Earl of Exile (Lords of Scandal 3)
Page 47
Diana stared down the aisle as Callum looked back, her heart ready to burst from her chest. Never had a man appeared more handsome than he did in this moment. He’d tied back his hair, his dark green eyes shining in the many candles lit in the church.
Her breath caught and she started for him, her father holding her back. “Steady, Diana.”
She looked over to her father. “Is he not the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen?”
Her father wrinkled his nose. “I don’t know about that, but I’m fairly certain, you are the most stunning bride that ever graced this church.”
Diana looked down at the cream gown she’d donned hoping to highlight her ivory skin and dark hair. “Thank you, Papa.”
“Now let’s get you married. I’m not certain what has filled the air but our girls have been struck by Cupid this spring.”
Diana raised her eyebrows. Lady Abernath as Cupid? She wasn’t sure she’d go that far, but despite everything that had happened, she still felt sympathy for the woman. And her actions had started an avalanche of marriages in the Chase family. “Now we just need to find husbands for Ada and Grace.”
Her father gave her a small wink. “They’re doing just fine.”
Diana glanced toward the front of the church to see both Vice and Bad sitting on either side of the ladies. How did she tell her father that the two men had likely been ordered by their friends to sit there? “I’m not sure either of those men would make proper husbands…they’re a bit…”
Her father held up his hand as the organ began to play. “We’ll worry about them later. Right now, how about we focus on you?”
She smiled as they began to walk down the aisle. Sin was there with his lovely daughter and they waved. But Diana couldn’t help but notice that Sin’s gaze slid to her cousin, Mary. Mary, for her part, blushed a lovely shade of pink at the earl’s gaze.
But she didn’t have time to focus on anyone else as they reached the front of the church and Callum reached for her hand.
The moment his fingers touched hers, she relaxed, looking into his eyes, everything and everyone else melted away. “I love you, Callum Exmouth.”
He gave her a soft smile. The sort that melted her insides. “I love ye, Diana Chase.” He gave her fingers a light squeeze. “I never imagined there was a woman such as ye out there. I’d say ye were waiting for me but we ken ye don’t wait for anything.”
Laughter, reminded her they weren’t alone. “It’s a good thing too. You might be on your way to Scotland this very moment.”
He pulled her closer. “That is very true and an excellent point. I don’t want ye to mistake me. Ye are the perfect woman for me.”
She let out a sigh as the priest moved forward. They were perfect together. Had been all along. And now they’d spend their lives together, filling each other in like the pieces to a puzzle. “And you are a wonderful man.”
“Shall we begin?” the priest asked.
Callum nodded but Diana only smiled. Their story had begun the day they’d met in the club. This was only the next chapter.
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This is the third book in the Lords of Scandal series. Keep reading to see a sneak peak of the next book: Viscount of Vice!
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But Earl of Exile has also begun a spin off series! Want to learn Fiona MacFarland’s story? A Lass to Love is the first of four books in the Brides of Scotland series!
Viscount of Vice
Lords of Scandal Book 4
Lord Blakely Everbee, The Viscount of Viceroy, sat next to Miss Ada Chase as they both watched her cousin walk down the aisle toward his friend, The Earl of Exmouth. He grimaced, inwardly, flexing his fingers. Vice bloody hated weddings. And he especially despised them while sitting next to an eligible woman who, if he wasn’t mistaken, was going to cry.
He nearly spit as he spied the little drop of water forming in the corner of her eye. Then she did what all ladies did. With a delicate dab of her kerchief, she let out a soft sigh. The sort that might lull a man into going soft. “Isn’t this just beautiful?”
Vice had to confess that while the wedding itself was dreadful, the sight of her wasn’t terribly awful. It was rather nice, in fact.
He didn’t dare credit her with any more than nice, however. He was considered by most to be exceptionally handsome, his features near angelic. And he held the women he dallied with to very high standards. They were the most beautiful, talented, gifted, or accomplished women in England and wider Europe for that manner. He’d had an affair, for example, with a gypsy known for her ability to read cards with deadly accuracy and drink vodka with the best men.
He’d carried on with the most famous actress in all of London, been with a Russian princess who was rich beyond his wildest imaginings. All in all, the list of women he’d shared a bed with was an accomplishment in and of itself. One he was proud of.