Epilogue

"Marian? Are you ready?"

Charlotte entered Marian's room to find her friend sitting at the dressing table, wearing a beautiful, pearl-encrusted gown which made her skin appear to glow. Her glossy dark hair had been dressed to perfection by the maid, who dropped a quick curtsy in Charlotte's direction before leaving the room.

"Oh, Marian, you look more beautiful than I have ever seen you! The Duke will be quite beside himself when he sees you walking towards him!"

Marian smiled at her friend, her heart filled with joy.

It was a few weeks after the ball at the Sinclair mansion, and as neither she nor Andrew had been able to think of any reason to delay their marriage, it was to take place today in the little church at the bottom of the lane Marian had grown up on.

"I am so happy, Charlotte," she confessed, flinging her arms around her friend. "I know it's been but a few weeks since we were engaged, but it feels like this day has taken forever to arrive!"

"Well, at least you have not been without the company of your betrothed during those interminable weeks," said Charlotte teasingly. "Why, I have almost forgotten what you look like when you do not have the Duke next to you, Marian!"

Marian laughed. It was true that Andrew had barely left her side since the evening he had punched Robert and asked for her hand. It was partly, she knew, that he was aware she still worried that Robert might come back and make good his threat towards her father, but it was also simply that they could not bear to be parted. And although they'd taken great care to make sure they were appropriately chaperoned each time they were together – it would not do to have Andrew's reputation ruined once more, just as he was starting to repair it, after all – the fact that they had been so close and yet had been unable to touch or kiss the way they wanted to had been like a form of torture to her.

But tonight, that torture will come to an end.

Marian shivered in anticipation of all that was to come — both the wedding itself and the night that was to follow it.

I cannot remember a time I felt so happy. I just wish Mama were here to see it.

She raised her hand and gently touched the emerald necklace which the maid Andrew had employed for her had just finished fastening when Charlotte arrived.

She may not be here in person, but I feel her with me anyway. And I know she will never be far away.

"Marian? It's time!"

Charlotte was standing at the door of the room, waiting for her. Slowly, Marian stood up and took a last look around the room. This would be the last time it would be hers; tonight, after the wedding, she would return to Andrew's house with him to take up her new role as the Duchess of Rottdwell. Her father would join them there, and so this new chapter of their lives would begin.

And I could not be more ready for it.

At the bottom of the stairs, Marian's father stood waiting for her with Mrs. Grant, dressed in her Sunday best, beside him. They both beamed with pleasure as Marian descended, her father dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief.

"You look beautiful, my dear," he said as Marian took his arm. "Your mother would be proud of you as, of course, am I."

"I'm proud of you, too, Papa," said Marian, kissing him on the cheek. "It's good to see you so well."

The last few weeks had not always been easy for Edward Sullivan, but with Marian and Andrew's help, he had slowly managed to wean himself off the drink he had been so dependent upon, and the effect on him was transformative. Indeed, as they stepped outside and began the short walk to the church, Marian could not help but notice how happy and healthy her father looked — and from the way Mrs. Grant, who would be taking up a new role as housekeeper of Rottdwell Castle, kept glancing at him, Marian suspected she wasn't alone in her thoughts.

The church bells rang merrily as Marian approached. It was a bright, early spring day, and the little church had never been so busy as it seemed like every member of the Ton had turned out to see the notorious Duke of Rottdwell wed his new bride.

All except one. Robert Sinclair, of course, was notable by his absence, having left the area the morning after the ball and not been seen since. Thanks to Andrew — and, of course, Charlotte — Robert's reputation had been so comprehensively ruined that the Duke was confident Sinclair would never set foot in the county again. "And if he does, he will have me to deal with," he would say grimly each time the subject came up.

But there was no sign of Robert. Indeed, as Marian began her walk down the church aisle, leaning on her father's arm, there was nothing at all to spoil the perfection of the moment — just Andrew, standing at the alter with Gregory beside him as best man, his face lighting up with pleasure as he turned to see her for the first time.

"You are even more beautiful than I imagined," he whispered as the service began. "And I have imagined this moment many times over, believe me."

Marian squeezed his hand, too overcome with emotion to speak. Speak she must, however, and before long she was repeating the vows after Andrew, the vicar was declaring them man and wife, and — at long last — Andrew was carefully lifting the intricate lace veil from her face and bending down to kiss her.

"I love you, my Lady Rueford," he said, speaking so only she could hear him.

"It's ‘Your Grace' to you, thank you," she said, smiling up at him through happy tears. "And I love you, too. Forever and always."

Neither Andrew or Marian had wanted to have a large party after their wedding, so the group that left the church for Andrew's home was a small one, consisting only of the couple themselves along with Charlotte and her parents, Gregory, and of course, Charlotte's father. At the house, Rose and Ben were waiting for them, and Mrs. Grant got immediately to work, presiding over the new staff Andrew had employed since his engagement.

"I cannot expect the new Duchess to get by with just a cook and a butler, after all," he teased, his eyes twinkling. "Only the very best for my wife."

The feast Rose had prepared really was the very best Marian had ever eaten, but as the evening wore on, she found herself casting shy glances at her new husband, longing for the moment they would finally be alone together.

At last, Charlotte and her parents took their leave with Gregory shortly behind them, and Marian's new lady's maid accompanied her to Andrew's chamber where she helped her undress to her chemise and left with a quick curtsy.

By the time Andrew arrived to join her, Marian's entire body was alight with anticipation and desire.

