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Jasper, Richie Gabriel and Nick set off for Shettleham at midday. Jasper insisted on driving.
"Driving calms me down. It's routine. If I sit in the back, I shall be going spare."The Rolling Stones kicked in with Jumping Jack Flash on the iPod, and Jasper began his last drive as a single man.Ellie and Kylie had lunch with the rest of the family; Rosslyn had decided to have it in the formal dining room as there were so many of them."I thought this might be nice, Ellie, to have all your family together, it's a pity Jasper isn't here, but he'll be here for dinner this evening.""Your hair looks fabulous," Ellie said to her mum, "What did you think to the hairdresser Roni?"Roni turned to Ellie; she was immensely enjoying the fuss and performance of the day. "He's good; your hair will look fabulous. Are you going to have it up?""I have no idea. Isn't that why we have this day to sort these things out?" Ellie shrugged, "The more I think aboRelated chapters
The Disreputable Duke No Knickers.
As Jasper took hold of Ellie's left hand, the emotion of the past few months caught up with her, and the tears began to roll down her face slowly. He slipped her plain gold wedding band onto her finger and held it there as he spoke the vow."With this ring, I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; Amen."Ellie never heard Quentin say the final words of the ceremony. The next thing she knew, Jasper was gently lifting her veil, his face wreathed in smiles before he kissed her. She could hear the congregation clapping and cheering as Jasper kissed her thoroughly.He eventually let go of her. "I told you that the next time I kissed you that you would be my wife." he said with a grin, "Just didn't expect it to be so soon, did you?""Hah, you'll pay for this one day," Ellie whispered, trying very hard to keep a straight face.Jasper laughed, "Fighting, talk
The Disreputable Duke The Wedding Night
Francis Braxton opened the main doors to the ballroom and announced in his best butlers voice."My Lords, ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding for his grace the Duke of Shettleham and her grace the Duchess of Shettleham."As Jasper and Ellie went to their places at the table, Gracie nudged Gabriel, who she had opted to sit next to"Why is Francis calling Aunt Ellie Grace? That's my name.Gabriel spent the next ten minutes explaining the terms of the nobility to Gracie."So she's like the Queen?""Almost, not quite as high up. We shall have to call your aunt, Her Ellie-ness." He said, making Gracie laugh.Richie reached for Kylie's hand under the table. She had been relatively quiet, not usually her bubbly self."Are you alright, Kylie?""Yes, it's just been a long day." She turned her head to smile at him, "it will be nice to get home." Kylie hesitated, "We need to talk." She said very quietly.Richie looked at her. "Is
The Disreputable Duke Irritable Morning
It was dark in the bedroom, but around the window, there was the yellow-orange tint from the street light outside. Ellie always thought that glowing shade looked exciting, as if there was some incredible stage show hiding behind the drawn curtains, but one that always vanished when you opened them.Ellie lay with her back to Jasper. She could tell he was still sleeping; his breathing was deep and even. If Ellie turned over and snuggled up to him, his warm solid arms would go around her, his legs would intertwine with hers, and her head would rest on his chest. It's where she felt the utmost safety, not that she had anything to feel unsafe about, but just the usual worries of every day dissipated as soon as he held her to him.Ellie got out of bed very slowly. The last thing she wanted to do was to disturb her husband. She needed to get in the bathroom, get showered and dressed before Jasper awoke and reached across for her. She usually loved their time together in
The Disreputable Duke An Even More Irritable Afternoon.
Ellie strolled across the park, and she didn't know whether to be cross with him or not. She was missing his body just as much as he was missing her. They couldn't even sneak off this afternoon after Betty had gone home, as Gracie was coming for the weekend. Maybe if she felt better, she could sneak up to the studio when she got back and seduce him. Not that it would take much doing, she only had to lick her lips in front of him, and he would get that look in his eye. She chuckled as she thought of the first time she had done that, in the villa on the Indian Ocean island where they had spent their honeymoon. He had chased her around the villa threatening all sorts of delights when he caught her. Eventually, he'd backed her up against the trellis on the verandah and thrown her over his shoulder. Gently spanking her bottom and telling her what a very naughty wife she was for running away from him.
