Dance with Deception: Scandalous Secrets, Book 1 - Exclusive Edition (Scandalous Secrets - Exclusive Edition) (44 page)

The absurdity of his behavior became clear to him. “I’m acting like a—”

“Like a proud uncle, and I love you for it.”

“I’m so happy for you.” He hugged his sister once more, this time much more gently than before. “But we should be returning back to the main house.”

He released Gwen from his embrace then shrugged off his jacket and placed it over her shoulders.

As they strolled toward their horses, she again asked her brother. “You never answered my question. Would you prefer a nephew or niece?”

“At least one of each, of course.” He winked at her.

The irony of the situation revealed itself to Gwen. Her father, the same person who most despised love and family, had taught her to cherish those very things he condemned.

A flurry began to fall shortly before dusk. As the swaying carriage slowed to a halt, Sebastian wrapped his arms around his wife then peered through the glass windows.

He surveyed the light blanketing of white powder that covered their grounds. “An early snowfall is not what I expected when we invited everyone here tonight.”

“We have never been conventional.” Gwen leaned into him. “How can we expect any different from Mother Nature? Besides, I think the snow is perfect; a gift from the heavens, a blessing.”

“You’re a gift from the heavens and I am blessed.” Sebastian held his wife tighter, kissing the nape of her neck.

“I could argue that it is I who is blessed.”

“Why argue?” His voice betrayed his desire. “There are other things we can do while we wait for our guests.”

Gwen chuckled then turned to face her husband, her expression one of feigned innocence. “You don’t say.”

He nodded.

“Like what?” Her eyes danced.

“Darling, you know very well what else we can do.” He nipped her ear.

Gwen draped her legs over her husband’s. “We could have a snowball fight.”

“True, but it might ruin your gown.”
Sebastian rubbed the white velvet fabric that covered her legs while images of his wife lying naked in his arms sent heat through his loins.

“Precisely what did you have in mind?” Her voice was almost as smooth as the fabric she wore.

“Something warmer.” He leaned closer to her then nipped her ear again. “Something we can do in this coach.”

“Something like whist?” Her lips quivered as she tried not to laugh.

Sebastian turned his attention to her heart-shaped face. “You read my mind.”

Gwen smiled. “That would be perfect however there is one flaw. We lack a deck of cards.”

“We do?” he quizzed.

Gwen nodded her head in confirmation.

“Are you sure you don’t have any in your reticule?”

“Positive.”

Sebastian sighed. “Well then, I am at a loss. Do you have any suggestions?”

“Only one,” Gwen whispered as she softly pressed her lips against his.

Sebastian moaned, molding his body to hers as he probed her mouth with his tongue. It was she who deepened the kiss. His heart still leapt when she kissed him with such ardor.

Even now, Sebastian was convinced that he had seen an angel in her eyes and felt heaven through her touch. He was certain he would forever feel that way.

Their driver rapped on the coach door, a sign that their guests had arrived.

A throaty moan escaped him as Sebastian withdrew from their kiss. “I hate to interrupt this, Duchess, but we have a wedding to attend.”

Sebastian helped his wife alight from the coach, their footfalls crunching in the undisturbed white powder and creating small depressions in the pure, smooth snow. He then looked up at the delicate snowflakes falling from vast gray sky.

The full moon had breached the cloud cover and illuminated the trees, their leaves covered with fresh white powder. Unlike the spindly branches that one was accustomed to seeing during a snowstorm, the surprised trees still clutched some of their autumn leaves in defiance.

Their surroundings appeared pristine, very much like his wife. Sebastian gazed at her and his heart overflowed with pride. The sight of his duchess as she pulled the hood of her white cape over her curly tendrils made his throat constrict.

She looked like an angel, his angel.

Gwen’s slender fingers reached up and toyed with his indigo cravat. Once satisfied with the result, her palm trailed to his heart. “The chapel looks beautiful, doesn’t it?”

“You look beautiful,” he replied.

He remembered her wearing a different white gown months before. From one white gown to another, they had come full circle.

And his wife was even more beautiful now than she had been then. She was also stronger, happier, and more in love, as was he.

Sebastian raised her chin with his thumb. As if reading her husband’s mind, Gwen leaned
against his chest.

He kissed her, his heart fluttering as it always did when he felt her tongue seek his.

After their lips parted, Gwen whispered, “Do you promise me a lifetime of kisses just like that?”

“I promise you kisses even better than that, every day of our lives.” Sebastian nuzzled her nose then asked in a hushed tone, “Will you marry me, Duchess?”

“Again and again.”

The devotion Sebastian saw in her beautiful brown eyes caused a lump to form in his throat. At last he realized the magnitude of her love and the permanence of their union. His wife, the snow nymph, had long ago melted the wall of ice that he had erected around his own heart.

His mother had been correct.

Love was worth any sacrifice.

“I love you, Gwendolyn Montgomery.” His husky timbre reverberated in the stillness of the night.

She touched his cheek with her gloved hand. “And I love you, now and always.”

Sebastian offered her his arm, escorting Gwen into the chapel where just months before they had both given up hope of being married to each other. They now entered it as husband and wife.

The fire was aglow, warming the guests in spite of the cold snow that covered the earth outside. Numerous candles illuminated the interior as shadows danced across the walls and high ceiling.

