Page 14 of A Wicked Duke's Arranged Marriage
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Two days passed relatively quickly. And by relatively, Josephine was inclined to think they passed in a blur. One moment, she was sitting at dinner with her parents, discussing the upcoming dinner party, and the next, they were all seated in their carriage, bumping along the old country roads towards Wallburshare Manor.
“That blue really does complement your eyes, Josie. Doesn’t it, darling?” Lady St Vincent asked, smiling over her fan as the countryside passed by outside their windows.
Lord St Vincent had been staring out the windows as they went, a contemplative frown on his lips. When his wife spoke, though, he jerked to attention, turning to look over Josephine with a discerning eye.
“You look lovely, Josie,” he assured her warmly. He smiled, a look of pride filling his features as he did. “Of course, there was no question of that, was there?”
Josephine only just kept from snorting. There was always a question of that, though she wasn’t about to argue with their parental sentiment. Her blue dress was one of her very best, and there was no real question about what she would wear. Her sisters were the ones who had got all of the fancier, more expensive gowns over the years, being that they were older. She had been left with a much smaller budget for her coming out.
Still, it was a nice blue dress, with little frill but fitted to her like a glove and with all the modesty still to be eye-catching while remaining charming.
“Are you nervous?” her mother stage-whispered, winking at her as they turned a curve down the drive of Wallburshare Estate.
Josephine laughed, shaking her head. “Of course I am. What do I say to a duke?”
“Whatever you would say to any gentleman,” her father dismissed with a chuckle. “Something witty, knowing you.”
Neither of her parents looked nervous, Josephine realized. It spoke volumes to their faith in her. Among all those nerves twisting about her belly, she suddenly felt something else, a pressure as she looked at the older couple across from her.
They’d given her such a good life, her father working his fingers to the bone to keep things going after their finances had begun to fall. They’d put all their children through society and ensured they made matches that pleased them as well as advanced them in society.
And her older siblings had paid them back by moving out and not looking back even once.
Her chest was tight as she made herself sit straighter, the weight of her duty heavy upon her shoulders.
She would not be like her sisters. This was her one opportunity to ensure that both her future and theirs would be secure.
If she had to marry a depressed, staid duke stuck in the past, then so be it.
“Oh, wow,” Lady St Vincent whispered, catching Josephine’s attention.
She followed her mother’s gaze out of the windows, her breath catching for a wholly different reason as she did.
She’d only ever driven past the Wallburshare Estate. It was set far enough back from the road that only the barest details were visible. So while she’d known it was large, she hadn’t known quite how large. Or how exquisitely detailed.
Marble pillars framed the front entrance they pulled up to, greenery filling the front beds and beyond.
This was to be hers?
She was supposed to be the mistress of this estate?
She couldn’t speak. She could barely hear the conversation between her parents as a footman rushed to help them down from the carriage, opening the doors for them and then taking his turn helping Josephine down as well.
“Lord Wallburshare is expecting you,” the footman murmured, bowing as he ushered them in through the front.
Josephine couldn’t help craning her neck to try and take it all in at once. It was so expansive that she felt like she was missing most of it.
Inside was even larger than she had expected. It was all elegantly decorated in neutral, muted tones, the gold inlays almost everywhere she looked.
“Keep up, Josie,” her mother hissed as they were led through the entrance into a side room.
Despite her curiosity, she pulled herself together, turning and rushing to come up just behind her parents as they were seen into the sitting room.
“Ah, Your Grace!” Her father greeted immediately upon entry. He and her mother stopped just inside the door, their shoulders blocking Josephine’s view.
“Lord St Vincent,” a silky voice greeted in a deep monotone. “I’m very glad you could attend tonight. Lady St Vincent.”
