EPISODE ONE HUNDRED AND SIX ONCE DECLARED MAN AND WIFE …

EPISODE ONE HUNDRED AND SIX

ONCE DECLARED MAN AND WIFE

A few months ago, just after the archbishop declared Major FitzRoy and Livie man and wife, Livie s new husband had caught up his wife at the altar and given her an utterly delightful, utterly scandalous kiss.

Daisy had mopped up tears at the sheer romance of watching Livie s silk gown billowing in the air due to the tightness of her new husband s embrace. Even her mother had grown dewy-eyed.

Her wedding was clearly not going to inspire any romantic tears.

For one thing, Daisy s fianc was nowhere to be seen, though the ceremony had been due to begin some twenty minutes ago.

The bride is supposed to be late, not the groom, Regina hissed on her way to greet a newly arrived guest. Do you suppose he s run off to the colonies?

Daisy managed a weak smile. She believed in Miles. Counted on him. Surely he would arrive. From the corner of her eye, she could see guests whispering to each other.

As the minutes ticked by, she felt as if little fault lines were forming in her heart. The ducal chapel echoed with chattering voices, but they seemed to come from a distance. With nothing else to do, Daisy kept smiling, her heartbeat fluctuating every time the door opened.

Are you sure about this? Frederick asked, drifting up to her. My offer s still open. I don t have as much money, but despite my hangover, I got here on time. I d be proud to walk the aisle with you, even given that dress. You couldn t find another rag to throw on?

I look regal, Daisy told him, unoffended.

I d say divine, Frederick said. He gave her a crooked smile. As well as very pretty and approachable. You make me wish that I d done better at courting you, Daisy. Convinced you to do a rash deed and marry me.

She patted his chest, thinking what a good friend he was. I m in love with Miles, but if I wasn t, I would be very happy to marry you. She patted him again. Are you carrying a flask inside your coat?

An armored plate over my heart, Frederick said. Would you like a swig to fortify you before taking to the altar and making imprudent promises? I find that a pleasant haze makes agreeing to irrational demands more palatable.

I take it fidelity is irrational? Daisy asked.

Fidelity would be easy, Frederick said, rather surprisingly for someone infamous for sleeping with married women. It s the til death do us part business that I find alarming. My valets always run off to greener pastures sooner or later, so I d be unsurprised if my wife did the same.

Where is Lord Devin? Daisy s mother hissed, sweeping past them to welcome Lady Castlereigh with outstretched hands. An informal occasion, my lady, since the children are so desperately in love!

Frederick glanced around. Devin lives next door, doesn t he? He can t blame a broken wheel or the traffic around Charing Cross.

Regina was greeting Viscount Peregrine and his wife, who had just entered the chapel.

Peregrine was one of Regina s fianc s, Frederick said idly. My brother was another, and your fianc is a third. I ve forgotten someone Ah yes, the Earl of Winchester.

Daisy was starting to feel sick with anxiety. Surely Miles wouldn t stand her up at the altar. But perhaps he had found out the truth Her mother s gloom-filled predictions crowded into her mind.

Miles was never betrothed to Regina, she said, trying to focus on the conversation.

I ll fetch your groom, Frederick said with sudden energy. Best man s duty. Drag the poor sod to the altar. He blinked. Not that he s a poor sod for marrying you. Luckiest man in London.

Before Daisy could say anything, he disappeared.

Five minutes later, two men walked into the chapel. Found him redoing his cravat, Frederick boomed. Stop doting on your mirror , I told him. Your lovely bride is waiting .

Daisy knew Miles well enough to read the tightness at the corners of his stormy eyes, the nerve beating in his jaw. As their eyes met, his face was suddenly wreathed in one of the falsest smiles she d ever seen.

Darling, he said, heading straight toward her. Forgive me.

Her heart stopped pounding. Miles s acting skills were dubious, but at least he had appeared. She put a hand on his cheek and smiled at him, letting all the adoration she felt shine in her eyes. He dropped his head and gave her a swift, hard kiss.

Totally enamored, Regina said in a clear, high voice on the other side of the chapel.

As she spoke her vows, Daisy allowed herself only one aching wish that her groom loved her and that he d been eager to marry her-rather than having trudged to the altar tardy and annoyed. Taking the long view, it was far more important that Miles would be loyal. She trusted him to have and to hold, for better or worse , even if he never managed the loving and cherishing.

