Page 32 of Lord of Mischief
Chapter Seventeen
Eve was up early.She sat in front of her dresser and watched as her hair was set high in an elaborate and elegant chignon.Today, Will and Hattie would become man and wife.
Having watched the betrothed couple over the past few weeks, it was clear Will had met his match in Hattie.She was as stubborn as he, but they both brought out the caring and tender sides of each other.Will loved Hattie, and Hattie made no secret of the affection she felt for her future husband.
Eve smiled, remembering when she’d caught the two of them kissing in the garden the night they arrived to announce their betrothal.The kiss had not been a gentle social kiss between two innocents.Rather, it had been one of passion between two people who couldn’t wait to share the marriage bed.
Eve privately doubted Hattie would be going to her wedding night a virgin.She was already living in Will’s house, which was scandalous enough, and Will had been widowed for nearly four years.Lust and desire would not keep them sleeping in separate beds.
Her and Adelaide’s visit to Rosemount Abbey was only a matter of days away.Given half a chance, while she was in residence, Eve would let Freddie have his way with her.She didn’t regret any of what had happened at Vauxhall Gardens.In fact, the sooner he had his hands on her naked body, the better.She yearned for long nights in his arms.
A long, slow breath did little to settle her aching hunger.With the Bachelor Boardclose to being Freddie’s, she would need to move forward with her plans to forge a permanent future with him.His declarations of love had her believing that a betrothal would be announced not long after she and her mother arrived at Rosemount Abbey.
The wedding at St Paul’s cathedral was a delight.Eve’s uncle Hugh, the Bishop of London, conducted a beautiful wedding service.All the Saunders and Radley women cried.
It was only as they were leaving St Paul’s that Eve caught sight of her cousin Lucy.She hurried over to speak with her.
“I didn’t know you were coming today.Mama said you were still in Scotland,” said Eve.
Lucy kissed her cheek.When she pulled away, Eve noticed the sparkle in her eye.
“We did head to Scotland after we returned from France, but Avery is keen to start working with Lord Langham on understanding how to run an estate,” said Lucy.
She was about to ask Lucy how things with Avery were going when her cousin’s new husband appear from out of the crowd of well-wishers.He slipped a hand around his wife’s waist and whispered something to her.Lucy’s eyes opened wide and she smiled.
Eve took a step back as Lucy looked her husband up and down with barely concealed lust.If she were to put words to what she was watching, she would say Lucy was stripping Avery naked with her eyes.
“Good morning, Cousin Eve.I hope you are well.Lovely day for a wedding,” said Avery.
Eve was momentarily lost for words.It felt like only yesterday that Avery and Lucy had stood in front of the Bishop and struggled to say the words to commit to their marriage, yet here they were acting like all the other love-struck newly-weds.
“Lucy, my love, I must go and speak with your father.I promise to come back as soon as I can,” said Avery.He nodded his farewell to Eve, and they watched as he headed off in the direction of the Duke of Strathmore.
Lucy laughed as a stunned Eve turned back to her.“Miracles do happen.Mind you, it took Will’s efforts with Avery in Paris, and some soul searching on both our parts to finally face the truth of our marriage.Oh, Eve, I could only wish that you marry a man half as magnificent as Avery.From the depths of despair, I found happiness beyond anything I could ever have imagined.You must get out and find yourself a husband.”
Eve took her cousin by the arm and pulled her over to one side of the front steps of the church.She pointed to where Freddie was standing alongside his mother.They were enjoying a friendly chat with Adelaide.“Mama and I are off to Rosemount Abbey the day after tomorrow.Lady Rosemount has invited us to visit,” she said.
Lucy leant toward her cousin and whispered, “And I take it your visit has absolutely nothing to do with that rather dashing young man who is standing in the midst of those ladies.Oh, Eve, do tell.Do you think he might be the one?”
Eve shrugged, adopting her best nonchalant attitude.She gave Lucy a sideways glance.“Who is to say?I love him, and he has told me the same.I am determined to know what is beyond those words.I know he feels passion and desire, he just needs to be brave enough to let me see the real him.Once that is accomplished then I will know that he is truly the one,” replied Eve.
Stolen kisses and the liberties she had allowed him at Vauxhall were enough for her to be confident when she returned to London after her visit to Rosemount Abbey she would be wearing a betrothal ring.
The smile disappeared from Lucy’s lips.A worried frown took its place.“Be absolutely sure of him before you allow yourself to be put in a position where marriage is the only possible outcome.Promise me, Eve, you won’t do anything rash like I did.Matters between Avery and I could so easily have gone the other way,” she replied.
Eve waved her cousin’s concerns away.She was sure in the knowledge Freddie wanted her.Men like Freddie wanted fresh and frisky wives.If his heart wasn’t hers already, it would be by the time they were wed.She had plans in place to make the most of her stay at the abbey.Plans that included long walks with Freddie far from the main house and, if she was lucky, a convenient wood or two to get lost in.
She took Lucy’s hand and placed it on her arm.
“Come on, Lucy.Today is not the day to discuss my forthcoming wedding.We must go and find Will and Hattie.You should see the lacework on her dress.It is absolutely divine.”
