Waltz of Seduction (Completed)

Chapter 10. 1816

Sunlight sparkled through the window of Karina's bedroom on a clear and pleasant morning towards the beginning of March. Opening her eyes, she moved into a sitting position, gazing around the room before her. She smiled to herself, knowing that the room she was in wasn't her room in her old home. It was the future chamber of the Duchess of Bedford. She had moved into Bedford Hall shortly after the engagement, and had been living with James ever since.  Turning her head at the sound of the door opening, she smiled at her future lady in waiting, Gretchen, who is standing in the doorway with a tray of scones and tea.

Gretchen smiled sweetly. "Good morning Miss Karina."

Karina. "Good morning Gretchen, that looks delicious."

Gretchen gave her the tray, then moved towards the curtains of the window, drawing them back to reveal the pleasant morning. "I'm glad you like it miss Karina. Oh, his grace told me to tell you that he would be involved with paperwork for the morning, but would be free this afternoon. Something about the two of you going into town today."

Karina smiled. "Yes, that's correct. Lord Preston and I are going to have afternoon tea with my brother and Margaret to discuss wedding details."

Gretchen. "Of course." She turned and made her way to the closet, disappearing into it before coming back out with a lovely off the shoulder pale blue silk gown.

Karina approved her choice of dress and shoes before turning her attention to her breakfast. She couldn't believe that she was engaged to James, and that Arthur was engaged to Margaret. The four of them decided to share their wedding day with each other, not wanting to share it with any other couple desiring to tie the knot. She couldn't wait to be married to James, to have his children and be his lifetime partner. She couldn't wait to become the Duchess of Bedford and attend lavish gatherings whatever she pleased.  Once she was finished with her breakfast, she put the tray aside for Gretchen to come and collect later, climbed out of bed, slid into the gown that she was going to wear, had Gretchen fix her hair into a side bun with curls, and stepped out of her room.

Moving down the hallway, Karina poked her head into her fiancé's office, and just as Gretchen had told her, noticed James seated at his desk, staring at a pile of paperwork. She smiled softly, not wanting to disturb him. She watched his pen move fluidly across each page, marking important details on every document. She had a feeling that everything involved numbers and correspondence.   She turned, and was about to make her way downstairs, when she heard James call out to her.

James smiled, placing his pen down and opening his arms for her. "Did you really believe you could get away without saying good morning to your fiancé?"

Karina giggled before moving across the floor of the office and sitting down on his lap. "I didn't believe I would be able to do any such thing your grace." Kissing him sweetly, she intertwined her arms around his neck and snuggled against him.

James held her close. "You look lovely this morning. I do apologize that we won't be able to spend time together until this afternoon, I have so much paperwork to take care of."

Karina smiled sweetly. "It's all right my dear, I understand. Arthur has the same problem, always swamped with paperwork."

James caressed her cheek. "But I promise that I am going to spend as much time with you as possible when we are married. I'm not going to allow any documents to come between us."

Karina. "But I won't let any duties come between us either, even though I know we are both going to be busy from time to time."

James. "That's true, but I believe we can always pencil in five minutes for each other every morning."

Karina's eyes sparkled. "I believe that's a wise idea my love."

Exchanging another sweet kiss, they separated so that James could finish his paperwork and Karina could go take a walk through the garden. They knew that their duties would need their attention. However, they wouldn't go one day without giving each other the attention that they both craved.  It was beginning to grow harder for the two of them to stay away from each other. But they knew that would all come to an end on the evening of their wedding.

***

Later that afternoon, James Karina Arthur and Margaret were seated at a table on the patio of the London tea House, discussing details for their wedding. Both couples agreed to be married at Westminster Abby. They decided to have the reception at Rochester Manor. The guest list wouldn't be large, consisting of only 50 close friends and family. 

Arthur. "The question is, where to go for the honeymoon?"

James. "Karina and I discussed going to Brighton for two weeks."

Margaret. "I think that would be lovely for the two of you."

Karina. "And where were the two of you planning on going?"

Arthur smiled broadly. "I was thinking of taking my lovely fiancé to Italy for two weeks."

Margaret squealed with excitement. "That sounds perfect my love!"

The four of them started laughing, happiness bursting between them. By the beginning of May, they would be married and beginning their new lives. They decided to plan the wedding during the month of April so that everything wouldn't be rushed and things would be perfect. Both couples couldn't wait to begin their lives as husband and wife, to start a family of their own.