After the ceremony, Lady Wharton ushered the guests away to enjoy the wedding breakfast, while Daisy, Miles, Regina and Frederick signed the parish book.

Remain here two minutes, so you can make an entrance, Regina ordered, taking Frederick s arm and pulling him from the chapel.

What happened? Daisy asked bluntly. Why were you late?

Miles glanced at the rector, who was following Regina out the door. Unforeseen circumstances.

Daisy swallowed hard and then came out with the truth. I was afraid you weren t coming at all. People were beginning to chatter. If nothing else, your delay complicated Regina s description of you as besotted.

I apologize. His jaw set again. I shall do my best at breakfast to seem as happy as a pig in muck. I ll kiss you again in front of an audience, if you think that will stop them from chattering.

There couldn t be a more devastating contrast between the major s jubilant kiss and Miles s grudging offer.

Is it so terrible to have people believe you re in love with me? Daisy asked, her voice rasping.

In my opinion, no one will believe it, Miles said coolly. They ll think that your mother trapped me in some way or another. Most of them are intelligent enough to know that love is a temporary delusion.

Daisy took a deep breath. His words stung, but she couldn t poison their wedding day with a quarrel.

Besides, he was likely right about the aristocracy s assessment of their marriage. Lord Devin was rich, handsome, and powerful. In the eyes of society, he belonged with a diamond like Lady Regina, a woman with a superb profile fit for a family portrait.

Definitely not a plump, disheveled woman like Daisy. As if the universe heard that comment, a thick coil of hair slipped from her chignon and tumbled past her shoulder.

Miles s eyes suddenly focused on her face. I apologize, Daisy. I had forgotten that you consider yourself in love with me. The emotion won t last. You do realize that, don t you?

More every moment, Daisy said wryly.

Unfortunately, freedom from that emotion lay in the future. At present, she merely had to glance at her husband, and her whole body pulsed with the urge to have and to hold him, through better or worse.

It s not that you re not lovable, he added, making everything worse. In fact, there are parts of you, Daisy, that are very

lovable.

Parts of her ? Miles. The word scraped from her throat as she desperately tried to think how to tell him that her father always made her feel unlovable, and that she felt wretchedly inferior, marrying a man who only proposed under duress.

Yes?

Please don t say things like that.

He frowned.

Daisy picked her words with care. Our marriage follows a mistake I made. A terrible mistake. I took away your choice of a wife, and I ll always have to live with that. But please don t tell me again that you that you would never have chosen me.

I didn t say that.

Daisy said doggedly, When you say things such as, It could have been worse, or say that only parts of me are lovable, it

hurts . I couldn t bear it if my husband despised me.

I would never despise you, Miles said, clearly irritated. We should join our guests. Did you dress like the pillar of salt in a reference to Mrs. Lot s rebellion?

She swallowed hard. Apparently the subject was closed. She felt a jolt of pure terror. This marriage threatened to break her, break her heart and her spirit. She tried to summon up a witticism. Would you sulk if I had cast you in the role of Lot?

I m more likely to run back to the city limits. One of his hands settled on the small of her back as he steered her through the chapel.

No more depravity for you, she reminded him. If he left her and came back smelling of another woman s perfume? That would break her. She could not become her mother.

He stopped and looked down at her. Daisy felt a little wobble in her knees at his expression. No public depravity, he confirmed. But in our bedchamber?

Just the sight of his lips was like running silk over her body. All of her body. When his lips landed on hers, she gasped. His tongue met hers, licked her delicately, withdrew.

Her heart stuttered. That wasn t a real kiss.

Miles let out a crack of laughter. Are real kisses required by new wives? he asked.

Daisy didn t hesitate. Absolutely.

A proper kiss, a drugging, deliriously sensual kiss, followed. Daisy s body turned molten with desire. Her fingers curled against the column of his neck, feeling the muscled power there.

How could a mere neck be so seductive? Her mind blurred as Miles drew back and nipped her bottom lip with his teeth. Instead of pushing him away, as any gently bred young lady would do, she pulled him closer. Satin panels crushed as he moved to stand so close to her that their bodies touched.

Oh, Daisy squeaked.

Mmmm, her husband said. One of his hands curled around her bottom. Your arse is a thing of beauty, Daisy. Did you know that? I wanted to marry you the moment this gown fell off. In fact, there s a satisfying symmetry in your wearing it this morning.

