The ceremony ended and Edward and Hattie immediately walked towards a waiting barouche, ready to take them to their breakfast celebration. Lord Richard Bentley had taken pains to ensure his sister’s wedding was flawless. Edward had to admit this was a nice touch. His own coach could have served, but he had not even thought to have it ready at the ceremony’s end. Gil, his valet, would use it to make sure his mother arrived at the breakfast. 

Holding her hand, he helped his countess into the vehicle. Hattie adjusted her dress and moved to make room for him when he joined her.

“You made a beautiful bride today, Hattie.” She truly did look lovely.

“Thank you, my lord.” She blushed. 

“Edward. I would like it very much if you would call me Edward.” He squeezed her hand affectionately. 

“Yes, my—Edward.” She grinned.

“I have given this a lot of thought, and I found myself...looking forward to our union. I want...” His throat worked as he struggled to find the right words. “I want to have a faithful relationship, despite what our beginning may have led you to believe, and I wanted to tell you that.” He had realized, over the past few days, that there was a seed of friendship here, one that he wanted to nurture. 

“And that holds for you as well, my lord—the faithfulness?” Her response was direct. 

“Yes, Hattie, it does.” He glanced about and assured himself that he still had a few minutes before they arrived at her brother’s home for their wedding breakfast. He wanted this to be a special moment between the two of them. Reaching into his pocket, he extracted the velvet jewelry pouch. “This is for you.” He opened the pouch and pulling out the bracelet, secured it around her gloved wrist. 

Hattie gazed down at her wrist. “I have never owned anything so beautiful, Edward. Thank you.”

“I am so glad you find it to your liking. The necklace and earrings which match it are inside the pouch. I will hold them if you would like me to.”

“I do not know what to say. You have me at a disadvantage, Edward. I have nothing to give you as a gift.” 

“You do have something I want.” He smiled. “Hattie, I realize that the start of our relationship was hardly the way either of us would have chosen, but if you will give me the chance, I will work hard to change your opinion of me. I want this marriage to be a good one.” He searched his pocket once more and pulled out a small, carefully wrapped package. “This is also for you.”

Hattie unwrapped the thin package and stared at the gift. She looked up at Edward, and picked up the spectacles, holding them close to examine them. “They are finer than the ones I lost, Edward.” She carefully placed them on and looked up at him, as her eyes filled with tears. “You did this for me?”

“I saw them in London. When I looked through the lenses, I realized what difficulty you must have seeing without them, and I wanted to change that.” He gently regarded her, his forefinger tenderly brushing her chin. “They look nice on you.” He kissed her on the cheek. “We have arrived. Here, use this.” “He pulled out his pocket linen out and handed it to her. “This might help dry your eyes.” Edward watched her dab her eyes with his handkerchief. “Hattie, I hope you will not object to our staying here an extra night or so. I have some business I would like to see finished.”

Hattie nodded. “Yes, Edward. I will be happy to stay longer. This gives me a little extra time with my brother, Richard.”

“Then it is settled. Shall we greet our guests?” He helped her from the barouche and together they walked through the crowd of cheering friends and family to the banquet hall. 

Lord and Lady Bentley met them at the door. “Lord Weston, Lady Weston, welcome!” Her brother hugged her. Edward watched Lady Louisa curtsey to her newly wedded sister-in-law, and held back a chuckle. I am sure she is enjoying Hattie’s new rank.

“Your seats are this way.” Bentley led the bride and groom to their seats. The hall had been transformed with flowers, candles, and tables of food. Ivy wrapped around the round columns and framed tables of desserts—iced cookies and cakes—breads, and meats. A three-tier wedding cake sat in a place of honor on a small table to the right of the round, lace-covered dessert table. Footmen began serving plated food of meats—particularly, duck and pigeon, breads, and vegetables.

“There is so much food, Richard,” Hattie offered. “It looks lovely.” She reached for her drink and her bracelet dangled, chiming against the glass. 

Louisa reached across the table and pulled Hattie's arm to her face. “That looks familiar. Where did you get that bracelet?” Louisa’s voice was loud and her tone accusing.

“Louisa, you are mistaken. Please sit down,” her disgruntled husband growled. He glared at his wife. “Sit down!” he whispered loudly.

“Jezebel! Too close!” Archie screamed at the back of the exiting woman—presumably, Edward reflected, sensing the need to come to his mistress’s rescue. The popinjay flapped his wings loudly. 

“Archie, please...” Hattie’s reprimand was very weak, hiding behind the broad smile she directed to her bird. 

The Dowager Countess seated herself across from Hattie. “I believe, Lady Bentley, that was most probably a gift from my son,” she supplied, narrowing her eyes at Louisa.

