Midnight Bride (38 page)

"I
refuse to wait another night to make you mine. Besides, we can always tell him we were ready to start practicing to make his first great grandchild." She blushed and hid her face against him. Dunstan took a deep breath and stood up. He crossed to the
bellpull
and gave it a tug. "I will see you downstairs before long," he said quietly.

Elizabeth was never certain how she had managed to get ready that evening. Miller laid out her newest ball gown, an oyster white embroidered with pearls and lace around the bodice and hem. Handing her mistress her silk petticoat, Miller pulled it into place, tying it only with a bow instead of the usual knotted bow. The dress was so low that only the most delicate chemise could be worn beneath it. Miller tied it into place, once again with only a bow. Taking her curling stick, she pulled each curl into place. Finally Miller dropped the dress carefully over Elizabeth's head.

Lady
Ramsburg
and Louisa entered during the last delicate operation. They watched misty-eyed as the maid smoothed the last wrinkle. Then they handed Elizabeth the gifts they had brought. Lady
Ramsburg
had brought a hair ornament made of pearls and lace to match her dress. "I had hoped you might wear this at your engagement ball," she explained. She watched in satisfaction as Miller added it to her stepdaughter's curls.

"And I brought you these," Mrs.
Beckworth
explained. "My own dear husband gave them to me the morning of our wedding. We met secretly in the garden, and he put them around my neck himself," she said as she clasped a string of pearls around Elizabeth's neck. "Be as happy as we were, my darling."

"Your father would have been so pleased to welcome a fine young man like Dunstan into the family. He never cared for Jack. Did he ever tell you that?" Elizabeth nodded. "This is truly the best way, my darling," Lady
Ramsburg
said quietly. "Now, if Charles and the groom have returned, the wedding will take place."

"Returned? Where did they go?"

"To their lodgings to change clothes.
With you in your finery, the gentlemen could not remain in afternoon dress. Oh, Louisa, isn't she lovely?" Smiling happily, the two older ladies brushed tears from their eyes. Hearing a knock, they opened the door.

"Is the bride ready? Her groom is impatient," Lord
Ramsburg
announced. He smiled at Elizabeth as he put her trembling hand on his arm. "If you two ladies will go down first," he suggested. He watched his wife kiss her stepdaughter's cheek and brush away a tear. Then Louisa did the same. Before the tears truly began to flow, they hurried away.

Elizabeth took a deep breath. She closed her eyes briefly. Then she opened them and smiled brilliantly. "Do not be startled, my dear, when you see our guests. Your stepmother suggested, and I agreed, that this wedding be as normal as possible. We invited some of our closest friends, Lord and Lady
Ravenwood
, a few of the young officers you like so much, and Dunstan's superior. He was waiting to talk to your young man when he went home to dress." Lord
Ramsburg
kept up his commentary as they walked down the stairs, describing in detail how the chef had risen to the occasion and how the gardener had willingly provided flowers for the ceremony. "Give them to her now, Miller," he suggested. The maid dropped the train of Elizabeth's gown and hurried to do his bidding. "Now, a big smile and we are ready." She looked at him and smiled sweetly.

The ceremony itself was a blur. A tall man in priestly attire stood in front of a bank of flowers and asked her questions. She responded. Dunstan responded. All she could remember was Dunstan's hand on hers giving her comfort, strength. The service concluded
,
they turned to accept their guests' best wishes.

Elizabeth remembered one guest asking the significance of the hour.
"Such a strange time for a wedding."

"To honor a memory," Dunstan explained, his eyes never leaving hers. The lady had sighed, delighted to be included in such a romantic adventure.

Although the wedding had been arranged hastily, the wedding supper was a masterpiece, the chef declaring that his honor demanded great sacrifices. For Elizabeth, even though she ate almost nothing, the time flashed by. For Dunstan the toasts seemed endless. Finally the last course was served, the last toast drunk, and they could leave.

As Elizabeth talked with Amelia, Lord Seward drew Dunstan into a quiet corner.
"A wise choice.
Your lady is very lovely," he said diplomatically. Dunstan, his eyes on his new bride, simply nodded and smiled. "Will you be returning to London immediately?" Seward
asked,
his face carefully bland.

Dunstan, familiar with his tactics, recognized that hint in the older man's voice, looked at him sharply. "I plan to take my bride to meet my grandfather. We will stay at Clarendon until it is time for the Season so that they can get to know each other. Do you need me in London?"

Before he could explain fully, Seward noticed Lord
Ramsburg
approaching. He said quickly, "No. The country is the right place for now. Expect a letter from me soon." He paused, his face stern. "Remember that what you do for me must be kept a secret—even from your wife." Dunstan watched Seward walk toward the group where Elizabeth stood surrounded. His eyes were troubled. Then Lord
Ramsburg
hurried up.

"I have arranged for you to borrow a house from a friend of mine. He will be in London for some time," he said smiling broadly. "The coachman is waiting and has his instructions. But do not run." He refused Dunstan's thanks and watched carefully as the newlyweds said their good-byes.

His earlier worries forgotten, Dunstan crossed to Elizabeth's side, taking her hand in his. "Well, brother, are you willing to give her into my hands?" he asked Charles, half in jest, half seriously.

