Page 47 of His Haunted Duchess
“Why is it—” he huffed, “that whenever—I have to—now I’ve done it.”
His hands fell helplessly to his sides. The cravat pinched around his neck like a bird with a broken wing. Frederic smiled.
“Come. I’ll fix it for you.”
Philip trudged despairingly forward, tripping on the cravat graveyard.
“Why won’t it come right?”
With a few deft strokes, Frederic loosened the cravat and tucked it again into place.
“It helps if you button your waistcoat first.”
Philip’s fingers moved to his buttons.
Duchess Esther Blackmore was not to be rushed in her morning preparations on any occasion but especially not on this, the day of her son and heir’s wedding. Accordingly, the gentlemen took a light breakfast by themselves.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to eat much of anything,” Philip groaned, helping himself to sausage and buttered toast. “I’m far too excited.”
“Nonsense.” Frederic choked down a single bite of fried egg. “You’ll wish you had eaten, even if the wedding breakfast follows the ceremony.”
He laid down his fork and took a cooling sip of fresh water. Everything was in order. All of Lady Caroline’s packages—a surprisingly reasonable amount—had arrived yesterday in the care of a tearful lady’s maid. He had directed them up to her room and tried assiduously to forget about them.
The wedding was set for nine-o-clock, and it had only just struck past eight. Frederic and Philip walked to the church and waited now to receive the dowager duchess, who planned to arrive in the carriage in state. Philip fidgeted with his cravat.
“Why aren’t you more disheveled?” He complained. “You’re the one who’s taking his vows today.”
Wedding guests began to arrive, filtering into the church like drops in a bucket. Frederic bowed, encouraging Philip to do the same.
“You need a formidable distraction. It’ll help to settle your nerves. Greet everyone at the door as they enter. You won’t have time to fret.”
One of the first guests was the Marquess of Wheybridge. Philip looked nervously to Frederic, who bowed coolly and without comment. The marquess returned the bow before leading a downcast Felicity into the church. She glared at Frederic as she passed. He sighed with relief once they were both safely inside.
Frederic and Philip greeted lords and ladies, earls and countesses, two dukes, and seven marquesses before his mother arrived. He opened the door to the carriage.
“Is she here yet?” she asked. “Has Lady Caroline arrived?”
“Good morning to you, too, Mother,” he said, helping her down. “Lady Caroline has not yet made an appearance.”
Philip tapped him on the shoulder. Frederic turned. Lady Caroline had just alighted and was walking toward him. Her hands were bare, and her hair pulled back, revealing the stunning, happy beauty of her open face. For a moment, he forgot how to breathe.
Philip whispered in his ear, “is that a formidable distraction?”
Frederic closed his mouth and stepped forward, offering Lady Caroline his arm. She smiled, and it seemed like the dawn had risen fresh again. He cleared his throat.
“You—you look radiant,” he said. The words stuck like treacle in his mouth. “Shall we go in?”
The whispers in the church silenced at their approach as Frederic led Caroline up the aisle. Esther frowned but made no comment. Frederic tried not to stare at Caroline during the ceremony. If Mr. Kirkham, the clergyman, was to be any judge, then he failed miserably.
“Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in holy matrimony…”
Caroline smiled happily and squeezed his hand. A smile crept to the corner of his mouth before he remembered to stamp it out. This was a transaction—an act of business, not of passion. Philip beamed as Mr. Kirkham continued.
“The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity.”
Frederic took a step closer to her. It wouldn’t be so bad, perhaps, being married. Mr. Kirkham turned to Caroline.
“Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?