Edward noticed the sneer on his new sister-in-law’s face. The woman did nothing to improve her looks. He thought of lemons—sour ones—each time he glanced at her. Hattie did not look for his help; he could not miss the look of determination on her face. ’Tis best I allow my wife to handle this. Having decided, he pretended not to hear, and instead concentrated on his plate. His respect for his new wife was growing quickly.

Louisa lightly touched Hattie’s arm. “Lord Bentley is correct, my lady. I was just taken with it, as it reminded me of the one my dear departed mother once owned.”

Hattie leaned as close to her sister-in-law as she could. She spoke quietly, but firmly.

“Dear Louisa, my sister, should you have such a lapse again, I would beg that you ask me in a place of privacy before you grab my person. Your conduct towards me was most gauche, and I will not respond in kind. My husband presented this bracelet to me this morning on our way here. It is part of his wedding gift to me.” She paused. “I will add that you have had more practice at these affairs. I might have looked to you for an example of proper conduct, but, sadly, even I realize that is not to be.” She sat back and turned her attention to her plate.

“Well!” Louisa huffed with indignation to the smiling friends and family seated at the table across from her staring her way.

It had been a perfect day, so far, and it was still young. Archie was on a perch, behaving himself; Edward would thank Bergen later. Remarkably for the season, the sun was shining, the weather was crisp, and his wedding had gone off without a hitch, or an acid comment from his mother. He hoped that continued, because the last thing he wanted was a crying bride. He had not overheard the entire exchange, but he thought he had just witnessed his mother defending his new Countess. What could she be about?

The Dowager casually put down her buttered bread. “Lady Weston, I do not believe I have given you a proper greeting. My son should be chastised for hiding such a beautiful bride away from his mother. How did you come to meet my son?”

Lady Louisa nearly choked on her wine. “You mean you have not heard? They were caught...”

Eyes turned towards the newly wedded couple.

“I believe Lady Weston was speaking to me, dear sister.” Hattie cut Lady Bentley off in mid-sentence. She placed her wine glass down and adjusted her glasses on her face. “Oh dear. I believe you have...” She gestured demurely to her sister in law. “Yes, now that I see it better, I believe it is yellow pollen from the irises in the vase, here, on your face. Perhaps you got too close to the blooms. Mayhap you should go to the retiring room to remove it? I should hate for it to be brushed into your eye by accident.” She smiled sweetly. Her lips still curved, she watched Louisa leave the room in a barely concealed temper.

“My lady," she addressed Edward's mother, "I believe you were asking how we met?” 

Edward looked at his wife with renewed respect. He had been ready to intervene at his mother’s question, but when Hattie had squeezed his hand, he had stopped. He had not married a shrinking violet. He glanced down and saw that his wife’s hand was trembling slightly in her lap, the only sign of her fear. Even so, she had managed to rebuke her disagreeable sister-in-law, twice, and with kindness. It occurred to him that now would be a good time to rescue her. He cleared his throat, drawing the attention of everyone around him. 

“Mother, we met by chance at a posting house. I noticed her as soon as I arrived.” He had seen her, but it had taken drink and fate to awaken him to her special qualities. He smiled at his mother, waiting for any further questions. She merely nodded in their direction, a peculiar expression on her face.

Bentley smiled and nodded, clearly pleased with his response.

Oddly, his mother was still beaming with pride and looking directly at his wife. “My dear, I believe we will become great friends. I think this could have been the first thing—" She smiled up at her son. "—he and I have agreed upon in an age!”

“Thank you, Mother, I think.” He smiled. “I look forward to that.”

Hattie was no longer showing any outward signs of nerves. Had he died and gone to heaven where he had a mother who could possibly like his wife, and perhaps, one day, like him a little too? Edward considered his luck as he took a large sip from his glass of wine. 

A footman finished serving champagne to all the guests, ending with Bergen.

“A toast!” he cried, standing, his glass elevated. “A toast to my best friend and his new bride. May each day bring you closer and may your marriage be long and prosperous.” 

“Hear, hear!” Collective voices resounded. 

“May I offer a toast?” 

Edward's mother also rose to her feet, startling him yet again. Unsure of what to say or anticipate, he nodded. 

“To my son and my new daughter-in-law. May you find all you need in this life from each other.” She smiled and gave a slight nod in his direction before sitting down again. 

“Hear, hear!” The table of voices chanted back. 

“Hear, hear!” asserted Archie shrilly. Everyone broke into laughter, including Edward's mother and his new bride. The bird flapped; it seemed to be his way to say he was pleased with himself.

