Page 42 of A Spinster for the Rakish Duke
“I am glad you agree,” Donovan said and planted a kiss on her lips and then another and then another before Emma stopped him.
“Mm, but if we marry today, then you should calm yourself, my love. You might need that energy for later,” Emma said and almost blushed at her own boldness. Perhaps Martha had the right idea on how to talk to men all along.
“You would be surprised at what reserves I may pull from with the right motivation,” Donovan said before planting a deep kiss full of longing onto her lips. The taste of one another was a welcome relief, a balm to the anxieties that had weighed on them both the last couple of days. Still, even as the kiss lingered, they both knew that if they waited just a little longer, then they could fulfill any urge they liked.
“Soon, my love,” he whispered to her. “I need to inform your father and the rest of the family of our plans. It would be best if I didn’t look disheveled when speaking to them, don’t you think? I have had a hard enough time making a good impression with them. Don’t need anything else working against me, as tempting as it may be.”
She gave a gentle sleepy wave to her betrothed. “I don’t think you can make a better impression, despite everything that has happened,” she said, stifling a yawn as she spoke. “I will be up in but a moment to assist you in the short-term planning.”
“No need to rush, dear one,” he said with a smile. “Most of what was here before is still here from your first two attempts at marriage.”
Emma huffed playfully at Donovan’s joke, and they both laughed quietly as he left.
The rest of the family were just as relieved to hear about Donovan’s plan as Emma had been. The news of everything that had transpired had weighed heavy on their hearts and would continue to do so, but this renewed celebration would be a welcome reprieve.
The day was arranged just as the last wedding had been, only this time two new people were in attendance: both of the brothers who had been absent before. Alistair stood at Donovan’s side to see his brother off into a happy marriage, and Benjamin stood next to Martha to watch their sibling finally enjoy such a happy day.
“And with the power vested in me by the Church of England, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Please sign the book and share in your first kiss,” Emma's father said proudly and offered them the heavy book of church records. Their signatures soon stood side by side, one small and neat, the other broad and declarative.
Then came the kiss. The kiss Emma and Donovan shared on their wedding day was probably one of the tamest the two would ever share, as was proper, but this kiss held something special for the two of them: promise. The promise of more passion inkisses waiting. The promise of many more kisses to come. And the promise of love in each and every one of those kisses. It was a very happy day for everyone present.
“Will you be traveling after this?” Martha asked the married couple during their dinner.
“Well,” Donovan said thoughtfully, ‘initially the plan was to have a homecoming to my estate as it has been some time since I have returned to Lowe. More than a few years in fact. But given the most recent unfortunate circumstance, it has lost its appeal,” Donovan admitted.
“Oh no, Your Grace, don’t let that dreadful Mr. Doles’ accusations drive you from your family home,” Martha said insistently.
Donovan smiled and shook his head. “I have no plans to. We will travel there, initially, while I make further arrangements. Short notice and all that.” Donovan reached over and squeezed Emma’s hands. His new wife wore a look of excitement upon her face.
“You aren’t going to tell me where we are going?” Emma asked.
“It was a gift I was going to surprise you with anyway, truth be told,” Donovan admitted to her as well as the rest of the dinner party. “It’s just that I thought it might be appropriate to move it up a bit. Still, that does require some time and effort on my part. But until then…” He put his finger to his lips and gave a knowing smile which made everyone else present laugh.
“When will you be leaving, Your Grace? It is unfortunate that my time spent with my eldest daughter was so short and fraught with deception but having time to catch up with my son is a worthwhile exchange.” Mr. Bradford laughed and gently patted the still healing Benjamin on the back.
“We will leave for Lowe Manor in the morning and then a few days hence depart from there. But I promise our trip will not be tortuously long, and you will see your daughter regularly again very soon,” Donovan assured Emma’s father.
“So, it's somewhere close by?” Emma asked, playfully prying at the secret.
“And here I thought you were the patient one between us,” Donovan remarked.
“Where did you get a foolish notion like that?” Emma asked, invoking another bout of laughter from the newly forged family.
At a certain point during the night, Benjamin cleared his throat. It wasn’t a loud sound, still week as he was, but since he was at the front of people’s minds, he was heard.
“I know the point of today’s activities is to allow ourselves to celebrate and to not darken this day with yesterday’s events. But I think ignoring what has happened does us some harm, and I have some things I would like to say,” he started, andthough he spoke to the room, he looked to Donovan and Emma for permission to continue which they each gave with a nod. Emma’s nod was more hesitant and more slight, but this was something that she was willing to give her brother, even on her wedding day.
Benjamin cleared his throat again and took a sip of his drink “Both families here received shocking news about their past, revelations that will forever leave their marks on our lives. I don’t think anything could, or should, be said to lessen that blow. But I want to say something. Something I learned in my studies, both religious and litigiousness.”
Benjamin’s father looked momentarily proud as he listened to his son speak.
“It is easier to remember the bad than the good. We remember the harm that was inflicted, the fear that we felt, the anger that left its burns on our soul. Good feelings sooth and comfort which is why they fade. They do not bludgeon like a club, leaving impressions, but they wear into us like wind and water, slowly, but permanently, changing us. So, when we think back on this time and remember our pains sharply, I hope to attach some words to that memory. The scars may linger, but it’s today that allowed it to begin healing.”
The room was quiet for a moment, people unsure of what the response to such a speech was. Meaningful, emotional, and everything that wasn’t appropriate to address at the moment. Emma eventually stood, strode to her brother and hugged him tightly, Everyone soon offered a soft but pleasant murmur ofagreement with the speech’s sentiment before returning to the more jovial atmosphere that brought more comfort.
The evening both rushed to meet them as well as ticked closer very slowly. Even though it was one of the most relaxed and joy-filled times in recent memory, they still watched the large standing clock’s hands move with anticipation. Each minute was a minute closer to when they could retire to their wedding night.
“It’s getting rather late, isn’t it?” John Bradford said with a yawn. “Suppose it’s best that we let the new husband and wife retire. They have a decently long trip ahead of them in the morning,” the older gentleman said as he stood from his chair.