He began kissing her again, his tongue flicking around her mouth. Daisy s hands slid down to his sleeves, hanging on, her entire being focused on his kiss.

I look forward to consummating our marriage, but we must wait until evening, Miles said. His eyes were hot as he rocked his hips forward again.

Wait until- Daisy lost track of the thought because that hand on her bottom was caressing her improperly, and it felt so good .

Tonight, Miles said firmly, stepping backward.

Daisy looked at him, dazed.

Perhaps I shall tear that gown off you, if only for nostalgia s sake.

Her eyes followed the movement of his hands at the front of his breeches. He rearranged himself with brutal casualness.

I don t even have to worry about you enjoying yourself, he said with a distinct edge of anticipation. I can tell that you know how to take your own pleasure.

No, Daisy said breathlessly.

No, you don t know how to take your pleasure?

Are you asking whether I have had an orgasm? she asked.

I take it that that sensation is not new to you, Miles said dryly.

Dairy felt her face turn even redder. We mustn t have such an inappropriate conversation in a chapel. She began to shake out the satin panels of her gown, but they were hopelessly crumpled, hanging around her hips like the curled petals of a dying flower.

Embarrassingly, Miles was as elegant as when he d first sauntered into the room with that ridiculous excuse about changing his cravat.

Other than the tent in the front of his breeches. That wasn t quite so elegant.

He bent to sweep up a few hairpins, handing them to her. Frederick showed up at my place and offered to stand in as groom, by the way.

When you didn t arrive on time, he proposed to me, Daisy began poking the pins into her chignon at random, hoping most of her hair would stay aloft. You couldn t think of a better excuse than a cravat, Miles?

Be grateful that Frederick didn t mention a tow-headed baby.

Daisy gasped and dropped the pins she held. He saw Belle?

He marched straight past Hobbs and walked into my bedchamber-where I was changing my cravat after Belle spit up milk. For her part, she was sitting on the floor, clinging to my leg and bellowing. During the night she decided that I was worth fighting for.

Oh, no, Daisy breathed. What did Frederick say when he saw Belle?

He raised an eyebrow and said, Wedding bells are ringing, or so they would be if you showed up. Then he added something uncomplimentary that included a promise to cut my throat if I failed to shake off my child and make my vows in the next ten minutes, followed by an offer to replace me if I wished to run for the harbor.

A giggle escaped from Daisy s mouth, and she slapped a hand over her lips. I m sorry! It s not funny.

I would have fired Hobbs for letting him upstairs, but I need the man to hire a nanny this afternoon. None of our maids was able to comfort the child, nor was the housekeeper. We need a miracle.

I don t understand it. Belle seemed like such a happy baby.

Perhaps she is, when she isn t teething. We ll have to tell the household carriage to drop back by a mile or we ll hear her howling.

Daisy grimaced. I see shadows under your eyes. Did she wake you from sleep?

A crack of laughter. Sleep?

Regina poked her head into the antechamber. When I said to make an entrance, I didn t mean that you should wait an hour . Do come along. Everyone is titillated by a man with your fortune marrying in such haste, she told Miles. Lady Wharton is telling people in strict confidence that she refused your first proposal but couldn t resist your second, after you fell to your knees and begged for Daisy s hand.

Miles looked disgusted.

I thought you might need advance warning, Regina said smugly. Keep in mind that you ve been experiencing the agony of a broken heart for months.

Could we announce that I stole my bride away after achieving my heart s desire? Miles inquired.

Daisy felt the scorn in his voice like a blow.

Not if you wish to quell the scandal, Regina said. My brother lost his mind when he fell in love, so you can just copy his underbred mannerisms. Stare at your wife as if she hung the moon.

Miles looked as if he d like to roll his eyes.

Why didn t she flee to Frederick s house, a man who was genuinely fond of her? Miles didn t seem to feel even a lukewarm version of that emotion.

Lust, yes. Affection? Perhaps.

Come along, Lady Devin, her husband said resignedly, tucking her arm into his elbow. I can t play this scene without a leading lady.

Thank you again, she said, wondering if she would ever feel less guilty.

Don t thank him! He seduced you, so it s the least he can do! Regina said tartly, sweeping ahead of them to the door.