Eliza The rec eption at the castle felt like it was fit for a queen. I hadn’t thought I would ever get exactly what I wanted out of today, but at the last minute, Will and I had changed a few things to make it feel like ours, and it was stunning. Lights had been strung across the courtyard and music drifted through the open doors. There were candles and wildflowers in tiny vases on the tables instead of the elaborate decorations my sisters had chosen. Those hadn’t gone to waste, though. We’d simply used them at lunch, along with the massive flower arrangements. Tonight, however, was all about us. Our music. Our choices. The intertwining of our lives forevermore. Laughter echoed off the stone walls, people I barely knew and those I loved celebrating Will and me. His hand brushed mine as he moved past me, pausing just long enough to squeeze my fingers before being pulled into another conversation, this time by Zach and Theo. Kate caught my eye across the room and winked. Charlotte gave me a subtle nod, smiling like she’d known me forever. Even Jesse lifted his glass in my direction, genuine warmth on his face as he looked around the room. Once again, it was a lot but in the best possible way. My heart felt so full, I’d hardly stopped smiling all day. “Not bad,” a voice said beside me. I stiffened, instantly recognizing it. Bracing for what was sure to be yet another round of catty criticism, I turned and lifted my chin just a fraction higher than usual. Eugenie looked me over from head to toe, her critical gaze probably picking up a dozen things she hated about this dress. Meanwhile, I loved it. Somehow, Will’s sister and sister-in-law had managed to pick out at least a dozen options that were absolutely exquisite, flying them across an ocean to get them to me before the big day. That had really put it into perspective how little my own sisters cared. Kate and Charlotte barely knew me and they’d already done more for me than Eugenie or Winnie ever had. They’d also gotten ready with me today, with Jane on video call from America and even Will’s aunt, CC, chatting to us for a while. “Go on then,” I said to my sister, feeling fortified after spending the day with so many incredible women. “Let me have it, then leave.”
“You made the right choice with that dress,” she said, surprising the heck out of me. I searched her eyes for any hint that she was mocking me, but she seemed completely serious and oddly serene. “Excuse me?” “It suits you,” she said easily, as if this was the sort of conversation we had all the time. “Soft and pretty but with structure.” I frowned. “What are you talking about?” “The boning in the corset.” She gestured vaguely. “The way the skirts fall. There’s a shape to the design. Intent. I wouldn’t have said so before, but now, I know that it suits you. De ep down, it’s got a backbone made of steel, regardless of how soft it seems on the outside.” All I could do was blink at her, absolutely baffled. “How much champagne have you had? Are you feeling alright?” She smiled, but it wasn’t even her usual cool, calculating smile. This one seemed strangely sincere. “I was glad to see that Will helped you find your lady-balls.” I choked on nothing but air. “My what?” “It’ll be far easier to live with you if you’re not just fading into the background anymore,” she said. “Honestly, Eliza. I was so impressed at Roderick House. I didn’t think you had it in you, but perhaps you really are my sister after all.” I bristled, my eyes narrowing. “So in order for you to recognize me as your sister, you wanted me to tell you off?” “I wanted you to be an actual person,” she said, clearly exasperated. “Someone I could talk to without having to walk on eggshells all the time. Do you know how difficult it is to connect with someone who never tells you what they actually think? That day at Father’s house was the first glimpse I’ve seen of you in years.” My lips parted, but I didn’t even have an answer to that. “Are you actually trying to apologize? Because it sounds like there might be a compliment in there somewhere.” She gave me an elegant shrug, another smile playing on her lips. “I’m not apologizing, but I am complimenting you. I’m also hopeful that we might find some common ground now.” “You threatened to expose the twins,” I said. “You were going to tell everyone unless the Westwoods paid you off and I know Will gave you the money, so no. There is no common ground. There’s only you, suddenly trying to get closer to me now that I’ve married into a wealthy family.”
Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “They’re not just wealthy, darling. They’re an empire. But be that as it may, their money has nothing to do with this. I’m surprised he told you, but I really do like the dress. And the fact that there is a personality somewhere inside you. I’m looking forward to getting to know my sister finally.” “You didn’t think he’d tell me? We’re married now, for goodness sake.” “Yes, well, he hasn’t exactly been honest with you before, but if you must know, my ex-boyfriend has paid off his debts.” Wait, what? “I’m not sure I’m following.” “I broke up with him after, but not before ensuring there’s a loan agreement in place,” she said, as if that should help it all make sense. “He’ll be paying Will back, probably for the rest of his life, but your husband will get his money back, and in the meantime, he’ll be receiving dividends as an investor in the company as well.” I frowned. “Why would you do that?” “He made poor decisions.” She sniffed and pretended to study her manicured nails. “I corrected them, then chucked him in the bin. That whole situation made me realize he was a loser and I don’t need one of those in my life.” “That was a surprisingly responsible way to go about things,” I said, then threw her own words back at her. “I didn’t think you had it in you.” “I know. Shocking, right?” She paused briefly, her head tilting as she studied me. “Maybe I took a page out of your book. You stood up for yourself and I followed suit.” My eyes widened, my brain still whirring trying to catch up. “Is that another compliment?” She inclined her chin, the expression in her eyes softening. It was so alien to see that I leaned in a bit closer when she smiled. “You deserved to find the love of your life, Eliza. I’m happy for you.” Before I could respond, Will appeared at my side, not subtly placing himself ever so slightly between Eugenie and me. “Eliza, are you okay?” His gaze flicked briefly to Eugenie, still very much distrustful of my oldest sister. I slid my hand into his and offered him a reassuring smile. “I’m fine.” Eugenie looked between us, then back at me. “Alright, well, I just wanted to congratulate you both, but do you think it would be okay if I started calling you a little more often?” My eyebrows inched up. “You want to call me, as in, speak to me on the tel ephone?” “Yes,” she said. “Voluntarily. It would be nice to have a chat every so often, don’t you think?”
I stared at her for a second, then nodded slowly. “Okay.” She smiled again. “Excellent. In that case, I’ll let you get back to it. Congratulations. Both of you.” With that, she turned and walked away, and I watched her go, still completely baffled. “Did that just happen?” Will’s head was shaking as he let out a quiet laugh. “I think so.” “Yeah, wow.” I leaned into him, my head tipping toward his shoulder. “I have no idea where that came from, though.” “Neither do I,” he murmured, just standing there with me for a minute as we watched her disappear into the crowd. Then he straightened up. “Come with me.” “Where are we going?” “Es caping from our own rec eption for a few minutes,” he said, leading me out of the hall through one of the side doors. The music faded behind us as we strolled outside and to the outskirts of the garden. The air was cooler now, this morning’s rain long gone, leaving everything damp and glistening under the soft lights strung through the trees. The scent of wet earth and flowers wafted through the air and I inhaled de eply, feeling so incredibly blessed to be back here, at the estate I loved, married to the man I loved. It felt so right that I could barely contain a squeal when I thought about it too long. Will stopped near the edge of the garden, where the lights didn’t quite reach. He let go of my hand to reach up, brushing his thumb gently along my jaw. “I love you, Eliza Roderick.” “I love you too,” I said softly, smiling as I leaned into his touch. “What are we doing out here, though?” His mouth curved slightly, like hearing that I loved him still surprised him, but he didn’t let it linger long. “I have a gift for you.” I raised an eyebrow at him. “You’ve already married me. That feels like the big one.” “This one’s better.” “Oh, good.” He took a small breath, those blue eyes silvery in the low light as he held my gaze. “Jesse is taking over as COO at Westwood and Sons.” I stilled completely, blinking hard before my eyes slowly started growing wider. “What? But you love your job.” “I do, but not as much as I love you,” he murmured. “I’m retiring, Eliza. Moving here to be with you and help you run the estate, if that’s alright?”
As he said it, my thoughts just stopped. I stared up at him, unable to believe that he’d do that... for me. “Why?” He watched me for a second. “I have enough money in investments and my accounts to fund our lifestyle five times over. We won’t ever struggle.” “That’s not...” I shook my head. “That’s not what I’m thinking about at all.” “I know, but I need you to understand that this isn’t a risk. It’s a choice I’m making to be here with you. This is where I want to be. It’s the life I want to live.” “Here?” I r epeated. “Are you sure?” He nodded. “We’ll live at the castle and raise our children right here in England. We’ll have to make a few trips to Chicago a year, but the estate is big enough to build a private airstrip and a hangar for my jet, so—” I kissed him. That was the only logical response as far as I was concerned. Every word, every impossible, beautiful, overwhelming piece of what he was offering... I didn’t have the capacity to process it any other way. So I kissed him. My hands slid up to his shoulders and he pulled me closer, one arm hooked around my waist while he cupped my face gently in the other hand. I didn’t even have to ask if he was serious about all this, because he was. Will Westwood was sacrificing life as he knew it—for me. For the estate. The castle. The quiet life I hadn’t even let myself hope would be mine forever. When I pulled back, I was smiling, tears in my eyes and my chest filled with so much pressure that for a second, all I could do was stare up at him. “Thank you.” “No, thank you,” he said quietly. Before I could ask what he was doing, he bent down and picked me up. I laughed, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck. He glanced down at me with a grin on his lips. “I’m sneaking you away now.” “There’s a whole room full of people who will definitely notice we’re gone.” “They’ll survive,” he said as he carried me toward a back entrance of the castle. “This is our night, Eliza. We’ve been theirs all day. Right now, you’re the only person I want to belong to.” “It’s really hard to argue when you put it like that,” I murmured, leaning into him and deciding that he was right. These last couple weeks had been an absolute whirlwind and the last few days had been even crazier. It was about time that he and I just got to be together, and it was rather late. I was sure our guests would start d eparting soon anyhow.
