Page 67 of Betting on a Duke
*
The day ofthe 1000 Guineas Stakes was upon them, and Clarice, once again, was sitting in Hunter’s open-air barouche. Greyson, Lady Aurora, Lady Anastasia, and Letitia sat in Greyson’s barouche. The crowd was larger than for the 2000 Guineas Stakes race, and she was just as nervous.
“There he is!” Greyson pointed. “Stanton, over here!” he yelled.
Clarice saw the moment Greyson called Samuel’s name; the intense look on his face relaxed as he hurried toward them. “Perfect spot again,” he said as he hopped into Hunter’s carriage, curling his hand around hers. “I wish I could kiss you. But this will have to do.” He raised her hand, turned her wrist over, and gently, sensuously, touched his lips to the pulse point where her short gloves met her wrist. Her blood hummed through her veins, fast and hot.
“Mmmm,” she sighed. “That was nice.”
“You two do realize you’re not alone in this carriage? And that everyone who cares to look can see you two love birds steaming up the air.”
Samuel burst out laughing. “Find yourself your own lady.”
Now Hunter laughed. “I’m trying. She’s being mighty stubborn.”
“Oh my,” Clarice said as she looked at him. “Who is it? I need to know.”
The man blushed. “When I manage to convince her I’m the only gentleman for her, I’ll let you know.”
“I hope it’s soon.”
He huffed, “Me too.”
“Bloody hell,” Samuel barked out. “The race has started.” He stood up and looked at the course. Clarice stood and, just like the last race, she felt and heard the thunder of horses’ hooves before she saw them.
“Is that—?” Hunter yelled.
“It is,” Samuel replied excitedly.
Clover led by a length and won the race easily. What were the chances that Samuel’s Zeus and Clover would both win their first race? And as an owner, that he would have won his first two as well? Maybe their luck in everything was changing.
*
The day afterClover won the 1000 Guineas Stakes, as Samuel promised, the special license arrived via a footman. It had taken longer than expected, and he was beginning to panic, but it had finally arrived. Of course, with Portsmouth fleeing to France, like a coward, they could wait, post the banns and have a large church wedding and celebration if they wanted, but he was ready.
Standing in Clarice’s room at the inn, he held up the parchment, worth far more than its weight in gold. “Last chance to change your mind and have the banns posted.”
“Samuel,” Clarice said as she approached from behind, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her cheek on his back. “I don’t want to wait even a day, much less four Sundays.”
“Thank Christ, you haven’t changed your mind.” He turned around, cupped her cheeks, and kissed her deeply. “Will you make me the luckiest man alive and agree to marry me today?”
“Yes.” She beamed, with all the love she had for him revealed on her beautiful face. “Can we go now? I have some ideas for tonight.”
“You little devil, you.” He chuckled.
She rested her head on his heart. “I’m serious, Samuel. I don’t want to wait. What I want more than anything is for you and me to leave this inn right this minute, walk down the street hand in hand to the little white church at the end near the grove of trees, and say our vows with the vicar and his wife as witnesses. Swear our love and devotion to each other before God.”
“What about our friends?”
“We will celebrate with them tomorrow. Let us make today about us and us alone. We have waited so long for this. Do you mind?”
“Do I mind?” he smiled, stroking her back. “Marrying you and becoming your husband today is everything I’ve ever wanted, and I’m so honored that you have chosen me.”
*
With her headresting on Samuel’s chest, his heart pounding fast and steady, tears of joy rained down her cheeks, and her lips curved up into a smile. Today was the day she would marry the boy she’d once loved, who’d turned into the man she still loved with everything she had inside her.
He stepped back. “Do you need a minute to prepare?”
