one thing she wanted most—her father’s approval. “Ride next to our carriage. Join us before we leave on our honeymoon. It would be a great honor to have you witness our nuptials.”
Again, Kate’s hand tightened in his, and he knew without a doubt that she might regret their decision to elope if her father was absent from the ceremony.
“Your Grace,” George said, going down on one knee. “I’m begging you for your approval. Grant us your company while we stand before God in holy matrimony.”
“It’s difficult to refuse my daughter only because I know her heart better than anyone.” The duke took a step forward. “This doesn’t mean I will forgive you, Carleton.”
It was difficult for George not to smile as he stood up. “I understand, and will do what I can to prove to you that this is the best choice for your daughter.”
Hesitantly, the duke answered, “That’ll have to do for now.”
Kate flung her arms around her father’s shoulders with a squeal of relief. The duke rubbed her on the back before stepping away and giving George a long, hard look.
The duke’s blue eyes pierced George to the spot. “I’ll ride next to your carriage,” he said. “And I’ll see my daughter off properly before you steal away on your honeymoon.”
“Thank you,” Kate said, and hooked her arm through George’s as they all walked back to the carriage. “My two favorite men in the whole world will be with me on a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I love you both.”
The duke mounted his bay, saying to George, “Marrying my daughter does not mean I approve of you.”
“I will endeavor to prove to you that I’m as good a man as Kate paints me to be.”
Her father turned his horse to ride at the front of the carriage.
George guided Kate up the stairs, squeezing one round globe of her rear as he helped her up. She turned and narrowed her eyes. “Lord Carleton, you are a rogue.”
He grinned at his bride-to-be. “Why ever would you think that? Now, tell me, dearest, would you have gone with him had he been dead set against our marriage?”
She laughed, grabbed his hand, and hauled him up the steps with a happier disposition than he’d seen all week. “I really should keep you guessing.”
“You’ve a cruel nature about you when the mood strikes.”
She leaned forward with her hands on either side of his thighs and her face level with his. “I love you, George Langsley, and should you ever doubt that, you are a fool.”
“A fool for you, love. Always a fool for you.”
And then he kissed her.
Again, Kate’s hand tightened in his, and he knew without a doubt that she might regret their decision to elope if her father was absent from the ceremony.
“Your Grace,” George said, going down on one knee. “I’m begging you for your approval. Grant us your company while we stand before God in holy matrimony.”
“It’s difficult to refuse my daughter only because I know her heart better than anyone.” The duke took a step forward. “This doesn’t mean I will forgive you, Carleton.”
It was difficult for George not to smile as he stood up. “I understand, and will do what I can to prove to you that this is the best choice for your daughter.”
Hesitantly, the duke answered, “That’ll have to do for now.”
Kate flung her arms around her father’s shoulders with a squeal of relief. The duke rubbed her on the back before stepping away and giving George a long, hard look.
The duke’s blue eyes pierced George to the spot. “I’ll ride next to your carriage,” he said. “And I’ll see my daughter off properly before you steal away on your honeymoon.”
“Thank you,” Kate said, and hooked her arm through George’s as they all walked back to the carriage. “My two favorite men in the whole world will be with me on a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I love you both.”
The duke mounted his bay, saying to George, “Marrying my daughter does not mean I approve of you.”
“I will endeavor to prove to you that I’m as good a man as Kate paints me to be.”
Her father turned his horse to ride at the front of the carriage.
George guided Kate up the stairs, squeezing one round globe of her rear as he helped her up. She turned and narrowed her eyes. “Lord Carleton, you are a rogue.”
He grinned at his bride-to-be. “Why ever would you think that? Now, tell me, dearest, would you have gone with him had he been dead set against our marriage?”
She laughed, grabbed his hand, and hauled him up the steps with a happier disposition than he’d seen all week. “I really should keep you guessing.”
“You’ve a cruel nature about you when the mood strikes.”
She leaned forward with her hands on either side of his thighs and her face level with his. “I love you, George Langsley, and should you ever doubt that, you are a fool.”
“A fool for you, love. Always a fool for you.”
And then he kissed her.
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