The Debt (Now on Radish)

cнapтer 4

Though our courtship was unusually short, Derek and I got to know each other quite well over one short month. While he convinced his sisters to let me plan the wedding, I saw him in a new light. He was making an effort to make our unconventional relationship work. So I would do the same for him. I asked him to help me. It was obvious that we would be having the wedding at the chapel in town, although I would rather it be at the one in my village. We shopped for our clothing. I know he is supposed to wear his uniform, for he is still a soldier. But it was fun watching him try on clothing for once. He helped me pick out a simple white gown. He was slow at learning that I like simple, but he is getting there.

We did not pick out any lingerie. We agreed that we do not know each other enough to engage in such formalities with each other. That alright with me because I want to wait, I will have a lifetime with him, I hope. Tonight we lay on his bedroom floor, holding hands and talking. The rest of our families were running around preparing for the wedding tomorrow. Derek and I just wanted simple. It's who we were, who we will continue to be.

"So, my sweet, how many children do you want to have?" Derek asked, looping his fingers through mine.

"Hmm," I murmured, "Six or seven. I like large families. And I do not want a nanny. I want to raise my—our children without any stranger." Derek smirked and raised our hands to his lips and pressed a kiss against my knuckles.

"I completely agree, Imogen." Derek replied in a smooth voice. "I had a nanny for most of my childhood and I hated her. That nanny was the first woman my father had an affair with after my mother's death." The first Duchess, bless her soul, died in childbirth. Derek's youngest siblings, Edgar and Edna, were two of three children that the Duchess was giving birth to four years ago. Third we birthed a still born, they were all a month early, and the Duchess bled out.

"Imogen, I know I cannot be in the room when you give birth to our first child, but I will be the first in the room once it is born." Derek promised me.

"And I promise to carry the child full term." I vowed. Derek smiled and kissed my knuckles once more.

"You should get some rest, or else Annabeth will have my head." Derek teased.

"I want to stay." I said. "Tomorrow we will be man and wife. I must know if you have any horrendous sleeping habits, like snoring." Derek smiled softly at me.

"If you must know, I do not snore." Derek said, with teasing tones in his voice. "On our wedding night, Miss O'Boyle, I will take you into my arms and carry you to our suit. I will give you one of our many marital kisses of that day. We will stay up all night, just talking and nothing else, other than the occasional kiss."

Derek scooped me up and got to his feet. He carried me to his bed and laid us down on it, and game me a warm smile. "This will be our bed once we come home from our honeymoon. I do not intend on being called to duty in the foreseeable future. In a few years' time, I will no longer be a soldier, just Duke of Avebury when my father passes on."

"By then, we will have our first child, and possibly our second. We will be happy with no trouble in our midst. We will fall in love and grow old together, because I do not believe in divorce." Derek said as I snuggled into his chest. His velvet voice lulled me into a dream filled sleep.

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Derek pressed his hand against the small of my back, drawing me closer to him. He gave me his award winning smile and I could not help myself. I leaned in close and kissed him for the second time that day, savoring the taste of his lips. Derek cupped the back of my neck, not caring in the slightest bit that we were surrounded by friends and family. We were in our own little world. Our wedding was strictly family, and I liked that. Weddings were meant to be intimate. The reception consisted of our close friends and family. Derek was so kind to pay for my friends' passages over to England. I had not seen them in years.