Page 94 of A Wounded Duke's Passion
“Shall we return to your sister?” Anthony asked.
Bridget took his hand between hers and pressed her lips to his knuckles. “Not yet,” she said. “I want to spend just a little longer with you.”
“Only a little longer?”
He pulled her into his arms, and Bridget let her cheek rest against his chest. She breathed him in, enjoying the freshness of his soap and the sharpness of his sweat. Even standing so near him and smelling him, learning his scent more than any other man’s, filled her with such delight that it seemed to transcend all words.
“Forever,” she said. “But today must eventually end, and I must return home.”
“Indeed.”
She tilted her head up and gazed at him, marveling at the flecks of gold in his eyes. “I know it goes without saying, but I am very pleased that I am to be married to you and not the Marquess of Thornton.”
“Indeed. He shall have to find some other miss.” Anthony paused and seemed to deliberate something. Then, he continued, “I have heard that he already has found a potential new bride.”
“So quickly?” Bridget asked.
Anthony nodded. “Lady Isabelle is being courted by him, according to Rose.”
Bridget arched an eyebrow. As relieved as she was that the Marquess of Thornton had resolved to marry another lady so quickly, she felt a spark of indignation. Women were not objects to be traded, one for another.
“Let us not spend our time together worrying about Lord Thornton, though,” Anthony said. “I would be delighted never to think about the man ever again.”
“I feel the same, actually.”
He offered his arm, and she placed her hand at the crook of his elbow. They continued their walk around the park. Eventually, they reached the end of their path and turned back the other way, heading toward Anna. She remained sitting beneath the tree, her sketchbook in her lap. Bridget’s lips twitched into a small, fond smile.
“Are you sketching something to paint?” Bridget asked.
“I am,” Anna said, closing her book with a sharp snap. “Did the two of you enjoy your walk?”
Bridget caught the insinuation in her sister’s voice and assumed that Anthony had, also. “It was pleasant,” Bridget replied. “After spending so many days bound to my bed, I quite enjoyed the chance to have some exercise.”
Anthony chuckled, and they exchanged looks with one another. “I am glad that you were well enough at last to join us at the park, Bridget. I suppose that our paths must diverge here.”
“Regrettably,” Bridget said.
“I shall call on you in the morning,” Anthony said.
“I would like that.”
Anna stood, dusting grass and dirt from her gown. “If we linger much longer, Father will begin to worry that we have lost our way.”
Anthony dipped his head and placed a quick kiss on Bridget’s lips. “Until tomorrow, Bridget.”
“Until then.”
She gave him a last, lingering look before turning away and linking her arm with her sister’s. Even if they would only be apart until the morning, Bridget felt as if she and Anthony would be apart for an eternity. But they would not be parted for much longer.
Soon, they would be married. Soon, Bridget and Anthony would have every day and night to spend together. Bridget had finally found her love match, and he was better than she could have ever imagined.
Epilogue
Two Weeks Later
“Lady Hastings has left for the country,” said Lady Victoria. “I do not expect that she will return for some time.”
Bridget sat beside Anthony, her new husband. Their wedding had been held the night before, a small ceremony that included only their dearest and nearest friends and acquaintances. Her gown had been a lovely garment trimmed with pearls and embellished with white-on-white embroidery, which the modiste had worked ceaselessly upon to deliver so quickly.
