Page 54 of The Duke's Indecent Match
Kalina could not help but laugh.That sounded very like Lady Astrid.
She had not lost her friends.
Knowing that, she could face anything.Even this travesty of a wedding day.
Nathanial
The points of his collar were digging into his chin.
“Stop fidgeting,” Matthew murmured.“You look like you are about to crawl out of your skin.”
He felt as though he was going to crawl out of his skin.
Tiffany was walking down the aisle wearing a cornflower-blue gown, serenely smiling as though this was an anticipated, planned event.Despite her beauty, everyone was watchinghimfar more closely than they were watching her procession.He could only hope when Miss Little appeared at the end of the aisle, he might get some respite from the scrutiny.
Though his friends all gave him supportive looks, the rest of the guests were avidly watching for his reactions.Likely tallying their thoughts for when they returned to London to spread the gossip.The best thing he could do was appear calm, collected, and unbothered by the unusual circumstances that had brought him to the altar.
“I think you need a new coin,” Nathanial whispered back, even though he knew that would never happen.He was still annoyed that Matthew had flipped it for him and Miss Little, then shared the outcome in front of everyone.
Matthew snorted softly.
Tiffany took her place opposite them, back far enough that there would be space for Miss Little to stand.She caught Nathanial’s gaze and gave him a smile that was both sympathetic and encouraging.He looked away.Down the aisle to where the doors were currently closed.
The music shifted.Swelled.His jaw locked as the doors swung open, revealing Miss Little and her father.She was not wearing a veil, so her expression was completely visible to everyone.
Calm.Collected.Looking at her face, no one would think that she was harboring an iota of trepidation and certainly no remorse for how she had come to be walking down the aisle.Beside her, her father’s expression was also quite blank, but in his case, it was easy to see behind the mask.
Mr.Little was very happy, though he was taking pains to hide it.Unlike his daughter, he was not as good an actor.
Something else for Nathanial to keep in mind and be wary of.His bride’s acting ability would have won her accolades at the Royal Theater.If he’d had any doubts about her talent after waking in her bed, seeing her performance now would have wiped them away.
The only thing that gave away any emotion other than serene contentment was the way her hand trembled when it was placed in his, and he would not have known if they had not been touching.
The dress she was wearing was the palest pink he’d seen her in thus far, lending a more bridal quality to her attire, even without the veil.Her bow-lips were slightly parted, heavy lashes concealing her lowered gaze from him as Reverend Kilpatrick began the wedding ceremony.Nathanial glanced out at the enraptured audience.
Mr.Little was still attempting to appear somber, but there was a little smile curving the edge of his lips.Beside him, Mrs.Little appeared worried, as did the younger Little.Rupert sat beside Miss Little’s brother, frowning at Nathanial for some reason.Behind them were the Blackstones and Delilah, whom he assumed had chosen Miss Little’s side of the guests because Drake and Zachary were seated on his.The two matchmakers were there as well.
Gathered on Nathanial’s side were his friends.Gregory was watching Tiffany, unsurprisingly, while the rest of them gave Nathanial bracing nods of encouragement.Even the sight of Monkey Sinclair, wearing his own little cravat and miniature top hat while perched on Zachary’s shoulder, could not coax a smile to Nathanial’s lips at this moment.The rest of the guests were divided between the two sides.The number of chairs provided matched the number of guests exactly, ensuring an equal spread between the two.
Nathanial dragged his attention back to the ceremony as Reverend Kilpatrick guided Miss Little through her wedding vows.She was so focused on the words, she forgot not to look at him when she finished.
Their gazes clashed.
Her dark eyes were wide, fathomless, and his breath caught in his throat.She looked utterly innocent, completely guileless.The attraction that had always simmered between them caught and held, practically pulsing in the air around them.
“Your Grace, please repeat after me,” Reverend Kilpatrick said.“I, Nathanial Archibald Montgomery Percy.”
Clearing his throat, Nathanial shook off the spell that his bride’s gaze had woven around him.
“I, Nathanial Archibald Montgomery Percy…”
Less than ten minutes later, the parson’s trap had fully closed around him, and Nathanial was leading his new wife down the aisle, feeling as though his life had turned upside down.What it would look like from here on out, he could hardly begin to fathom.
20
Kalina
Since she had never been to an English wedding, Kalina did not know how hers measured up, but she imagined there were not usually so many whispers and sidelong glances at the bride and groom.She also rather thought that the bride and groom likely spoke more than two words to each other during the meal.
