“Not that I don't understand, you know,” Mamma said in a thoughtful tone once the footman had departed. “I was young once, myself, and quite a diamond of the first water. Your father was
passionately
in love with me and very particular in his attentions.
Very
particular.”
They digested that comment in silence, Will looking slightly appalled.
“Oh, and William,” their mother added, smiling at him in a gracious manner, “there's no need to call me âher ladyship' or âLady Reese.' I give you permission to call me âMamma.'”
“Thank you,” Will said faintly. Now he looked completely appalled. When Eden started to choke with suppressed laughter, Evie pinched her.
“That's very kind of you, Mamma. Thank you,” Evie said as her mother handed her a cup of tea.
“You're welcome, my dear. Now, I do hope that you and William have put to rest all the dreary business of the last few days, because I have something very important I wish to discuss with you.”
“And what is that?” Evie enquired cautiously. She recognized the determined glint in her mother's eyes. It never boded well.
“Why, your wedding, of course. There is a great deal of planning to be done in the next few weeks, so we must get to work immediately.”
“Lady Râer, Mamma,” Will said, sounding a bit desperate. “Evie and I were planning on something very quiet, by special license. We had hoped to marry by the end of this week.”
“Certainly not,” Mamma exclaimed loudly, climbing up on her high horse. “No daughter of mine will be married in so slipshod a manner. We will have the banns read, and we will have a proper wedding at Maywood Manor.”
“That's right, Wolf,” Eden said in a mischievous voice. “We're going to have a wedding fit for royalty. It's going to be
big.
”
“Good God,” Will muttered.
He looked at Evie, and in his blue gaze she saw laughter and love and the dawning recognition that he was now truly part of her interfering, high-spirited, and often highly annoying family. She grinned at him, happier than she could ever remember.
Will shook his head with wry amusement. “Very well, Mamma. Plan away.”
Epilogue
“Your bride seems to be enjoying herself, despite all the damned bother, as you put it.”
Will lifted his brows at Dominic, who had materialized at his side without warning. Then again, the man was a former spymaster so he shouldn't be surprised at his silent approach.
“She is,” he said. His gaze returned to Evie, chatting in an animated fashion with her mother and one of the guests.
She looked lovelier than he'd ever seen her in a creamy silk gown that clung to her lush curves. But it wasn't the expensive dress, her glorious golden tresses, or her delightful figure that was the true source of her beauty. It was her sweet and loving nature, fully unleashed by her unabashed joy on her wedding day. The fact that Will had been able to make her so happy was the most precious of gifts, one he vowed to cherish always.
“Lady Reese seems pleased as well,” Dominic added. “She's obviously welcomed you with open arms.”
Will threw him a speaking glance. “We all have our crosses to bear.”
Dominic laughed. “True, but consider the alternative.”
“I have,” he said dryly.
Though Lady Reese had been fawning over him, Will expected things would revert to their natural order soon enough. He'd eventually do something to annoy his new mother-in-law, and she'd no doubt put him in his place. But Will had been very encouraged by the warmer relations between Lady Reese and Evie. Her ladyship was genuinely pleased for her daughter, and the two women had spent many happy hours planning the ridiculously overblown wedding at Maywood Manor. That happiness was the primary reason he'd been willing to wait six weeks to marry Evie. He knew it was the first time in her life she'd been able to bask in her mother's heartfelt approval, and Will wasn't about to spoil it.
He was, however, eager for his wedding night. He'd managed to sneak Evie off a few times for quick bouts of lovemaking, but they weren't nearly enough. Of course, a lifetime of his new bride probably wouldn't be enough, but he intended to give it his best effort.
“Your lady looks very well, Sir Dominic,” Will said, nodding to where Chloe Hunter sat in earnest conversation with the Duke of York. She held a finger in the air as if making a point, and the duke nodded solemnly, looking much struck by what she was saying. “My father seems to have taken quite a shine to her.”
Dominic gazed at his wife, looking as close to a lovestruck fool as such an intimidating man possibly could. He was an extremely protective husband, something completely understandable given that his wife was in the later stages of her pregnancy.
“Yes, the duke has been very kind to Lady Hunter.” Then Dominic's smile slowly faded and flattened into a hard line. “Unlike some other members of the family,” he said, almost as if he were talking to himself.
Will cocked his head, surprised by the abrupt change. “Sorry, what was that?”
Dominic's shoulders tensed, then he gave a slight shrug. “It's nothing. Just an old memory that no longer matters.” He flashed Will a smile. “And speaking of wives, I intend to go spend some time with mine, and I suggest you do the same.”
