Emilia knew she should feel some sort of guilt as she watched Will's mouth drop open on her way down the aisle. Every thought in his head was clear as day to her, and she secretly loved it.

Perhaps this was her final revenge, or maybe this was merely her way of saying that the games were only beginning.

Not games as in treason and ruin and breaking hearts, but rather the endless teasing of her husband, the man she loved. Their marriage would never be boring. How could it be when the man's eyes glittered with dangerous love every time he glanced her way?

She knew he hadn't been happy waiting a month to get married. She also knew that he had been growing frustrated about their lack of time alone, but Emilia had asked for Lady Worthington's help with the wedding planning. And that woman was a hawk.

Not to mention Theo. Her brother hadn't wanted anything to do with the planning, but he had been strict about Will spending an unnecessary amount of time at their home.

His reasoning was sensible, Emilia supposed. Every trace of Emilia's ruined status in society had vanished, and Theo had every intention of keeping it that way. Emilia was no longer bothered by her reputation, but she did care about her brother. And she knew that he blamed himself for the last time she had been ruined, even though he couldn't have stopped it if he had wanted to.

Emilia now knew that the fault lay entirely with the King of England. Her heart had forgiven Will of the things he had done in the name of her protection. And Theo had only ever wanted to do the same.

But Emilia didn't want Theo to deal with any more guilt if she were defamed, so she regretfully kept Will at arm's length.

Much to his distaste.

Well, and her own.

But they didn't want any tongues wagging. Even engaged couples were supposed to follow the strict proprietary rules of London society.

But now...now, Will was within grasp, and Emilia smiled at him. His gaping mouth pressed shut, and he grinned back. Warmth shot down Emilia's body, the flash of his smile nearly too much for her. He was so incredibly handsome; his jet black, loose curls begged to be tousled by her hands.

His blue eyes were dancing as he took her in.

Emilia knew that Will had been carefully raking those smoldering eyes over her gown, but now it was her turn to survey him. She had seen him in formal attire before, but never this fine. Or perhaps, never so perfectly tailored to his body.

Her thoughts were interrupted as they neared the end of the aisle, and Theo pressed his lips lightly to her forehead before passing her off to Will.

She saw Theo lean in and whisper something to her groom, causing them both to chuckle before Will faced her.

He took her hands, and she noticed how steady they were. He was so confident, so open, and self-assured. His strength was her strength.

"You are not wearing gloves," he murmured, his lips curving in amusement.

Her expression mimicked his. "I always do forget those damn things."

Their fingers intertwined as their officiant began to speak, but Emilia knew she wouldn't be able to repeat a word of what he was saying. All she knew was that Will was warmly gazing into her eyes, and it was as if they were the only ones there.

The world seemed to tilt around her as they repeated the words they were told to. Soon, Will took her into his arms and kissed her with far too much enthusiasm for a church. As his tongue swept in her mouth, she forced herself to break away, even though a jolt of desire went through her body at his sensual touch. He wore a devilish expression on his face when she looked up at him. Laughing, Emilia grabbed his hand happily before Will tugged her down the aisle.

He was grinning madly as they walked through the small gathering of their friends and family—or rather, friends who had become family.

They exited the church, and people soon swarmed out after them. Emilia heard Theo's disgruntled voice behind her. "Are you ever going to stop showing a ridiculous amount of public affection?"

Will laughed and wrapped an arm around Emilia's waist, hugging her close to him. "I doubt it. Sorry, Kingfield."

Theo sighed dramatically and then smiled. "Congratulations to you both."

Emilia returned her brother's grin. Now that the ceremony was over, she was reminded of the surprise she had planned for Theo. Emilia flashed a sly look at her husband, and he appeared as though he knew precisely what she was thinking.

"Shall we head inside, then?" Will offered before leading the way across the lawn to Rosecrest Manor.

Will's country home had a spectacular dining room that perfectly fit the small gathering of people who had traveled for their wedding. Emilia peeked her head inside it this morning to see that the long, crafted table had been set to perfection for the event. Brightly lit candles and other golden centerpieces lined the middle of it.

