think you ought to know since you have no other close women in your family to speak with about this.”
Adorra glanced over at her friend who was young and gorgeous. Isabel had already delivered her husband three children. Her friend’s brown curls stood out against the emerald fabric covering her shoulders.
“I will be sure to have a bath drawn for me, first thing in the morning,” Adorra promised as she took another swig out of her goblet. Isabel was a good friend, and she’d be a fool to disregard any advice from her.
Glancing around the hall, Adorra was able to see all the merrymaking going on from her position. Guests had split off into groups. Some danced to the flutes that played a light tune. The dresses spun out around the women as they danced around the men. Then they stood still as the men began to dance around them, their feet pounding a beat against the stone floors of the manor.
Letting herself relax, she smiled. She was, after all, married to the man of her dreams. She shouldn't be worrying about the marriage bed, or whether or not they would be able to have children. She had to take everything one step at a time and stop worrying about a future she couldn’t control.
Finally, she could restart the family she’d lost. Nothing would bring back her mother and father, but now she had the chance to be a mother herself. She knew her parents would be proud of her… even if she hadn’t yet found Jasmine.
She knew Jasmine would have loved to attend the wedding. Adorra also knew Jasmine hadn't been keen on Lord Gothar, but Jasmine would have warmed to him eventually. She just needed to see the side of Lord Gothar Adorra saw.
Shaking her head, Adorra pushed her sister's memory from her mind. Nothing was going to ruin this night for her. She was determined to be happy despite the fact that life was committed to dragging her down into a pit of misery.
Grinning from ear to ear, she grabbed Isabel's hand.
“Wha??” Isabel uttered.
Adorra dragged her friend down to where all the merrymaking was going on. She was going to make sure she had a good time.
Flutes began a new song that had her feet itching to dance. This was a merry time, and she wanted to dance and enjoy what would hopefully be her only marriage forgoing any more disasters.
Adorra strode up to Edmund’s side and took his hand. He glanced over at her, his sea-green eyes dancing with glee.
