“I cannot believe I am this fortunate,” he confessed, dismounting as a stable hand approached to assist. “No, you all go inside, it’s going to rain.”

  Hugh stepped over to Beth and Midnight as the two stable lads he kept on in London hurried toward the side door as fat drops of rain started falling.

  “I knew it was going to rain,” said Beth, holding out her hands to him.

  Hugh nodded as he helped her down. “You did indeed.”

  Any further words were impossible. With Beth pressed so against him, Hugh could forget his worry for their future, the rain falling around them. They should get inside.

  All he wanted was Beth.

  Their kiss began chaste, as they so often did, but swiftly rose in heat and passion. Hugh poured his affection on her lips, his body quivering at the heady sensations provoked by their embrace.

  If this could be every day for the rest of his life…well, it would be a wonderful thing.

  Only when the heavens really poured did they break apart.

  “Let’s get the horses inside,” Beth said, grabbing Midnight’s reins.

  Hugh did the same with his stallion, and within a minute, all four of them were inside the stables.

  Beth shook her head, water flying. “I can’t believe that I thought you a coward when I didn’t understand who you were.”

  Hugh flinched. He could not help it, the word was such a painful one. “Why do you say that?”

  “Because of all this,” Beth said, lifting a hand to take in the stables around them. “You had all this wealth, but no one to share it with. You had no affection, no reason to enjoy it.”

  Hugh’s heart stirred. She was right. How was it that Beth was able to cut through all his wonderings and immediately identify what was wrong?

  “I think I was a coward,” he admitted, putting the two horses in their stalls then pulling Beth into his arms. “I only truly became brave when…when I had something to lose.”

  Beth looked up at him, dark eyes staring in wonder. “What?”

  “You,” Hugh breathed.

  Their kiss was passionate, her fingers tangled together at his nape, and Hugh knew he could hold back no longer. They had been good for so long—weeks. They would be married within days. Surely they could—

  “Hugh Shardlow, I know exactly what you are thinking,” Beth said, breaking the kiss with dancing eyes. “No!”

  “Yes,” said Hugh with a grin, moving to kiss her neck.

  She did not push him away, her head falling back as her breath quickened. “We need to get out of these wet things and—”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” said Hugh with a moan, his fingers already scrabbling at the ties of her riding habit.

  “Hugh!”

  “You want me to stop?” he said, lifting his head to meet her gaze.

  There was such hunger in Beth’s eyes, he was surprised she hadn’t already removed his coat and waistcoat. “I didn’t say that.”

  Hugh groaned. Oh, he would never get tired of this woman. “Good. Now, let’s move into an empty stall and get you all warmed up…”

  Epilogue

  November 7, 1810

  It was her wedding day, and Beth was glowing.

  She knew she was glowing, even without a looking glass, because her cheeks were burning up.

  “You don’t have anything to worry about,” Nancy pacified as she adjusted Beth’s veil, which had been pulled in the wind. “It’s your wedding day!”

  Beth nodded but said nothing.

  Yes, it was her wedding day. A day three months ago she would have laughed at. A day a month ago she would have longed for. And now she was here, standing outside the church as bells pealed into the brisk cold air, and all she could think about was what awaited her inside.

  Not just Hugh. Hugh was wonderful. If she’d been afforded the chance to see him, talk to him that morning, Beth was certain the nerves rushing through her chest would have dissipated.

  Whoever invented this rule that the bride could not see the groom on the morning of their wedding, she thought, had never been married. The fact that she had attempted to enforce it between her sister and Byron was not the point.

  Because it wasn’t seeing Hugh that was the problem. It was walking into a church filled to the rafters with people who were expecting her to fail.

  “Fail?” Nancy said sternly.

  Beth blinked. Had she said that word aloud? “How does my veil look?”

  “Don’t think you can get away without an explanation, my girl,” said her sister sternly. “Why do you think you’re going to fail? There is nothing to do, just put one leg before the other—”

  “Oh, leave her alone, Nancy,” said their brother with a grin. “I think nerves are a good thing. Just before going into battle, I would always think—”

  “Today is not the day for your war stories, Matthew!” Nancy snapped as Beth stifled a grin. “Honestly! This day is all about Beth, and all you could think of is—”

  “I was just trying to give the girl a little encouragement! Honestly, you…”

  Beth stood and watched her two siblings bicker. Strange though it may seem, the sight of them returning to the argument which had consumed most of last night was oddly comforting.

  For months, this was what she had wanted. Matthew back with them, safe and sound. So they could return to the loving yet constantly argumentative family they had made.

  Their home had seemed so empty after Matthew had gone to be a soldier, even though they had only rented two rooms from Mrs. McCall. Now that he was back, everything felt right with the world. Except…

  Beth swallowed. Except the happy home she had enjoyed ever since her brother had been rescued from France was about to end. Not because he was leaving. Because she was.

  “Beth?”

  She blinked. Both her siblings were peering at her.

  She smiled weakly. “Everyone is going to be staring.”

  “It’s your wedding day,” reminded Nancy for about the thousandth time. “Of course they will!”

  “And they’re all happy for you,” added Matthew with a smile. “Why else would they accept the invitation?”

