breath away in his black suit and white shirt with an elegantly tied starched white cravat. He beamed at her as she entered the room, and his smile melted her heart, and made her feel warm all over. Her breasts strained against the material of her gown, and swelled into tight, little buds. She flushed and prayed no one noticed.
At the end of the ceremony, the groom kissed his bride with the briefest of touches. She was a bit disappointed, but decided he probably preferred to spare her from public display. The kiss may have been fleeting, but she knew there would be many others, and they would be a far cry from short and chaste.
A small part of her forced herself to close off her thoughts of Mr. Parker, and the guilt she felt for marrying someone else so soon after she cried off. She prayed he would understand, forgive her, and find someone else to love. She did not understand why Lord William became her fate and destiny, but deep in her bones she knew this day was right, preordained, and meant to be.
The wedding breakfast was a merry occasion with an abundance of food, champagne, and laughter. She wondered if she would ever get used to the Prescotts. The noise roared in her ears, and she found it difficult to keep up with the flowing conversation, their private jokes, and constant movement. They were a bundle of energy, a force to be reckoned with, and they were a family full of love and affection. She could not recall ever receiving so many smiles and hugs during one day in her life. By the time she was settled into Lord William's carriage to go to Rosehill Manor, she was ready to collapse from exhaustion.
***
William sat next to his bride, wrapped his arm around her, and pulled her head to rest on his chest. Cassie did not hesitate or pull away, but instead, closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
She seemed happy today, perhaps a bit overwhelmed, but happy, except for the haunted shadows that occasionally flicked around her eyes. He ran his hand along her arm and breathed in her fresh, clean lemony scent, then wondered how she really felt about their wedding. Was she disappointed her groom was not Mr. Parker? He clamped down on his jaw, and suppressed the envy that rose its' ugly head. She was his now, and after tonight, he was certain she would know it as well.
He hoped his new bride would stay awake for the consummation of their vows. A few hours rest before dinner would do her some good, especially since he had a long night planned for her. He would take his time, savor every moment, show her the ways of physical love and passion, and make her his forever.
William was grateful to his family for their support, and how quickly they pulled together an elegant wedding, complete with flowers and music, an assortment of foods and desserts, and continuously flowing champagne. The day was perfect, and tonight all would be complete.
He smiled as he thought of the surprise he had for his wife. His wife . He whispered the words and was thrilled with the sound. Just a few days ago he wondered if he would ever marry, or if he was destined to stay a bachelor. He knew he was a rare one, wanting something most men tried to avoid, or at least put off until they had no other choice. He was not the heir. He did not have to marry. He wanted to marry. He wanted children, a house full, and a large family like his own parents.
His father was a living, breathing, example; a nobleman who shocked the ton by actually participating in his children's upbringing. He spent time with his children in the nursery, taught each of them to swim and to fish, helped them with their reading and numbers, and made a point of spending private time with each child.
He knew how fortunate he was to have a loving father and mother. He had friends in Society who could not say as much. Most children of the aristocracy were raised by servants and only saw their parents a few times a year when they wanted to
At the end of the ceremony, the groom kissed his bride with the briefest of touches. She was a bit disappointed, but decided he probably preferred to spare her from public display. The kiss may have been fleeting, but she knew there would be many others, and they would be a far cry from short and chaste.
A small part of her forced herself to close off her thoughts of Mr. Parker, and the guilt she felt for marrying someone else so soon after she cried off. She prayed he would understand, forgive her, and find someone else to love. She did not understand why Lord William became her fate and destiny, but deep in her bones she knew this day was right, preordained, and meant to be.
The wedding breakfast was a merry occasion with an abundance of food, champagne, and laughter. She wondered if she would ever get used to the Prescotts. The noise roared in her ears, and she found it difficult to keep up with the flowing conversation, their private jokes, and constant movement. They were a bundle of energy, a force to be reckoned with, and they were a family full of love and affection. She could not recall ever receiving so many smiles and hugs during one day in her life. By the time she was settled into Lord William's carriage to go to Rosehill Manor, she was ready to collapse from exhaustion.
***
William sat next to his bride, wrapped his arm around her, and pulled her head to rest on his chest. Cassie did not hesitate or pull away, but instead, closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
She seemed happy today, perhaps a bit overwhelmed, but happy, except for the haunted shadows that occasionally flicked around her eyes. He ran his hand along her arm and breathed in her fresh, clean lemony scent, then wondered how she really felt about their wedding. Was she disappointed her groom was not Mr. Parker? He clamped down on his jaw, and suppressed the envy that rose its' ugly head. She was his now, and after tonight, he was certain she would know it as well.
He hoped his new bride would stay awake for the consummation of their vows. A few hours rest before dinner would do her some good, especially since he had a long night planned for her. He would take his time, savor every moment, show her the ways of physical love and passion, and make her his forever.
William was grateful to his family for their support, and how quickly they pulled together an elegant wedding, complete with flowers and music, an assortment of foods and desserts, and continuously flowing champagne. The day was perfect, and tonight all would be complete.
He smiled as he thought of the surprise he had for his wife. His wife . He whispered the words and was thrilled with the sound. Just a few days ago he wondered if he would ever marry, or if he was destined to stay a bachelor. He knew he was a rare one, wanting something most men tried to avoid, or at least put off until they had no other choice. He was not the heir. He did not have to marry. He wanted to marry. He wanted children, a house full, and a large family like his own parents.
His father was a living, breathing, example; a nobleman who shocked the ton by actually participating in his children's upbringing. He spent time with his children in the nursery, taught each of them to swim and to fish, helped them with their reading and numbers, and made a point of spending private time with each child.
He knew how fortunate he was to have a loving father and mother. He had friends in Society who could not say as much. Most children of the aristocracy were raised by servants and only saw their parents a few times a year when they wanted to
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