Page 9 of Her Duke to Beguile: Lady Be Wicked
And what if he didn’t? Would George change his mind about marrying her? She prayed he wouldn’t, but this entire marriage idea was impulsive. Eleanor wouldn’t blame him if he did reconsider. They could return to Cranbrook and forget about the entire thing. Of course, she would lose her position and she would have to find a new position… She couldn’t think about that possibility. Besides, she had to have faith. George said he wouldn’t change his mind. He wanted to marry her, and in fact, had seemed excited to do so.
They walked down a long hallway. This castle seemed so dark and dreary. She would hate to live there, but at the same time, there was something appealing about it. Eleanor knew little about Scottish architecture. She would have to see if there were any books about it and study a bit. She had always enjoyed learning about new things. Why should this be any different?
Finally, they reached a doorway. George rapped on the large door and opened it without waiting for permission to enter. A man sat at a large wood desk with his gaze focused on some ledgers before him. He glanced up when they entered, and his smile widened when his gaze met George’s. “What brings ye here?”
“I’m here for a wedding,” George answered.
“Is that so?” The Duke of Allister rose and walked toward him. “And what wedding are ye here for?”
“Mine,” George answered. He pulled her forward and gestured toward her with a nod of his head. “This is my intended. Miss Eleanor Jones, I’d like you to meet The Duke of Allister, one of my closest friends.”
Allister frowned. “Ye didn’t mention anything about this wee lass when we spoke yesterday. When did this happy development occur?”
“Today,” George told him. “There is much I need to tell you, but first, can you help arrange a wedding today? We don’t need anything elaborate. I just want to ensure we are wed before we return home tomorrow.”
“That can be arranged. A simple wedding can be done here. As long as ye both are ready and willing to admit to yer intention to wed.” He met Eleanor’s gaze. “Is that yer wish, lass? Do ye want to marry this curmudgeon?”
“I don’t find him particularly bad tempered,” Eleanor replied softly. “He’s more than wonderful and I’d be honored to be his wife.”
“Yer a sweet lass, aren’t ye,” the Duke of Allister said. He didn’t seem as if he expected her to reply. He returned his attention back to George. “I’ll speak with the preacher and arrange everything.”
A maid walked in with a tray filled with biscuits, tiny cakes, and a full tea service. She set it down on the desk and turned toward the Duke of Allister. “Do ye wish me tae serve, Yer Grace?”
“No,” Allister replied. “We can see tae it ourselves. Go and tell the cook that we have guests fer dinner. She’ll want tae have time tae prepare something special. It appears we are tae have a wedding.”
“I’ll let her know,” the maid said, then curtsied. She left them alone and went to do the task assigned to her.
Allister turned back to them. “Have some tea and cakes,” he told them. “I’ll go and make the arrangements. I shouldn’t be long.”
After that, he left George and Eleanor alone. Her stomach filled with dancing butterflies determined to make it impossible for her to eat anything. The biscuits and cakes looked delicious, but she feared she wouldn’t be able to keep any of it down. “I’ll just have some tea.”
“You should eat,” George told her.
“I’m not hungry,” she argued. “Tea is enough.”
She prayed he didn’t try to convince her to eat something. Eleanor didn’t want to explain why she didn’t want any food. She would eat something later. After the wedding… At least she hoped she would be able to eat. There was also the wedding night to consider. She didn’t have a mother to explain any of it to her. What if she did something wrong, and he decided he’d made a mistake? Who could she even ask about such things? Eleanor hated being unprepared.
She poured some tea and took a sip. She didn’t like sugar or milk in her tea. “Would you like me to pour a cup for you?”
George shook his head. “I’m not in the mood for tea.” He stepped closer to her. “I’d rather taste it on your lips.”
Eleanor set her teacup on the desk. “Who am I to deny you anything” She wanted him to kiss her. There was nothing she craved more. He didn’t wait for another invitation. George pulled her into his arms and kissed her senseless, that is, if she had any sense to begin with. Otherwise, she would never have agreed to a whirlwind courtship and wedding.
Six
Eleanor had never considered what her wedding, if she were ever to marry, might be like. Dreaming of her potential future husband had not been something she had thought to consider, so therefore, her wedding day hadn’t been high in her imaginings. If she had fantasized about any of it she would now be surprised at the groom fate had in store for her. The Duke of Cranbrook was any lady’s dream of a husband. He was kind, handsome, and scandalously attentive.
The wedding itself had been a blur. She could barely recall saying any vows. If anyone were to ask her if she had a favorite moment, she would be hard pressed to name one. No mere moment from that day was worth compounding on. For her, the fact that she was now the Duchess of Cranbrook was the most important facet. Not because she was a duchess, but because he was her husband. The title was incidental compared to the man.
“Do ye have any regrets?” the Duke of Allister asked her. Eleanor’s husband, and she still couldn’t believe that part was true, stood several feet away from her. He was discussing something with the preacher who had married them. She wasn’t certain what, but then again, she didn’t care.
“Why would I have regrets?” she asked Allister. George was everything to her. How that could have happened so fast, in so little time, she couldn’t imagine. But it was true nonetheless.
He shrugged. “I don’t suppose it would matter if ye did. Undoing a wedding is more difficult than planning one. Once the vows are spoken, the two participants are well and truly stuck.”
She wrinkled her nose. “How unromantic.”
“I’m a realist, love.” He sipped from his glass. The amber liquid inside glowed in the candlelight. “Romance is for the foolish. I have no intention of ever being so besotted.”
