Improperly Wed (Aristocratic Grooms #3)(24)
Author: Anna DePalo

“What are you going to do?” Tamara asked.

Belinda lifted her shoulders. “What can I do? Nothing. No annulment, no divorce.”

“So that’s it? You plan to stay married…until death do you part?”

“Not quite,” Belinda admitted, hedging. “I’ve talked Easterbridge into a sort of postnuptial agreement. The longer we stay married, the more Wentworth property I can walk away with in a divorce.”

In fact, Easterbridge had had a short agreement drawn up by his solicitor while Belinda had gone back to New York. She’d had her lawyer review it, and the agreement had been signed just yesterday.

Pia looked deflated. “Still, perhaps Colin really does care for you, because what other incentive would he have for agreeing to such an arrangement?”

“Hardly,” Belinda responded.

Tamara tilted her head. “And so, you’re planning to stay the course in this marriage until you gain title to all the Wentworth property?”

“Exactly.”

Belinda watched Pia and Tamara exchange another look.

“Just be careful,” Tamara finally spoke. “Take it from me, this marriage of mutual convenience situation can be trickier than you think.”

Belinda knew Tamara was remembering her own predicament with Sawyer, when her future husband had also made marriage a condition to the both of them getting what they wanted.

Belinda bit her bottom lip. “I’ve already learned my lesson, remember? I eloped with Easterbridge once. It’s not the type of mistake that I intend to make again.”

She knew she had to keep her guard up with Colin. She didn’t have a crystal ball or good insight into his motivations.

Pia looked doubtful. “Well, this time you’re already married, so the only thing that can happen is—”

Warningly, Tamara gave a quick shake of the head.

“—anything,” Belinda acknowledged, finishing for her.

At the wedding reception, Colin barely took his eyes off of Belinda. He stood to one side of the ballroom and took a sip of his wine. He knew he had unmasked desire on his face. He was committing the unbelievably gauche sin of lusting after his own wife at a social event, but he didn’t give a damn.

After Pia and Hawk’s wedding ceremony, followed by a traditional wedding breakfast, everyone had repaired and refreshed in time for an elegant black-tie dinner-dance in Silderly Park’s ballroom.

When Colin had first caught sight of Belinda tonight, she had stunned him with a body-hugging gown of crimson satin. She wore a large ruby-and-diamond pendant necklace and matching earrings. A delicate flower-motif tiara nested in her upswept hair.

He’d presented her with the jewels when she’d arrived at their hotel for the wedding. He’d texted her in advance to ask the color of her dress, and if she’d wondered why he bothered asking, she hadn’t let on. He meant tonight to be a statement to everyone that Belinda was his marchioness. Not only were many entrants in Debrett’s Peerage in attendance, but he thought he’d spotted a photographer for Tatler, the society glossy.

Across the room, Colin stared at the ruby pendant resting in the deep V of Belinda’s cle**age. It twinkled and taunted him. If he thought he’d been tempted this morning during the wedding ceremony, he was certainly in purgatory now as a result of her crimson fire ensemble. It was all he could do not to sweep up Belinda and carry her away from the conversation that she was having with a Spanish countess.

Belinda had arrived from London only this morning and had parked her bags in their hotel suite with just enough time to get ready for the wedding. He’d missed her this past week. If anything, their recent skirmishes had increased his desire for her.

Colin handed his empty glass to a passing waiter and walked deliberately toward his wife.

At the last moment, Belinda turned her head and spotted him. She widened her eyes.

“Hello, darling,” he said, leaning in to give her a quick peck on the cheek before she could move away.

The Spanish countess smiled at both of them.

“Colin, may I introduce you to—”

“We already have made each others’ acquaintance,” he interrupted smoothly. “Pleased to see you again, Countess.”

“Likewise, my lord.”

He cupped Belinda’s elbow. “You would not mind if I lure my beautiful wife away for a dance…”

The countess smiled again and inclined her head. “Of course, not.”

“Oh, but—”

Colin turned Belinda in the direction of the dance floor. “The next song is about to begin.”

After a moment’s resistance, Belinda let him guide her toward some other couples.

When they reached the dance floor, he turned her to face him.

She frowned up at him. “Neatly done.”

It wasn’t a compliment. Nonetheless, he smiled easily. “Thank you. I assume you know how to waltz?”

“Yes.” She wrinkled her nose. “I was forced to take comportment lessons as a teenager.”

His smile widened into a grin. “I can see the results. Your manners are exquisite, particularly toward me.”

“Sarcasm is not appreciated,” she grumbled.

He slipped his hand around her waist, and when she laid her hand in his, he pulled her closer.

She sucked in a startled breath. “Of course a romantic like Pia would want the waltz played at her wedding.”

“Lucky me.”

He’d been itching to touch her all evening, even if it was through the satiny barrier of her dress.

The music began, and they started gliding in circles around the dance floor, keeping time with the other couples.

Colin’s eyes stayed on Belinda’s as the world receded around them and they were swept away by the notes of “Waves of the Danube.”

Her eyes were more amber than green. They reflected her emotion in a way that she probably wouldn’t be happy about but that was fascinating and useful for a gambler at heart like him.

Right now, her eyes were telling him that she was affected by their nearness although she was trying hard not to let it show.

He could feel her body heat under his hand at the small of her back. Her lips were slightly parted and carried a lustrous red shimmer that called to him.

The look of her lips just saved him from being entranced by the ruby practically tucked in her bodice. If it was gauche to gaze hungrily at one’s wife, then staring at her cle**age was beyond the pale.

“If you keep regarding me that way, we may go up in flames,” she said sharply.