Page 49 of A Fake Courtship with the Duke
The dowager duchess didn’t speak a single word to Richard for the rest of their evening at Vauxhall Gardens. He was hardly surprised, although he anticipated a nasty retort when they returned home. Susan, however, threw herself into his arms when Anne and he returned, hand in hand and gazing at each other the way only true love can. The gesture once again captured the attention of the other guests, who were now all speaking in hushed tones in clusters all over the rotunda.
“Brother, I’m so happy for you,” she gushed, laughing as she stepped back and wiped tears from her cheeks. “I just knew that Anne and you would truly find love with one another.”
Richard smiled, handing his sister his handkerchief and gently rubbing her arm.
“I do hope that all this hasn’t ruined your birthday, Sister,” he said. “I had no intention of causing such a ruckus or stealing the spotlight from you. But after everyone started being so hateful to Anne, I knew I couldn’t allow it to stand. I hope you can forgive me.”
Susan looked at him, shaking her head.
“Are you joking?” she asked, her voice rising in pitch as she spoke. “This is the best birthday gift I could have ever received. To know that my brother and my dearest friend are going to have a happy life, and together, to boot, supersedes all my wildest hopes. I just could not be more joyful right now.”
Anne giggled beside Richard, earning herself an identical embrace from Richard’s sister. Richard grinned at Anne over Susan’s shoulder, his heart skipping when he noticed that her cheeks were still flushed from their kiss. That had been the mostintense and beautiful moment of his life, and he couldn’t wait to share many more of those with Anne.
“So, pray tell, when shall you be united in matrimony?" Susan inquired. "Where shall the nuptials take place? Do you plan on embarking on a wedding journey? Oh, my dear, this is all exceedingly delightful. Whom have you chosen as your bridesmaid and best man?”
Richard laughed heartily, releasing Anne’s hand to put his palms on Susan’s shoulders.
“You are very excitable, indeed, dear sister,” he said with great affection. “I will go first thing tomorrow to procure the license to marry Anne in a month’s time. I think that we will be married in the chapel of Calder, since Anne will be becoming the new duchess there. We’re not sure if we will be taking a wedding trip. And as far as best man, I have already decided to ask Thomas, if he will accept the task.”
Susan glanced between Richard and Anne, puzzled.
“Have you not chosen a bridesmaid yet?” she asked.
Anne and Richard exchanged knowing smiles as Anne took her best friend’s hands.
“Susan,” she said. “You brought Richard and me together. You granted us the opportunity to fall in love with each other, and I, for one could not be happier. You made all of this possible, and I would be honoured if you would be my bridesmaid.”
Susan gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.
“Oh, Anne, darling,” she said, embracing her friend again quickly before looking at her with wide eyes. “Would you not rather ask Charlotte?”
Anne shook her head, still smiling.
“I will speak with her,” she said. “ I am sure she will agree that since you are the reason Richard and I found one another, you deserve the honour. Besides, she’s a little young for the roleof a bridesmaid. And I think she will be happy to sit and watch the ceremony beside our parents.”
Susan clapped, squealing softly with delight.
“Oh, this will be so wonderful,” she said. “I gladly accept.”
Richard glanced around, noticing that his mother was glaring at him from a hidden corner of the rotunda. Susan followed his gaze, wincing as she saw her mother’s expression.
“I think we should probably go home now,” she said softly.
Richard looked at her solemnly.
“Are you sure, Sister?” he asked.
Susan beamed at her brother and nodded.
“I’m positive,” she said. “I have had the loveliest birthday ever. But tomorrow, I want to awaken early and be fresh and full of energy. The wedding is in one month, and we have so much planning to do.”
Anne and Richard both laughed. It touched him to see how thrilled his sister was. And he was glad that their debacle hadn’t ruined her birthday, after all. He offered his sister one arm and Anne the other, smiling fondly at them both.
“Then let us depart," he said, flashing his mother a wide smile as he nodded meaningfully at her and guided the two women back towards the boats.
Susan was a bundle of energy and chatter on the boat ride back to the other side of the river, practically skipping as Richard bade Anne and her family a good night and then led her and his mother to their carriage. He couldn’t get a word in on the trip home, and Richard didn’t mind at all. His mind was still reeling, and he was happy to let his sister gush about her ideas for bridal bouquets and the bridesmaid’s dress that Anne and she would pick out together. The dowager duchess was expectedly silent, staring out the window. But for the first time, her broody pouting didn’t faze him at all. He was genuinely happy and in love, and not even his mother could ruin that for him.
When they returned to Calder Manor, however, his mother grabbed his arm as soon as Susan skipped off to her chambers. She pulled him toward her, her eyes flaming and her nostrils flaring.
