Page 98 of The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter
“Only for you,” said with a wink and a roguish smile.
She rested her head against his shoulder as he drove the curricle down the lane toward the vicarage. She could feel the power of his muscles and could not wait for the moment she was wrapped in them. “There’s not much of a moon tonight. The clouds are covering it up. Good thing the horses know their way,” she remarked, now wishing they had set their wedding for tomorrow even though it was the most impractical thing to do.
“Viola, I don’t know what you are talking about.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and leaned in to give her a possessive and utterly divine kiss. “From where I sit, it is all sunlight.”
CHAPTER 16
ALEX COULD NOTwait to pick up Viola from the vicarage the following morning. She was to spend the day with the ladies in his family and Lady Withnall, all of them doing the thousand things necessary for tomorrow’s wedding, while he and the men had almost nothing to do but keep out of the way.
He had already sent word to the musicians who were more than eager to return to Ardley Hall to play at their celebration breakfast. He had also made public the announcement of tomorrow’s wedding and the breakfast to follow, inviting all the villagers to attend.
Marston had seen to his clothes for the ceremony.
Alex had already sent a carriage to bring the vicar from the neighboring parish to the vicarage today in order to perform the marriage rites first thing in the morning.
Indeed, he was taking no chances.
He did not even need to obtain a bride token since his grandmother had insisted on giving him one of the Trent family heirloom pieces given to her when she had married his grandfather. It was a small but beautiful ring set with diamonds and sapphires that would look perfect upon Viola’s small hand.
All that was left for him to do was retire to his study while his staff scurried about polishing the silver, dusting every nook and cranny, and moving furniture. Mrs. Lester was in her element, overseeing all these details. He also needed to stay away from the kitchen where Viola intended to take charge. No one, not even Mrs. Stringer, was going to get in the way of her delicious food. In truth, Mrs. Stringer did not seem at all put out. Quite the opposite, she looked forward to taking direction from Viola.
Well, Viola certainly had that loveable way about her.
She opened the door to him as he climbed down from the curricle and strode toward the vicar’s residence.
Her smile was indeed like sunshine.
“Are you ready, love?”
She blushed profusely, for Mrs. Bligh was right behind her and had overheard the endearment. “Yes…I…good morning, my lord.”
He scooped her up in his arms and kissed her thoroughly. “Do not be angry with me, Viola. I am the happiest I have been in years.” He winked at Mrs. Bligh who was giggling beside her. “Give me your cheek, Mrs. Bligh, for I must kiss you, too.”
The woman did not hesitate. “Oh, my lord. You are a handsome, wicked one.”
She darted off after he had placed a chaste kiss on her cheek and returned a moment later with a large box in her hands. “Do not forget this, Miss Ruskin.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t ever.” Viola took the box from the woman and then turned to Alexander. “It is my mother’s wedding gown. It will require alteration, of course. But I thought it would serve nicely considering I have no time to sew a new gown for myself.”
He took the box from her hands. “Daisy and Laurel will help you. I think they are quite adept at these tasks, even though Laurel can also handle a whip or sword better than any man I know.” He laughed. “Keeps my cousin in line. Graelem can be quite the stubborn Scot once he gets something in his mind.”
Viola was surprisingly organized, although it should not have surprised him since she had years of training in planning large events as vicar’s daughter. He left her to the ladies, but kept an eye on her activities because he knew she would not rest until all was done, even if it meant exhausting herself. But she was to be the center of everyone’s attention tomorrow and she deserved to sparkle.
First on her list was the wedding gown alterations.
The ladies kicked him out of the spare bedchamber they were using as their sewing room. “Go away, Alex,” his mother said. “We’ll take care of Viola.”
Less than an hour later, he noticed Viola scurrying past his study door which he had left open to observe the comings and goings. “Where are you–”
“No time to chat,” she said breathlessly. “Wedding breakfast menu next.”
He grinned and let her dash off to the kitchen.
His mother, grandmother, and Lady Withnall were only minutes behind her.
Gabriel and Graelem were seated in his study, the three of them watching the activities. “We ought to go for a ride,” Gabriel suggested. “We’re only in the way here.”
Graelem agreed. “Laurel warned me not to interrupt her while she’s sewing Viola’s gown. She’ll use me as her pin cushion if I dare interfere.”
