Page 52 of His Runaway Duchess

Daphne rolled onto her back, staring up at nothing in particular. Part of her had wondered whether Edward would join her later that night. That was how the books went, wasn’t it? The lady would sleep chastely in her bed, ready to be convinced otherwise once the gentleman crawled in with her. The books tended to end with a demurely closed door and a sweet kiss, leaving it up to one’s imagination what happened next.

Well, I don’t need to use my imagination anymore.I know. Well, I know some of it.

There was more than just touching, she knew that. But if all of it was as agreeable as what she and Edward had done together—really, Daphne had not done much and could not take any credit—then she was willing to try new things.

Perhaps their marriage would be a little more like Anna and Theo’s, rather than a cold and glacial Arrangement with a capital A. Perhaps it might be a little morereal.

She smiled to herself, gathering the sheets up to her chest. For the first time in a while, the idea of marriage did not seem so very upsetting.

There was a knock at the door, and she swung herself out of bed.

Perhaps it’s Edward, come to…

Her hopes were swiftly dashed as she opened the door.

“Oh, Mama, it’s you. Good morning, Emily, Anna.”

Her mother and sisters swept in, shooting her curious glances.

“You don’t seem happy to see us,” Emily said, her voice half-muffled behind an explosion of fabric and lace. Daphne’s wedding dress, it seemed, was ready. “I’d make the most of us if I were you. We’re going home the evening of the wedding. I wanted to stay, but Mama said that a woman shouldn’t have to have her wedding night with herentirefamily in the house.”

“My darling girl,” Octavia began, swanning grandly around and embarking on what sounded suspiciously like a rehearsed speech. “I cannot bear the thought of your unhappiness. If you have any doubts at all?—”

“Oh, stop it, Mama,” Anna huffed, throwing herself down on the edge of the bed. She was carrying an armful of flowers, Daphne noticed. For her bouquet, no doubt. “We all know that if Daphne ever wants to show her face in Society again—or if we do—she’ll have to marry the Duke. There’s simply no getting around it.”

Octavia’s face crumpled. “I hate the idea of my girls making miserable marriages.”

“I am not miserable, Mama,” Daphne assured her, standing up on her tiptoes to kiss her on the cheek. “Besides, he was married to Beatrice’s sister before, and Beatrice says that he’s a decent man, if a little odd. He isn’t cruel, and itismy fault anyway. I’m the one who turned up at his estate. If anyone is about to be miserable, it’s him.”

Did she believe that? No, she did not. Daphne couldn’t help but feel that she and Edward had a greater chance of happiness than before.

“Did he send a message for me? Or something?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

Anna frowned. “No, nothing. Why? Were you expecting something?”

Yes.

“No, of course not,” Daphne muttered. “I just thought… seeing as we are getting married in a few hours, he might have… Oh, it doesn’t matter.”

Anna and Octavia exchanged meaningful glances that Daphne did not like. Piqued, she turned away from them.

“Well, shall we get going?” she said, knowing full well that she sounded childish and hating it. “Am I getting ready or not?”

The dressing process was exceptionally arduous. Daphne’s patience, never a sturdy thing, was stretched to the limit. She was sure that her dress had no less than a hundred layers, and she found herself wondering with a naughty, little prickle how Edward would fare when it came to taking them off later that night.

She was sure, now, that theywouldhave a proper wedding night. Despite all his talk of separate beds and separate lives, it seemed fair to assume that he felt attracted to her. Hewantedher, and once they were married… well, they might as well enjoy themselves, shouldn’t they?

The thought sent a tingle of desire through her, and she had to firmly remind herself that she was in a room with hermotherand her two sisters, and had better keep her mind on more maidenly matters for the time being.

A knock on the door made them all jump. Anna hurried to answer it.

“Is it Edward?” Daphne called before she could help herself.

Anna threw a baffled look over her shoulder. “Why would it be the Duke?Areyou expecting him, Daphne?”

Daphne scowled, looking away. “No.”

“Oh, Lady Clarissa,” Anna said, sounding surprised. “Did you want to come in?”

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