Not Quite A Gentleman

Epilogue

While Today’s Modern Woman should refrain from making any life-altering decisions “in the heat of the moment,” she should also recognize that some decisions require no thought at all because there is clearly only one answer.

A Ladies’ Guide to the Pursuit of

Personal Happiness and Intimate Fulfillment

by Charles Brightmore

Six weeks later

Nathan stood at the altar in the small parish church his family had attended for generations and watched his beautiful bride walk slowly toward him. Dressed in a simple pale blue gown with a modest square neckline and puffed sleeves, carrying a bouquet of pastel roses, she took his breath away. When she reached him, he smiled.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered.

“So do you,” she whispered back with an answering smile.

The vicar cleared his throat and shot them a frown.

The ceremony proceeded without incident until the vicar intoned, “If there is anyone present who knows of any reason why these two people cannot be joined in holy wedlock, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Nathan cleared his throat. “I have something I need to say.”

The vicar’s brows shot up to his hairline. “You do?”

“Yes.” He turned to Victoria. “I need to tell you something.”

She paled. “Dear God,” she whispered. “This can’t be good.”

“It seems quite obvious to me that you have every intention of seeing this ceremony through to its conclusion,” he said.

“That was my plan, yes.”

“Excellent. Then in the spirit of making a full disclosure before we’re officially man and wife, I want you to know I’m, um, no longer of modest means.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean His Majesty has given me a very handsome reward for the return of the jewels.”

“How handsome?”

He leaned closer and whispered in her ear. “One hundred thousand pounds.” He leaned back, enjoying her look of utter shock. “And then there’s the house.”

“House?” she repeated weakly.

“In Kent. About three hours outside London. Just a modest estate, according to His Majesty. Probably no more than thirty or so rooms. Lots of space for your soirees, lots of acreage for my animals.”

She gaped at him. “How long have you known about this?”

“Your father told me only moments ago-just before he escorted you down the aisle.”

Her mouth opened and closed twice without any sound coming out. Finally she said, “You’ve known about this windfall for six minutes?”

“Approximately.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

He shrugged, then grinned. “I wanted to make sure you weren’t marrying me for my money.”

For several seconds she said nothing, then she gave a quick laugh. “I must say, this is unsurpassedly good news.”

“There’s no such word as unsurpassedly.”

“There is now.” And then she started talking so fast he could barely understand her. He risked a glance at the vicar, who looked as if he were about to suffer from apoplexy.

“Victoria,” Nathan whispered. When she continued to chatter, he shut her up the only way he knew how. Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her.

“Good heavens,” the vicar said in an outraged voice. “Not yet! I haven’t yet pronounced you man and wife!”

Breaking off the kiss, Nathan turned to the scarlet-faced man. “If I hadn’t kissed her, believe me, you never would have had the chance to do so.”

He returned his attention to Victoria, who looked flushed and well-kissed.

“Heavens,” she said, “you kissing me to shut me up-that is just how we started.”

“It is indeed.”

“And now I suppose it marks that this is the end of our courtship.”

Nathan brought her gloved hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss against her fingers. “No, my love, this is, in every way, just the beginning.”