"Hello, Your Grace," he said with a smirk as he climbed up in their bed.

"Hello, Your Grace," she beamed excitedly.

The moment he pulled back the sheets, she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him eagerly towards her.

Their lips met in a passionate kiss, weeks of waiting and longing for each other finally released as their tongues entwined. Andrew's hands reached under Marian's nightgown, gently stroking her body and awakening sensations that made her feel she must remove the garment at once.

When at last they lay naked together, Andrew pulled her towards him, his eyes dark with desire for her.

"I am sorry, Marian," he said, smiling down at her ruefully. "I had wanted this first time to be special for you, but I fear I will be unable to control myself. You are just too tempting."

His member nudged at her entrance, and Marian moaned with desire, wanting to feel it inside her at last.

"It will be special, my love," she whispered. "It is already special. Please, Andrew —"

Her body began rocking against him, moving almost as if of its own accord. "Please," she gasped, "I want to feel that I am truly your wife."

"I can hold back no longer," murmured Andrew into her neck. With a low moan, he thrust himself inside her, sliding easily into her wetness, filling her until Marian felt she could take no more.

"Andrew," she screamed, feeling herself contract around his length, holding him inside her. "Oh, Andrew!"

Andrew barely heard her. His eyes were closed in bliss, his body buried in hers as he lay above her, giving her a moment to recover herself.

The brief pain Marian had felt when he entered her had quickly given way to a low thrum of pleasure, like a pressure inside her which had to somehow be released. After a few seconds, her hips raised, and she moved against him, her hands on his back as she pulled him more deeply inside.

"Marian, no," moaned Andrew. "You know not what you do to me."

"Show me," Marian replied, her fingernails scratching his skin as she tried to pull him still closer. "Show me how it feels. I want to make you feel the way I did that night — the last time we were together like this."

Andrew did not need to be told twice. Lowering his mouth to hers, he began thrusting urgently into her, his movements pinning her beneath him as he thrust back and forth, her cries of pleasure stifled by his lips as he kissed her.

Lying beneath him, Marian surrendered herself to the sensation of being taken by her husband — a feeling so exquisite she might come apart at any moment.

I had not known it would be like this. And now that I do, I do not think I ever want it to stop.

But Andrew's moans were louder now, his thrusts faster. Each time he withdrew from her body, Marian clutched at him, longing for the moment when he would slide back inside, making her open her legs wider until she could think of nothing but him and how he filled her so completely.

"Marian," he groaned into her mouth. "Marian, I am so close —"

With a loud cry, he thrust harder still, riding her hard and fast until the pleasure that had been building inside her built to a peak. Marian's body writhed beneath her husband's, unable to control herself as her hips rose to meet him.

"Andrew," she cried as pleasure erupted inside her. "Oh, Andrew!"

She felt her muscles contract hard around him, and then release; again and again it happened, every movement bringing a new wave of pleasure which made her whimper in ecstasy. Andrew continued to move inside her until at last, he cried out again and gave one last thrust, his body tensing and then spasming as he emptied himself into her before collapsing on top of her, his hair damp and his skin slippery.

"I'm sorry, Marian," he said again as their breathing slowly stabilized. "I had intended for that to last longer for you."

"It is no matter," Marian said mischievously as she looked up at him from the pillow. "We have the whole night ahead of us."

Andrew's eyebrows rose in surprise as Marian rolled over and slid on top of him, her body displayed in all its glory. Her skin glistened slightly from their previous exertions, and her long hair hung in front of her beautiful face as she smiled down at him.

"What is this," he said slowly, reaching up to take hold of her as she settled herself upon him. "Are new brides not supposed to be shy?"

"I am a very quick and eager learner," Marian replied. "And now that I am your wife, I think you must resign yourself to having to teach me all the things a wife should know."

"Is that so?" drawled Andrew, hardly daring to believe his luck. "And you wish to begin now?"

"Right now," nodded Marian, leaning forward to kiss him.

It had only been a few minutes since he'd last had her, but Andrew could already feel himself hard again, and as Marian sat back up on his lap, he reached up and moved her into position until she was poised above his stiff member.

Her eyes closed in bliss as she lowered herself onto it, and Andrew had to stifle a cry of pleasure as she started to slide up and down on top of him.

"Slowly," he whispered, reaching for her. "Slowly, my love. Let us make it last this time."

Her entrance was tight and wet, and as her movements sped up, Andrew placed his hands around her waist, holding her firmly to slow her down. A small cry of pleasure escaped her mouth, and he continued to hold her there, enjoying the feeling of being buried inside her. They moved together like that for several long minutes then Andrew took one hand off her waist and positioned it between her legs, allowing her to rub against him with each thrust. Before long, she was muttering incoherently, her body moving faster to increase the friction, and Andrew knew he could not last much longer.

Still holding her firmly with one hand, he rubbed gently between her legs with his finger. Almost at once, Marian screamed out, her body bucking wildly on top of him, her muscles contracting strongly around him until he reached his own release.

"Good girl," he whispered as she fell upon his chest, totally spent. "You are indeed a quick learner, my love."

"I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you," Marian murmured, her eyes closed. "Ideally doing this."

"We will do much more than this," Andrew promised her. "There is so much ahead of us, Marian. So much live to be lived; so much love to be had."

"I cannot wait," she said again, opening her eyes to smile up at him. "And I intend to enjoy every single moment."

The End?