Page 99 of A Night of Desire with a Duke
"Sorry," James said, not sounding sorry at all.
Dinner continued with multiple courses, multiple toasts, and multiple attempts by great-aunt Agatha to tell inappropriate stories about wedding nights she'd known.
"And then there was my second husband," she was saying loudly. "Now there was a man who understood the importance of..."
"More wine, Aunt Agatha?" the Duchess interrupted desperately.
"Always, dear. As I was saying, the key to a good wedding night is..."
"Perhaps we should move to the drawing room?" the Archbishop suggested quickly.
"Nonsense! I haven't finished my story about the feather duster and the..."
"DRAWING ROOM," the Duchess said firmly, practically lifting the elderly woman from her chair.
"You're all prudes," Agatha declared. "In my day, we knew how to properly celebrate a wedding. None of this missionary position nonsense."
The Archbishop actually choked on his wine.
"I love your family," Catherine told James.
"They're insane."
"They're perfect."
"You're perfect." He took her hand under the table, his thumb stroking over her knuckles. "Eighteen more hours."
"You can't possibly know that precisely."
"I've been counting since the moment I proposed. Actually, since the moment I left you at that inn."
"That's..."
"Obsessive? Pathetic?"
"Romantic."
He brought her hand to his lips, not caring who saw. "I love you, Catherine. Desperately, completely, eternally."
"Save the vows for tomorrow," the Duchess said dryly, though her eyes were warm.
"I have different vows for tomorrow," James said, his gaze never leaving Catherine's face.
"Oh?" the Archbishop asked. "You're not using the traditional service?"
"We are. But I'm adding some personal touches."
"That's not strictly proper."
"Nothing about us has been strictly proper," James pointed out. "Why start now?"
The evening finally wound down, guests departing with final congratulations and advice. Catherine found herself alone with James for just a moment in the hallway.
"I don't want to leave you tonight," he said, pulling her into his arms.
"One more night."
"I've had enough nights without you to last a lifetime."
