The wedding took place on a blustery, November day. The wind beat against the walls outside the small, seaside church, but inside, the congregation was cozy and happy. Poppy held tightly to Nick’s hand, beaming with joy as the priest read the wedding vows.

“The bride looks so pretty,” she whispered, leaning closer to Nick.

“Really?” Nick whispered back, sliding his arm around her shoulders, even though they were in church. “I hadn’t noticed.”

Poppy shook her head and tried to hide her laughter. “You know she’s pretty.”

He shook his head. “The most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen was you on our wedding day. No one else will ever come close.”

She couldn't help herself. Poppy twisted and beamed up at her husband. They’d only been married a fortnight, but it felt as though they’d been part of each other since the dawn of time. There hadn’t been any reason to wait, once things with Mavis had been sorted out. Before they left the Porthleven church, Nick had dropped to one knee and begged Poppy for her hand in marriage, in spite of all the trials and confusion they’d had to endure to get there. Poppy had said yes before Nick could finish his question, which had seemed as clumsy as tripping over her own feet at the time. Nick had laughed and then kissed her, and the two of them had asked Rev. Corning if there was any possible way they could be married immediately.

Since there wasn’t any legal way to marry without the bans being read over three Sundays, or with a special license, which neither of them was fancy enough to obtain, they’d had to settle for an early November wedding. Miss Victoria was sad to lose Poppy as a maid, but happy enough for them to attend the ceremony, along with Lord Peter and Lady Mariah, which was considered a stunning show of approval for the wedding of two servants.

But Nick and Poppy’s wedding wasn’t the only one that made a great many people happy.

“Do you, Jack Fisher, take this woman, Mavis Jenkins, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, ’til death do you part?”

“I do,” Jack said with a fond smile for Mavis.

And do you, Mavis Jenkins, take this man, Jack Fisher, to have and to hold, to love, honor, and obey, ’til death to you part?”

“I do,” Mavis answered, a look of gratitude in her eyes. Poppy could have sworn that she added a mouthed, “Thank you,” before the priest moved on to the rings.

Poppy sighed in contentment and leaned into Nick. Watching Jack and Mavis pledge their troth to each other was strangely satisfying. Mavis did look pretty, in a sea-green dress that did just enough to hide the bump of her stomach. If things worked out the way Poppy hoped they would, Mavis would realize how lucky she’d been and mend her ways. She’d certainly seemed penitent in the last few weeks, as Poppy and Nick had helped arrange the marriage between her and Jack. And while there was no way to be certain someone would stay on the straight and narrow, Poppy felt content, knowing she’d done everything she could to help a fellow woman in need.

“I think things have turned out better than any of us could have anticipated,” she told Nick after the ceremony, as the two of them stood near the fireplace in the fisherman’s hall during the reception.

“Mavis has had an astounding bit of luck,” Nick agreed. There was an edge of wariness in his eyes, as though he wasn’t sure Mavis had really turned over a new leaf, but it vanished as he turned to face Poppy, pulling her into his arms.

He kissed her thoroughly on the mouth, even though they were in a room full of people. His hands strayed far lower down her back than they should have. The kiss was heavenly, though, and left Poppy hoping they could leave and head home to bed as soon as possible.

“What was that for?” she asked, feeling herself heat from head to toe, when Nick let her go. “People are watching us.”

“Good,” he said, adding one more light kiss to her lips. “I want everyone here to see that you’re mine.” He kissed her again. “And that I’m yours.”

“I’m fairly certain everyone knows,” she giggled, sliding her arms around his neck. “But what I don’t know is how I got so lucky as to marry you.”

“I’m the lucky one,” he said. “I have an angel in my arms, and in my bed every night,” he added with a sultry whisper, bending to kiss her neck.

Poppy giggled. “Perhaps it’s time to leave,” she sighed in return.

“Excellent idea, Mrs. Parsons.”

* * *

I hope you’ve enjoyed both Starcross Dreams and , continuations of the story of Starcross Castle that began with . Will there be more stories from the staff of the Castle? There just might be! But not until this summer.

In the meantime, coming April 6^th, book two of The Silver Foxes of Westminster, . Remember Alexander Croydon from ? He’s ready to marry at last, and industrial heiress Marigold Bellowes is his ideal mate. But can he recover from the heartbreak and mistakes of his past, and is Marigold ready to accept James, Alex’s illegitimate son? When James becomes the target of Alex’s enemies, will it bring Marigold and Alex together or tear them apart?

Be sure to so that you can be alerted when all of these exciting books are released!