Edward gazed at his mother. She seemed well. But was this the same woman he had spoken with just a day ago? He wrestled with his thoughts, unsure of what to think. His eyes sought out his friend, and noticed he had been watching. Bergen merely shrugged. 

“Edward.” Hattie’s quiet voice drew his attention. “I need to be excused to the retiring room. I will be back, husband.” She smiled at him as she withdrew from the table.

Edward watched his wife leave, and then gazed in his mother’s direction, catching a smile from her. Perhaps this is her idea of a truce. If so, he would take it. He reached for a fresh glass of wine from the footman. In his estimation, this day was only going to get better. He nodded to Bergen, and took another sip of wine, feeling optimistic for the first time in a while. 

* * *

Hattie had smiled and greeted more titled people that day then she had ever met, collectively. Everyone was suddenly deferential and calling her ‘lady.’ These gatherings were much more sophisticated than such events in her village. Being a countess was exhausting. She would happily return to being Hattie Longbottom and live alone in the cottage in Little Whitley. She was grateful to have spectacles once again. That had been a most considerate and surprising gift from her new husband. Husband. What a strange feeling, to think she was forever bound to this man when she had resolved to be a spinster. It gave her the most pressing headache. Perhaps a few moments' rest would not be noticed. Whispering her intent to Weston, she escaped from the ballroom and was walking toward the staircase when she overheard voices arguing.

“Philip, what are you doing here? You are not known to these people and after that disastrous duel a year ago, I thought we had agreed...”

“Dear sister, do not portend to lecture me. I need funds. I came to get them from you. I seem to find myself momentarily short of the ready. No one is paying me.”

“You mean your blackmail scheme has failed? You killed a man. His friends—” She lowered her voice. “—are here. You told me how angry you were that he had not believed the debts you made up. You should leave, before someone recognizes you and connects it to things they have heard about others! Find another way to cover your debts.”

“What would you know of the matter? My funds have been covering your gambling habit. You are as much a part of this as I am.”

“No! I never told you to seek revenge on...”

“Silence! You will not say another word. I will tell you the way of it, sister. If you do not get me five thousand pounds I will share your gambling habit with your dear husband.”

“No, you will not.”

“Yes, I most certainly will. And you will get the money for me because if you make your husband aware of my misdeed, I will point to him as the one who killed that man.”

“You cannot. You were seen.”

“By a spineless coward. I took care of him. He will never say anything.”

The woman shrieked, “You killed another?”

A slap echoed in the hallway and Hattie decided to move to safety. She was not sure what this was about, but she knew it was something bad... and her brother could be hurt by it.

She gasped. When had her sister-in-law turned in to such a wretched human being? Although it was true she had not had many dealings with Louisa, there had been a time when she had thought her tolerable, if not amiable. Now, she could only see her as selfish and cruel. Poor Richard! Did he have any idea? Should she tell him, or should she mind her own business?

Mayhap Weston could advise her. He was her husband, after all. She would try to determine what she should do later, but for now she must lie down. She walked to her chamber instead of the retiring room and decided a few moments on the settee would ease the pain in her head.

Hattie felt she must be having her special dream again, the one where the handsome stranger came to sweep her off her feet and carry her away to a new life. The difference, this time, was that it was her handsome husband’s face she saw. She tried not to fight the dream, telling herself she was now married and these activities would be necessary. The sensations she felt were strange; she could not yet decide whether or not they were pleasurable. He was whispering endearments into her ear, his warm breath making her shiver. As he showered tender kisses upon her neck and face, her arms slipped wantonly over her head to allow him greater access to her body. The invitation was accepted, and his warm hands began to roam all over her. Hattie heard a moan and realized it came from her own lips as her husband began to caress her in tender places. Her body writhed of its own accord, seeking she knew not what, and she was filled with a longing for something she could not name.

“Yes, that’s my girl. Let yourself relax,” he encouraged.

“Oh...” She moaned as his hand slid, inch by teasing inch, down over her abdomen and lower... She woke up fully and started at his intimate touch.

“Shh. It is only I, my dear. Do not fight it. And please, do not beat my... snake with a pillow!” He laughed.

“I did not know before,” she whimpered.

“You were, nevertheless, enjoying my ministrations.”

She was now, as well, and she blushed with the knowledge. He was exploring places she hardly dared touch herself, save when bathing.

“Close your eyes and allow it to happen, Hattie. I will not harm you.”

“I know,” she whispered, willing herself to calm down and stop trembling.

Allow it to happen. Sally had said the same, earlier.

