Page 22 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
“We agreed you would have your independence. Or had you forgotten?” He smiled at her, and brushed a lock of hair from her face. “You can just thank me, you know.”
“Thank you.” She threw her arms around him without thinking. “I thought… I worried that perhaps… Thank you.”
She blushed furiously as she realised just what she had done, hastily stepping away from him. The movement felt like a loss.
“Kiss her!” someone cried from the back of the crowd.
Someone else took up the chant. More and more people began to yell, “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
Frederick was shaking his head at the assembled crowd, but this only seemed to spur them on. He glanced at her, an eyebrow quirked in question. His arms were still around her.
“KISS!” Someone yelled.
There is that boisterous charm his family seems to do so well. It is almost like being back at the Dowager Dabbles.Andrea should have expected something like this.
“Come on, Felty!” Another person called.
The pressure seemed to be building around them, and she swallowed. “I suppose we might as well get this over with.”
He laughed softly and brought his mouth towards hers. At the last moment, she turned her cheek and his lips brushed against only the corner of her mouth.
The crowd went wild and the last vestiges of control slipped from the gathered people. She was swept into a sea of well wishers, each welcoming her into the family.
* * *
A few hours later, she was standing in one of the more secluded courtyards of Caverton Manor. She had wanted some time to herself before her wedding ball began. She tugged at her dress, wishing she did not feel so raw and exposed.
She touched a hand to the cheek Frederick had kissed as they had left the church. “He was only doing it because people were cheering. It does not mean anything. I do not want it to mean anything.”
She could still feel the warmth of his lips against her skin. It sent tingles all across her skin, reminding her of the night in the gardens all of those nights ago. His lips had only met her cheek because she had turned her face.But I did not want to.
“I just got caught up in the excitement. That is all.” She clenched her fist. “Who would not, with all that cheering?”
“Surely you should not be alone on your wedding day – even you cannot be so repugnant as to have driven off all company so soon.” The familiar sneer of her father’s voice cut through her like a knife, and she whirled around.
He moved towards her, a mostly empty glass of wine in his hand. His nose was wrinkled as though he smelled something unpleasant.
“Father.” Andrea inclined her head towards him. “I had not expected to see you until the ball.”
“I wanted to speak to you before the revelry of tonight.” Her father spat the words as though they were poison on his lips.
“About what?”
“Your little show with the Duke. His lip curled in disgust.Kissing in public.”
“Unless it escaped your notice, father dearest, all he did was kiss my cheek. Besides, we are married. It is hardly scandalous.” She decided not to point out that they had already kissed in public in far less appropriate circumstances.
“I saw the way you looked at him. It was a wonder you did not rip your bodice then and there.” He swallowed the last dregs of his wine, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Did I raise a lady or some street walker?”
“My governess raised me.” Andrea raised her chin slightly, trying not to let her voice quaver. “And whatever you think you saw, I assure you it is not what you think.”
He growled. “Are you calling me a liar, girl?”
“No. I am simply telling you that you were mistaken.” Andrea took a step back.
“No doubt you have already cast aside your virtue.” His lip curled and Andrea could see the wine stains on his teeth. “That is how you did this, is it not?”
“Of course not! How could you even suggest such a thing?” Andrea’s cheeks flushed, though whether it was with anger or embarrassment she was not sure.