The Disreputable Duke Roni
Ellie watched with her hand over her mouth as Ronnie locked fingers with her lover, and they strolled off through the park. It took her a few moments to register what she had just seen. Turning, she slowly walked back to the house. Her emotions were as bare on her face as the naked trees. Bloody Roni, Ellie knew she was up to something. How could she do this to Gareth? He'd done everything for her, worked all the hours he could to make a good lifestyle for them all, and especially for Roni, who valued all that was material in her life.Huh! By the time she had done with Roni, the stupid woman wouldn't know which planet she was on! Feeling disgusted, Ellie quickened her steps. She was determined to make Gracie's weekend a happy one. Gabriel and his family were coming this afternoon, and Gracie loved chatting to him so that would please her.She found Ja
The Disreputable Duke Decision Time
Jasper and Ellie led their friends up the stairs to the sitting room. Ellie had been phoning Gracie all week with updates on the fairies who were magically decorating the tree, and Gracie was dying to see the sitting room all decorated.Ellie had been buying decorations since October. They'd had a mad decorating week at the beginning of December, which started on the porch. The conical box trees that stood on either side of the front door had were adorned with sparkling white lights.The bannister was swathed with swags of greenery, red velvet bows, and more lights. But it was the sitting room where Ellie had her piece de resistance. The mantelpiece was full of gnomes and elves hiding behind big gold pine cones. There were trails of fairy lights in between them, and hanging from the swag of greenery along the front of the fireplace were sheep with wings on and tiny gold fairies and toadstools. There was some decoration on every flat surface, including the piano. There was
The Disreputable Duke An Unexpected Guest.
It was the day before Christmas Eve, and the past two weeks had been the worst of Ellie's life. She and Jasper had said only about a dozen words to each other since their friends had been to see them on that fateful afternoon. The only good thing about this dreadful performance was that Jasper was sleeping in his dressing room, which meant that she could at least get up and be sick if she felt like it without hiding it from him. However, Ellie was sure he would be more impressed if she were pregnant with a herd of elephants rather than with his child. He was furious that she had gone behind his back and sent that text to Ronnie, but this was her family, and she cared a great deal about Gareth.They had not shared a bed for almost two weeks, and this so hurt Ellie. It had only come about by accident, and now neither of them would give in to the other. They were just as stubborn as each other.
The Disreputable Duke Husband Hunting.
"Ellie, come and get warm," Rosslyn said, getting up to greet her. She put her arms around her daughter in law and gave her a hug, "Goodness, you're frozen. Come and sit here next to the fire. Jasper, be love and make some more tea. I think Mary has gone for her afternoon nap, and Francis is sorting something out for me."Jasper glanced at Ellie. He knew she'd been crying. Why the hell did she think he didn't want her? She was the one who had disappeared from their bed, not him. He went down to the kitchen to make the tea and was determined to get this sorted out before bedtime.Jasper could hear the landline phone ringing just as he got to the drawing-room door with the tray of tea, and as he opened the door, he listened to his mother talking sympathetically."Of course you must come. You certainly can't stay in a frozen and darkened house over Christmas. No, of course, he won't mind. I'm sure he would love to see you." Rosslyn listened for a few moments. "
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The Disreputable Duke Jasper's Present.
The Disreputable Duke Murder On Her Mind
The Disreputable Duke Christmas Eve Lunch.
The Disreputable Duke Discussing Punishments
The Disreputable Duke Brocklebanks
The Disreputable Duke Where's Jasper?
The Disreputable Duke Charlotte's Memories.
The Disreputable Duke Husband Hunting.
The Disreputable Duke An Unexpected Guest.
