Page 66 of If I Loved You
Fiona turned to Callum and glowered with some aversion to his words. “Clearly, he will not.”
“Mrs. Smythe, would you kindly hold Bethany,” the earl said as he walked around the table, “while I take my future wife in my arms and seal this betrothal?” He handed Bethany off to the giggling, teary-eyed woman, and continued around the table until he stood beside Emma.
Zachary held out a hand to her.
She hesitated only a moment, more embarrassed than anything just now, and rose from her chair. Evidently of a mind that if she’d insisted her friends witnessed all they just had, that they might as well see it through to its finale, Zachary pulled her possessively into his arms and met her lips in a fierce and not-so-chaste kiss. Emma’s knees failed her, but he held her firmly, and she knew the tightness in her chest was unbearable happiness, nothing more.
Cheers went up, laughter and joy sounded throughout the room, but they ignored them all. When finally he pulled his lips from hers, he said against her mouth, “Say it again, for me alone.”
“I love you, Zachary,” she whispered.
Another kiss followed, energizing the delighted watchers.
When he next looked into her eyes, shiny and wet with her elation, he said, “Tell me you always will. Tell me you won’t doubt me. I’ll love you forever and never give you cause to question it.”
Emma nodded shakily. “I won’t. I promise.”
Chapter Eighteen
ZACHARY BENEDICT SATin his sumptuous study at Benedict House and glanced once again at the ormolu clock. Still a half an hour to go.
Impatiently, he drummed his fingers on the desktop, and then tugged anxiously at his cravat. In thirty minutes, he would recite vows with Emma. Never in all his life had he imagined that he might one day marry a chambermaid from a traveler’s inn, or that she might come complete with a child.
A smile turned his mouth upward. The fingers stopped their tapping to smooth themselves in a fluid motion over the dark wood of the desk.
But then, never had he imagined that one day he would meet a woman who would turn his life upside-down in the most amazing manner.
I am the luckiest of men, he thought.
Further thoughts upon the exact extent of his luck and happiness were interrupted by the arrival of Thurman.
Zachary stood quickly, uncaring if the old butler read anything into his anxiousness. But Thurman was not here to call for his presence out on the terrace yet, where the nuptials were to be performed. He nodded precisely at Zachary and handed him a sealed letter from his silver tray.
“Delivered just now from your solicitor, my lord,” he intoned.
When Zach had accepted this, Thurman set down a wrapped item and note on his desk. Frowning, and wondering what business his solicitor was about today—the man knew Zach was towed—Zach hastily opened one envelope, only to find another within.
He sat down again, the breath knocked out of him as he recognized the broad scrawl of his father upon this second envelope.
“To be opened upon the day of your wedding,” was written on this envelope.
Curiously, Zach unsealed the wax and took out a folded piece of vellum.
MY DEAR BOY,
Congratulations and felicitations!
When I first met her, I was captivated—not in the sense you are, but spellbound, nonetheless. Isn’t there just something about her that begs a man to love her? Have you ever met a girl so completely genuine and true as her? I thought not. I knew my bequest would confound and confuse you. But I was quite sure it would lead to this. I knew she was perfect. And meant for you.
I wish you joy and happiness—I know she’ll bring you this.
You can thank me when next you see me.
Until then,
Always Proud,
Father
