Page 102 of A Duchess Bound
“Farewell,” she echoed, roughly rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.
“I will…I will give your sister the life that she deserves,” he said. “I promise that I will be good to her. Faithful, too. I will never…never do anything that might disgrace her.”
Dorothy sobbed, her tears falling with reckless abandon. Her breath hitched, and she looked away, crying openly.
“I am so very sorry,” he said. “So sorry for hurting you.”
“I know,” she whimpered. “I know, Gerard.”
He folded her into a tight embrace, and she felt his chest shudder against her own. “Never again,” Gerard said, pressing his lips against the crook of her neck. “Promise me that you will be happy without me.”
She opened her mouth. The tears had made her throat feel thick and raw, and the words refused to come. “I—I will,” she rasped, barely audible.
He lifted his head, and Dorothy saw that his eyes were also suspiciously bright. “You should return to bed, my sweet. Tomorrow will be a trying day.”
“I know.”
With a fond smile, he stepped away. Gerard bowed humbly, giving her a last and lingering look, and continued along the path and out of sight. Chest heaving, Dorothy remained where she was. She closed her eyes and breathed. He was gone.
“I cannot do it.” Bridget’s voice came from behind her.
Dorothy turned around and found her sister standing in the doorway. “How long have you been there?”
“Not long,” Bridget said. “But I can guess why you were here in the gardens. You and His Grace are not as discreet as you think.”
“It was nothing,” Dorothy said. “It was—will be—our final conversation with one another.”
“It need not be,” Bridget said, meeting Dorothy’s gaze. “I will not marry him. I would rather be ruined than marry a man whom I do not love. A man whom my sister loves!”
“No,” Dorothy said. “No, Bridget, you are too young to throw away your life.”
Bridget shook her head. “I cannot,” she said shakily. “I must not.”
Dorothy sighed. “It is done. Even if it is not ideal, you must marry Gerard. He will give you a good life.”
Bridget looked away. “None of this is fair.”
“No,” Dorothy agreed, gingerly folding her sister into an embrace.
Bridget shivered and wrapped her arms around Dorothy’s neck. Dorothy blinked back her own tears as Bridget sobbed. It was the best possible solution; Dorothy knew that.
But it seemed grossly unfair that the best solution would make all of them so terribly unhappy.
CHAPTER 36
Gerard spent the morning in a daze. He dressed and went to the chapel, his steps echoing loudly as he approached the altar. Leedway, who waited in the front pew, rose and extended a hand. “Layton.”
“Leedway.”
They shook hands.
Silence fell between them. Gerard’s eyes swept over the chapel’s few other occupants. Given the scandal swirling about Bridget, it had been agreed that it would be best for the ceremony to have only a few attendees.
He had brought Pontoun, the only person—aside from Dorothy—for whom Gerard really cared. Briefly, he had considered inviting Lady Everleigh, but he decided that the awkwardness of havingtwoof his former lovers at his wedding was fargreater than any potential comfort that he might derive from the woman’s presence.
Leedway had brought his sister, the Duchess of Sarsen, along with her husband. Aside from the vicar, no one else was gathered in the chapel. “Where is Lady Dorothy?” Gerard asked.
“Did you expect her to be here?” Leedway asked, arching an eyebrow.
