he could do the same to him.
Then Sebastien took her hand and extended it in front of them. His fingers clasped hers tightly as the priest wrapped the material of his stole around their joined hands, symbolically binding them together. With one last benediction, they were officially proclaimed husband and wife.
A rowdy cheer broke out from the assembled guests, and Anya laughed up at Seb, glowing with happiness to see him looking so proud. His eyes caught hers and her stomach fluttered at the promise she read in them. She hoped he would bend down and kiss her, but everyone stood and crowded around to offer their congratulations. Mellors directed several footmen to distribute bubbling glasses of champagne.
Dmitri came forward, holding a fresh loaf of bread in his hands, and Seb glanced at him in confusion.
“Russian tradition.” Dmitri grinned. “Before we begin the toasts.”
Anya let out a chuckle of delight.
“This bread,” Dmitri declared loudly, “provided by the excellent Chef Lagrasse, will settle the delicate matter of who will give the orders at home.”
A chorus of amused cheers and dry comments erupted from the crowd. Dmitri held the round loaf out at head height between Anya and Seb, forcing them to step apart.
“Our newlyweds must bite off a section without using their hands. The one who takes the biggest bite will be the one who wears the breeches in the household.”
Sebastien lifted his brows at Anya in distinct challenge. “I rather like you in breeches,” he murmured.
Anya sent him a saucy smile. Keeping her hands by her side, she leaned in and bit into the loaf, taking the biggest mouthful she could manage. Seb did the same, and she could barely stop herself from laughing as their eyes met over the domed crust. He twisted his head to tear off a giant piece and she did the same, her cheeks bulging comically as she started to chew.
She couldn’t possibly consume such a huge chunk. She caught it in her hands, recalling the way she’d swallowed her diamonds, back in Paris. How long ago that seemed. And what an unforeseen end to her journey.
Dmitri inspected the bread to give his verdict.
“It’s a close-run thing,” he said solemnly.
Anya leaned forward. “Nonsense. My bite is clearly bigger.”
“It is not,” Seb countered.
Dmitri slanted them a teasing smile. “Oh dear, the first argument.” Everyone laughed. “But I’m afraid he’s right, sister dear. His bite is definitely bigger.” He shot Seb a laughing glance and thumped him on the shoulder. “I wish you luck, my friend.”
All three of them took a glass of champagne from Mellors’s proffered tray. “And now,” Dmitri declared. “The toasts.”
Seb caught her eye and they shared a secret smile that brought heat to her cheeks and a flush to her entire body. “Oh, I know how important toasts are to you Russians,” he drawled.
“This should really be done with vodka,” Dmitri said. “But we can start with champagne, I suppose. The first toast is made to the newlyweds.” He raised his glass and everyone else followed suit.
“The newlyweds!”
Seb lifted his glass and Anya obediently took a sip of the tart liquid, enjoying the fizz on her tongue.
“Now, we all know that alcohol leaves a bitter taste in the mouth,” Dmitri stated. “And a remedy to bitterness is sweetness. So for the next toast, the married couple must sweeten the drink with a kiss, because kisses are sweet, are they not?”
“Here, here!” Alex cheered.
Dmitri turned to the rest of the group. “And you must all shout Gorko! which means ‘bitter’ in Russian, to remind them of their duty.”
Seb handed his glass to Benedict, and Anya handed hers to Elizaveta. He stepped closer, slipped his arms around her waist, and drew her forward. Anya held her breath as he bent and pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that stole her breath. It was a kiss full of promise and love, and it made her heart turn over in her chest. Cheers of “Gorko! Gorko!” echoed all around them, and they pulled apart with great reluctance.
“Is that sweet enough for you, Mrs. Wolff?” her husband murmured against her lips.
Anya smiled. “Perfect, Mr. Wolff. Just perfect.”
Catch up on the Bow Street
Bachelors series
by Kate Bateman
This Earl of Mine
To Catch an Earl
Available now from
St. Martin’s Paperbacks
ALSO BY
KATE BATEMAN
To Catch an Earl
This Earl of Mine
Praise for the Bow Street Bachelors series
“Pure fun … Kate Bateman gives readers just what they’re looking for.”
—BookPage
“Genuine romance that shines through … delightful leads and sexy capers.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“An alluring cat-and-mouse tale between two deserving adversaries. For Regency romance fans wishing for thrills in their to-be-read list.”
—Library Journal on To Catch an Earl
“Full of intense emotions and dramatic twists. Intelligent, affable characters make this fast-paced novel shine, especially for fans of clever women and the men who sincerely admire them.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on This Earl of Mine
“Delicious, witty, and ripping good fun! Kate Bateman’s writing sparkles.”
—USA Today bestselling author Laura Lee Guhrke
“Dashing, daring, and deliciously romantic!”
—USA Today bestselling author Caroline Linden
“A riveting new voice for Regency readers! Kate Bateman is now on my auto-buy list.”
—Janna MacGregor, author of The Good, the Bad, and the Duke
About the Author
Kate Bateman (also writing as K. C. Bateman) is the #1 bestselling author of historical romances, including her RITA®-nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil to Pay, and the novels in the Secrets & Spies series To Steal a Heart, A Raven’s Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart. When not writing novels that feature feisty, intelligent heroines and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss, Kate works as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several popular TV shows in the UK. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England. Follow her on Twitter @ katebateman to learn more. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter 1.
Chapter 2.
Chapter 3.
Chapter 4.
Chapter 5.
Chapter 6.
Chapter 7.
Chapter 8.
Chapter 9.
Chapter 10.
Chapter 11.
Chapter 12.
Chapter 13.
Chapter 14.
Chapter 15.
Chapter 16.
Chapter 17.
Chapter 18.
Chapter 19.
Chapter 20.
Chapter 21.
Chapter 22.
Chapter 23.
Chapter 24.
Chapter 25.
Chapter 26.
Chapter 27.
Chapter 28.
Chapter 29.
Chapter 30.
Chapter 31.
Chapter 32.
Chapter 33.
Chapter 34.
Chapter 35.
Chapter 36.
Chapter 37.
Chapter 38.
Chapter 39.
Chapter 40.
Chapter 41.
Chapter 42.
Also by Kate Bateman
Praise for the Bow Street Bachelors series
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
First published in the United States by St. Martin’s Paperbacks, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.
THE PRINCESS AND THE ROGUE
Copyright © 2021 by Kate Bateman.
All rights reserved.
For information address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
eISBN: 9781250306104
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St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition 2021