Page 46 of The Unwanted Duchess

She took the glass and sipped it, wincing. She did not know what force on Earth had compelled her to drink two entire glasses before, but she could not stomach the smell or the taste any longer.

“Now,” he continued, “what has brought you all the way here at this hour?”

“It is nothing,” she said quickly, but that did not stop the tears forming in her eyes.

“If it is causing you pain, then it is not nothing. It is something, and I would rather you told me than keep it from me. I cannot guess at everything until you tell me I have found the solution.”

“I know. I know, and I am sorry.”

“There is no need to apologize,” he said gently, wiping her tears with a handkerchief. “You are learning as am I. We can do this together, but first you must tell me what is happening.”

She wanted to tell him more than anything in the world, but the words simply would not come.

Then she saw how he was looking at her, willing her to say something, to say anything, and she faltered.

“The truth is, I am terrified.”

When he moved towards her, she collapsed into his chest. She did not cry, instead feeling safer than she had ever felt in her life, but then she realized just what her predicament was.

She was falling for him, and he would never feel the same way. This was a marriage of convenience — she was a convenience, and that was all she could ever expect. It would have been different if she could only tolerate him, but she had been falling more and more for him every day, and now…

Now, she would be his wife, but he would never love her. Even if she adored him, it would go unrequited because it was simply not what he wanted from her. She would have been a fool a tell him, and so she did not. She simply leaned in closer, steadying her breathing, until she felt at peace with her situation and could return home.

He did not say another word to her as he escorted her to a carriage and helped her inside. He simply nodded to her and then walked away, and as she lurched into motion, she could not help but wonder if she had ruined everything entirely by appearing at his door.

The following day, twisting her wedding ring around her finger, she wondered what all the fuss had been about in regard to the wedding planning in the first place.

Her father had overstepped once too many, it was explained to her, and so the whole affair had been made far smaller. The grandeur that he had expected for his son had not been provided, not that the gentleman with her father seemed to care. Samantha noticed that he looked remarkably like the Earl, and she shuddered. She had so hoped that he would instead resemble his mother.

“There,” Diana said softly, appearing at her side. “Now, that was not so bad, was it?”

“It is a blur,” she sighed with a faint laugh. “I do not remember a thing.”

She was lying, of course. She remembered the part where she was instructed to kiss her husband very vividly, but she had given him a quick press of the lips and nothing more. It was an unremarkable first kiss, but it was as much as she could hope for as a woman in her situation.

She also remembered their dance, a waltz, and how he had once more felt exquisite against her waist as he led her. He was smiling, but she could tell it was forced. After all, it looked nothing like the smile Diana had caused him to have at dinner.

She pushed the thought from her mind. She was being unfair, and she knew that she was, but she could not help it. She knewthat she needed to speak with Diana about it still, but it was not the right time. A wedding day was, in fact, quite possibly the worst day to discuss one’s fears about their betrothed.

“I remember it all,” Diana laughed, “and you looked beautiful throughout. I also saw Father seething over the decorations, but that is none of your concern.”

“I do not believe that man knows how to be happy.”

“He seems to be quite content whenever his blessed heir is around. Speaking of which, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I believe he is approaching to congratulate you now.”

Samantha turned to her half-brother, and he was indeed walking towards her.

“Protect me,” she whispered.

“Unfortunately, I cannot. I had my turn with him this morning. I shall not tell you my thoughts just yet; you can make your own conclusions.”

“Diana —”

But she was already gone, and a young man had replaced her.

“It is good to finally meet you,” he said, “My name is Adam Winston, and I am your brother.”

“My half-brother, yes.”

---