Julian waited. His mother would no doubt be determined to have the last word. She lifted a gloved hand to his face and rubbed her thumb on his cheek. He steeled himself for a motherly kiss, one purely for public consumption.
“You look so much like your father that I cannot abide it,” she said. Her hand dropped and she turned to her husband. “Now can we leave? And if those ropes are not gone from the yacht by the time we return, I shall take a knife to them myself.”
The Count of Lienz gave a perfunctory nod toward the newly married couple, then took hold of his wife’s arm. They walked from the church in silence. But as soon as they were outside, everyone heard the countess as she began to tear strips off her husband for having handed over her most valued prize.
“Safe journey,” Julian muttered, as a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. If his mother had thought to disappoint him one last time, she had failed.
The countess was gone, and with her went the memories of that small boy who had never known his mother’s love. The grown man that boy had now become had an adoring and devoted wife by his side. Someone who would give her love to him unconditionally.
Together they would fill Newhall Castle with children, and its walls would echo with their laughter. Lady Margaret would be his children’s paternal grandmother. And his home would finally be filled with happiness.
“Righto. So now all that is done and dusted, can we please go and have some breakfast?” asked James.
Francis chuckled. “And some champagne. In fact, Papa’s best French champagne awaits us. He always said he was saving it for our weddings. It is not my fault that he won’t get to partake in any of it this morning. Come on Caroline.”
Julian held out his hand, offering it to Francis with a mischievous smile. “You should address my wife as Lady Newhall from now on.”
Caroline kept a straight face for all of two seconds as Francis bowed low before his sister. “The one and only time, Lady Newhall,” he said.
Hugh Radley ushered everyone out of the church, leaving Caroline and Julian to a moment of privacy.
Julian ran his fingers over the precious jewels of the Crusader Ruby. “It suits you. Especially with the color of your hair.”
“It is heavy. Could you please take it off?” she replied.
He reluctantly took the necklace from his wife’s neck and placed it back in the box. “Only if you wear it to bed tonight,” he growled.
From the moment he had set eyes on it, Julian had been making plans to strip Caroline naked on their wedding night, leaving her wearing only the necklace. The thought of watching the firelight reflect in the diamonds and rubies as he brought his new bride to completion had him licking his lips in anticipation.
She wickedly smiled back at him. “We are in church, my dear husband. Behave yourself.”