Page 58 of Taming a Beastly Duke
Thomas stared up at Marcus as realization bloomed in his features.
“You would grant your blessing?” he asked. “You are not angry with me?”
Marcus laughed again and shook his head.
“Of course, I am not angry, my friend,” he said, patting Thomas with gentle firmness on the back. “In truth, I am quite delighted. I have never seenEdith as happy as she is when she is with you. And I know that you are an incredible man, and that you would take excellent care of her. In fact, I cannot think of any other man who deserves her hand.”
Thomas’s face lit up and his happy, carefree smile returned.
“I am so grateful that you understand, Marcus,” he said, embracing him firmly. “Is it all right if I make my offer for her hand to her this evening?”
Marcus smiled warmly at his friend and nodded.
“As soon as you are ready, Tommy,” he said.
***
By the morning of Marcus’s wedding three days later, Thomas had proposed to Edith, and she had made the announcement to everyone they knew. Marcus was thrilled to share a part of his wedding planning joy with his younger sister and her wondrous news. And as Thomas stood beside him at the podium of the altar of Bath Abbey, they shared a knowing smile. Love had changed both men, it seemed. And they both seemed to understand that they had the two best women in all of England to nurture and foster that love with them. Marcus could see the same excitement he felt for the future reflected in his friend’s eyes. For the first time in too many years, Marcus was filled with pure joy.
He hid a smile as he overheard part of a conversation from the front pew. Josephine Barrett was grinning proudly at her husband.
“Can you believe it, darling?” she crooned, holding her head up high. “Adelaide fooled us all, when she was merely trying to cleverly manage her seasons. She would settle for nothing less than the duke she deserved, and now, she is to be a prominent duchess.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow, recalling the tales of familial disappointment Adelaide had shared with him. He knew that her parents and sisters once considered her to be wild and problematic. To hear such praise for his bride was reassuring, and he hoped that her parents would continue to speak highly of and to her from then on.
Her father was also clearly proud of his youngest daughter. He sat in silence, but the expression on his face was admiration, no doubt of the young lady’s courage and transformation. Marcus knew that Adelaide had always been the sweet, passionate, clever woman with whom he fell in love and that nothing had changed. But he was glad that her parents could see that all the qualities within her were wonderful, just as he could.
The women who would soon be his sisters-in-law sat proudly beside their husbands, just behind their parents, looking toward the back of the church.
“Can you believe it?” Lady Henrietta Pembroke said, looking at her other sister with wide eyes. “Adelaide has secured the wealthiest duke in all of England.”
Lady Catherine Rutherford nodded; her disbelief bemused as she glanced at Marcus.
“And the one who was allegedly the most difficult to reach,” she said.
Henrietta giggled as she looked back once more.
“It feels like it was only yesterday when we scolded her for her behaviour and bold tongue.”
Catherine nodded, her expression growing wistful.
“Perhaps, we should have daydreamed with her more,” she said.
Henrietta nudged her, glancing at Baron Rutherford.
“Do you mean to say that you are unhappy?” she teased.
Catherine playfully nudged her sister, shaking her head.
“I mean that we might have understood her a little better,” she said, sadness crossing her features. “We were all so hard on her, yet she is the most refined and cleverest of us all.”
Henrietta nodded.
“You are right,” she said. “Perhaps she will allow us to make up our cruel misjudgments and love her as she deserves.”
Marcus smiled secretly, looking away before they discovered he had been listening to their conversation.
She has already forgiven you all, he thought as he recalled the delight with which she had greeted her parents and sisters at their celebration dinner two nights before. They had been abrasive to her, but the joy she found in the love she shared with Marcus and the gratitude she felt because he survived the attempt on his life allowed her to leave any animosity and resentment behind her and prepare for a beautiful future filled with all her loved ones.
