A Scandalous Portrait (The Rose Room Rogues 1)

Even though they had only seen each other a couple times since Patricia married a Highlander, she still made the trip to London to act as bridesmaid. Her Highlander husband was so big he terrified Diana when she first met him at Patricia’s wedding.

However, from what Patricia had told her and what she’d witnessed herself, Laird Ashton was besotted with his wife and three small daughters. Patricia also assured Diana that he was so thrilled with the little girls he had no cares that there were no sons. So far, Patricia had added, as she’d giggled and blushed

. Which left Diana thinking her friend was in a family way again.

Diana stopped briefly at the table where her father and his family sat to have a few words with them. They were going to spend some time at Diana’s townhouse and see the London sights before heading back to their home in South Yorkshire.

Before Diana had taken even one sip of her tea, the footmen began serving the breakfast Diana had planned with Cook. Marinated South Uist salmon, Lyme Bay crab, Hebridean langoustines over an herb salad, Highland Mey Select lamb, Highland Grove spring vegetables, English Asparagus, Jersey potatoes, sauce Windsor, and a trio of Berkshire honey ice cream, sherry trifle and chocolate parfait for dessert, along with the beautiful wedding cake that had been placed in the center of the table where Diana, Hunt, Driscoll and Patricia sat.

Diana was quite pleased at how well the food looked and tasted. Cook was definitely due a boon for the fine meal she had prepared.

* * *

As fine a meal as Diana’s staff had cooked and served, Hunt was anxious to finish up the feast and hustle his bride out of the house and to his townhouse.

He’d had his staff prepare his bedchamber with flowers and champagne and warned them that he and his bride would not be leaving the room until the next morning, so dinner and the following morning’s breakfast was to be served in the bedchamber.

Since he had duties to perform in Parliament, he could only squeak out a week to take Diana on a wedding trip. Diana had confessed to him at one time that she loved the city of Bath, so Hunt had arranged for them to stay in the Gainsborough Bath Spa. Named after the famous and beloved painter, Sir Thomas Gainsborough, the hotel was centered around Spa Village Bath and had the exclusive privilege of direct access to the natural thermal, mineral-rich waters, for which the city was famous.

Diana had assured him her bags were packed, and Driscoll would see them to the train in the morning. He sighed. Would the wedding breakfast ever be over?

“What’s wrong?” Diana asked as she viewed him over the rim of her wine glass. “You keep sighing.”

“Nothing, my pet.” He leaned in, close to her ear. “I am merely anxious to get you alone.”

Heat rose to her face, and she glanced around. “Shh, Hunt. People might hear you.”

Hunt’s eyebrows rose. “And you think anyone here, within, or not within, hearing distance would be surprised to hear me say that?”

“I’m not surprised,” Driscoll chimed in. He grinned at Diana and raised his glass in a salute. “In fact, I will give a toast now, brother, so you can easily use that as an excuse to slip away.”

“But we haven’t cut the wedding cake yet.” Diana eyed the beautiful monstrosity of three layers, decorated with pink and yellow flowers. “Cook did such a splendid job on it.”

“Very well, then,” Driscoll said. “I shall make a toast to your happiness and upcoming offspring production—”

Diana sucked in a deep breath. “Don’t you dare, Driscoll, or my first job as your sister-in-law would be to throttle you.”

“Nonsense, Diana, dear. You would not wish to get blood on that lovely gown.”

“Leave her alone, Driscoll,” Hunt growled.

Diana was pleased by Hunt’s remark and Driscoll’s surprised expression. After so many years of only having her grandmama as a champion, she now had Hunt.

Although truth be told, she’d always had Hunt. Wasn’t he the one she constantly turned to when in trouble?

Driscoll called a footman over and gave instructions to have everyone served champagne. While that was being done, Diana and Hunt cut the cake which was then taken to the kitchen to be sliced into individual pieces for the guests.

Her brother-in-law stood and held up his glass. “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate my brother on his excellent choice of a bride and wish them all the happiness in the world.”

Cheers resounded and everyone took a sip. “And,” he continued, looking down at Diana and Hunt, “may your ‘for better or worse’ be a lot better than worse.” He smiled at Diana. “Welcome to the family, Lady Huntington.”

19

Hunt entered his bedchamber after a quick bath to see Diana standing in front of the fireplace in a white silk dressing gown with her pink toes peeking out from below the nightgown underneath. Her hair was loose and falling around her shoulders, the curls reaching almost to her waist.

A slight blush rose to her face as she twisted her fingers, an uneasy smile on her plump, rose-colored lips. It appeared his bold and brave wife had lost some of her audaciousness.

He, on the other hand, was without air. Diana was stunning. He’d bedded many women in his life, some with amazing skill and seductive powers, but none had ever affected him the way his innocent bride did. As much as he wanted and desired her, he was overcome with the need to take her in his arms and tell her there was nothing to be afraid of.