Page 35 of The Duchess Audition

“I am restless for it to be over,” Anthony corrected, but even as he said it, he could not be sure of the truth.

For three weeks, Marina had not been far from his mind. At least once a day, he had considered calling upon her in person instead of sending a note. When he had run out of his reinvigorating tonic, he had almost been glad of the excuse to see her again, though he had refrained, the bottle empty on his desk.

And when he thought back to the modiste, he could not help wondering which fabric she had chosen, and what she might look like when he met her at the altar tomorrow. Just as he wondered if anyone had dared to bother her again, or if she had been left alone.

That does not mean anything, he told himself. It just means that I have chosen well.

“She isnae Emilia, Anthony,” Malcolm said, in a less teasing tone.

Anthony cast his friend a warning look. “Of that I am well aware.” He gulped down the contents of his drink. “I should depart. It is late, and I have a wedding to attend tomorrow.”

“Ye can speak of her to me, Anthony.” Malcolm sighed, for they had had this quarrel before. “It might do ye some good to speak of her before tomorrow.”

Anthony forced a tight smile. “No, thank you. I am quite content to forget all about her, and tomorrow is the start of that. William will forget, everyone will forget, and then I shall not have to field questions about her anymore.”

He got up, wished his friend a cursory ‘goodnight’ and left feeling more on edge than when he had been pacing his own drawing room. Perhaps, despite what he had said, it did feel strange to be marrying again, especially considering the first time had been such a disaster.

Let me be right about Marina, he prayed as he strode back home. Let her be as distant from me as a wife can be.

As for himself, he vowed that he would not seek out her company, no matter how intriguing he found her to be.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“How lovely! Where did you get those flowers from?” Bernard asked, as Marina emerged from her room, flanked by the grinning housekeeper and a cheerful maid who had helped prepare her.

Marina’s face flushed, her trembling hands gripping the bouquet that little bit tighter. “The duke sent them yesterday. I did not think they deserved to die in a vase.”

It had been rather a shock when they had arrived at her door with a note that said ‘see you tomorrow’, the small card embellished with the Knotgill crest.

After all, Anthony had avowed that he was not the romantic sort, yet the arrangement had suggested otherwise: apple blossoms, which meant ‘I prefer you before all’, hyacinths, which meant ‘your loveliness charms me’ and yellow pansies that meant ‘I am thinking of you’. Unless, of course it was pure coincidence.

“They are beautiful, my dearest Rini,” Bernard said, his eyes watering. “As are you. Yes, you are… quite the radiant bride. Oh goodness, I seem to have some dust in my eye.”

He turned and dabbed at his eyes with his handkerchief, before blowing his nose rather loudly. A necessary break in the tension that had been building all morning for Marina, thinking about the wedding to come.

“I shall miss that sound,” she told him, laughing. “There cannot be anyone in the world who blows their nose as violently as you.”

Bernard chuckled into the handkerchief. “I am afraid that is the consequence of having such a tremendous nose. It has always been a relief that you did not inherit it from our side of the family.” His voice hitched, his lip trembling. “Your father would be… so proud of the woman you are. I am… so very… very sorry that I am the one walking you down the aisle and not him.”

“Oh, Uncle, you must not be sorry,” Marina urged, taking his hand. “I am glad to have you at my side today, but you cannot cry. If you do, people may think that I am there against my will.”

Bernard straightened up, brushing the tears from his cheeks. “You are quite right. Yes, of course you are.” He cleared his throat. “I shall not mope or wallow today. I shall walk you proudly down the aisle, and thank the heavens that you found such an ideal match.”

Marina breathed a small sigh of relief at having averted his sorrow, for if he continued to lament, she knew that she would crumble too.

It is not so great an event, she told herself. It is merely a business transaction.

No one cried when exchanging contracts. And no one would cry today if she could help it.

“Come then,” she said, squeezing her uncle’s hand gently. “I do not want to be late.”

Bernard put her arm through his and smiled. “You have always been a brave girl, Rini. You are braver today than I have ever seen you.” He patted her hand. “And just remember, you can come to Stadley whenever you please, for it shall always be your home.”

“The day after tomorrow?” she teased.

Her uncle sighed. “Alas not, but the moment your honeymoon is finished, you must visit me.” He swallowed down a sob. “Truly, I do not know what I shall do with myself in your absence.”

“Read. A lot.” She smiled at him. “And when I come to see you, you can tell me everything you have learned. Not to mention, we can write to one another. I shall have to write a list of the books I need. The herbs and plants from the workshop, too.”