Chapter Twenty-Five
Lizzie’s jaw dropped as she moved from Hawk’s side and regarded him. “Tomorrow?”
“Do not be shocked, my dear. We already discussed this. We must marry as quickly as possible.” He turned to Cam. “Please notify the vicar to attend us first thing in the morning.”
Giving Hawk a curt nod, Cam wished them good night and left the room.
Lizzie immediately rounded on Hawk. “Am I to have no say in my own wedding? I know you mentioned a special license and a small ceremony, but can I not even recover from my gunshot wound before I marry? What will I even wear?”
This was all moving so fast, and she was so very weary. A woman had only one wedding, if she was fortunate to have her husband live for many years. She had always imagined a lovely gown, bonnet, flowers, friends and relatives smiling as she and her betrothed exchanged their vows. Now she was to be married in a borrowed gown, altered by Lady Honora’s seamstress.
Of course, there were no relatives of hers left to attend a wedding, and all the so-called friends she’d had had turned their backs on her after her father’s disgrace.
Hawk pulled her close, careful not to touch her wound, which was throbbing from the unending day and lengthy carriage ride. “Please calm yourself, sweetheart. Let us take a seat.”
They settled on the sofa, and he shifted so he was facing her, his bent knee resting in the space between them. “I want you to think on this. We have been intimate.” He held up his hand as she opened her mouth to speak. “As an innocent, that automatically requires a swift marriage.”
“And I told you I don’t want to be your duty.”
He reached out and ran his finger down her cheek, leaving a wake of goose flesh that traveled right to her nipples and the space between her legs. Just what she didn’t want to deal with right now. “Believe me, Lizzie, it will be no duty to marry you.”
What was he saying? That he was in love with her? Her insides fluttered at the thought, since she had already admitted her own feelings toward Hawk—at least to herself.
“Additionally, as my countess, you will be further from the Home Office’s reach. It is an easy matter to force the daughter of a disgraced lord into the Home Office for questioning, and possibly a stint in Newgate. It is an entirely different matter to demand the presence of the Earl of Hawkins’s countess.”
The image he’d portrayed of her being dragged off to Newgate and left there to rot sent shivers down her spine.
“You would have the protection of my name, which would give you rights and privileges you do not now possess.”
The Earl of Hawkins’s countess. Yes, she would be a bit more untouchable than treasonous Lord Loverly’s daughter. She glanced at him sideways. He watched her with lust, surely, but also with something she could not identify. Hope? Was he genuinely happy to marry her?
“Very well. I certainly can see the logic in your argument.”
Hawk nodded. “Since you’ve no male relatives to look out for your interests, I shall have Cam’s man of business represent you in the marriage settlements. However, as soon as the vicar arrives tomorrow, we will be married. The marriage settlements can be done afterward.”
Although this had all been discussed at Hawkins Manor, she was now taken up as if in a whirlwind. Since she’d laid eyes on Lord Hawkins she’d been forced to escape the comfortable home she’d lived in for two years, had three attempts made on her life, and now she was to marry post-haste.
In a made-over gown.
Days before she would break the law by entering her father’s townhouse.
She felt as though she were in the middle of a terrible dream, unable to wake up.
“This will also ward off any gossip from our stopovers at the various inns where we shared a room. Even though we did not meet anyone of our acquaintance, these things have a way of following one, no matter how careful one is.”
“Yes. I see.”
He studied her. “What is it, sweeting? I can see you are upset.”
She drew in a breath. “I have nothing to wear!” She hated the tears that filled her eyes and felt stupid. Like a spoiled child. Perhaps all the distress and fatigue were catching up with her, and she was clinging to something superfluous to anchor herself.
Additionally, she was placing her well-being into the hands of another man for the rest of her life. But faced with the choice of marriage to Hawk, or possible prison or death, the decision was a wise one. Also, they would be man and wife, and all that came with it. She blushed.
Another benefit.
…
Hawk released a deep breath. At first he’d thought Lizzie would refuse his plan for them to marry the next day. Had it been necessary to hog-tie her to do it, he would have. The burden of her safety rested squarely on his shoulders, and he would not fail in his duty protect her.
The fact that he would spend the rest of his life with this woman whom he loved, and who captivated him so, along with the warmth of her body next to his every night, made it all so much more enticing. The one time he’d had Lizzie was not nearly enough to assuage his desire for her.
“You will not be sorry, even though it appears I am rushing you. We’ve been together for weeks now, and I think we rub along quite well.”
“Yes, aside from your arrogance, we do get along.”
He leaned back, his eyebrows raised. “Arrogance?”
“Surely that is not the first time you’ve heard that? You are arrogant, demanding, and overbearing.”
“Please speak freely, Lizzie. Do not feel the need to hold back.” He grinned, unable to resist vexing her. She was adorable when angered.
“I have spent the last two years running my own life. I earned a salary and did a very good job at it. I don’t wish to be married to someone who intends to control my life.”
Hawk cupped her cheeks in his hands. “I do not wish to control your life, but your safety is my business. I will keep you safe by supplying you with a home, enough food to satisfy your hunger, and free rein when it comes to choosing your wardrobe.”
When she opened her mouth to speak, he added, “Yes, I know. After a wedding in a borrowed gown.” He kissed her gently on her lips. “I will also protect you from harm. There is no argument where that is concerned.” His head descended once again, and he took her lips in a warm kiss. He nudged her mouth until she opened, then he delved in, enjoying the sweetness of her.
