Page 50 of A Duke's Wicked Secret
She was absolutely breathtaking, and when Theo saw the smile on her face as she reached him, he felt as though his heart might burst from the sheer joy of it all.
The priest droned on for some time, and frankly, Theo heard very little of what he was saying until it came time for the vows, exchanging of the rings, and finally, when the priest said they could kiss the brides (which he had been aching to do the moment he saw her), Theo pulled back her veil and saw clearly the tears in her eyes, and he felt his own eyes threaten to water. Theo quickly pulled his bride into his arms and kissed her.
Then they walked from the church, and once outside of it, everyone began pelting them with rice and cheering. The chaise was there waiting to carry each of the happy couples to the viscount’s estate where the reception would be held out in the extensive gardens.
It was a lavish affair with endless courses and beverages for the wedding parties and numerous guests to enjoy. Many toasts were raised, and when everything was finally finished, Theo realised that he had hardly had a minute alone with Penelope the entire time.
He hoped that now they were leaving the wedding reception, his servants would be wise enough to leave the introductions to the shortest length possible for the evening, so he could finally have his lovely duchess all to himself without anyone or anything to intrude on his love and the making of it with her for hours and years to come.
They rode in the chaise towards his estate where they would spend their wedding night before leaving for their honeymoon. Theo had thought that it would be too late for them to try and set out after the wedding reception that evening, and he was right, for it had run very long, and they were both ready to be alone once it had come to a close.
“How are you feeling, my love?” Theo asked.
“I am well. A bit tired after the excitement of everything today. How are you, Theo?”
“I am wonderful and extremely at peace now that I at long last have time alone with you, Penelope. I hope you are not too tired, though,” Theo said with a seductive side smile.
“Oh, most assuredly I am not! I would never dream of missing out on the adventures ahead of us tonight within the privacy of your chambers.”
“Hmmm, I am so glad we see eye to eye on this matter,” Theo whispered in her ear and kissed the nape of her neck, which caused Penelope to inhale sharply. Her chest rose rapidly up and down with excitement.
“Hmmm, well I suppose I should not get you in too much of a blatant fluster as we will be arriving home very shortly,” Theo teased.
“Yes, please I want to make a good first impression with the household staff.”
“Oh, you need not worry about that. I cannot remember the last time my servants were so excited, and they all have told me how eager they are to have a lady of the house again. It has needed a woman’s touch and care for a long time now.”
“Yes, but I just would not want to step on anyone’s toes when I make changes.”
“They will love and respect you, and I have told them to anticipate a large amount of remodelling and changes to the way things are done once we return at the end of October from our travels.”
“Are you sure you are all right with that, Theo? There is not anything you would like me to leave as it is?”
“No, my darling. In fact, if you wished to take it all the way back to the bare stone structure, that would be fine by me. All the happy memories in that house have been marred by bad ones in the more recent years of my life, so a complete change is completely welcome by me!”
“Well, I do not foresee me taking the remodel quite so far, but I am excited to breathe new life into it and make it ours and new for us and our family to come.”
“Hopefully sooner than later. In fact, I had hoped to start working on that tonight,” Theo said, and again he started kissing her face and down her chest.
Penelope laughed with glee and said, “Theo, please! We are arriving, and the staff will see.”
Theo pulled back and adjusted himself within his trousers as the footman opened the chaise door and held out his hand to help the new duchess out. Theo stepped out after her. The entire household was lined up on both sides of the entryway steps.
“We will have one-on-one introductions with all of you when we return from our honeymoon. The duchess and I are tired and ready to retire for tonight, so for now, I will simply say, everyone this is your new Lady of the house, Penelope Winterbourne, Duchess of Winchester.”
Everyone nodded and as they passed by them; they each bowed or curtsied and said a welcome. Penelope smiled sweetly at them all and thanked each one for coming out to meet her, or how she was eager to get to know them all individually. The last two servants they met were the butler, James, and the head housekeeper, Mrs Hunter.
“When we return in October, I will give you the grand tour of the estate, but for now, let me carry you in my arms so you do not lose your way to the most important part of the house.”
Theo whisked her up in his arms, and Penelope laughed as he carried her off and up the right side of the double staircase. When they were out of sight of all the staff, she whispered in response, “And just where is thismost important partof the estate, if I may be so bold as to ask you?”
“Why, that would be our chambers, of course. I know officially you have your own room, but I see very little need for you to keep your things in there since we shall always be staying in this room.”
As Theo said this, he opened the door to his chamber, which was decorated for their special day. Candles covered every surface of all different heights and sizes, rose petals two inches deep carpeted the wood floors, and the bed’s usual dark, heavy curtains that hung from the canopy were replaced with delicate sheer ones that blew gently in the breeze from the open windows.
There was a bottle of wine with two glasses and fruits, cheeses, chocolates, and nuts on a platter so that the couple could keep up their strength.
“Oh, my goodness, this hardly looks like the same room from when I was in here those months back! I love it; you are such a romantic, Theo!” Penelope declared as she took the entire ambience of the room in.
