The Scandalous Duke Takes a Bride (38 page)

“So it seems,” she responded.

“I hope you have an iron stomach; you’ll need it to keep up with them.”

“I’m well versed in sipping spirits.”

Jessica patted the younger woman’s hand. “I think you’ll do just fine, Lady Castleigh.”

Epilogue

Jessica turned over the letter sent to her at Tristan’s house. With the griffin seal on the back of the envelope it could only be from one person: the Duchess of Randall, the very woman who had befriended Jessica after Hayden had introduced them, even when every other door had closed from the vicious revelation of Jessica’s past the Mayfair Chronicler had published.

Slicing the letter open, Jessica pulled out the parchment and read the contents over quickly. It was a veritable novel, and it detailed all the events she’d missed while away from London these past three weeks.

She read through the contents of the letter quickly, not sure if she could believe all that had happened while she prepared for her wedding and her new life with Hayden, happily removed from the vile rumors that were always circulating about Town.

“Is it bad news?” Genny asked as she took the letter opener from Jessica’s lax fingers and placed it on the vanity.

Genny and Leo had married two weeks ago in a very private ceremony at his estate in Hertfordshire before taking a train north to Scotland. Once word had reached them of Tristan’s brush with death they’d headed immediately to Birmingham.

Jessica shook her head, nearly speechless by the contents of the letter. “Quite the opposite.”

Charlotte stepped down from the stool where she was adjusting the tiara set atop Jessica’s veil and Bea came forward with Jessica’s shoes still in hand, since they were being buffed out.

The four women had become fast friends over the past two weeks. There were no hard feelings against any of them for Jessica’s past actions against the young woman who had won Tristan’s heart. Jessica was happy to see both of her friends happily married.

“The expression on your face tells me it is bad news.”

Jessica handed the letter over to Tristan’s sister, Bea. “Read the first page. You’ll understand my utter shock.”

Dearest Lady Jessica,
I hope this letter finds you happily married to Hayden once it’s reached you. I have the best of news to impart. It was a bit of a challenge to find out where you were staying, but news of your elopement seems to have reached every corner of England and someone had finally heard or seen someone that knew of your exact whereabouts.
That is all here and there, however.
The biggest news I have is that our friend Lady Montant has found herself in the midst of the greatest scandal in England’s history. Can you imagine that? It’s rumored she’s slept with half the ton’s married men. Word is everywhere that she’s been in every bed to gather information on our peers so they could keep her column going indefinitely. I think one of her lovers took offense to the rumors of her sleeping with other men and spread the word about the true identity of the Mayfair Chronicler. You can well imagine she wouldn’t be invited into any house after the truth finally came out.
The city is abuzz with confusion and speculation of the news she’s printed over the years. Just think of the reputations she’s lauded or ruined with the stroke of her pen!
The last I heard was that she was setting off for the Continent. Good riddance is my only thought.…
Genny’s mouth fell open as she looked back at Jessica. “Did you know that Lady Montant was the Chronicler?”

Jessica smiled. “It was easily deduced, but it was not I who exposed her.”

Charlotte sat heavily on the stool she’d used to fix the tiara in Jessica’s hair. “I’m almost embarrassed to say that I was one of the readers who couldn’t wait for the latest gossip to be spilled in those pages, no matter how scandalous and damning. But I stopped reading them when the Chronicler took it upon herself to ruin my best friend, Ariel.”

Jessica gave Charlotte’s shoulder a comforting rub. “Your friend’s brush with scandal will be forgotten in time. It was her mother who misstepped, not her.”

Charlotte smiled at the confidence in Jessica’s voice. “I do hope you’re right. I’ve lost too many people in my life lately. Ariel won’t even see me; she’s worried to taint my new marriage. Let’s not even discuss my father, who’s sent a post my way every day since the day he left.”

“You’ll have to forgive him at some point.”

“I know, but he should suffer a while longer. Had he aimed just a small step to the left, I’d be a widow.”

Bea hugged Charlotte. “Your father knew what he was doing. And it’s all worked out for the best, but Jessica is right: you’ll have to find it in your heart to forgive him eventually.”

“Eventually is not today. I’m still furious with him. I promised Tristan I’d pay my father a visit when we go back to London. But I won’t give him the satisfaction of my forgiveness before then. He should stew over every misdeed that led to the current strain in our relationship.”

Jessica hugged Charlotte and everyone followed suit, closing the four of them in a tight circle. It was funny how Jessica had never been surrounded by very many female friends in the past and now she had three she trusted as implicitly as she did Tristan, Leo, and Hayden. Life had a comical way of working out in the end.

“This really is the happiest day of my life,” Jessica said after a moment.

“You’ll want to tell Hayden your good news,” Genny said.

Jessica turned toward the mirror and pulled her veil down over her face. “I’ll tell him later. Just think of the dinner conversation we can have on the topic. Right now, Hayden is as anxious to be married as I am.”

“Then let’s go meet your soon-to-be husband,” Bea said, taking Jessica’s arm. While her father wasn’t here to hand her over to Hayden, Bea, whom Jessica had known the longest, was here for her. And this day wouldn’t be complete without any of the women in the room. Their stories were all intertwined, and one marriage might not have happened without each of the others.

“Shall we, then?” Jessica said, and walked out of the bedchamber she’d been assigned while at Tristan’s and down the stairs toward the back garden, where Hayden waited for her with the vicar.

