Dustin might have been too jovial to notice his new wife's seemingly stiff manner, or hear the gentle reproach in her soft voice but the comforting tapping of his hand got him to look at her again. His lips were curved in a slightly crooked smile, as though he were trying to contain his mirth but not quite managing it. "Yes you're right of course. I just know that the first night can be, important to some ladies." he said awkwardly. True they had courted and she was now his bride but the whole affair had been just as chaste as could be (he'd never even seen her leg till they did the garter toss), though he did at least have experience from chasing chamber maids as a teen he had no idea what Mabel knew or didn't. Certainly the car wasn't the time to bring it up, might embarrass her. He cursed in his own mind and vaguely wondered if he'd perhaps had too much to drink.
"Regardless darling, if you're content then so am I," Dustin said, recovering quickly. The buildings of the city outskirts and its cobblestoned roads had given way to dirt and rolling open grounds with smatterings of fine old summer homes dotting the landscape. <Nearly there now> he thought to himself, still leaning onto Mabel slightly and barely catching what she had said about a footbath. "Hmm? Oh yes, splendid idea. Assuming I don't fall asleep first of course." He chuckled. His own mind was hardly occupied with their marriage now, rather he was concerned with the wonderful downy four poster in the master bedroom were they would shortly be blissfully asleep. Tomorrow could take care of itself as his father so wisely said.
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To Dustin's eyes his family's summer cottage looked quite as he remembered it as the vehicle turned gently onto the flagstone drive with its circular end around a small but beautifully maintained flower garden and fountain. The Sterling family called it 'quaint' though many others might disagree. It was a three story affair -with the walk up attic finished into a gaming room- with large windows and a heavy but still elegant craftsman style. It's most prominent feature on the outside was the covered wrap around porch, now glowing with lanterns as the drive a court had been done up with torches. The household was, naturally, all out on he porch and ranging both sides of the double front doors where the honeyed glow of the candlelight inside gleamed.
Dustin could hardly have cared less about the staff as he swaggered out following his bride, managing not to need any assistance himself. He barely glanced at their valet or driver as he took Mabel's arm in his own with a warm smile that set his eyes glinting. Ruffling a free hand through his pale hair to shake it back off his shoulders he then gestured to the grand cottage. "Welcome home Mabel dear; at least for the next... twelve and a half hours till the ship I believe? Then of course when we get back our real home will be ready but," the young man shook his head as he guided them to the steps and up them. <Rambling again, idiot> he chided himself mentally. "Let's just worry about what's left of tonight." He said smoothly, before halting them at the door with a brief "Permit me my darling, bit of a good luck tradition." Before he swept her off her feet to carry her over the threshold (and to his credit he did not wobble in spite of the world tipping sideways a moment).
He turned with Mabel still in his arms to address the only servant who seemed genuinely amused and not about to doze off; a taller man in his mid forties with a boyish bearing and curly dark brown hair. The majordomo. "Charles, if you'd be an even better sport than you already have and have the girls send up some tea for Mabel and I as well as a hot footbath, then you can all go to bed. I'm sure we'll have a lie in in the morning too so I don't want anyone rushing to get breakfast on alright? It's been a long jubilant night so, make sure you get some sleep to eh?" After Charles had given him a pleasant assurance Dustin tipped his head to him in thanks before setting his wife back upon her feet at last. "Best if I don't try and take both of us upstairs I think." He joked, offering Mabel his arm again. It was the proper thing to do, and he quite liked the feel of her slender limbs around his. (Besides which she would steady him too, funny how having a bed get nearer seemed to make sleep press down on him harder.)
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