Page 77 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
At the bottom of the stairs Emmeline stepped out into the entrance hall. Harcourt whistled. “What a sigh to see!”
“Keep it to yourself.” Emmeline smoothed the lace that lay over her satin gown.
Harcourt clicked his tongue. “You should be happy.”
“It is hard to feel happy when I feel ill. I swear that I did not sleep a wink all night.” Emmeline took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Harcourt said to Jasmine, “If she faints, you get her feet and I will grab her shoulders.”
“You are not humorous, Harcourt.” Emmeline shifted and pondered taking her shoes off, but then she probably would not get them back on before they were in the church.
Despite Nash’s assertions that he would rather get married outdoors, common sense had prevailed as his mother proposed it would be easier to manage an indoor wedding. Of course, an indoor wedding meant less guests, and Emmeline was all for that.
Harcourt chuckled. “Come on then, let us get this mare hitched up.” He was swiftly out the door, not waiting for the ladies.
Emmeline called, “You might not make it to the church in one piece, Brother!”
“Oh dear,” Jasmine sighed as she ushered Emmeline out of the side door, helping to hold her skirt up out of the dirt.
The ride to the church was at least a quiet one, as Harcourt seemed to have finally come to his senses or realised that he needed to preserve his health. Emmeline peered out of the window looking up at the clouds. They were thick, but not overly dark. She had seen it rain when there was nary a cloud in the sky, so perhaps that did not mean much. Lord knew it rained enough in London for the whole of the world. Why this city was so greedy was beyond Emmeline.
To make matters worse, her hair refused to settle and determined to stand on end or escape the pins that Jasmine had spent almost an hour placing. Emmeline sought to hold her hair to task through sheer will. Unfortunately, will was in short supply as her mind darted everywhere at once.
They called the sensation cold feet, apparently. But Emmeline had cold everything. That could have had something to do with the damp in the air, but she reckoned it was fate drawing in on her. She had been too cocky in her adoration of the duke and something had to give.
As she stepped out of the carriage at the church, she was ushered into a small room to the side so that the groom did not see her. Harcourt bid her farewell to take his place beside Nash as his best man. Jasmine would be serving as Emmeline’s maid-of-honour. She was the closest friend that Emmeline had here in London and, despite Jasmine’s misgivings, there could be no better choice.
“That is your cue,” Jasmine said urgently, bringing Emmeline back to her senses.
Emmeline turned and went to the door that led into the main church. Jasmine gave her a big smile before she went first through the door. Emmeline counted in her head and then stepped out in time with the music that was playing.
She walked behind the last pew and turned up the aisle. It was then that her eyes landed on Nash. The Duke of Torrington stood waiting for her. The cut of him in his coat made her heart beat a bit faster. His long dark hair was worn loose.
Emmeline felt as though her insides were melting as she looked into his eyes. She cared not for the guests, only for the man who waited for her in front of the altar. It was perfect, but then it would have been perfect even in a field of weeds. Nash being there made it perfect.
How she walked to the altar she would never remember. The next moment, Nash was helping her onto the raised platform to stand with him. There were vows and promises, things to recite, but those were just words. Emmeline repeated after the clergyman when it came her turn to do so. She smiled at Nash as the ceremony drew to a close.
The clergyman raised his hands and declared them husband and wife, before he gave Nash permission to kiss her. She felt exposed and giddy all at once. She met him halfway and they kissed for the briefest moment before they pulled apart again.
It had been too short a time for Emmeline’s liking, but the next moment there were shouts of exultation from both sides of the aisle as those in attendance rejoiced. Emmeline had not expected the outbursts and laughed at it. “Congratulations, Lady Torrington,” Nash said with a nod of his head.
“And to you, Lord Torrington,” Emmeline replied as she looped her arm through his. As they made their way down the aisle, they thanked those who had come. She saw out of the corner of her eye Lord Hawley and with him were Dowager Randall and her niece. A bright smile spread over her face as she gave the group a wave.
Nash grinned. “Looks as though he took your advice.”
Emmeline nodded. Perhaps the man was not a hopeless case in the end. She left the church with a light heart. She sank into the carriage seat beside Lord Torrington with a sigh of relief. “We made it.”
“Yes, now we just have to reorganise households and figure all that mess out,” Nash said as he leaned back.
He seemed every bit as worn out as she was. “I did not sleep at all last night,” she confided.
“Then we are two of a pair,” he replied. He took her hand into his and brought it up to his lips. “Worth it though.”
Emmeline smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder. She gave his cheek a little kiss and felt the stubble there. “Are you growing your facial hair out?”
“It has crossed my mind,” Nash said with a chuckle. “Are you filing a protest?”
Emmeline shook her head. “I like a beard on a man.”
