Page 32 of Moonstone Angel
He took the stairs two at a time and hastily dressed for his wedding.
When Cara was ready, he took her out the back way, and they ran to the only church in the tiny village. The minister was standing in wait for them, along with several members of Cara’s family. But Rowan was only interested in her Uncle Joseph, for he was the one who had the authority to consent to their wedding.
The man was clearly the practical sort and did not waste time with needless negotiation. “I know you’ll take care of our Cara,” he said and quickly signed off on the license.
He and Cara exchanged vows moments later before the altar.
Although everything was rushed and a little confused, Rowan had no doubt he had made the right choice. He did not hesitate when it came time to recite his vows to love, honor, and protect the angel beside him. She did the same, her love for him shining in her eyes. But she was obviously still concerned about having pushed him to a hasty marriage.
Well, he’d remove all doubt in her mind tonight.
“How does it feel to be the Duchess of Strathmore?” he asked once the wedding ceremony was over, and the cheers of her family and other onlookers had died down. It was amazing how quickly word spread within the village.
“Too soon to tell yet,” she replied with an impish grin. “But I think I am going to love being married to a handsome duke.”
When even the Killigrew sisters, Phoebe and Chloe, rushed into the church to offer their congratulations, Rowan realized the two warrant officers might be the only ones in Moonstone Landing who remained unaware of the ceremony just taken place.
“Your Grace,” Cara said quietly, “I don’t know how I shall ever thank you for this.”
“Protecting you is what matters most to me. You are my wife now, Cara. You need only refer to me as Strathmore when in company. But do you think you can call me Rowan whenever we are speaking privately? Or any other manner of endearment will do.”
She cast him a radiant smile. “I would love to…Rowan. It feels so odd to call you that, but quite lovely. I fear to wake up from this splendid dream.”
He wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her, but their moment aside from the crowd of well-wishers was over. They were about to be surrounded again. “I will always keep you safe.”
“And I will always do the same for you.”
“I know. This is why I married you. I was in desperate need of an angel.”
Chapter Seven
Cara was certainthe day had passed in a dream, and she would wake up to find herself tumbled off the parlor sofa and nursing a lump the size of a goose egg on her head. How else could she explain the revelry that had taken place throughout the day?
Rowan had insisted on tossing a celebration and inviting the entire town. “I won’t deprive you of a wedding breakfast.”
But what he’d loosely termed a wedding breakfast turned into an all-day affair hosted by them, the Duke of Strathmore and his new duchess. The locals poured in from everywhere, and the kitchens of her uncle’s tavern and the Kestrel Inn were churning out game fowl, fish, haunches of pork, meat pies, racks of lamb, and other hearty dishes throughout the day. Mrs. Halsey’s tea shop was stripped of all her baked goods.
Somehow, musicians appeared, so there was dancing to be had, as well.
As day turned into night, being married began to feel quite real to Cara. “This is surely the loveliest wedding ever held. Even those sour-faced warrant officers had a good time. I’m glad they held no grudge for your outsmarting them.”
“Plentiful food and ale will put a smile on any man. Despite their unpleasant countenances, I don’t think either of them wanted to see you tossed in prison.”
Cara had just tucked his grandmother into bed. Rejoining him now, she was eager for their time alone. “She is settled in her chamber, and I am sure the day completely exhausted her. She’s probably asleep already.”
Rowan took her hand and led her upstairs to the bedchamber he had been using as his own. The lone candle held in his other hand cast its soft light upon his finely sculpted features.
His lips twitched at the corners in the hint of a smile, and his eyes, the gray of smoldering ashes, held a rakish glint. “Much as I adore her, my mind is not on my grandmother tonight. I am trying to forget she is directly below us.”
Cara stifled a giggle. “We could not have moved her to the inn, it would have been too much of a strain for her. Nor could we have left her alone here.”
They could have asked one of her relatives to watch her, but neither of them had thought of it at the time. Everything had been so rushed.
He nodded. “Let’s just hope she does not hear every noise we make.”
“I will be as quiet as a mouse,” she assured him, eager for the taste of his lips and the heat of his body against hers.
He laughed softly. “Cara, I surely hope not. I will have failed miserably as a husband if I do not have you howling my name when I properly make you my wife.”