Now, their guests were gathering in the reception room just outside the dining hall, waiting to begin the seating process. Leo's laughter could be heard continually ringing through the area as people mingled and sipped upon the offered refreshments.

Seating their guests the way that etiquette dictated—by rank and title—could become an arduous affair, but Lady Worthington had insisted that they stick with tradition.

There was only one reason that Emilia had agreed.

Emilia and Will mingled with their guests as they waited for the process to begin. They were chatting with Lady Humphries about the article she had written about them when Theo approached Emilia's right side.

"Are we going to being seating for the breakfast?" Theo asked, a hand resting on his stomach as if indicating his hunger.

"It is customary to have our highest-ranked guest be seated first, Theo," Emilia said simply, using her very best manners. "We are waiting for them."

She had been practicing.

Theo scowled. "Since when did you care about social norms?"

He grunted and then began to walk away before quickly looking back at them. "Wait," he said, "I am the highest-ranked guest. Or Weston. And he's over there." Theo jerked his thumb toward the settee, where Andrew was discussing something rather intently with an enthusiastically engaged Lady Worthington.

Emilia shot a conspiratorial glance at Will, who was withholding an amused smile. "Sorry to break it to you, Kingfield, but not today."

Theo quite literally scratched his head in confusion. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Will said slowly, "you are not the highest rank guest attending our wedding breakfast."

"What? How is that even possible?"

Emilia laughed lightly and said to Will, "He'll figure it out eventually."

"Well," Will replied, "that guest should be here very shortly if he does not."

And then, Emilia saw her, gliding gracefully into the room behind Theo.

"There!" she said, pointing Theo in the right direction.

Her brother whipped around before freezing. He merely stood there unmoving as Adelaide approached, beaming at them brightly. She wore a rose-colored gown with an empire waist, the fabric flowing over her enlarged belly. Emilia couldn't believe how much she had grown since the last time they saw each other.

As Adelaide crossed the room, her eyes were only for Theo. Emilia wished she could better see her brother's expression, but he was turned away from her, his attention not leaving Addie.

As soon as the princess reached them, she switched her focus to Will and Emilia.

"I am so happy for you," she squealed, reaching out to give Emilia a hug and then Will. "I am sorry I could not make it from London any sooner."

"We are happy that you could come at all, Your Highness," Will said, smiling.

"Oh, stop it," Addie said, swatting his arm. "I've told you before to call me Adelaide or Addie."

She turned back to Theo then, who had finally closed his gaping mouth.

"Hello, Theo," she said softly with an amused expression, reaching out to him.

"Is that all you have to say?" Theo choked out, one of his brows raised.

He grabbed her extended hand and squeezed it.

"Well," Addie began, drawing the word out. "I am not sure what else to say when we are in this crowded room, my dear."

Theo looked around the area, where they were surrounded by their closest confidants.

"Jesus Christ," Theo muttered beneath his breath and then tugged on her hand, sending her flying into him. Addie's mouth popped open in surprise before Theo covered it with his own, kissing her quickly but soundly. When he released her, he ran a hand over the bump on her belly and then cupped her face. Emilia could hear him whisper, "Hello, you two."

It almost made Emilia want to cry, and she thought that her brother might have been crying, but then Will broke the moment by saying, "What were you saying about public affection, Kingfield?"

"Sod off, Trotten," Theo said, his eyes not leaving Addie's, but he was grinning while he did. He released Addie from his grip before saying, "I should be mad at you both for keeping this from me, but I cannot." He glanced at his future wife and said, "Thank you for coming. I am so happy you are here."

"Me too," she murmured.

"How are you here?" he asked, as if as an afterthought.

"Well, Emilia and Will invited me, of course."

Emilia nodded. "I did it as a whim. I was not sure if she would be able to, but I wanted to try."

Addie smiled at her before flicking her eyes over the two men. "And I do not think Ernest will notice my absence."

"Really?" Will asked, clearly intrigued.

Addie shook her head. "He's sick, Will."

"What?"

"Not long after the announcement about you leaving Parliament came out, he came down with a chest illness. He hasn't been able to recover."

