Page 44 of Wedded to the Ruthless Duke

“Remind me why I invited you to my wedding, Dorian?” Philip asked.

“We’re family now, remember?” Dorian said with a smile.

Xander clasped Dorian’s shoulder and steered him away.

“I think it’s time we left Philip to stare at his bride across the room, don’t you?” Xander said to Dorian. “If staring is enough, of course.”

Philip glared after them, resentfully, as they both went to get more wine. The wedding breakfast was hardly the celebration he had hoped his wedding would be someday. It couldn’t be denied that around the room, he saw many people enjoying themselves. Even Grace was happy, smiling away with Eleanor beside her.

Philip caught sight of his sister’s lips framing the word,sisters.For that’s what they were now. As Grace and Eleanor embraced, Philip tore his gaze away from his bride.

They’d finished the formal sit-down breakfast. People were milling now, some taking to the small dance floor he’d had set up for the event in the ballroom with a string quarter at the far end playing lively music to accompany them.

Amongst the general clamor and excitement, Philip felt strangely distanced from it all. His eyes kept sliding back to Grace, tension rising in his body by the second.

In law, she was now his, but the deed would not be final until he had her, and he had every intention of following through on those vows just as soon as his guests left. Unfortunately, none of his guests were in a hurry to leave. It left him angsty and annoyed.

He cast a quick glance back to Grace. As she spoke happily with her friends, her mother was approaching behind her. Philip caught sight of the happy smile on Grace’s face falling, as if it had been slapped off her cheeks.

Something stirred in his gut, making the wine curdle.

Philip stepped forward, intending on stopping Lady Garton from talking to her daughter when another moved to his side.

“Your Grace, may I speak to you for a minute?”

“Lord Morton.” Philip turned to Grace’s father. The man was even paler than earlier today. “Come, sit down.” Philip gently took his arm and steered him to the nearest seat in the room. “How are you? Is there anything I can get for your relief?”

“I thank you for your kindness.” Lord Morton smiled softly. He took a handkerchief from his top pocket and dabbed his brow, clearly struggling in the heat of the room though he made no complaint. “I have requested for one of your maids to bring me tea. I shall be fine with that.”

“Good.” Philip nodded and sat beside Lord Morton. He glanced resentfully across to Lady Garton, who had managed to corner her daughter, but Philip could not turn his back on his new father-in-law when he had asked for a word. “What is it you would like to speak about?”

“My daughter.” He smiled rather sadly. “It cannot have escaped your notice how sick I am.”

Philip didn’t know what to say. He shifted uncomfortably for a second before he could think of anything.

“Is what the physician says so bad?”

“Yes.” Lord Morton didn’t hide the truth. “Grace is eager for me to get a second opinion, and I will, but if this is true, if I do not have long for this world, then I wish to part from this world knowing my daughter is taken care of.” He fixed Philip with an eager gaze. “You will do that for me, won’t you?”

“It’s my duty to provide for her. I intend to follow through on that promise.” Despite the firmness of Philip’s words, he could see that he had disappointed Lord Morton. The man’s face fell.

“I see,” he said in a rather sad tone. “That is not quite what I meant.”

“What did you mean?”

“Ah.” The Marquess looked away. “My tea has arrived. If you will excuse me, I shall go and have it.”

Philip helped the Marquess to his feet again. Lord Morton walked slowly away to meet the maid who had pulled out a small table at the far side of the room, so he could take his tea in peace.

With the Marquess’ words burning in the back of his mind, Philip looked around again, intent on finding Lady Garton and Grace. When he found Grace, he grew distracted. Grace had pulled on a tendril of her honey hair and dipped her chin an inch or two lower.

It drew his attention down to the curves of her voluptuous figure. Without knowing what to do, Philip merely gawped at her across the room.

“The whole room is abuzz about how you’re looking at your duchess as if you might eat her,” Aaron’s voice cut into his thoughts.

Philip turned to see Aaron beside him.

“In jest?”

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