*   *   *

Hayden checked his watch again. Jessica was taking her sweet time, not that he minded; he just wanted to finally celebrate their union properly with their friends.

She’d made him wait longer than he’d anticipated for the wedding despite not having banns read to honor their upcoming nuptials. She insisted on a proper wedding dress, which meant they had to find a dressmaker, then they had to ship in lace for the veil or something of that sort. Jessica had managed to delay the actual ceremony for two weeks.

Jessica had always danced to her own tune, and he supposed the more he rushed her the slower she would finish the task at hand. He’d have to exercise more patience for his tenacious wife.

“You’ve looked at your watch every minute for the past ten minutes,” Tristan said. “Time will not move faster, no matter how much you will it.”

“It’s easy enough for you to stand patiently by when it’s not the woman you love delaying your big moment.”

“Jez will be down soon enough. You know how women get when they are left together for too long.” Leo was spinning Rowan around in a circle.

“I wouldn’t do that, Leo. He’s liable to throw up after all the punch he had at lunch.”

Leo laughed. “I’ll be sure to turn him the other way.”

Ronnie pulled on Hayden’s sleeve, drawing his attention to something other than his late bride. “Uncle Hayden, can you spin me around?”

He went down on bended knee. “I don’t think that wise.”

“Oh, come now, Hayden,” Leo said as he stood Rowan on wobbly legs. “Here, Ronnie, we’ll give you a go-around. Don’t tell your aunt Bea. She’ll have my head for rumpling up your clothes before the ceremony.”

Hayden shook his head as he stood next to the vicar again.

“Ah-hem.”

Hayden knew that throat clearer and chuckled when Bea gave Leo a look of pure annoyance. He would feel the full brunt of her wrath later.

“I forgot myself,” Leo said to Bea apologetically.

Tristan jostled his arm into his friend’s side with a laugh. “Serves you right.”

Tristan’s gaze was soon drawn away when his wife, Charlotte, walked down the garden path in a yellow day dress that she looked radiant in. Hayden knew what that glow on a woman meant. He looked at Tristan again, wondering if his friend was aware of the state of his new bride.

“Will the groom please turn and face the front?” Charlotte asked once she stood next to her husband.

Hayden and Jessica had decided on a semi-traditional wedding, which meant he wouldn’t be able to see his bride until they’d finished their vows.

Hayden turned, smoothing his hands down over his vest and jacket, nerves assailing him for the first time since Jessica had agreed to be his wife.

The shuffle of more feet came down the path—the other women, he assumed. It was hard not to turn to see Jessica, but he managed. Barely.

The vicar droned out the service for their union. Hayden didn’t hear a word as he reached back to find her hand. Jessica’s lace-gloved fingers grazed his palm before he caught her and spoke out his portion of the vows. Jessica repeated them.

“You have declared your consent before God. May the Lord in his goodness strengthen you and fill you both with his blessings forevermore,” the vicar concluded.

Finally Hayden turned to his bride.

Jessica’s hand shook in his, testament that her nerves were in line with his.

Hayden carefully lifted her veil. “I love you, Jess.”

Jessica had tears of joy in her eyes. She threw her arms around his shoulders and kissed him for all their friends to see just how much they loved each other.

There were claps and whistles from Tristan and Leo. The women were sighing and crying about the beautiful ceremony.

When they parted, Hayden wiped her tears away with his thumbs. “You are the most beautiful woman in the whole world, my darling scandalous duchess.”

“I love you, Hayden. Thank you for opening my eyes once and for all.” And then Jessica kissed him again, as he held her tight in his arms. Their display of love and affection for each other was met with more cheers from their friends.

Finally, he’d taken his bride.

Also by Tiffany Clare

Midnight Temptations with a Forbidden Lord

Wicked Nights with a Proper Lady

The Secret Desires of a Governess

The Seduction of His Wife

The Surrender of a Lady

PRAISE FOR TIFFANY CLARE

and her captivating novels …

“Tiffany Clare writes a swoon-worthy romance filled with rich details and vivid characters. Any readers wishing for a bold and sweeping historical romance need look no further—Tiffany Clare is a treasure of an author!”

—Lisa Kleypas,
New York Times
bestselling author

The Secret Desires of a Governess

“With its irrepressible heroine, deliciously dark and dangerous hero, and suitably atmospheric setting, Clare’s latest impeccably written novel cleverly references the classic gothic romances of Victoria Holt and Madeleine Brent, while at the same time incorporating plenty of the steamy passion and lush sensuality found in today’s brand of sexy historical romances.”

—Booklist

“With its brooding hero and dark backdrop Clare brings an updated gothic twist to her latest novel. By incorporating the themes and red herrings of a classic Victoria Holt or Daphne du Maurier, she entices readers to keep turning the pages to uncover the mystery and savor the highly sensual romance.”

—RT Book Reviews

“This is an entertaining throwback to the Victoria Holt legendary Gothic tales as Tiffany Clare employs all the elements from the innocent female, to the foreboding castle to the brooding hero inside a romantic suspense thriller. Abby and Elliot are terrific lead characters while the support cast, especially his son, the villagers, and her family, make for a wonderful Victorian Gothic romance.”

—
Midwest Book Review

“
The Secret Desires of a Governess
is excellent reading material for those who like their romance novel with explosive love scenes and a good solid plot.”

—Fresh Fiction

“Hauntingly sensual,
The Secret Desires of a Governess
is a compelling read that will have readers hoping for more.”

—Single Titles