Page 98 of In Want of a Wife
“I am sorry the duke couldn’t join us.” Lily spoke softly, her heart silently breaking for her best friend once more. He had declined the invitation to attend, claiming he was preoccupied in Italy.
He was always on the Continent it seemed. Or London unless Charlotte was there. If that were the case, he was suspiciously absent.
“I’m not.” Charlotte leveled a knowing stare at Lily. “I don’t need anyone’s pity. Especially yours. It is not a surprise what others say about me. And we didn’t part on the best terms. I think it may be wise that we have a few borders between us at present.”
“You can’t always hate him, Lottie,” Kate said, grabbing her reticule. “You loved him once.”
“I don’t know if I feel anything for the man now. No, let him do whatever he does overseas, and I will do what I do here.”
“Open a school for girls and build one the most beautiful gardens in all of England?”
“The school is yours. I am merely the…” She searched for the word, tapping her long fingers at the curve of her mouth. “I am the benefactor. It is a worthy cause, and the Dandridge estate can afford such an endeavor. As for the garden, that is only a pastime. What else am I to do stuck in the countryside alone? I grow far too restless if I am not riding or out enjoying the beautiful Cumbria air. I am not meant for London, and I am not meant to be collected and stashed away as if I am a doll.”
The hackney jerked to a stop, and Kate quickly jumped out, extending her hand for Lily’s.
“I am late to my own wedding,” Lily groaned.
The church doors opened, and her father stood at the top of the stairs, pacing as her younger stepsister, Mary, rolled her eyes with a sigh. It was not what she had hoped for a response from one of her attendants, but at least Mary had offered.
“Where have you been?” her father barked. He wore a yellow silk vest today, much better than the red when she was about to marry Felton.
Lily smiled, surprised at how easily she threw off his displeasure. It didn’t matter now.
“Is that what you are wearing?” he asked after he didn’t receive a response.
“I told you it lacked an effective amount of taxidermy and feathers,” Kate harshly whispered, soft enough for only Lily to hear. She and Charlotte chuckled.
“Good morning, Father.” Lily climbed the few stairs and quickly spun around to watch London buzz around her. This was all so very different than any other time she was about to become a bride.
And for once, she loved the groom.
Rafe foughtthe urge to peek at his timepiece. Searching for Lily after she left Cliffstone had felt like it had been months until he set eyes on her that night he’d met with Admiral Ackerman. Today? This morning?
It might as well have been years.
She never did enjoy waking up early most mornings. The stars called to her, even in London. It was one small thing he loved about her.
He rocked back on the heels of his boots and studied the full pews of the small church, which had all been graciously decorated with small white posies by the duchess.
“It’s funny to think a bride who was jilted twice, jilts you,” Henry whispered behind him.
Rafe turned around, glaring down at his brother. It was no use. He was in no mood to argue. “Don’t be an arse.”
“Watch your mouth. We are in church.” Henry surprised him with a deep chuckle then. “She will be here, Brother. I am sure there is a good reason why she is late.”
Lily always had a good reason. It was admiral except for when it was irritating.
Tilly waved to Rafe and smiled when he faced the guests again. She was dressed in bright green and looked as if she were about to head out on stage. Tilly’s brothers and sisters sat beside her, elbowing one another and bouncing up and down from their seats in anticipation. His nephew, Ethan, who he had only met earlier that week, was playing with his sister Mari as his mother looked on.
Hisfamily.
He hadn’t thought it possible. Not after the accident with Mari, not as he lay sleeping inexcusably drunk and lost on that gaol’s floor last winter, not when Lily left Cliffstone.
Hell, he hadn’t thought he would be eagerly waiting on his bride to walk down the aisle toward him, but he was learning to embrace life’s unexpected turns.
Like leaving the Royal Navy to start R & L Shipping with Liam Hawkins, who currently was attempting to woo Miss Bancroft. Given that she was hiding behind her fan to talk with the duchess instead, the flirtation wasn’t off to a great start.
Lily’s stepmother and stepsisters were also in attendance, as well as Admiral Ackerman and his family and Liam Hawkins.
