Page 59 of The Dare Before Christmas

“Yes, certainly. Don’t fret, though, he’s not prettier than you,” Barnaby said dryly.

Louis quirked a dark eyebrow, blue eyes glinting. “Évidemment,” he replied, feigning outrage. “Or I should never have let him in.”

Barnaby laughed, and then the room fell suddenly silent. He turned, all the air leaving his lungs in a rush as he saw Victoria, his bride, and was overcome with a wave of pride and love and such happiness it was impossible not to smile. He knew it was supposed to be a serious ceremony, that their vows were not to be taken lightly, but he had never believed it possible this moment would happen, and to see the answering, giddy smile lighting up his beloved’s face only made him grin all the harder. A soft ripple of laughter filled the room, but Barnaby didn’t give a damn. In any case, it was a warm sound, affirmative and full of affection from all the people in their lives that loved them best and approved wholeheartedly of their happiness. Belatedly, Barnaby noticed the duke, upon whose arm Victoria was walking. As they reached him, Bedwin raised his daughter’s hand to his mouth, smiling at her with pride and affection. Then, somewhat reluctantly, he offered her hand to Barnaby.

“Take care of her, Mr Godwin. I am putting my trust in you,” the duke said, his expression grave but encouraging.

“I will, your grace. Don’t ever doubt it,” Barnaby replied sincerely, before taking his bride’s hand in his.

“Good day to you, Mr Godwin,” Victoria said, blushing shyly, her lovely green eyes sparkling.

“It is a very good day, Lady Victoria. The best day that ever was,” he replied, lacing their fingers together and turning to face Reverend Martin.

The reverend was not so stuffy as most vicars Barnaby had come across and returned a good-natured expression, his dark eyes warm as he looked at them both.

“Dearly beloved,” he began, his voice deep and carrying, and Barnaby swore he heard several women behind him sigh, but then the ceremony was underway, and he didn’t give a tinker’s cuss for anyone else in the room.

There was no one else in the world but his bride, and the quicker he could get the ring Louis was looking after on her finger, the better he would like it.

Torie looked about the room and experienced such a burst of happiness she did not know how she could contain it. Evie had done her proud. Her wedding breakfast was a glorious affair. She had adorned the enormous fireplace with candles and the most splendid mantel dressing, with huge boughs of pine and bay, decorated with red ribbons and Christmas roses, apples and nuts and cinnamon sticks. The scent of pine and spices filled the room and mingled with the mouth-watering smell of every dish that was brought in to please the guests, each more lavish than the last. The table was heavy with crystal and shining silver, and outside the snow had begun again.

Many of the guests were leaving after the meal before it was too late. Mama and Papa had commitments and needed to return to Beverwyck for Christmas—something Torie suspected Barnaby was relieved about, not wanting to face her father over the breakfast table tomorrow. The Knights were staying for Christmas, though, with Lady Helena and Gabriel Knight having arrived just that morning.

“Happy, love?”

Torie turned to Barnaby—her husband—and nodded. “Very, but I’m a little overwhelmed, honestly.”

“It’s been something of a whirlwind,” he agreed, taking her hand and lacing their fingers together. “No regrets?” he asked, lowering his voice.

Torie shook her head at once. “Not a one, I’m just trying to keep up. My head is spinning. I can’t believe it’s real, but it is, isn’t it? I’m not going to wake up?”

“No. It’s too late now. You’re stuck with me.”

Torie laughed, leaning into him. “I’m glad.”

“I think a lot of the guests will be going soon, before they get snowed in,” he whispered. “So, if you wanted, we could, er… get a bit of peace too, by ourselves.”

Torie bit her lip, avoiding his gaze and feeling suddenly shy, for she knew quite well what that meant. She nodded though, glancing back at him and smiling. “I should like that.”

“That’s good,” Barnaby said, raising her fingers to his lips and kissing her knuckles. Her stomach gave an odd little flutter at the warmth in his eyes, and the soft way he spoke to her. “For I should very much like to have my wife all to myself for a bit.”

The chink of metal on crystal silenced the gathering and everyone looked up as Louis César stood, a full glass of champagne in his hand.

“Mesdames et Messieurs, the hour grows late, and some of our company must leave us shortly, though it saddens us to say goodbye. But whilst we are all still together and enjoying this splendid dinner that my lovely comtesse has so beautifully designed for us, might I ask that you all charge your glasses and raise a toast to our newlyweds. Lady Victoria, you are the picture of loveliness, and Barnaby is a lucky man indeed. And Barnaby, my dearest friend, no man was ever more deserving of such happiness. Félicitations, mes amis, we wish you health, happiness and good fortune, and thank you both for allowing us all to share in this wonderful day. The bride and groom.”

“The bride and groom!”

The toast echoed about the room as everyone raised their glasses and drank to their health. There followed more toasts after that, as the champagne flowed, and everyone got thoroughly over excited. Then some bawdier toasts flew about the room, as Jules and Leo had imbibed rather too deep, and were both subsequently skewered with a warning glare from the duke. Felix laughed uproariously at their goings on until his big sister dumped a baby in his arms and told him not to be such a lummox in company.

Finally, those that were going home reluctantly left to gather their belongings. Carriages were loaded, and those who were staying sought more comfortable lodgings in armchairs by the fire, or took themselves off for a little snooze in private.

Victoria and Barnaby frowned as they saw the doorway clogged with people, including Leo and Jules, who were still chatting and deciding what it was they were doing. A game of billiards seemed to be in the offing as Leo tried to persuade Jules to stay with him for Christmas.

“Dash it all, why must they stand there?” Barnaby said with a huff, and Victoria took his arm, knowing he did not want to embarrass her by pushing past and make a spectacle of them wanting privacy.

She knew her wicked brother and Leo would enjoy making sport of them and was no keener than Barnaby to give them the opportunity.

A throat clearing behind them had them both turning to see Louis standing there. Silently, he crooked his finger, signalling them to follow. Walking to the far end of the dining room, he opened a hidden door and handed them a lamp, for the passageway was dark.