Page 75 of Love, Untruths, and the Smuggler's Ruse
“Which promise was that?” She had gladly exchanged vows with him, each from the heart. After Harold died, she’d despaired of ever finding another man to love. Had anyone told her when she met Langdon, she would someday be his wife, she would have laughed in their face. The first meeting in Stanton’s office had been contentious. What transpired in the weeks following would be forever imprinted on her mind. “To love? To honor? To cherish?”
“I am not speaking of our wedding vows, but our wedding night.” He wiggled his eyebrows in a comical air. The navy jacket fit him to perfection, but she could well remember what rested beneath. Thanks to Lady Collette and her grand plans for the wedding, she hadn’t found an opportunity to be intimate with him since returning to London the prior month.
Goosebumps crossed her skin in anticipation of the coming night. “I don’t recall making any promises.”
“You made them with your eyes. And let me tell you, Lady Langdon, your eyes are greener than the forest.” He scanned her face, his earlier humor replaced by a more serious light. “Green enough to fall into and never want to climb out of. I could watch you all day and never tire of it.”
Tears threatened to fall at his lovely sentiment. If they were alone, she would throw her arms around his neck and kiss him. “When can we leave?”
“I think we can sneak away.” He glanced about, his brow furrowed. “Where is my mother?”
She looked around the room. Lady Colette was the sweetest woman, but she had been acting like a military general in the days leading up to the wedding. She was determined that Elizabeth experience a grand wedding and nothing anyone could say would change her mind. “She is in the corner speaking to Stanton.”
Elizabeth had mixed feelings about the man. Her initial impression of him had been driven by his rude behavior. However, once he learned how Idle had deceived him, he had apologized. She’d confessed her lie to him, expecting harsh punishment. Her cousin, however, had refused to press charges for the theft.
Stanton had swept the other matter under the rug. By marrying Langdon, Zander and the funds she had raised as her alias were absorbed into his estate with the understanding that part of the money would be used to return the stolen goods to their rightful owners.
“Excellent, let us escape.” He danced her to one of the outer doors leading to a patio and stopped short of running into her cousin, Farnsworth.
“Where are you two running off to?” he asked, arms crossed over a black evening jacket. Amusement tilted his lips, but nothing could disguise the exhaustion around his eyes. Dealing with Waverly Park was taking its toll on him.
“Nowhere,” Elizabeth said, trying to act nonchalant. Although they were a married couple now, sneaking out was thrilling. For years, she had closed herself off to love. Finding it was the greatest gift.
Farnsworth flashed a knowing look, his smile broadening. “Lady Collette and Nora gave me strict instructions to make sure you two didn’t leave early. Apparently, there is some sort of toast and dinner to attend.”
“We aren’t leaving. We are just adjourning to another room,” Langdon said, brow raised in challenge. “We will be back down in due course.”
“I saw nothing.” Farnsworth turned his back to them and strode back the way he had come.
Elizabeth linked her fingers with Langdon’s and rushed up the stairs. She had never thought she would find it in her heart to trust another man, yet he had renewed her faith in love. He was her sun, her moon, and her soul, all wrapped into one. With Langdon by her side, life would always be a grand adventure.
