Not a single detail was overlooked at the welcome dinner at Warbucks mansion. Every table was overflowing with fresh flowers from the gardens, candles cast a gentle glow, and the notes from a string quartet wafted through the air. Guests enjoyed a decadent dinner of prime rib, potatoes dauphinois, and asparagus. As dessert was served, Oliver stood and pinged his fork against a flute of champagne.
"You attention, please! Grace and I would like to welcome you all to our home. Thank you for honoring us with your presence this weekend. It means a great deal to us both to have you here to celebrate our love. I ask you all to raise your glass to this stunning woman who has so graciously agreed to spend her life attempting to reform me. I would kindly ask you not to talk her out of marrying me tomorrow."
There was a chuckle from their guests and someone called "hear hear!" Grace gave him a playful swat.
"To my fiancée, Grace Farrell, may I someday be worthy of your abundant love."
He leaned in and they shared a kiss to enthusiastic cheers and a tinkling of glasses. Annie cheered loudest of all.
"And to our dear daughter Annie, who brought us together." She beamed at him with a big mouth full of cake.
After dinner, Grace was in her bedroom packing her suitcase. "It seems a bit ridiculous for us to spend the night at a hotel. I've managed to sleep here every night for 10 years with my virginity intact!"
"Your parents were insistent. They are very concerned about any hint of impropriety. I promised to make sure Oliver does not take any liberties before the wedding. What I didn't mention was that I might not be as vigilant as they had envisioned." Charlotte gave a cheeky smile.
"She chose a very negligent chaperone, indeed!"
"I think you should pack one of Miss Evangeline's little frocks!"
"Char! We aren't married yet!"
"I know that! But you can enjoy a little canoodling while maintaining your virtue. No one has to know. It might even help to relieve a little …. tension."
"We have managed to sneak a little touching here and there," Grace confided.
Charlotte raised her eyebrows in astonishment, "And?"
"And….I'm quite looking forward to the honeymoon."
The two women giggled.
Oliver escorted Grace and Charlotte to the Plaza. The hotel was filled with a number of other wedding guests as well. They slipped into the sumptuously decorated bar. The room was decorated in deep wood tones, dark green velvet sofas, and golden light fixtures. Tiny rainbows cast from the thousands of crystals of the giant chandelier overhead danced over every surface. Grace and the ladies sat on a couch in the corner while Oliver ordered drinks. As he spoke to the barkeep, he admired his lovely fiancée. Her sparkling eyes flashed and a flush crept up her long slender neck as she laughed at something Charlotte whispered in her ear. A prism of light fell over her and the diamond pendant he had given her glittered, drawing his eye to her bosom. Suddenly Preston appeared at his side, "it's time to say goodnight to your bride and celebrate your last night of freedom. I have arranged some burlesque dancers to entertain the gentlemen at a club nearby."
Oliver laughed, "I know you mean well, brother, but I don't view tonight as my last night of freedom. Quite the opposite, in fact."
"Come on, Ollie! This may be the last time you see another woman naked!"
"There is only one woman I'd like to see naked and I don't think it would please her for me to attend your little soirée. Send my regrets." Oliver unrolled several hundred dollar bills out of his billfold and pressed them into his brother's hand.
"If you insist!" Preston clapped him on the shoulder.
Oliver went over and chatted over drinks with Grace and their friends. After several rounds, he saw his fiancée stifle a yawn.
He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "your dear friend Charlotte has informed me that it is my solemn duty as a gentleman to tuck my fiancée into her suite on the night before the wedding."
"Is that right? Well, far be it from me to flout decorum."
The couple quietly snuck out of the bar and made their way up to the penthouse.
"Here we find ourselves once again, kissing good night outside your door."
"One last torturous night spent apart." She pouted prettily.
"One last night, my dear. I can hardly wait to make you mine." Oliver traced the cleavage just barely peeking out from beneath the low neckline. She shivered in response. "I like this dress. I don't know anything about fashion, but the color really brings out your eyes. You are so radiant. I couldn't keep my eyes off of you."
"Thank you. You looked dashing as ever, I was admiring you as you gave the welcome speech tonight."
"Why, thank you, my dear. You do flatter an old man."
"Honestly, Oliver. You are not ol-." He interrupted her with a kiss. Their kisses started out slow and soft, but gradually progressed to deep and fevered. Grace pressed her body against his solid masculine form. Oliver felt his manhood stirring and reluctantly pulled himself away. Grace looked bereft at the loss of him. They were both breathless.
"Best not to start something we can't finish. I am very much looking forward to our honeymoon. No more invasive questions or prying eyes. Just you and me, my darling. Alone at long last."
"What if I'm not ready to say goodnight just yet?"
Grace reached for the door knob behind her and pushed it open.
"Are you inviting me into your suite?"
"Well…" she let the word hang and gave him a coquettish grin.