Chapter 8
She was shaking and was convinced it was nerves. It was her wedding day. The press had worked itself into a fever pitch with the news about their romance. The papers had gone for the classic – ‘multi-millionaire white man falls for black employee,’
There had been another much longer write-up about the club and how Reginald Tanner was the first white man to step out and was marrying a black woman. It was also noted that the club members were on board with the entire thing. Reginald was furious at the constant publicity, but Jacinth had told him she did not care.
“As long as I am with you.”
Now, she was standing in front of the mirror of her old room and staring at her image. A stylist had been hired, and he had done an incredible job—something she had told him. The flamboyantly dressed man had waved that off.
“I had little work to do, darling. You are naturally beautiful, and your skin is pure gold.”
The heavy white Regency-style dress was stunning. Its low neckline revealed the tops of her breasts and the beautiful diamond necklace she had received from her fiancé. The dress was tight at the top and cinched at the waist, swirling gently down to cover her feet. The veil was delicate and spider-web-like, having been her mother’s. Her hair was swept back from her exquisitely made-up face. Diamonds also sparkled at her lobes.
Lifting her hand, she touched the sapphire pendant over her left breast. It was a loan from her soon-to-be mother-in-law, her contribution to something blue and borrowed.
A shadow shifted just inside the doorway, and she turned to see Donna Chapman standing there, looking beautiful in apple-green wool.
“My dear.” She whispered. “What a beautiful bride you make.”
“I am shaking.’ She admitted, holding out a gloved hand to the woman.
“And your groom is already at the church. Taking her hands, Donna pulled her in for a hug. “And my husband is waiting for you downstairs.”
“I am ready.”
*****
Flowers dominated the large sanctuary, lending their particular scents to the almost hushed atmosphere. The pews were packed to capacity, and ushers directed the guests to their assigned seats. People had turned out in droves, delighted to be part of what they considered an unusual situation.
The groom stood at the altar, looking incredibly handsome in his black tux, his hands folded in front of him as he awaited his bride. No one looking at him could tell that inside, he was quaking with nerves and dying to get the ceremony over.
He had spent the night switching between fear and anxiety. He had tried to persuade her to spend the night with him, but she had been insistent that it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride the night before the ceremony.
“Will you be at the church tomorrow?” He had asked her brusquely.
“Why wouldn’t I be there?”
“If you are two minutes late, I am coming after you, and I mean it, Jacinth.”
Glancing at the clock, he saw it was two minutes before the allotted time. Taking a deep shuddering breath, he looked toward the arched entranceway and felt his heart hammering inside his chest as the guests were instructed to rise.
The wedding march began, and he and the guests trained their eyes toward the entrance. His first sight of her almost brought him to his knees. Never had he seen someone so beautiful, and for a minute, he wondered if she was real.
The woman walking toward him in white on his father’s arm could not be real, he thought dazedly. And she was here. She had not changed her mind. She wanted to be his wife!
*****
“Tired, my love?” He asked softly as they rocked slowly to the music from the live band on the makeshift dais in the manor’s ballroom. The weather had held up for the wedding, and even though it was icy cold, there was no snow.
“A little bit.” Lifting her head from his shoulder, she stared at him in bemusement. “We are married.”
“Yes, we are.” He grinned at her, eyes twinkling. He was so happy; he felt like dancing on a cloud. Very soon, he would whisk her off to a Mediterranean island where they would be alone for two weeks. “We repeated our vows in front of several hundred witnesses.”
“You are my husband,” she whispered huskily, her heart swelling. I love you so much.”
His eyes darkened, and he could feel his body surging into life. He wanted to be alone with her.
“And you are my wife. Why don’t we see if we can hurry things along so that we get to leave?”
“I would love that.” Lifting a hand, she touched his cheek in wonder. “I cannot wait to be naked with you.”
“Darling.” He groaned. “Now you have gone and done it. We leave now.”
*****
“We are in Corsica.” She whispered in amazement.
“Specifically, Vizzavona.” Walking up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and breathed the fresh scent of the sea before them. She slept most of the journey here, waking up only when the plane descended.
Leaning back against him, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. “We are on our honeymoon.”
“Yes. And we are going to be spending most of it in bed.”
“Want to go for a swim?” She teased.
“I have something better in mind, and it involves getting both of us naked. Besides, I am not in a hurry to freeze my ass off.”
“You just want to have sex.”
“No, my darling wife, I want to make love to you.”
“In that case-“ Turning around in his arms, she wrapped her hands around his neck. “Let’s get to it.”
“Someone made a fire.”
“We have a local who comes in to take care of the place.”