Will merely stared at her, urging Addie to say more. "He asked me to visit him just yesterday. I think he knows his time is soon—he doesn't look good at all if I'm honest." Addie looked directly at Will and asked, "Have you heard of what has been happening in Parliament now that sessions are beginning without you?"

Will shook his head. "I haven't thought about it at all. I was so relieved to be done."

Addie acknowledged that with a smile and replied, "The progressives have taken control. Weston has been running the show."

"Damn right he is," Theo added, giving an approving glance at the older man in the corner.

"The ton is fawning over you, Will," Addie continued. "And even more are supporting me. King Ernest's control over his country has slipped, and his will to live has slipped with it. Serves him right for taking the lives of others."

Emilia heard the words that Addie was saying, but her full attention was on Will, watching as he digested the information. She couldn't tell what he was thinking or feeling; his face was blank.

"He killed your family, Addie. He all but admitted it," Will said with a hollow voice.

"He did admit it. He admitted it to me yesterday when I asked," she replied in a small voice. It was quiet for a moment. Finally, Addie said, "One day, you will have to tell me how you did it, Will. How you left him. But let us leave politics for another day. Today is to celebrate you both." She leaned toward Emilia then and added, "And you have to tell me everything that I've missed."

Emilia laughed. "How long do you have?"

The princess's eyes twinkled with curiosity, but she didn't answer. Instead, they announced it was time to begin seating for their meal, and the four of them had to take their places.

Their wedding breakfast was startlingly traditional, considering how nontraditional Emilia and Will's relationship had been. Emilia kept catching Will's eyes, watching her darkly. And every time he did so, shivers were sent down her spine.

Her relatively exposed spine.

The more prolonged the meal became, the more uncomfortable Emilia grew beneath Will's heated stare. Uncomfortably hot.

Finally, the plates were cleared away, and their guests began to retire to the parlor and sitting room for further conversation and refreshments. After the long morning, Emilia intended to freshen herself before joining the festivities. However, an arm caught her before she could even take one step onto the stairs leading to her bedchamber.

"Let me help you," Will's husky voice said in her ear. And then Emilia let out a yelp as he swung her up into his arms, clutching her against his chest.

"What are you doing?" Emilia cried, half in protest and half in humor.

Will was already ascending the stairs with Emilia in his arms, and she couldn't help but marvel at his strength and agility. When they reached the top step, Will turned to the left and murmured into her hair, "Carrying my wife over the threshold, of course."

Despite a flutter in her chest at the way he said wife, Emilia said, "Our guests are still here!"

"They are fine," Will said succinctly. "Your husband, on the other hand, is not."

Will quickly carried her into his bedchamber and kicked the door shut behind him with his foot.

"He's not?" Emilia asked in surprise, twisting in his arms to look at him with concern.

But he only smiled mischievously down at her, his handsome face masked by desire. "No. My wife is driving me wild."

Still holding her, Will leaned down and captured her mouth with his. Emilia immediately whimpered and kissed him back. It had been too long since they had been alone without worrying about watchful eyes, and suddenly it seemed impossible to return downstairs where everyone awaited to gawk at them once more.

She reached up and grabbed at his neck, pulling him closer as his tongue teased her own. Not breaking their kiss, Will crossed the room to the bed and set Emilia down atop it, so she was sitting and facing him with her head tilted upward. He cupped her face with both hands, continuing to kiss her eagerly, insatiably.

Emilia instinctively opened her legs so that Will could step between them, his own legs flush with the edge of the mattress.

"God, you're beautiful," Will whispered against her lips. Suddenly, he stood straight and offered Emilia his hand. She took it, and Will helped her to stand, her slippered feet hitting the floor lightly as she did. "Just look at you," he said. Will gripped her shoulders, twisting her around until she faced the full-length mirror on the opposite side of the bed.

Emilia looked at herself, noticing the way her lips were swollen from Will's kisses. Her hair had begun to fall from her pins, framing her face gracefully. Emilia looked lovely, but her favorite part of the reflection before her was the way she appeared in Will's arms.

