Page 89 of The Duke Who Loved Me (The Duke's Estates 1)

“I believe one must apply to the Archbishop of Canterbury for a special license.”

“How do you know that?”

“A man on the town picks up these little tidbits of information.”

As James had hoped, she laughed. He looked forward to seeing her laugh often in the years that lay ahead. And to so much else as well.

***

Cecelia attended Ada Grandison’s wedding with her aunt, a grudging but surprisingly solid presence. Tereford and Prince Karl were not invited, not being friends of the couple, and this was a relief. It was the reason she’d chosen this as the first occasion to appear since the public announcement of her engagement. Easier to be gaped at without their contentious presence, she’d thought, and so it proved. She also found the gossips’ attitude changed, now that she was about to become a duchess. The past was not forgotten, but the general consensus seemed to be that she had triumphed over it. Decisively. Some were glad; some were sourly envious. But no one snubbed her. These were the ups and downs of society.

She couldn’t help but compare Ada’s lively festivities with her own plans, about which she evaded all questions. She had decreed a small ceremony with just a few people in attendance. The date—tomorrow!—and place were not precisely secret. They simply hadn’t told anyone. The distinction without a difference made her smile. She’d decided on this course because she thought Prince Karl the sort of person who enjoyed revenge, and she did not want some disagreeable scene enacted at her wedding. Why give him opportunities when she needn’t?

Perhaps it would not be the lavish celebration girls dreamed of, but that didn’t matter. Her greater wish had come true; she would be James’s wife. She’d wished for that since she was seventeen, and the knowledge made her heart sing.

Yes, she had doubts. It was not exactly the love match she’d longed for. But the last few weeks had convinced her that something sweet could grow between them. And that was enough, was it not?

Cecelia pushed this concern aside. She’d taken her future into her own hands; that was the important thing. She’d reached out for what she wanted and secured it. She would find a way to success. Hadn’t she often done so in the past? This wasn’t some estate problem or financial issue, of course. She was still not certain what James felt, for example. Except that he had easily agreed.

She wondered if her mother had felt as if her heart was in her throat when she arranged her future. James’s blank look when she’d begun had nearly stopped her cold. But then he’d said that he’d spent half the night trying to find the right words to convince her. She clung to that. With a wisp of regret that she had not waited a little and let him speak.

“How do people bear the tedium of these things?” asked her aunt. “Chatter, chatter, chatter, all empty.”

Cecelia turned to the small fair-haired woman at her side. As she so seldom had been before. Aunt Valeria’s presence had actually caused a small stir, since she never appeared in society. “Well, you won’t have to endure it again. Your job is nearly over. After tomorrow, I shall be gone.”

Her aunt looked startled. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Now you can, and be glad,” replied Cecelia.

“Will your father wish me to leave, do you think?”

Aunt Valeria, and Papa, would always consider themselves first, Cecelia acknowledged. It was their nature. “He will need someone to manage the household,” she answered.

“Deal with Cook and the coal merchant and…all that sort of thing?” Her aunt frowned. “I suppose I could. A bit. You will be nearby to help out.”

This was not a happy prospect, and Cecelia nearly denied it. But she was silenced by the sudden realization that she didn’t know where she would be after tomorrow. She would be married. That was certain. But where would they go after the ceremony? Where would they settle? Not in the shambles of Tereford House surely? James couldn’t mean to do that. Did he have a plan? When had he ever had a plan? She was the planner everyone relied upon. But she hadn’t. She’d leapt without really looking, and now life was rushing forward at a frantic pace to…where? This was so unlike her familiar self. They should have talked. They should have discussed…everything. Something!

Charlotte and Sarah approached, each carrying two plates heaped with wedding delicacies. “Lobster patties,” said Charlotte, holding out one.

“Oh splendid,” said Aunt Valeria, taking the plate even though Charlotte had clearly meant it for Cecelia.

“Are you all right?” asked Sarah.

“I feel…sightly dizzy,” said Cecelia.

“Oh dear. It’s probably the heat. It’s dreadfully close in here.” Sarah handed a plate to Charlotte and took Cecelia’s arm. “Come and sit down.”

“I don’t think that will help.”

“Are you ill?” asked Aunt Valeria. “Can we go?” She ate two lobster patties in quick succession.

“I don’t know where,” muttered Cecelia, too distracted to notice their stares.

***

James tracked down Henry Deeping at his lodgings preparing to go out for the evening. “Henry, you’ve been a hard man to find lately.”

“I’ve been out of town for a few days. Stanley wanted to see a mill. My brother, you know.”

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