Page 88 of The Moonstone Governess
He sighed. “They will. I’ll bet my dukedom on it. I promise you, Brenna. They are going to glow brighter than the sun for us.”
Chapter Sixteen
Despite Daire andJax having obtained licenses, Brenna and Felicity’s family insisted on having the banns read in St. Peter’s Church each Sunday. Daire was not a patient man and meant to set down the law with these Angels, but Jax was the voice of wisdom this time. “They are insisting upon it for the sake of the girls, Daire. They are nothing as far as thetonis concerned and already bound to be looked down upon, although heaven knows they are a thousand times worthier than we are.”
“And your point?”
“Having the banns read allows them to come into the marriage with pride. Everyone now knows it is not some rushed, patched-up affair. You need to give Brenna this respect.”
So Daire did, although the wait to have her in his arms and in his bed was utter agony. It was worth it when he saw the happiness in her eyes as they stood before the altar and exchanged vows.
She was a shimmering ball of sunshine.
Vicar Trask, quite euphoric because of the size of the crowd amassed for his wedding sermon, put on quite a show for his flock. He added fire and brimstone to what should have been a simple wedding ceremony. Much of his fiery speech was aimed at Daire and Jax for their debauched pasts, his stentorian voice resounding with calls to repent and forsake their wicked ways—which was completely unnecessary, since they had quite reformed and did not need to be lectured about it.
Finally, the vicar ended his theatrical performance and got down to the business at hand. “Do you, Brenna Angel…”
“I do,” she said, her smile taking up her entire beautiful face.
“I do,” Daire said at this turn. “With all my heart.”
Jax and Felicity then exchanged their vows.
The crowd erupted in cheers, Matthew and Juliana loudest of all. Daire was glad these wedding plans had seemed to revive Juliana, who had not been looking very well upon first arriving in Moonstone Landing. But she seemed to be thriving now, the megrims fewer and farther between, and a healthy color added to her cheeks.
Matthew threw himself into his uncle’s arms.
Daire lifted him and carried him as he and Brenna made their way out of the church to the Kestrel Inn, where the wedding breakfast was to take place. Although most of the Stoningham Manor renovations had been completed, the stately house was not quite ready for the entire village to descend on it.
However, he and Brenna were going to spend their wedding night there. He had planned it all out, giving Juliana and Matthew his suite at the inn, while he and Brenna were to sleep in the duke’s quarters that had been expanded and decorated just for him and his wife.
The wedding breakfast continued through the day, and he and Brenna did not leave the inn until well into the evening. They rode to Stoningham Manor at twilight, but as they passed the poppy field with its sweeping view to the sea, Daire ordered their driver to stop the carriage. He climbed out and helped Brenna down. She looked like a fairy princess in her gown of ivory silk and lace. “Drive on, Mr. Poe. Duchess Brenna and I will walk the rest of the way.”
“Very good, Your Grace.”
Brenna arched an eyebrow. “Why are we here, Daire?”
He turned her to face the water as it now caught the hues of the fading sun, the lilacs and pinks, and the distant burst of orange, all now shimmering on the water. “We’re going to wait until nightfall,” he explained, moving behind her and wrapping her in his arms as they both watched the sunset over the cove.
“Oh, you’re looking for the moonstones already, aren’t you?”
“Yes, love.”
“But Daire, it is high tide. I don’t think we’ll see them for hours yet, not until the tide rolls out. We ought to come back here in about six hours.”
“No, I intend to have you naked in my bed by then. We are not going to haul our arses out of bed, get dressed again, and stumble our way down here in the dark.”
“We could take lanterns,” she said with a light chuckle, “something we should have thought to bring with us now.”
“Not necessary. And I do not appreciate your logical suggestions,” he teased. “This is about magic. The magic of our love. Those moonstones are going to shine for us whether low or high tide.”
“Oh, have you ordered it so?” She nestled against his chest as they waited for the last rays of the sun to disappear on the horizon. “Tossing all your buckets of money at the moonstones will not help in this matter. Moonstones do not care how wealthy you are, or how bullheaded and demanding you are. You cannot bribe nature, Daire.”
“I am not bribing anyone or anything. Nor am I tossing my wealth around. I am tossing my heart at them. A heart, I may add, that is completely yours from this day forward into forever.” He gave her a kiss on the neck. “You should be doing the same instead of lecturing me, little dove.”
“Your heart? Oh, Daire. That is the most romantic thing I have ever heard you say. You know I am yours and will love you eternally whether or not those moonstones shine for us.”
“Now who is the cynic?”
