One Sinful Night (31 page)

Vivienne and Aidan were married that Saturday in London by special license as originally planned by Lord Cardwell. It was a small, intimate affair and everyone in attendance agreed that it was quite obvious the bride and groom were madly in love with each other. The entire Cardwell family was there, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Bingham, and the Earl and Countess of Hartshorne and their daughter Lady Helene Winston. However, it was duly noted that Lady Whitlock had unexpectedly taken ill and was not able to attend the ceremony.

At a lovely breakfast at the Cardwell's townhouse following the ceremony, the new Earl and Countess of Whitlock were showered with good wishes.

The Duchess of Bingham cooed with happiness, “Why, Vivienne, Lord Whitlock swept you off your feet so quickly, we never even had a chance to see how many marriage offers you would get this season!”

Vivienne, wearing a stunning rose pink silk gown, responded blissfully, “But I accepted the only offer I wanted!”

Gregory pulled Vivienne aside, his freckled face bearing a gleeful grin, and gave her a hug. “My best friend and my favorite cousin. I'm very happy for you, Vivvy. I told you things had a way of working out for the best in the end.”

“Yes, you were right, Gregory.” Vivienne smiled at him, and glanced knowingly toward Helene. “About both of us.” Gregory was beaming with happiness at finally winning Lady Helene's heart and hand. They were planning a grand wedding for the fall.

Aidan came to her with a kiss and a crystal glass full of champagne for her. “Hello, my beautiful wife.”

“Hello, my handsome husband.” She glanced up at him with a luminous smile. It had been a long time coming, but they were finally husband and wife. Vivienne was still stunned by all that had happened in the past week.

Even after they turned Jackson Harlow over to the authorities for the crimes he committed, more of his wrongdoings were brought to light. Vivienne revealed what she learned the day Jimmy Travers burst into Jackson's office, which linked him to the fire, and his brother Miles had a mountain of evidence against him, including the murder of Jimmy Travers. Jackson Harlow would be in prison for many, many years.

Obviously Aidan's mother had made her choice to face exile from London rather than accept their marriage. As sad as that was, Vivienne had to admit it was a relief to have the woman gone from their lives.

Then Glenda Cardwell had stunned everyone by confessing her involvement in Lady Whitlock's plan to ruin Vivienne that night at Bingham Hall. Aunt Gwen and Uncle Gilbert were outraged at her scandalous behavior and blatant lies and wanted her punished. But Glenda's abject misery and pleas for forgiveness swayed Vivienne to ask them to be kind to her. She still felt sorry for her cousin, in spite of the callous treatment she'd received at Glenda's hands. It probably galled Glenda more to have Vivienne stick up for her than any punishment her parents could mete out. But Vivienne still had it in her heart to eventually make friends with her cousin at some point and was determined to win her over.

Vivienne's life had changed dramatically since the day she visited Bingham Hall.

“I was thinking,” Aidan whispered to her, softly nuzzling her ear, “of where we should go for our honeymoon.”

She looked up into his green eyes and still felt her heart flutter in excitement. “As long as we're together, it doesn't matter to me where we go.”

He kissed her again. “Then I would like to take you back to Cashelwood and start over there, my love.”

Her heart skipped a beat at his romantic notion and she smiled. “I think that is a perfectly lovely idea.”

The very next day they sailed to Ireland for their honeymoon.

 

As she and Aidan walked hand in hand down the beach along Galway Bay where they first met as children, Vivienne felt a wondrous sense of peace envelope her. She had come home, in more ways than one. Looking out at the horizon and breathing in the sea-scented air, she thought of her father. She still missed him every day and always would. She had finally accepted the truth that he was dead, although she would never understand why he had not confided in her about the diamond mines.

Her thoughts turned to her grandmother and she knew Aggie would be smiling, looking down upon her now. Her grandmother would be happy for her now that she was married to Aidan at last. Aggie's prediction had come true after all. She and Aidan were fated to be together, in spite of all the obstacles they had had to overcome.

Filled with an overwhelming sense of love, Vivienne stopped walking and turned to her husband. She reached up to him, cupped his handsome face in her small hands, and kissed him on the lips. They kissed softly, gently at first and then more intensely.

Suddenly Aidan moved his mouth from hers and looked at her meaningfully, a sparkle in his eyes. “So, that's the way of it then?”

Vivienne smiled at his imitation of her brogue and the words she had said to him all those years ago that day on the beach when he had first kissed her. “Oh, that's the way of it,” she responded and kissed him again.