"Be good to her, Dunstan," Charles said seriously. He bent down and hugged his sister as he had done many times before. Then he held out his hand to Dunstan. Having said their other goodbyes earlier, the couple quickly left the party.

"Where are we going?" Elizabeth asked once they were under way.

Her new husband laughed ruefully. "All I know is that Lord
Ramsburg
borrowed someone's house for us. I didn't think to ask where it was."

Elizabeth let her head rest on his shoulder for a moment. Then to her delight, she was draped across his lap, his lips on hers as though he were starving for her sweetness. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and opened her lips slightly.

The carriage came to a halt before either of them
were
ready. "We are here, your lordship," the coachman said loudly. He knocked on the carriage door once more. As a hand from the inside pushed it open, he stood back. The gentleman exited first, throwing the coachman a coin that glittered gold in the lamplight. Turning back to the coach, Dunstan lifted down his wife, swinging her over the cobblestones to the entranceway beyond. Laughing, they entered their temporary home.

A few minutes later, the door to their rooms closed safely behind them and his lady's maid dismissed, they were alone again, the months of dreams and longing adding to the emotion both felt burning within. The firelight cast warm shadows around the room, removing the hint of dampness that was always present along the seashore. Elizabeth stepped back, not certain what was supposed to happen next. Dunstan let her retreat slightly and then followed her, wrapping his arms around her. "Mine," he whispered in her ear, letting his lips and tongue explore its curves.

"What?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

"You are mine," he said again, the emotion in his voice making the sentence louder than he had intended. He pulled her back against him, holding her tight, kissing her neck and ear until she melted against him. Then he let her turn in his arms. They looked at each other for a moment before they kissed. As it had happened earlier that evening, their kisses quickly grew more passionate, tongue and lip blending, caressing.

This time Dunstan felt no restraint. His hands wandered over Elizabeth, seeking to discover her hidden mysteries. She too was without fear, without hesitation. Her hands pulled his cravat loose so that she could reach his chest, could run her fingers through the pelt matted there. At first, hands and lips were enough. But passion quickly flared out of control.

With effort Dunstan pulled back. Elizabeth tried to keep him close. "We have too many clothes on, love," he whispered in her ear. "Turn around." Without embarrassment, like a child being undressed by her nurse, she stood quietly as he unhooked her, slipped her gown from her shoulders, and helped her step out of it. The cool evening air hitting her skin sent shivers through her, breaking the spell for the moment. She stepped back, silhouetted against the firelight. For Dunstan it was his dream brought to life.

He reached up and with one hand ripped open his shirt. He discarded his jacket and pulled the shirt over his head. With only his breeches and his stockings still on, he walked slowly forward as if giving her the chance to pull away, to refuse him. He held out his arms, and she came willingly, brushing her fingers over his tender nipples, laughing in delight as they hardened when she touched them. Then she leaned forward, resting heavily on Dunstan. Her arms stole around his neck, bringing his lips down so that she could kiss him. For a moment Dunstan was startled. Then he laughed and swung her up into his arms.

Crossing to the bed, he placed her carefully in the middle, sitting beside her on the edge. Letting his kisses follow his gaze, he kissed her breasts, half hidden in the flimsy material of her chemise. But Elizabeth wanted more. Once again her arms pulled his head down to hers, her lips burning with an ache that only his could relieve. His hands slipped lightly over her breasts, teasing them until her nipples jutted proudly against the soft fabric. "How does this come loose?" he asked, wanting to feel her breasts heavy in his hands. Within seconds the offending garment was gone, leaving her clad only in her silk petticoat.

"You have more clothes on than I do now," she whispered. Then she sighed in delight as his lips found her breasts. Her hands stroked his back, delighting in the feel of muscles rippling under his skin. She ran her hand lightly down his spine, causing him to shiver. He bit her breast lightly. "Robert!" she cried.

Rolling to his back, Dunstan breathed heavily for a while. Then he turned onto his elbow and reached for the bow on her petticoat. Feeling sinful for enjoying his gaze so much, Elizabeth lay there peacefully, waiting for his hands and lips to return. When they did, it was far different from anything she had felt before. Using kisses so light they felt as though a butterfly's wing had brushed her skin. Dunstan gave his homage to her body, stopping only when she pulled away in embarrassment.

Then she pushed him back on the bed. "Let me kiss you," she said quietly, sending shivers of delight through him. Her lips wandered as his had done, stopping only when she found clothing. "You have too many clothes on," she said once more.

Hesitantly, not certain how she would react, Dunstan slid off the bed. He stripped the rest of his garments away and stood there for a moment, letting her grow accustomed to him. Her eyes widened. She held out her arms, smiling at him. Then he slipped back into bed, pulling her to him, letting her feel his passion. His shy bride met every caress openly, letting him enjoy her as she enjoyed him. As they drifted into sleep sometime later, Elizabeth giggled.

"What is it?" he asked, pleased with the happy sound.

"If I had known that marriage was so enjoyable, I would have accepted your first offer," she whispered, letting her hand twine itself in the hair on his chest.