  Beth bit her lip. Many reasons, she wanted to say. Because everyone assumed this was a rushed wedding for one simple reason. Because they wanted to come and gawp at a woman who managed to land a duke. Because Hugh was right. His reputation was truly awful, and many were here merely to make snide remarks.

  But she couldn’t say all that. Partly because she wanted to protect Hugh from the dishonor. She did not want his new sister and brother-in-law thinking ill of him; her instincts to shield him were fierce. And partly because…

  Beth hung her head. “I just worry they’ll be disappointed in me.”

  She was swiftly pulled into an embrace by both her siblings.

  “Disappointed? In you?” said Nancy. “They wouldn’t dare.”

  “Remember, you are the one Martock decided to marry,” Matthew said quietly. “And all the sniffing young misses in there can go hang.”

  Beth tried to smile, blinking back the tears that surfaced. It all sounded so simple when they spoke like that. Perhaps it was. Perhaps—

  “Oh, the organ has stopped!” Nancy said in a rush, gathering her skirts. “I should be in the church—good luck, Beth!”

  Beth’s stomach dropped. “But—”

  “Never fear, I’ll not abandon you so swiftly,” Matthew said cheerfully, taking her hand and placing it on his arm.

  Despite her nerves, Beth was able to roll her eyes. “Only because you’re walking me down the aisle.”

  “I’m your brother, and I wouldn’t let you face those wolves alone,” he said with a grin.

  Beth tried to match his smile, but it was difficult. This was really happening; she was about to step inside this church and become, in a few short moments, Hugh’s wife.

  The Duchess of Martock.

  The thought made her stomach lurch again, but there was no time to think. No time to halt. No time to think whether or not they could merely return home, get out the Martock carriage, and drive all the way to Gretna Green.

  Matthew had stepped forward and there was no possibility of halting him. Beth walked alongside him through the door into the church.

  And gasped.

  The place was transformed. Hugh had promised he would speak to the vicar about getting the place decorated, but this? This was beyond even her wildest dreams.

  Festoons of flowers bedecked every square inch of the place. There were candles, flowers, and ribbons everywhere one looked. The colors of lilac and purple were predominant, with creams and whites dotted about, giving the place the feeling of a luxurious palace.

  A sudden noise, a rush. Everyone rose as they saw the bride enter.

  Beth swallowed. There were so many eyes staring, more than she had ever seen before. She was not a particularly shy woman, but this was beyond even her limits.

  “Matthew,” she breathed.

  “Nothing for it now,” he muttered cheerfully. “Come on.”

  How long it took the pair of them to process down the aisle, Beth was not sure. She was overwhelmed by the scent and sight of the flowers, then the huge number of glaring eyes…

  And then she was standing beside Hugh.

  “I thought you’d never get here,” he murmured, eyes sparkling. “I feel like I’ve waited for you forever.”

  And just like that, all her fears, her frustrations, her worries that she would somehow bring even further dishonor to the Martock name…

  They were gone.

  Hugh was smiling and taking her hand as Matthew handed it to him. And that was all that mattered.

  Beth’s vision clouded in the corners as the service started. All she could see was Hugh. Hugh smiling. Hugh’s cheeks pinking as he solemnly said his vows. Hugh’s eyes sparkling as he placed the ring upon her finger.

  And they were married.

  “—pronounce you man and wife,” declared the vicar. “And now we will sing—oh, my!”

  Gasps echoed around the church. Beth could just make out the startled gasp of her sister and the guffaw of her brother before her other senses took over.

  Hugh had pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

  His lips were warm, determined, passionate. His hands on her waist were strong. Beth gave herself up to the scandalous kiss, losing herself in him as rumor after rumor was sparked.

  When the kiss finally broke, Beth grinned, her cheeks scarlet. “Well, you were worried about causing a scene.”

  “At least this is a scene of my own making,” quipped Hugh with a laugh as the vicar spluttered. “Time for the Martock name to gain a little notoriety from our love, not our lies.”

  Beth flushed. It was certainly not what she had expected—but then, she should have known Hugh would continue to surprise her.

  She rather expected she would spend the rest of her life being surprised.

  The rest of the wedding service passed in a blur. There was a sermon, Beth was sure, though she could not for the life of her recall what it was about. The value of love, perhaps.

  She did not need a sermon to be told that. Beth had never understood the true value of love between a man and a woman before Hugh, and sometimes she thought she still did not. The utter peace that came with standing before one who loved you. The way the world felt different, knowing he was by her side.

  It was incalculable. Priceless.

  By the time they had returned to Hugh’s—to our home, Beth corrected with a start—the change was starting to sink in.

  “Well, the new Duchess of Martock, goodness,” said Lady Romeril archly as she reached them in the receiving line. “And will I see you at Almack’s?”

  Beth’s gaze flickered to Hugh. Well, he had warned her. “Sadly not, Lady Romeril. I am afraid to say—”

  “Idiot girl, I am offering to sponsor you for this next Season for a voucher,” snorted Lady Romeril. “Honestly, where did you find this one, Martock?”

  “Wandering about the French countryside in desperate need of being taken in hand,” said Hugh cheerfully.

