Page 68 of An Earl to Save the Diamond
Ellen looked at her curiously. “What is that?”
“A priceless family heirloom. It is given to all the ladies in this family. It was a gift from the first Earl of Ridlington and has been passed to every Countess of Ridlington on her wedding day through generations. I retrieved it from Gerard’s mother when she died, and I believe it belongs to you now.”
“Oh, I could not possibly,” Ellen started to protest, but the Dowager Countess cut Ellen off, the Dowager placed a hand around her own neck, removed a necklace that was a string with an oval ring knotted at the center, and handed it to Ellen, who bowed her head to receive it. She touched the family heirloom and tears dropped from her eyes. “Thank you, My Lady.”
“No, thank you, Ellen Bamber, for showing my boy what love is.”
Ellen nodded, and she grabbed her bouquet, taking the hand that the Dowager Countess offered. It was time for her to meet her destiny.
* * *
Marjorie was looking out the window, lost in thought. Her mind was trying to trace memories of who she used to be. It seemed like such a short time, and everything had changed. She was going to marry the love of her life, and she thought to herself how blessed she was to experience that.
It brought to mind an experience she had. Because of how outgoing she was with disregard for propriety, she had been climbing trees with the boys, riding horses, and she would put frogs in the hair of the girls and laugh at them when they cried. She remembered little Elizabeth, who thought that she was better than Marjorie. Elizabeth, with her perfect curtsy, perfect manners, and perfect hair, could play the piano, sing, and knew what to say to the boys. Marjorie had once overheard her tell somebody that she was being groomed to marry a duke or even a prince, and Marjorie had laughed at that, telling her there was no way a prince or duke was going to marry someone who was as boring as Elizabeth. To which Elizabeth had carried herself with grace and had told all the children present there that she would not be surprised if Marjorie ended up as a mistress anyway.
“Keep acting like this, thinking you are the next interesting thing, but it is properly boring groomed ladies like us that they actually marry, Marjorie. We are the ones they are proud to show to Society.”
Even now, the memory of that day still stung. By the time she was old enough to be introduced to Society, she realized to her dismay that Elizabeth was right. None of her suitors ever asked her questions that did not relate to her piano skills, knitting, and etiquette. All of them except Andrew. Andrew had challenged and encouraged her. It was with him that she first felt she could be herself unapologetically.
“Don’t tell me you are daydreaming again, child.”
Marjorie turned guiltily to find her mother there. “We should be headed for the church now; that way, you can walk down the aisle with Ellen. I hear she is already awaiting your presence there. “
Marjorie hugged her mother. “Thank you, Mother, for giving me the freedom to dream and be who I wanted to be.”
“My dearest child, you can blame your father for his ideology concerning that.” They both laughed.
“You look beautiful, Marjorie.” And she was. She was dressed in a loose-fitting gown with a length that went down to her ankles and was flared at the bottom.
Marjorie nodded. She did feel that the circumstance called for new things. “Thank you, Mama. Now, shall we leave? I am afraid we might be late.”
“Then we better make haste.”
They smiled, looking at each other, and then walked up to the door leading to the church. Once there, Marjorie found Ellen who was already standing with the Dowager Countess. They shared a brief excited hug.
The organist played signaling the entrance of the brides, and the entire church all stood. Marjorie and Ellen shared a brief meaningful glance and took the step together, making sure they were in sync as they walked down the path of the aisle. Marjorie only had eyes for Andrew who was looking at her with something akin to awe and disbelief. Marjorie blushed. Andrew drew in a breath he did not realize he had been holding at the sight of Marjorie. Try as he might, he could not take his eyes off of her. He stole a brief glance toward his sister and saw the Dowager Countess, who was walking by her side. It broke his heart a little, the thought that his mother was not around. He turned back to face Marjorie as the ceremony started, much of which was lost to him, since he was so focused on her face.
When finally, they had been pronounced husband and wife, he had held her hands and whispered, “Lady Marjorie Bamber, the Duchess of Grant. How does that sound, Your Grace?”
“Sounds like something I could get used to hearing, Your Grace.”
They kissed as they stepped out to the banquet prepared for them in honor of the wedding. The couples were directed to their seats, and the rest of the reception moved on quickly. There was a speech from Lord and Lady Conolly, cake cutting, toasts, and then to the relief of everyone, it was finally time for dancing. The people hooted when Gerard and Ellen stepped into the middle to have their first dance as Earl and Countess of Ridlington. They had two more dances and then begged to retire for the night. After Marjorie and Andrew’s first dance as Duke and Duchess of Grant, they remained to dance some more. The feasting went into the night, and when everybody started to retire, Andrew drew Marjorie away to the privacy of his chamber where there were lit candles around his bed and rose petals on the floor. Marjorie grinned.
“I see that Your Grace put some effort into bedding me tonight.” Andrew turned her around so that she had her back to the bed, and he very gently made her sit on it. Andrew then got to his knees and began to slowly undress her while Marjorie watched. They were not strangers to this, but tonight was different. It was the first time they could be together without any fear of being caught. They could finally let themselves be overcome by their passion.
Andrew took Marjorie’s legs and slowly started to plant kisses on them. He worked his way up until he kissed her stomach, kissed each of her breasts, kissed the entirety of her face, her eyes, her nose, her cheeks, her forehead, and then went back to her lips. They kissed passionately for a moment with Andrew exploring her body.
He knew what she liked, what part of her could keep her burning, needing more, and his hands explored until it reached her center, he played with the tiny nub as he watched Marjorie writhe under him. The sounds she made almost made him senseless. He knew he did not have long before he also lost control, so he quickly undressed, pulling off his breeches, and then carried her gently to the center of the bed. He became lost under the sound of her voice and forgot all his plans to take it slowly. Instead, he found himself pounding into her as she clung to him as if her life depended on it, her nails digging deep into his flesh. He kept thrusting until he could feel her walls tightening against him which told him that she was close. He kept up the pace, and they both burst out together into million different lights. Exhausted, he collapsed on the bed, careful not to add any of his weight on top of her. He caressed her and pulled her close to his chest as they fell asleep this way.
“Andrew?”
Andrew, who was already dozing, barely managed to answer “Yes, My Love.”
“Do you think Gerard and Ellen—?”
Andrew chuckled. “I think that is none of our business. Now, come here, Duchess.”
* * *
