12. Newlyweds Read the Gossip

The following week in the master suite of the Castlewait townhouse

As Persephone lounged in the pillows and drank her cup of chocolate, her new husband was paging through the latest issue of The Tattler.

"Do people really believe this rot?" Jack asked, scoffing.

His new wife arched a brow. "I would not expect you of all people to ask that," she countered with a grin.

He captured one of her hands in his and raised it to his lips. Kissing the back of it, he squeezed it tighter. "I suppose it merely depends on who you imagine these initials to be," he murmured, already engrossed in another article about the Weatherstone ball.

"Have you found a mention of our marriage in there?" she asked, leaning against his shoulder in an effort to read an advertisement for a New Bond Street modiste.

He gave a start. "They write about weddings in here?"

She tittered. "Of course, darling. Why wouldn't they?"

"I wouldn't expect them to be scandalous enough," he mused.

"Well, ours might appear that way given how quick it was," she countered.

He chuckled. "Who knew you could obtain a special license and be married all in the same day?" he asked rhetorically.

Persephone smirked but didn't respond.

"I do hope you don't regret it," Jack murmured, his gaze lifting from the news-sheet to regard her with worry.

"So far, I'm a very happy bride," she said before kissing him on the cheek. "But then I haven't seen the ledgers for your earldom yet."

He winced. "Let's wait until after our wedding trip before I subject you to the Wilmington earldom," he murmured.

"Oooh. A wedding trip?"

"Hmm. I was thinking of taking you to my country estate," he said, his attention still on the news-sheet.

"Oooh, in what country?" she teased.

He chuckled. "If I tell you that, it won't be a surprise," he said. He suddenly straightened, aiming the news-sheet so she could better see it. "Well, well," he whispered.

"What is it?" She followed his gaze to an article and grinned.

It is with much excitement that we announce the betrothal of Lord James, son of the Duke of Whyte, to Miss Honoria Kravets, daughter of the Baron and Lady Kravets. We've reported on this couple's exploits in past issues—they've been caught fondling one another at a number of Society entertainments—so it comes as no surprise that this Lord JW would finally be brought to task. He was said to be honored to offer for Honoria's hand and hopes for a quick wedding so that they might canoodle whenever they wish.

"Margaret will be mortified to read this," Persephone murmured. "Honoria is her only daughter." She waited for Jack to reply, but he was still reading, his grin widening.

Curious, she continued where she had left off.

As for another, older Lord JW—who hasn't been seen in London for some time (rusticating in the country, perhaps? Or mayhap he's been serving King and country on the Continent?)—it seems a wedding is in his very near future. A special license was issued only yesterday, but we've yet to discover who he plans to wed. About time this earl be married. He's not getting any younger.

"You might not be getting any younger, but your new wife certainly doesn't mind," Persephone whispered as she slipped a hand beneath the bed linens. She covered his manhood with her palm, not surprised when it twitched and hardened beneath her hold.

"I rather like that you seem to enjoy canoodling," Jack remarked, setting aside the news-sheet. "Imagine the scandal when we're caught in a dark alcove canoodling during a musicale."

"Or making love in the gardens during a ball," she whispered.

"Or in our box at the theatre," he countered.

"We have a box?" she asked in surprise.

He chuckled as he gripped the edge of the bed linens and flipped them off the both of them. Persephone giggled when he lifted his body over hers. "We have a box," he affirmed. "But first..." He thrust himself into her and sighed with pleasure. "I'm going to abduct you..." He pulled out and kissed her throughly before thrusting into her again, groaning when her hips met his. "And take you to my house in the country..." He pulled out, but not all the way. "Where I intend to get a child on you..."

Persephone moved her hands to his buttocks, and she pulled on him hard enough so he was caught by surprise as her hips lifted to meet his. "If you haven't already," she finished for him, her face glowing in the morning light.

She adored how he kissed her then, the same way he had done so all those years ago when they had first fallen in love. When he finally ended the kiss, he stared down at her.

"What is it?" she asked in a whisper.

"Is that even possible?" he asked, breathless.

She blinked. "Well, of course." When he didn't resume what he'd been doing before their kiss, she added, "But please, do continue. Just to be sure."

His face split into a grin, and he kissed her again. "Gladly."