Lizzie slid her palms up his chest and wrapped her palms around the back of his neck. He pulled her closer until their bodies met, her soft breasts pressed against his chest. Just the mere touch of her against him was enough to ignite the fire that burned for her. He pulled his head back and leaned his forehead on hers. “I will not cause talk among the servants by bedding you tonight, but tomorrow night you will be all mine.”
“Yes.” Her raspy whispered word was alluring, seductive. “And you will be all mine.”
“And I have plans.” He grinned, then pulled back. Images in his mind of Lizzie splayed for him on his bed, naked, panting, and calling his name was sucking the very breath from his body. If he didn’t stop now he would ravish her right here in Cam’s library. He stood and held out his hand. “Come.”
One more night, then she will be mine every night after that. Mine.
…
The next morning Hawk stood in front of the vicar with Cam on one side and Lizzie on the other. Cam’s housekeeper, Mrs. Strover, comprised the second witness. The vicar droned on and on about the sanctity of marriage to the point where Hawk wanted to throttle the man.
It gave him time, however, to reflect on what he was doing. As much as he’d always kept himself far from the grasp of decent women—those who sought marriage—he’d never forgotten the duty to his title to produce heirs. Something that he thought would occur in the far-off future when he was too old to fall in love.
Despite his best intentions, Lizzie had crawled her way into his life and his heart, a situation that did not make him as uncomfortable as he would have thought at one time.
While he mulled over those thoughts, the ceremony continued, and soon ended with the vows being spoken and the vicar producing the register for them to sign. Mrs. Strover patted the corner of her eyes with the edge of her apron. What Hawk wanted more than anything was to hustle his new wife upstairs, strip her naked, and kiss every inch of her lovely body. Cam’s cook, however, had insisted on a celebratory wedding breakfast.
“I wish you both happy,” Cam said as he took Lizzie’s hand and kissed her knuckles. He slapped Hawk on the back. “Just know this wedding furor ends with you. Now that you, Bedford, and Templeton have surrendered to the parson’s noose, I will find myself another group of friends.”
“Marriage isn’t contagious, my lord.” Lizzie grinned at him as they walked to the dining room.
“Ah, but it is with my friends. First Bedford, then Templeton—whose wedding you missed, by the way, since no one could find you—and now you.” Cam shook his head. “It makes me itchy to even stand too close to you, Hawk.”
The table had been decorated with flowers and ribbons. Cam’s staff had gone to a great deal of trouble to present the bride and groom with a nice wedding breakfast, and an array of delicious-looking food had been placed on the sideboard.
They were treated to a variety of breads, warm rolls, creamed sturgeon, ham, tongue, eggs, and fruit. There was plenty of coffee and tea, along with an urn of chocolate. A several-tiered wedding cake took center place on the table.
“This is quite lovely, Lord Campbell. Thank you so much for arranging all of this.” Lizzie’s eyes shimmered as she took in the lovely arrangement.
“Ah, my Lady Hawkins, ’twas no trouble at all. I am more than happy to see another of my friends succumb to matrimony. And please, we are practically family now. I shall be honored if you would address me as Cam.”
They filled their plates and took their places at the table, with a pristine white tablecloth, polished silver, and glistening crystal goblets. After several toasts from Cam, they enjoyed the food and pleasant conversation. It was a rather quiet party, with only the bride, groom, Cam, and the vicar, but Lizzie laughed and chatted, and Cam was his charming self.
“So tell me, Hawk, once this mess is cleared up, where will you take your new bride for a honeymoon?”
Hawk looked at Lizzie. “Where would you like to go?”
“Goodness, I have no idea. I imagine Italy might be nice. Or now that the war is over, maybe Paris?”
Hawk leaned in close to her ear. “I understand there are beaches in France where one can bathe with no clothing.”
Lizzie gasped. “Certainly not!”
He continued, enjoying how she squirmed in her seat. He was more than ready to have her squirming underneath him. “Or perhaps we can just forego clothes while we are in our own private room.”
Lizzie’s face grew a bright red, and it took all his willpower not to burst out laughing. Except, if he did then he would have garnered the attention of Cam and the vicar, which might very well result in Lizzie locking him out of their room that night.
He bent to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I apologize, I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
The food had been eaten and two bottles of champagne drunk when Cam stood and held out his almost empty glass. “My last toast to the happy couple. I will leave you now, since I shall spend the next couple nights carousing the town, reminding myself why I enjoy bachelorhood.”
He gulped the last of his drink. “Vicar, if you will join me, we can leave these two to figure out how to entertain themselves without our company. I’m sure they can think of something.” He winked at Hawk. “I will be happy to drop you at the rectory on my way to Bond Street.”
The vicar flushed a bright red at Cam’s words, and Hawk’s body tightened. Cam was giving them the house for a couple of days. No better friend existed anywhere.
Hawk and Lizzie walked Cam and the vicar to the door and said their goodbyes. Once the door closed, Hawk took both of Lizzie’s hands in his. “Let us retire for the evening.”
“It is only two o’clock in the afternoon.”
“Ah, so late. Sorry for that, I am. Well, we will have to make the best of it with the little time we have left until Cam’s return.” He grinned and scooped Lizzie into his arms, careful with her still-healing wound, and carried her to the next landing, taking the stairs two at a time.