Page 77 of The Duke Meets His Match

“Oh, my darling girl!” Mama exclaimed, throwing her arms around Susan. “How happy I am for you, although I shall miss your companionship at home, as I have already missed you the past weeks.”

“I shall miss you all too, Mama,” Susan said. “But you don’t need to miss me yet. We’re all traveling to Lincolnshire in a few days, you know, and we shallcelebrate together with everyone.” She was so grateful George had agreed tomeeting her brothers and sisters sooner rather than later.

“When next we speak, I will be addressing the Duchess of Aylesham,” Mama said. “What a wonder that is!”

“No, Mama,” Susan said firmly but with love. “You will be speaking to your naughty Susan, as you always have.” She kissed Mama on the cheek. “I love you, you know.”

“Oh dear,” Mama said, searching for her handkerchief. “I didn’t intend to start with the tears until the actual service began, and yet, here I am, once again, feeling the urge to weep. I love you too, Susan. With all my heart. What an honor it is and always has been to be your mama all these years.”

Susan was close to tears herself now, so she began to feel around inside her pocket for her own handkerchief—

Mama quickly dabbed at Susan’s eyes and smiled brightly. It was just as wellthat Mama had her own handkerchief, for once again, Susan had discovered that she was without.

“There we are; you never have been known to have a handkerchief when you need one. All better. Adieu, my darling!” And then, with one last, brief hug, she hurried off to the carriage, where Susan could see Aunt Margaret poking her head around the carriage door, waiting for Mama to arrive so they could be on their way.

“Shall we, then, my dear, clever daughter?” Papa asked, gesturing to George’s carriage. “Are you ready to proceed?”

“Yes, Papa,” she answered confidently. “I’m ready.”

He assisted her into the carriage, the coachman, Bentley, tipped his hat to her in greeting, and once they were settled, Papa gave the signal, and they were on their way to St. George’s Hanover Square Church.

***

George had never really thought much about the details of a wedding. He’d never spent time imagining what his would be like. He’d attended several over the yearsbut had considered them only in the abstract. There was a bride, a groom, aclergyman. Words were said.

He had felt pangs of hurt and embarrassment when Lady Louisa Hargreaveshad broken off their betrothal and married Lord Farleigh nine long yearsago. And he’d felt the wistfulness of an opportunity lost when Lady Elizabeth Spaulding had married Lord Cantwell last year. Beyond that, he’d had no realemotional connection to the weddings he’d attended, except for an expected sort of congeniality, even if all around him people were crying and laughing and embracing.

Today, however ...

He sat at the front of the church next to Evans, who was dressed asimpeccablyas George himself was—but then, considering Evans was his valet, Georgeexpected nothing less and would have told the man he was fired if he hadn’t appeared thusly.

He’d already made Evans check his pocket a half dozen times for the wedding band he held in safekeeping for the appropriate moment during the service. Evans would think his employer had lost his wits if George wasn’t careful.

He’d expected very few guests. He’d invited his staff to be here, of course,and Susan’s mother was seated next to Lady Walmsley, and James was seatednext to her, as was a young rake of a fellow George presumed was the youngest Jennings brother, Simon.

But his heart leaped within him as he glanced around the chapel, surprised by how many other people were here.

It appeared that Lady Walmsley had also invited a good share of her staff. Foster was seated behind her and, gracious, Susan might very well be correct about the old fellow’s attachment to Lady Walmsley, if the look in his eyes at present was anything to go by.

He’d invited Lord and Lady Bledsoe to attend, and they were here, as he’d hoped and expected, but so were the Duke and Duchess of Wilmington and the Duke and Duchess of Atherton and Lord and Lady Melton. The ladies were the ones with whom Susan had taken tea.

Word must have spread, for even more people poured through the doorsuntil the church was quite near capacity. George’s first inclination was that some were here for the spectacle about which they could gossip with their associateslater. It should annoy him, but he didn’t care. Let them observe his happymoment.

Let them witness the marriage of the Duke of Aylesham, bachelor of long-standing, to his chosen bride.

He sensed a commotion that drew his attention to the front of the chapel once again. The Reverend Mr. Hodgson was moving to take his place. Finally, it was time.

George and Evans stood as the organist commenced playing processional music, and the congregation rose to their feet.

George—indeed, the entire congregation—turned to look at the back of the church. There, on her father’s arm, was the most radiant woman George had ever seen. How he hadn’t initially seen her in this light baffled him.

She looked straight ahead at the rector and wore a serious expression as she and her father proceeded up the center aisle of the church. And then—

And then her head moved slightly, and her eyes caught George’s own, and he could feel her warmth and humor and, yes, her love all the way across the church. He’d never believed such romantic talk before, but he did now. Her eyes never left his own.

He felt something in his eye and brushed it away, then realized it was a tear. Good heavens! He wanted none of that now, not with everyone watching. Of course, they were really watching his beautiful bride as she walked toward him.

Susan’s face had softened further when he’d dashed the solitary tear away. His single tear might have left her feeling sentimental right now, but she wouldn’t ever let him forget that he’d teared up at their wedding. Oh, yes, he knew the woman he was marrying. And, oh, how he loved her!

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