Page 84 of How to Start a Scandal

Susan put her hair into a series of twists with violets sprinkled throughout her dark tresses.

A soft knock came at Violet’s door, and Felicity entered upon permission to do so. Her hair had been drawn into a wonderful coiffure that made her look rather grown-up and she held herself with the decorum of a lady. Well, if ladies carried fat cats in their arms, of course.

‘Felicity, you look lovely,’ Violet said with genuine delight.

Her shoulders lifted, clearly pleased with the compliment. ‘As do you. And Hedgehog.’ She scratched the cat under the chin and his vibrating purr filled the room. ‘Do you recognise the silk?’

She stopped petting him long enough to point to his bonnet. It was the very same ice blue as Violet’s gown. Violet’s mouth fell open and Felicity grinned. ‘The modiste had some scraps left over and I asked her if I might have them.’

‘You made the bonnet?’ Violet asked.

Felicity shrugged. ‘Of course. I make all of them.’

The child’s melancholy had lifted with the wedding preparations, though Violet suspected Felicity was dreading returning home, which was the source of her unhappiness.

Felicity cocked her head suddenly and raised her brows. ‘I believe I hear music. Hurry or you’ll be late for your own wedding.’ With that, she rushed from the room, leaving the door slightly ajar in her haste.

Violet and Susan looked at one another and chuckled. ‘I wonder how she can love that cat so much,’ Violet mused.

‘I believe...’ Susan said slowly. ‘She treats the cat the way she wishes she might be treated.’

Violet opened her mouth to protest the notion, but stopped. Ever since Felicity had arrived and Seth had demonstrated how best to speak to the girl, Felicity had been wonderfully behaved.

‘I think you’re correct,’ Violet said softly.

‘I believe you treat her exactly how she wants to be treated, my lady.’ Susan fidgeted with a flower in Violet’s hair and smiled. ‘Now go downstairs where your handsome Earl awaits you.’ Tears filled her maid’s eyes and Violet had to turn away before she, too, began to cry.

Lord Hollingston waited for Violet by the double doors leading to the drawing room. His chest swelled with pride as she approached.

‘You look lovely, Daughter,’ he said.

She embraced him. ‘Thank you, Father. And thank you for encouraging me to wed. I think I’m going to be very happy.’

‘I truly hope so.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘I truly do hope so.’

He offered her his arm and led her into the drawing room where the vicar waited for them with the Book of Common Prayer in his hand. She scarcely noticed the man, or anyone else for that matter.

Seth waited at the end of the room with his arms folded behind his back like the soldier he’d been for so many years. His unruly hair had been combed into submission, and he wore cream-coloured breeches with a gold and cream brocade waistcoat, finished off handsomely with his dark superfine jacket.

He watched her with affection shining in his expressive eyes and when he spoke the vows binding them together for ever, she felt the depth of his sincerity in his fathomless gaze. At last, when the ceremony was complete and his mouth brushed over the backs of her knuckles, the skin under her gloves tingled with anticipation.

In fact, all of her tingled with anticipation, for this man she had spent a lifetime wanting.

The time after the wedding ceremony had been spent in a blur of congratulatory toasts and well-wishes. But to Seth, nearly all his attention had remained focused on the exquisite beauty of his bride.

It had not escaped his notice how her ice-blue eyes continued to slide over to him, heating him from the inside out. How was it that even a glance from her could make his body go tense with eagerness?

After a hearty wedding breakfast had been consumed, several more toasts made and the cutting of the lovely frosted cake, finally it was time to take Violet to their home. They left Hollingston House amid a flurry of felicitations and entered the quiet hall of Dalton Place.

Seth wanted nothing more than to draw Violet up the curved staircase to his bedchamber and watch the silky gown flutter from her body. He wanted her naked and writhing with need beneath him. He wanted her to be his. Fully and completely. In body as well as in name.

He reined in his impatience as his Countess was introduced to the staff of her new home, though she already knew them all well from years of close familial acquaintance. Instead, he observed her, noting the genuine warmth on her face as she spoke to each member of his staff, remembering not only their names, but also those of their families and asked after them.

His blood stirred as he watched her, cherishing from afar the woman he would soon worship up close. She would be a wonderful mistress of Dalton Place, as well as Dalton Manor when they relocated to the country once Parliament let out. More than that, she would be an ideal mother. Her consideration and care with Felicity had demonstrated as much.

At last, the final servant had been properly introduced and they all began to resume their duties.

Violet turned back to Seth with a coy gaze that slammed straight into his groin. Her pretty mouth lifted at the corner. ‘I saw you staring at me, my lord.’