  Beth elbowed him hard in the stomach as her cheeks burned. What on earth did the man think he was doing?

  “Ah, Martock, ever the same,” said Lady Romeril, apparently nonplussed. “Ah, I see young Miss Cooper. You know she is still unmarried? I will have to do something about that…”

  And without another word, she marched off.

  Beth rounded on her husband. “What did you think you were—”

  “I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help it.” Hugh grinned, though his cheeks were also pink. “I mean, honestly! You could not tell she was offering you a voucher?”

  “How on earth was I supposed to know?” hissed Beth, trying to keep smiling as more guests, all unknown to her, approached. “You know, sometimes I wonder just how much of your scandalous reputation you deserve!”

  Hugh squeezed her hand. “All of it, probably.”

  Beth bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing as an elderly couple bowed and curtseyed before them.

  Well, he was going to be a handful, she thought wistfully as they welcomed the last of their guests. But hadn’t that been what she had wanted when she had thought about matrimony at all?

  A man who not only made her laugh, but made her think. Who challenged her in the best possible way. Who was, at his core, unpredictable. Who loved her.

  Beth caught Hugh’s gaze. She had managed all three with just the one man.

  “Well, thank God that’s over,” he said as the final guest entered the house proper and they were left alone in the hall.

  Beth sat slowly on a chair. “I am sure I was supposed to remember all those names, but with so many faces rushing by me—”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it,” said Hugh with a sigh. “It remains to be seen how many of them actually follow through on their promises to invite us to dinner. I was surprised not to see Wincham, though.”

  It was another name Beth did not recognize. “Oh?”

  Hugh shrugged. It was only then that she realized just how much the person’s presence had mattered to him. “The old Duke of Wincham. I heard he’d had a terrible injury recently, lost a leg. Poor blighter.”

  “Goodness,” said Beth in horror. “Lost a leg? We should visit him—”

  “We will, in time,” Hugh said briskly. “Wincham’s not a man to accept unexpected guests, though. I’ll have to write a note. He was always a bit of a recluse, to tell the truth.”

  “And you are close?”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t say close,” said Hugh, sitting beside her and kissing her hand. “Just another man in society who doesn’t care much for it. He’s always very good at parties—at least, all the card parties and dinners we’ve attended, he’s been outrageously fun.”

  “In that case, I may be glad he is not here,” said Beth dryly. “The last thing we need is more scandal!”

  “I can’t imagine there’ll be much more of that,” Hugh said, slipping an arm about her and drawing her close. “After all, what could there possibly be a scandal about?”

  Beth bit her lip, then forced herself to stop. Given what news she had to impart to her new husband, it was a habit she would have to lose…

  “Ah,” she said helplessly. “About that…”

  Hugh leaned back with a laugh. “Don’t tell me you have another brother lost in a war torn country! I’ve only just recovered from the first one!”

  “No, it’s not that,” said Beth slowly, heart skipping a beat.

  Was this the right time? She could not think of a better. There was such joy already spilling over her heart, and if she did not say the words soon, they too would spill over before she could stop them.

  And she so wanted to see the look on his face…

  “It’s…well. There is another family member of mine who isn’t here,” she said softly, meeting his gaze.

  Hugh groaned. “I knew it! Why didn’t you say? We could have postponed the wedding, made sure they could attend—”

  “Oh, I don’t think that would have been a good idea,” said Beth, trying not to smile.

  “Why not?” persisted Hugh, looking deep into her eyes. “I know how important family is to you, Beth, and though my family has never been worth anything of note—”

  “Well, I think this one will be,” Beth said quietly. “I think they’ll be rather special indeed, once they arrive in, oh, say…several months.”

  For a moment, Hugh just looked at her as though waiting for her to continue. When the silence elongated so long Beth was unsure whether she could stand it, she slowly moved her hand, the one that was intertwined with Hugh’s, and brought it to rest on her stomach.

  The stomach that looked no different than it had a few weeks ago. Yet the signs were already beginning…

  Hugh’s eyes widened. “No.”

  “I think so,” breathed Beth.

  “You—you can’t be.”

  Beth’s grinned. “You and I can argue about it while we get the nursery ready—Hugh!”

  Her exclamation echoed around the hall as her husband swept her in his arms.

  “Oh, Beth! Truly, a baby—you are with child?”

  “I think I am, though I will not know for certain until Christmas, I think,” said Beth, excitement rushing through her, nerves tingling with exhilaration. “You see now why we—”

  “Is that why you wished to marry so swiftly? And here I was, thinking it was my charming and attractive nature,” said Hugh with a laugh.

  Beth kissed him. It was like coming home and meeting him for the first time all over again. “It was partly that, of course, but—”

  “You know, this is perfect,” Hugh said, joy coloring his every word. “Beth, I…I said before every duke has his price, but this…this is truly priceless.”

  He kissed her forehead as he pulled her close, and Beth could have cried with happiness.

  “I suppose I shall just have to endeavor to deserve you,” she whispered.

  “You earned me a long time ago,” said Hugh fiercely, his love pouring out of him. “Now I’ll just have to ensure I’ve earned this happiness.”