Page 38 of The Artisan and the Duke
“I beg you take a seat in the House of Lords and speak that to them,” Fredrick said adamantly. “I fear that your proxy does not withstand the onslaught of the Lords the same as you would, Brother.”
With a shake of his head, Gregory warned his brother, “Do not flatter me into a corner, Fred. The House of Lords is a stagnant pool that only fosters distrust of the poor and underprivileged.”
“Seems all the more reason to add fresh water to it,” Fredrick said, but he waved off his brother’s ire. “Do not get yourself so tightly wound before the ceremony. Mother has that pastor of hers coming to do the rite.”
Gregory took a deep breath. “I will be glad when we are all on our way back to the estate,” he said with feeling.
“I think Miss Kelley will enjoy Thornton Hall if her family is any indication,” Fredrick said with a smile. “Have you told her that you plan to retire to the country after the ceremony?”
Gregory shook his head and swirled the brandy in his glass. “I was saving it as a bit of a wedding present for her. A beginning of a honeymoon to help her adjust to her new role as Duchess,” Gregory said thoughtfully. “Besides I am not at all eager to be out amongst society at the moment.”
“On that point, I do not blame you,” Fredrick said as he raised his glass and took another sip.
Chapter 8
The day before had been spent mostly relaxing and passing stories, but as soon as the sun was over the treetops the morning of the ceremony, Lady St Claire had the whole household stirring. Uncle Lawrence had finally made an appearance. Jules had made sure that she warned her mother and sisters to steer clear of the man.
Jules eyed her reflection in the mirror. Her sisters were wearing white Sunday dresses, and Sherry had put roses in their hairs much to the little girls’ delight.
Jules, however, could only think of her fluttering stomach and how weak her knees suddenly felt. Perhaps she should tell Lady St Claire that she was ill and should lie down?
Sucking in a deep breath, Jules squashed down her nerves and cowardly thoughts. No. She had made this deal, and she was going to stick to it. Jules slipped a strand of her hair back behind her ear as she tried to just breathe.
“I think they are getting ready for you, Ma’am,” Sherry said as she came back into the room. “Don’t be meddling with your hair,” she added as she came over and pinned the wayward strands of Jules’ hair into place.
Jules admitted, “I think I might faint.”
“Then I will drag you down the stairs,” Sherry said helpfully.
Jules nodded absentmindedly as she followed Sherry out the door. She mumbled, “Good.”
When they made it to the kitchen, Lady St Claire was waiting. “You look lovely, if a bit green,” the woman said to Jules. “Nervous? I was quite nervous on my wedding day too. Just breathe and step,” the woman said as she put her hand behind Jules’ back and escorted her out the door with Sherry following behind them.
Georgie and Tally had been waiting on the other side of the patio doors, and they began dropping rose petals, fresh from the garden, on the path in front of Jules.
Jules tried to smile at the girls but found herself too nervous. Lady St Claire took a step to the side and sat down next to Jules’ mother.
Traditionally, marriage ceremonies were solemn events and never filled with great pomp because the rite was the important thing. The very idea that the ceremony would be short and to the point was what was keeping Jules’ feet moving forward. The Duke waited by the altar with his brother by his side. The priest smiled at Jules encouragingly as she came to stand next to the blond-haired Duke.
She met the Duke’s gaze for a moment, and her heart sped up. The suit he wore brought out the man’s grey eyes and fit him snugly. Jules swallowed nervously as she looked around at the priest. He had begun saying things, and try as she might, Jules could barely pay attention to them.
The ceremony went by so quickly that it had hardly arrived before it was gone. She said her parts and did what she had to do. The next thing she knew, the Duke was signing his name in a registry then handing the quill to her so that Jules could do the same.
Truly it was not until much later when Lady St Claire toasted them and offered cake to all of the household that it sank in for Jules that she had actually gotten married. She had married the Duke.
She, Julia Kelley, was now Duchess of Thornton. What an odd idea, she puzzled, that she should be so after just a few short weeks of meeting the Duke by random chance.
As everyone got set to retire for the night, the Duke caught up to her as she headed up the stairs. “Our rooms are this way,” the Duke said jovially to Jules.
She blushed. “Oh yes,” she said with a shake of her head. “This has been such a long day,” Jules said.
“Are you still not feeling well?” the Duke asked with so much worry that Jules smiled at the man.
Jules shook her head. “I am well enough,” she said softly.
“I have a surprise for you tomorrow,” the Duke said as he held out his arm. Once Jules had slipped her arm through his, he led her towards his own set of rooms as he spoke, “We are going to the country with your family for the remainder of the season. I thought it might be nice to have a bit of quiet after where we started a few weeks ago.”
Jules admitted, “That sounds lovely, but what about the trial?”
