They burst into a room, and Giles closed the door from the passageway and barred it, then did the same with the door to the rest of the house.
She turned her back to him so that he could unlace her gown. “Where are we in the manor?”
“I’m not exactly sure. I’ve never left this chamber except through the passage to the chapel.”
Her bodice sagged, and she turned around and started to untie his cravat. “I must say you looked very elegant.”
He threw the length of linen over his shoulder and pushed down her gown. “And you were exquisite. How do you manage to become more beautiful every day?”
He kissed her neck, and her stays dropped down. “The same way you become more handsome.”
Soon all their clothing was somewhere else in the room, and they were in bed. “Well, wife.” His eyes were silver and full of love. “Shall we make this marriage legal?”
“Yes.” Thalia drew him down to her and kissed him deeply.
He kissed and caressed her until she was begging to be taken, and this time she reveled in him entering her. They cried out together when they came. He stayed on top of her as their hearts thrummed, and she wanted to stay like this forever.
But someone knocked on the door.
Giles groaned. “When I get you to Kendal, I’m not letting anyone interrupt us.” He rolled off her, and she pulled the covers up. “Who is it?”
“Tiller, my lord.”
“My valet,” Giles told Thalia. “What do you want?”
The man cleared his throat, and she could imagine him turning red. “Your Grace, the Duke of Somerset wishes to see the bloodied sheet.”
Thalia bit her lip. “
Now all he had to do was find the damn thing. “I think I left it in my bedchamber.” His beloved wife glared at him. He asked Tiller, “Where is the sheet I brought in this morning?”
For several seconds there was silence. “I sent it to be laundered, Your Grace.”
Giles lost any patience he possessed and bellowed, “Find the blasted thing now and bring it here, and it had better not have been cleaned!” He lay back against the pillows. “I can’t believe this. Why in the name of heaven would he have done that?”
“Did you tell him not to? His job includes insuring things are clean.”
“No. It never occurred to me.” He threw his arm over his eyes. “I’m going to have to run away with you and keep you hidden until you’re obviously with child.”
Their situation was dire, but Thalia had to smother her laugh. “Perhaps it will not be that bad.”
Another knock came on the door. “My lady, I mean, Your Grace,” Mannering said. “Do you wish to dress?”
Thalia glanced at her husband. “I suppose I should, but first, can you please help Tiller find the sheet from my bed last night?”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
For the moment, they were alone again, and she felt so sorry for her husband having to deal with her father. “It will be all right. I might be breeding even now.”
Giles rolled over and held her. “The only thing that’s important is that we are together.”
“I agree.” Trying to cheer him, she said, “If need be, I know the way from the chapel to the cottage.”
“You are a remarkable woman, and I could not be happier that you are mine.”
“I am.” Leaning over, she kissed him. “Forever.”
Sometime later, his valet and her maid knocked on the door and were given permission to enter.
“We found the sheet,” Mannering said. “It was not washing day.”
That was a blessing.
“We have your clothing,” his valet said. “You are wanted in the Duke of Berwick’s study.”
They dressed and made their way to Berwick. Kendal was not surprised to find Thalia’s brothers and brothers-in-law there as well as her sisters. What did surprise him was the way in which his wife addressed her father.
“Somerset, what is the meaning of this?” She stood just out of arm’s reach of her father. “To demand the bedding to prove I am married, that is outside of enough.” She pointed a finger at him. “I trust you have seen it and are satisfied that I am no longer a virgin.” Her brothers and sisters quickly masked their shocked looks. “I am waiting for an answer.”
The man’s mouth worked as if he was having trouble responding. “I never gave you permission to marry Kendal.”
Thalia raised one brow and her chin, and Kendal almost started clapping. “Indeed? That was not what I was told. Did you not sign the settlement agreements?”
The old man started to grab them off the desk, but Berwick beat him to it. “He did.” Holding the documents out, he read, His Grace the Duke of Somerset agrees with His Grace the Duke of Kendal that a marriage shall take place between Lady Thalia Somerset and the Duke of Kendal . . .”
Somerset lunged at Berwick and Kendal caught the man. “Don’t do it. You signed the contract. Whether you meant to or not is not at issue. She is now my wife. You will look like a fool if you attempt to repudiate our marriage.”
Shaking with rage, Somerset pointed at Hawksworth. “You knew about this.”
