Page 25 of The Duke and the Accidental Bride

“It is...” The Duke spoke slowly and carefully, meeting her pointed stare with his own “On that same note, what does it matter what people think or say? We know what this marriage is --” He raised an eyebrow at her. “-- and that should be enough to suffice. If we try too hard it might have people questioning why. So, a smaller ceremony makes more sense.”

“Oh, I just have so many people whom I wish to see attend,” she pouted and pretended to look upset. As she did, she pushed her arms under her chest; another low-cut dress, showing off plenty of skin. “Who I would love to see me at my very best. And to see you too, of course, and to know how truly taken you are with me.”

“I am marrying you, am I not? I would think that should be indication enough of my feelings.”

“But why be subtle?” she shot back. “Again, a bigger ceremony is --”

“Isabella!” her mother snapped. “His Grace said no! Honestly girl, what has gotten in to you!” She widened her eyes in warning at Isabella before softening her features and turning to the Duke. “I am so sorry, Your Grace. Sometimes, she does not know when to keep her opinions to herself.”

“It is quite fine, my lady,” the Duke assured her mother with a stiff smile. “She is simply excited. And I cannot blame her for it. In fact...” He looked right at Isabella. “I encourage it. It is, if nothing else, further proof of how much our pairing means to her. As it does to me.” He held his stare on Isabella, a cold a glaring one, daring her to say something.

Isabella fixed him with her own, one that spoke to her frustration, for this was not going at all how she had planned. Not even close!

It had been a full week since she had last heard from the Duke. Long enough that a small part of her had wondered if maybe, just maybe, his mind had been changed and he had since cancelled their wedding...

A girl can dream but at one point she must wake up.

He had been busy organizing the banns and applying for their right to wed. With that now settled, he promptly returned to Isabella’s home and announced that the date had been set for two weeks hence. It was happening and as he was certain to make sure she understood that there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Not that this dissuaded Isabella. Not one little bit.

The Duke stayed for the afternoon as he and her mother began to discuss the coming ceremony and what was to be expected from it. This, Isabella decided, was the perfect time to continue what she had started doing last week. That being, proving to the Duke that he would be better off dealing with the fallout of a cancelled engagement than the perils of what were to come if they went through with it.

Or rather, that had been the plan.

“We shall have the after-ceremony breakfast at my estate.” The Duke had seated himself beside Isabella’s mother, not beside Isabella, and he focused on her as he spoke. “It is near my parish, so it will make for an easy journey back for those who shall be returning.”

“At your parish?” Isabella was sure to whine. “I was hoping it would be at my own? Mother...” She pouted and set her chin to wobbling. “Do you not think it would be nicer for us if it was there? More familiar, is my meaning.”

“Not at all.” Another warning glare from her mother. “And His Grace speaks sense.”

“Oh...” She scrunched her face up. “But I have always imagined that when I wed, that would be where the ceremony was held. Picturing it in my mind, as one does, I have dreamt of this day since I was a little girl. Your Grace...” She turned the pout onto the Duke. “Please, do not deny me this.”

She heard him suppress a groan as he turned to look at her. And despite her forlorn heavy pout, his stare was like ice. “Is it really that important to you?”

“It is,” she said, pushing her lips even closer together. “So important that I might cry, if I am not to get my way.”

The side of his mouth twitched, and she saw his leg begin to shake. But a deep breath and he forced the faintest hint of a smile. “So be it. Although it might make for a slightly more awkward post-ceremony journey back to my estate, if that is what my bride wants...” His smile dropped. “Then that is what she will get.”

The Duke was having a hard time controlling his temper, but he was managing well enough. Purposefully, it seemed to Isabella.

He must have suspected what she might try and do -- not a surprise, as he had called her out on such acts the previous week. And although his warning to her still sat firmly in Isabella’s mind, she had since convinced herself that the warnings couldn’t have been real. After all, what could the Duke really do...?

Her body shuddered when she considered such things, as if a cold had swept through the drawing room.

She glared at the Duke instead, determined not to be intimidated by him. Certainly not to do as he commanded her!There must be something I can say that will upend him! A chink in his armor I have yet to attack.

“You are being too kind,” she purred.

“Anything for you, my dear,” he responded coolly.

“Anything...” An idea suddenly struck her. “Now that I think on it, shall we discuss what I shall wear?”

“Oh...” For the first time, the Duke look flustered. His eyes dropped to her chest... paused for just a little too long, and she was certain that he licked his lips as they did... and then he looked away. “That is not up to me to discuss. I am certain that whatever you decide with your mother will be --”

“Because I know that His Grace likes me intightlyfitted dresses...” She flashed her eyes at the Duke, and he shifted uncomfortably. “Not to mention ones that are a little lower-cut. Similar to this --”

“Isabella!” her mother cut her off. “Now is not the time to speak of --”

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