But even if they stayed all night, I was ready to kick off my shoes and just be with my husband. As he finally carried me into my room, he kicked the door shut behind us, then set me down gently on my feet. I circled my arms around his neck again, looking up at his handsome face and trying to believe that he was really mine. “How did we get here?” He smiled and shook his head. “I have no idea, but I’m never letting you go. You know that, right?” “I’d hope so,” I murmured as I pushed up on my toes and pressed another kiss to his lips. “You did just promise me forever in front of the entire village. They’ll go after you with pitchforks if you try to break that promise.” He groaned. “That’s wonderful that you’re only telling me now, but I’m not worried. I’m not going anywhere, Eliza.” He slanted his mouth over mine and kissed me soundly, walking us backward into the bedroom and gently unzipping the dress. I kicked off my heels, still kissing him as he made a content sound at the back of his throat. “I suppose I’ll have to thank Kate and Charlotte for bringing dresses that aren’t impossible to get you out of.” Heat cr ept to my cheeks. “Perhaps let’s not tell them.” “Whatever you want, but I guarantee it was a consideration in the selection process.” Once the zipper was open, the dress slowly slid off, but I still had to climb out of it, now left in only lacy panties. Will offered me his hand as I st epped out of it. Those blue eyes heated as his gaze raked across my mostly naked body. “God, I’m never going to get enough of you.” My nipples hardened under the weight of his stare, my entire body suddenly tingling with anticipation. “That’s good because I don’t want you to.” A playful light lit in his eyes and he shoved me backward onto the bed. I laughed, grabbing onto him to bring him with me. His shoes dropped to the floor with heavy thuds as his mouth met mine again, his jacket thankfully left behind in the ballroom and his shirt and pants presenting no challenge to shed. Both of us breathing slightly harder than usual, we worked together on getting him naked too. Then he rolled my panties down as he kissed a line down the length of my body. My eyelids slid shut and I relaxed into the mattress. My fingers slid into his hair. Just a week ago, I wasn’t sure this would ever happen with him again, but when his mouth found my center, I let out a moan of pure relief that was as emotional as it was physical. Will made me feel things no one else ever had.
With him, I could just let go and be myself, and that was true in the middle of a fight, during everyday life, and even here, in bed. It was such a freeing feeling. He licked a hot, wet line between my folds, and another moan slid out of me, even louder this time. He laved at me like a man enjoying his last meal and the sensations he was eliciting were somehow better than ever. My toes curled, my skin tingled, and my eyes slid shut as I felt the orgasm starting to build. Seconds before it erupted, I reached for him, desperately clawing at his bare shoulders. “No, Will. Not like this. Not tonight.” He frowned at me, his features taut with restraint and concentration as he looked up at me. “What do you mean?” “With you,” I said, panting. My entire body trembled as I wrapped my fingers around his shoulders and looked into his eyes. “I want to feel you with nothing between us. We need to produce an heir anyway, and we’re married now and I just...” “You want this?” he finished when my words failed me. “Yeah. Okay. I hear you.” Without hesitating, he slid back up the length of my body and kissed me de eply, the broad tip of him so hot when it nudged at my entrance that I moaned into his mouth. A low sound rumbled through his chest as he pushed in slowly, stiffening almost immediately. “Oh, God. Eliza, this is...” He was the one to trail off this time, but I didn’t bother responding. Arching into him, I kissed him with all my might, needing him to know that whatever he was feeling, I was feeling it too. This was different than it had been before, so much more intense that I honestly wasn’t sure where he ended and I began. It felt like we were truly becoming one, just like we’d promised we would be. Entwined. Together. Forever.