Their guest list was small. Only their closest friends and family were invited to this special
ceremony. Victoria looked radiant, growing more beautiful and more mature by the minute it seemed. Dressed in periwinkle, which offset her azure eyes to perfection, she conversed with Tristan and his grandfather, a handsome, graying man with a sweet smile and warm disposition.

Fiona stood beside them, no feathers in sight. Instead she had opted for a classy gown of sage silk. Eve looked serene, her pale skin and golden hair radiant in the candlelight. The last to complete their group were Alexander and a very pregnant Constance who, in spite of her condition, was encouraged to defy conventionality and attend this evening.

Upon the entrance of Sebastian and Gwen, the voices rose to a crescendo.

“Sebastian, my dear,” Fiona boomed. “You invited us to a ball, and here we are in a chapel.”

Alexander chimed in. “Please tell us we’re not to dance among the pews.”

“I couldn’t if I tried,” Constance admitted, patting her distended belly. Raucous laughter ensued.

Only Tristan remained quiet as he viewed Gwen with a brother’s pride etched in his chiseled visage.

“Everyone,” Sebastian called his guests to attention. “There is a ball later this evening but I’m afraid something else must come first. My wife and I have invited you here for a very important reason.”

Gwen winked at her brother. The broad smile on his face confirmed to her that he did indeed know why they were in attendance.

Sebastian and his bride walked forward to their guests. “As many of you remember, our wedding was quite eventful.”

Alexander coughed.

“And one of you wasn’t in attendance, due to no fault of your own,” Gwen added as she smiled at her grandfather.

Sebastian again took the lead. “My wife and I have decided to correct all of the things that went wrong during our first nuptials.”

“First?” Fiona beamed. “Oh, my dears!”

His wife smiled. “We wanted to renew our vows, in front of all of the people whom we love so dearly.”

Their guests erupted into a sea of laughter and applause, hugging the happy couple. The priest appeared soon after.

Gwen stood at the altar beside her husband, reveling in the warm, inviting glow of the candles. At one point, Sebastian patted his chest and she knew what her husband meant.

His heart belonged to her.

In the charming chapel with its picturesque, snow-covered landscape, Gwen breathed a sigh of relief.

They had conquered their demons.

Sweet tears of joy brightened her eyes as she thanked God for the gift of love with which she had been blessed.

Sebastian was her destiny.

She had simply needed some divine intervention to fully understand the pure miracle of his love.

“I love you.” He mouthed the words in front of
all their family and friends and she felt touched by God.

Later that evening, as their guests enjoyed flowing spirits, delicious food, and a magnificent orchestra, the newlywed couple, for the second time, decided to retire to their suites.

“Let’s go upstairs, my love,” Sebastian whispered.

“I was just about to suggest that same thing."

“My, how brazen you’ve become. I like that quality in my wife.” He placed her hand in his then walked side-by-side with her upstairs adding, “Come to think of it, I like every quality you possess.”

“Is speed a quality that you admire in me?” Her grin was mischievous.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“Because I’ll race you to your suite,” Gwen replied as she ran up the staircase.

“You cheat,” Sebastian called to her, “you had a head start.” He then caught up to her and pulled at her skirts, slowing her down as he ran past her.

Gwen laughed in response.

They passed their butler who stood with an uncommon grin on his dignified face. Winston then began to hum.

Once upstairs, Sebastian entered his bedchamber first immediately followed by his wife. Gwen ran to the massive mahogany bed then jumped on the soft mattress landing on her knees,
her hands resting on one of the four posters.

“I won,” Sebastian announced, with a triumphant smile on his face.

“I am sorry to break this to you, but I am clearly the victor.”

Sebastian closed the door then joined her at the bed. “Using what logic?”

“The fact that I am on the bed.”

He rested one knee next to her on the mattress. “Is that so?”

“Um-hum, those are the rules.” Gwen stifled a giggle.

“In that case,” he pulled her against his length, “I don’t mind losing.”

Gwen unbuttoned his shirt before flattening her palms against his chest. “I do hope our son is as gracious in defeat as his father.”

“Never fear, our daughter will be.” Sebastian traced a line of kisses up her neck.

She slid the shirt off of his shoulders. “You seem quite certain that we’re having a girl, Your Grace.”

“No, I am quite certain that we’re having both a boy and a girl.” In a smooth, velvet tone, Sebastian admitted, “God help me if we have a daughter with your eyes, though. I won’t be able to refuse her anything.”

“She’ll know that you made all of her mother’s dreams come true.” Gwen’s words were heartfelt.

His response was rough with emotion. “Have I really?”

Gwen lifted his hand and kissed his palm before placing it gently against her heart. “You are
everything I ever dreamed of or dared to hope for.”

“I would hang the moon for you, Duchess.”

Thoughts of her childhood filled Gwen. She had dreamt of a husband who would do just that – hang the moon for her.

It had been Sebastian all along.

“I know.” Gwen caressed his cheek, contentment filling her. “Somehow my heart has always known.”

About the Author

Tracy Goodwin is a wife and a mother to an exquisite son and daughter. She’s also the Author of sweeping Historical Romances – not surprising since Tracy has been creating tales of happily-ever-afters since she was a little girl. As Tracy’s imagination blossomed, so did her stories of Historical heroes and heroines living in magnificent estates surrounded by lush landscapes the vivid colors of Impressionist paintings.