Page 10 of The Duchess’ Second Chance

“I suppose not,” Amanda agreed.

“Does that make you sad?”

“There are many things to be sad about in this life,” Amanda said. “But love is not something that’s promised to us, and it isn’t something we should ever count on. If we can live lifestyle where we are safe and happy, where we have people who care for us, then we have all we can ask for.”

Rose was quiet for a moment. “I still think it would be nice to fall in love.”

“And perhaps you will someday,” Amanda said warmly. “Your future is full of possibilities, Rose. Any wonderful thing at all might happen. It’s a good thing to have dreams.”

But her own dreams had faded away a very long time ago. Amanda knew that love was not in her future, just as it had never been in her past. It wasn’t even something she fantasized about. Not anymore.

All that matters is that we find a good life where the two of us are able to stay together. Anything else can be dealt with.

CHAPTER 6

“You look very nice,” the Duke of Mortridge said quietly as Amanda joined him at the altar.

“Thank you.” It came out hardly above a whisper. She couldn’t believe she was here with him again. It seemed as though no time had passed since the last moment she had been standing in this spot. Now here she was once more, waiting to say her vows. But this time, it was by her own choice.

Her heart raced as the priest began the ceremony. This time, when he asked if anyone objected to the marriage, he was met with silence, and the ceremony continued. They exchanged rings. The duke’s hand was warm and steady as he took hold of Amanda’s. They were declared husband and wife.

There was no kiss. They made their way back up the aisle arm in arm, and Amanda felt the same shiver run down her spine as she’d felt when she had first met the duke. She didn’t know what to make of it. It wasn’t fear, exactly. She knew what it was to feel frightened of a man. She didn’t feel that now.

The carriage awaited them outside. He helped her up with one hand, and once she was tucked away inside, he climbed up after her. The door was closed behind him, the carriage began to move, and the wedding was officially over.

I’m married to him. I’m the Duchess of Mortridge, just like that.

It didn’t sound true. It sounded like a dream. Not the kind of dream she would savor upon waking, but the kind that would leave her confused and wondering why her mind had conjured up something so strange.

They still hadn’t spoken since she had first joined him at the altar. She thought about saying something—she really should—but what? What did you say to your husband who you’d never even had a full conversation with before? Even when he had come to her house to finalize the terms of the marriage, he had spoken mostly with her father, only exchanging a few brief pleasantries with Amanda. How were you supposed to act when the first time you were ever on your own with a man was after you’d married him? There hadn't been a courtship. There hadn't been anything.

Did I do this wrong? Maybe she should have insisted on a little bit more time between their first meeting and the marriage. But for better or worse, it was done now.

Finally, the duke broke the silence. “The little girl’s room is being set up at my estate now,” he said. “I arranged for her to be picked up and taken there from your friend’s home tomorrow. I’m surprised you didn’t want her to be present, though.”

“I think she’s a little shocked by what happened the last time I tried to get married,” Amanda murmured.

The duke was quiet for a moment. “I can understand that,” he said. “I suppose you were shocked as well.”

“I was,” Amanda admitted.

“But I just had to keep to my word,” the duke said, meeting her eyes. “George made me swear.”

“He made you swear that you would marry me?”

“Is it difficult for you to believe that?” the duke asked.

“Well, it’s just that…we didn’t know each other very well,” Amanda said. “We weren’t very close, George and I. We hardly had any time together at all before he was summoned off to war, you see.”

“I do know that,” the duke agreed. “He mentioned it. He talked, now and then, about how he had married just before accepting his commission, and about how terribly he felt having to leave his new wife at home on her own. He was eager to return to you.”

“Was he?”

“To begin his life, yes,” the duke said.

He fell silent, apparently unwilling to offer anything more on that topic for the moment.

Amanda wondered what it had been like for the two of them. As much as George had remained a mystery to her, she knew she must have been a mystery to him. He must have been curious about her, and he would have known that there would be much for the two of them to learn about one another.