Page 67 of A Lady's Beastly Duke
In the soft, damp, scented silence of the garden, they shared a sweet kiss.
Epilogue
Anastasia felt the whisper of her veil around her face, and she focused on the vicar, who stood before her, his face lit from within, his eyes smiling though he had stopped grinning when he began reading the ceremony.
Her gaze moved sideways to where Sidney stood. His arm pressed against her side, his dark blue velvet jacket soft and warm. She leaned closer to him, allowing their two forms to touch, drawing courage from his closeness. Not that she needed any. She had been smiling all morning.
The vicar’s voice had slowed, and she drew her attention swiftly back to it, focusing on what he was saying.
“...and do thee, Anastasia Marcia Gray, take thee Sidney Alexander Markham to be thy lawful wedded husband?”
“I do.” Anastasia spoke the words with more certainty than she had ever said anything in her life.
“And do thee, Sidney Alexander Markham, take thee Anastasia Marcia Gray...” he continued, repeating the vows for Sidney to say.
“I do.” His voice was resonant and low, shivering through her and making her grin. She would never forget how his voicesounded, how her heart soared as he said the word. She felt more joy than she had ever felt.
The vicar continued, and Anastasia lost focus on what he said, the words finding their way to her blurrily through the bubble of joy that filled her mind and heart.
She was aware that the ceremony must have concluded, because she sensed Sidney turn, and then, so gently, he was lifting the veil from her face. She gazed up at him through the gauze fabric and her heart thudded wildly in her chest. She shut her eyes as he bent forward and his lips, warm and tender, pressed to hers in a gentle kiss.
It was a brief touching of lips, and then she opened her eyes and gazed smilingly into his, but it was the sweetest kiss because of what it meant.
She stared into his eyes and knew that she loved him with all her heart. He smiled and her heart soared.
Sidney took her hand, shyly, and they turned to face the assembled guests. They were in the chapel at Sidney’s country home, and Sidney’s family sat mixed with her own. She could see Camilla at the back, with her parents, and Lily, beaming from the front row with her own parents. Sidney’s sister Amy and her husband, Henry, sat beside them, and his Aunt Harriet and Cousin Giles sat in the next pew back. Giles was smiling quietly at Sidney the way an older brother might.
Anastasia gazed up at Sidney, her heart full of love. They walked silently down the aisle towards the door through which they had come, the small chapel filled with sunshine as theywalked. Their friends and family called out their congratulations as they walked to the door, but Anastasia could barely make out any voices from the mass, besides that of Lily, which was loud and enthused. She smiled to herself.
I will see you often,she promised Lily and herself silently in her heart. Sidney’s estate was sufficiently close to London that it was easily possible for herself or Lily to travel the two hours’ distance for a cup of tea. Her own family spent almost the entire year in the London townhouse, due to Papa’s business interests.
She smiled and waved at Lily, her heart full of love, and then she walked down the short path with Sidney towards the house. Since the wedding had taken place at his estate, there was no need for the customary coach-ride to his home. All the same, the tenants and the staff of his estate had assembled to see them, and Sidney waved and smiled and tossed the customary coins for the children to grab. A flock of village children ran to squabble over the bright coins and Sidney beamed, his happiness the same as her own.
“Well, my dear,” Sidney said lightly, the term of endearment still making her cheeks heat up brightly. “I trust you are prepared for a large luncheon?”
Anastasia grinned. “I believe I should be,” she replied, one brow rising. The cook at Sidney’s home proved rather flamboyant, providing more food at one dinner than she had ever seen for one meal before. She fully expected an army of courses for luncheon, unusual though that might be.
“As usual, you are right,” Sidney said with a grin.
Anastasia laughed. Her arm was linked through his and they walked, slowly and tenderly, side by side, into the manor house.
The butler was there to greet them—he had not joined the rest of the staff outside, and nor had some footmen, who had stayed within to prepare the dining room. Anastasia followed Sidney into the room, gazing around at the simple beauty of the place. Amy had insisted on having bunches of late summer roses on every table, and the subtle fragrance of the flowers drifted to her where she stood.
“How beautiful,” she murmured.
Sidney beamed. “I didn’t notice. You are so beautiful that you’re all I am seeing.”
Anastasia blushed. “Now, that was flattery, my dear.”
He laughed. “I reserve the right to flatter just a little.”
Anastasia giggled; her joy too bright to hide. “It is a desire I grant gladly, my dearest Sidney.”
He beamed and she could see he was just a little pink in the cheeks too. She felt her heart race with joy. She loved to see him smiling, which he did often.
They waited to greet their guests, who drifted in from the garden.
The meal was, indeed, sumptuous, and Anastasia felt almost too full to stand by the time someone at one of the tables—she thought it was Henry, though she was not sure—suggested thatthere ought to be some dancing.