Will recognized the dodgeâDominic had always been the most private of menâbut he simply nodded. “An excellent idea. I'm sure I'll speak with you and her ladyship before you return to town.”
They exchanged friendly bows, and Will strolled across the expansive drawing room to rescue his wife from Lady Reese. As much as mother and daughter were getting along, Will could tell Evie was due for a respite.
“Ah, William,” Lady Reese said as he slipped his arm around Evie's waist. “I was just telling Evelyn how gracious your father has been with his compliments. Why, he told Lord Reese that he can't remember the last time he had such a comfortable stay in the country.”
Will could believe it, since Maywood Manor had been turned upside down to accommodate his father's royal presence. Lady Reese obviously considered the duke's participation in the wedding festivities as the social coup of a lifetime. She glowed with triumph.
Evie, however, was beginning to look a little strained around the eyes. Obviously, the weeks of preparation and the frenetic activity of the last few weeks were wearing on her.
“I don't doubt he's enjoyed himself,” Will said. “Everything's been splendidly done.”
His mother-in-law preened. “Thank you, William. I do think it's all come off rather nicely.”
She gazed happily around the formal room with its new and expensive Aubusson carpet and freshly hung draperies. Huge arrangements of roses and mums overflowed the tabletops, and footmen in new livery passed through the room serving the large gathering from generous trays of champagne. A side buffet loaded with cakes and sweetmeats tempted even the most delicate of appetites, and that was simply to hold them over until dinner.
The party was clearly a success, thanks primarily to Evie's hard work and superior organizational skills.
“I wonder, though, if my father might like something else besides champagne,” Will said in a musing tone.
Lady Reese's suddenly anxious gaze whipped back to Will. “Do you think so? What might he prefer instead?”
Evie quivered in Will's arms, as if she had to stifle laughter.
“I think he might enjoy some of his lordship's vintage portâthe one he keeps in his library,” Will said in bland tone.
“Oh, certainly. Thank you, William. I'll take care of it immediately.” Lady Reese fluttered an air kiss in her daughter's direction then marched off across the drawing room.
“Will, you beast,” Evie said as she snuggled closer into his arm. “You were just trying to get rid of poor Mamma. Does your father truly prefer port to champagne at this hour?”
“Who knows? But I thought you could use a respite from your mother's attentions.”
She gave him a comical look. “You're right, but that makes me sound so awful. I don't want you to think I'm not grateful to her for all her hard workâ”
“You mean
your
hard work.”
“I suppose, but Mamma means well and she has certainly tried this time. I've very much enjoyed
not
fighting with her all the time.”
“I'm glad for your sake, my love. Let's hope it sticks.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “I doubt it will.”
He drew her closer and brushed a kiss across her soft lips. “Does it truly matter?”
“No, not anymore, but it's a nice change. And speaking of fighting,” she said, nodding in the direction of one of the window alcoves, “it would appear that Edie and Captain Gilbride are having yet another argument.”
Will followed her gaze. Sure enough, Eden was clearly lecturing Alec, standing in front of him with her fists on her hips and a scowl on her pretty features. It looked rather one-sided, however, since Alec's attention seemed focused mainly on Eden's ample cleavage, nicely displayed by her daringly low-cut bodice.
Evie sighed. “I do wish they would get along better, especially since they're bound to be thrown together now and again.”
Will smiled. “I think they get along just fine.”
“Really?” she asked, eyeing the couple dubiously.
Alec now had a sly grin on his face as he responded to Eden's lecture. Will would bet ten guineas that his friend was going out of his way to needle her.
“I wouldn't worry about it, love,” he said. “I suspect Alec will be heading north to Scotland in the not-too-distant future. His grandfather is most eager for him to return home, and I don't think Alec can put him off much longer.”
“Well, that's probably for the best.”
He ran his hand up her spine to rest on the satiny-smooth skin of her neck. “In any event,
that's
not our problem.”
Evie looked up at him, her eyes gone soft and sultry behind her spectacles. “Oh? What is the problem then?”
“How quickly I can get you away from this blasted reception.”
Her mouth quirked up in an answering smile. “You know, at this moment you do look exactly like a wolf.”
“Well, that
is
my name, after all.”
She laughed. “So it is.”
He leaned down to murmur in her ear. “And this wolf is getting rather hungry.”
Her slow, sensual smile turned him hard in an instant, and he actually had to resist the urge to growl in response.
“Then I suppose his wife had better feed him, don't you think?” she murmured.
A moment later, completely ignoring the scandalized glances of their guests, Will's beautiful bride led him from the room.