Lifting his eyes, he met her gaze. “That’s why I want to marry you.”
Amanda smiled mistily, freed her hand, traced his cheek. Then she drew his lips to hers and kissed him—gently, delicately, a caress as fragilely beautiful as the moment.
Then she let her lips firm, taunt—parted them when he reacted, urged him to plunder, to ravenously claim.
Gave herself up to the lion she’d snared.
And knew she’d never need more.
* * *
The marriage of Martin Gordon Fulbridge, fifth earl of Dexter, and Miss Amanda Maria Cynster, took place at a private ceremony in St. George’s Church in Hanover Square four days later.
Despite the fact the ceremony was private, it was not small. All the Fulbridges, celebrating not only the resurrection of the head of their house but his nuptials as well, plus many of their connections, joined with all the Cynsters and their myriad connections, to provide a host of witnesses that overflowed the church.
Because the ceremony was “private,” the Ashfords could attend without society deeming their presence in some obscure way ineligible. For her part, Amanda had insisted that Emily and Anne be present—knowing their enthusiastic anticipation had been squashed would have dimmed the happiness of her day—and Martin had had only one choice as his best man—Luc.
So the ceremony was decreed to be “private,” and everyone was happy.
Giddily so—a sense of euphoria took hold in the instant Amanda walked down the aisle, beaming with exuberant joy. The light that shone in the groom’s eyes was no less uplifting—the entire congregation was utterly convinced they were witnessing a marriage made in heaven.
Joy burgeoned and spread through the day, through the wedding breakfast and beyond, unmarred by any adverse occurrence. And then it was time for the bride and groom to commence the long journey to their home in the north.
As was customary, all the unmarried young ladies gathered before the coach, drawn up by the pavement in Upper Brook Street. Others filled the space around and behind them, crowding the house steps, pressing close for their last sight of the radiant bride.
A cheer rose inside, then rolled out of the front door as Amanda and Martin left the ballroom and progressed through the corridors, farewelling first family, then guests as they went, finally bursting through the front doors to a rousing hurrah, and a not inconsiderable number of helpful suggestions, mostly aimed at the groom.
Luc and Amelia, Amanda’s principal bridesmaid, had escorted the happy couple to the door. They paused on the porch. Viewing the press of bodies on the steps, jostling in a seething mass now Martin and Amanda had reached the carriage, Luc touched Amelia’s arm and nodded to the side of the porch, to where, beside a column, they could stand and see the departing couple clearly.
They took up their positions as Martin lifted Amanda to the top step of the coach. Clutching the frame, she laughed and turned, brandishing her bouquet. She looked up, then flung it—
Straight at Luc.
He swore and went to step back, but the column was behind him. Reflexively, he caught the bouquet. Shot a scowl at Amanda and saw her grin delightedly.
Turning the bouquet in his hands, he presented it to Amelia with a bow. “Your sister’s aim is atrocious. I believe this is for you.”
“Thank you.” Amelia took it, looking down to hide her grin, to suppress the wicked impulse to inform him he was wrong on both counts. Then she glanced at the coach, saw Amanda blow a kiss, then wave as Martin urged her in.
Amelia smiled, saluted her twin with the bouquet—knew she understood. Knew she approved.
Amanda was married, and her own decision was made. It was her turn to snare her mate.
Luc inwardly frowned as the carriage door shut and the coachman flicked his whip. Just before he’d disappeared into the coach, Martin had looked directly at him, then smiled—an expression Luc couldn’t interpret.
Then he felt Amelia’s hand on his arm, instantly suppressed his habitual reaction.
“We’d better go in.”
He nodded and turned to follow her, grateful when she removed her hand and led the way. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled lightly.
The sort of smile he’d seen a million times before.
He stepped into the house, and wondered why the hairs at his nape had lifted.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times bestselling author STEPHANIE LAURENS began writing as an escape from the dry world of professional science, a hobby that quickly became a career. Her novels set in Regency England have captivated readers around the globe, making her one of the romance world’s most beloved and popular authors.
Readers can contact Stephanie via e-mail at
[email protected]
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For information on all of Stephanie’s books, including updates on novels yet to come, visit Stephanie’s website at www.stephanielaurens.com.
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ENTER THE WORLD OF STEPHANIE LAURENS
Secrets of a Perfect Night: with Victoria Alexander and Rachel Gibson
The Fall of Rogue Gerrard
It Happened One Night: with Mary Balogh, Jacquie D’Alessandro, and Candice Hern
It Happened One Season: with Mary Balogh, Jacquie D’Alessandro, and Candice Hern
The Lady Risks All
Lost and Found
A Return Engagement
Rose in Bloom
Scandalous Lord Dere
The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor
Royal Bridesmaids: with Gaelen Foley and Loretta Chase
Royal Weddings: with Gaelen Foley and Loretta Chase
THE CYNSTER NOVELS
Devil's Bride
A Rake's Vow
Scandal's Bride
A Rogue's Proposal
A Secret Love
The Taste of Innocence
All About Love
All About Passion
The Promise in a Kiss
On a Wild Night
On a Wicked Dawn
Hero, Come Back: with Christina Dodd and Elizabeth Boyle
The Perfect Lover
The Ideal Bride
Temptation and Surrender
The Truth About Love
What Price Love?
In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster
Capture of the Earl of Glencrae
The Wedding Planner
The Taming of Ryder Cavanaugh
Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue
And Then She Fell
The Bastion Novels
Prequel: Captain Jack's Woman
The Lady Chosen
A Gentleman's Honor
A Lady of His Own
A Fine Passion
The Edge of Desire
Beyond Seduction
Mastered by Love
To Distraction
The Black Cobra Novels
The Untamed Bride
The Elusive Bride
The Brazen Bride
The Reckless Bride
The Case Book of Barnaby Adair
Where the Heart Leads
The Masterful Mr. Montague
Loving Rose
COPYRIGHT
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ON A WILD NIGHT. Copyright © 2002 by Savdek Management Proprietory Ltd. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval
system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
“From the Lab to the Regency: One Writer’s Travels”: The introduction and the questions are copyright © 1998 by Claire E. White, The Internet Writing JournalÆ, http://www.writerswrite.com. Reprinted with permission. The answers are copyright © 1998 by Savdek Management Proprietory Limited. Reprinted with permission. The editorial notes are copyright © 2002 by HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
EPub Edition © JULY 2002: ISBN 9780061751080
Verison 10042013
First Avon Books paperback printing: April 2002
First Avon Books special printing: October 2001
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