He lifted her from the settee and began to unbutton her gown. She must have fallen into a deep sleep. Passively, she allowed him to slide the garment down her body. She wished she could have stayed safely dreaming for a bit longer. Now she was self-conscious about what he would think of her, and what was to come. No doubt there had been scores of other women, if Louisa’s hurtful remarks were to be believed, and now, on her wedding day, Hattie could only think of how unsatisfactory a lover she would be. Picking her up, Edward carried her across the room to place her on the bed. She could feel the strength in his arms and thighs, the muscled breadth of his chest and the firmness of... She swallowed, certain that part of him would not fit where God ordained it should. He came down beside her, the feel of his skin warm against hers. Her stomach turned a somersault.

“Edward?”

“Mm?” The murmur had a questioning note as, with lips, tongue, and fingers, he stroked and teased her flesh. It was decidedly difficult to think when he did such things.

“How is this going to work?” She realized she had asked an inappropriate question by the look of abject horror which crossed his face. He blinked twice and then relaxed.

“Do you know nothing about what happens between a man and a woman?”

“A little,” she answered shyly. “I know your...” she waved downward... “joins with me.” She swallowed again. Why had she asked? He must think her an unsophisticated simpleton, but she could not help it.

A look of tenderness crossed his face and he pulled himself up to lie on his side next to her, though he continued to caress her.

“I should have asked you first. I did not think properly when I saw you lying on the settee... I wanted to make you my wife.”

He wanted her? It was a shocking thought.

“I will slow down and prepare you for me. It will fit and it will feel good to you—at least after the first time.”

“I believe you.” And she did. He was being very kind and patient with her, for which she was grateful. It could have been very different.

“Hattie?”

“Yes?”

“You can touch me, too. In fact, I would rather you participated. The physical side of marriage can be wonderfully pleasurable for both of us.”

Hattie could scarcely believe what she was hearing.

“Not only harlots and whoremongers are allowed to enjoy this.” He laughed seductively in her ear as his hand explored further.

She jumped when he reached her most intimate place; a shock of sensation swept through her body. It was hard not to giggle.

“Does that feel nice?” he asked, circling his tongue around her ear.

“Yes,” she replied breathlessly.

“Put your hands on me. Touch me, explore me; know me, my wife.

She could barely concentrate, given what his hands were doing to her body, but she placed her own, trembling, hand upon his chest. It was difficult to lie still for the sensations spreading through her body. Her hand grew bold and began to explore his hard, muscular chest and abdomen. The fine hair was like nothing she had ever felt and she teased it through her fingers. She continued downward; the hair grew thicker and she found the part of him which was supposed to join him to her. Suddenly, she knew a longing to feel, to understand; she became dizzy with the very thought.

Boldly, she placed her hand on him, slowly turning herself towards his embrace.

She heard him laughing as though through a tunnel. Heat coursed along her veins and over her skin as he continued to touch her.

“I agree. I think you are ready,” he said, supporting himself on his arms above her.

Tension shot through her body as she felt him enter her. She gasped at the pressure.

“You must relax now,” he gently commanded. “It will pass.”

After a moment, the discomfort eased and as he continued to kiss her, she felt him fill her completely. It was like nothing she had ever felt before. Strange pulsations began to sweep through her body, and she felt pleasure previously unknown to her. Then he began to move within her and she held onto his body, wanting him closer. A storm began to grow inside her; a tempest of emotion which exploded in an intense series of spasms that swarmed her senses until she felt her consciousness fading.

When she came to, a warm arm and leg were draped over her naked body. She turned to see Edward watching her.

It was hard not to panic, and she began fumbling for something with which to cover herself. His hand reached out to stop her.

“Hattie.”

She froze.

“No. Why do you wish to hide from me?”

“I—am unused to baring myself, my lord.”

“Come.” He stood, confident in his full, naked glory, and held his hand out to her. She took it, though she held her other hand to cover herself as much as possible. Taking her spectacles from the side-table, he placed them gently on her nose before leading her to the looking-glass. He stood behind her and she thought she must die of mortification. Never before had she looked at herself thus.

“Please do not make me do this. I know I am not what you are used to.”

“You are correct.” He took his hand and pulled her hair to the side and traced his lips over her neck. “You are much more beautiful.”

She swallowed nervously and watched him lazily watching her in the glass while he began to touch her all over again. His voice sent shivers down her body when he whispered how perfect was every part of her, whilst caressing each place. Soon, her body was on fire and her legs were trembling. She was certain she would swoon if he continued.

“I want you to see what I see, Hattie.”

When he touched her like that, she doubted she would see much for long. Fortunately, he was merciful and led her back to the bed for further explorations into the realms of marital bliss.

.