He was watching her in the mirror, and when their eyes met, Will grinned devilishly. His fingers began to trace the curve of her spine, and she felt his breath on her neck as he said, "You're a minx, Emilia. Wearing this gown on our wedding day. You know what it does to me."

Emilia leaned back into him, loving the feel of his hard body against her soft one. She watched in the mirror as his eyes roved the length of her body, and soon his hands were following suit. Emilia groaned at the feeling of his warm hands through the satiny fabric. His touch was setting her skin aflame. When Will's hands traveled to cup her breasts over the bodice of her gown, Emilia's breath left her.

"I need you, Emilia," he gasped.

"I'm yours, Will," she said, confirming that she was his to take.

Suddenly, Will dropped down on his haunches behind her. Emilia was about to turn around when she felt Will's hands dip beneath her skirts and grip her ankles. Slowly, he ran his fingers up the back of her legs while Emilia watched her breathing grow deeper in her reflection, her breasts heaving over the cut of her bodice.

His touch did magnificent things to her body.

Cool air began hitting the back of her legs, and Emilia realized that he was lifting her skirts as he moved upwards with his exploration. Finally, he was standing behind her again, only this time, his hands gripped the curve of her bare bottom. She hadn't been wearing undergarments. Nipping at her ear, Will repeated harshly, "I knew it. I need you. I cannot wait, darling."

"Yes, Will," Emilia practically whined, feeling like her legs were going to give out beneath the weight of her desire.

She saw the smolder of his eyes grow deeper at her breathy reply. His hands disappeared momentarily, and when they came back, they were pushing Emilia forward over the bed. Once she was bent over, Will seized her hip with one of his strong hands while the other hand slipped between Emilia's legs.

She jolted as Will brushed a finger over her intimately. "You are so ready for me, Emilia," he groaned.

"Will," she begged, watching him intently and impatiently as he looked down at her beneath him. He was experimenting with the way she responded to his intimate touch, and it was exquisite torture.

Will continued to tease her, drawing low groans from between her lips as her entire body tightened. His lips tilted upward with satisfaction as Emilia began moving her own hips in time with his fingers. She made a throaty noise as pleasure built within her.

His head lifted at the sound of her whimper. Will's touch fell away, and their heated gazes connected in the mirror.

And then Emilia was crying out. Will had replaced his finger with something entirely more demanding, thrusting into where he had just been teasing. She threw her head down against the bed, the feeling unbearably good.

"Look at me, Emilia. Look at us," Will commanded in a strained voice as his erection pulled out and thrust back in again.

She tilted her head back up to see Will gripping her from behind, the muscles in his arms stretching the many layers of formal attire he still wore. He bit his lip in concentration while he moved inside her, saying, "This is what you do to me, Emilia. All of the time. But especially in this goddamn dress."

Emilia couldn't speak, intoxicated by the feeling of him and the scene of them together. She moaned, and Will took that to mean she wanted more. Which she did. He thrust harder, and Emilia's bodice began to slip off her shoulders, revealing the tips of her rosy breasts.

Will growled his appreciation at the sight, and it was all too much for Emilia. She was sure she would explode as Will drove her home with his hips. She thought that perhaps he might explode as well.

And then, they did. Together, Will and Emilia fell onto the top of the bed with sated pleasure.

They stayed there for a few minutes, their ragged breathing slowly returning to normal. Shortly after, though, Emilia felt herself being repositioned once again. Will gently moved her to fully lie on the bed, sinking into the soft bedclothes. Her eyes were half-closed, but Emilia saw Will removing the rest of his clothes through her eyelashes. He pulled her slippers off before rolling her onto her side to access the buttons on her dress.

The urgency from earlier was gone from his movements, and instead, he seemed to savor every button as it came undone. When her dress was loose enough to slip off, Will pushed it down her body so that she was bare before him.

She heard his breath catch, and Emilia opened her eyes fully. Will leaned on the bed and shook his head, saying, "I cannot believe you are mine." He grabbed a blanket and draped it over her.

Emilia gave him a sleepy smile. "I am yours, Will Graham. And you are mine. Forever."