“The heart doesn’t work like that,” Georgina said, a small, sad smile playing across her lips. “I tried to tell myself the same thing after Henry and I were caught in the hedge maze. I tried to tell myself that he wasn’t good for me when he would knowingly lead me to my ruin. But it didn’t change anything. He is the man I love, and that’s just the way it is.”
“Well, your story got a happy ending, so at least there is that,” Emery said, forcing herself to smile. As much as she wanted to burst into tears, she knew that wasn’t an option. Today was her best friend’s wedding day, and she had to put on a brave face for her. “And mine has a happy ending too, in its own way. I shall enjoy being independent. Half of each year I will spend in London with the Duke and his sisters, until each one is married off, and then for the rest of the years, I won’t have to see him.” She grinned at Emery. “And I have thought about how I will occupy all my time.”
“Oh?” Georgina asked, smiling.
“I shall help take care of all my nieces and nephews, of course!”
Georgina laughed. “I don’t think Henry and I will have children right away. We are already so young ourselves to be married.”
“Well, eventually you will, and when you do, I will take care of them. I’ll be their favorite aunt--which will be a competitive category, considering they have three more on Henry’s side.”
“I have no doubt you will be their favorite aunt,” Georgina said. “Here’s to that!”
And she reached out and clinked her glass against Emery’s. Emery drank heartily, and as she did, she wondered if it would be as easy as she made it sound to Georgina. Being an aunt would be marvelous, but it might also be hard to only ever be an aunt and never a mother.What will it be like to watch all my nieces and nephews grow old and to know I shall never watch my own child grow up?
It was too difficult to think about, so she pushed the thought away. The Duke might have awakened the dream of love and motherhood in her, but that didn’t mean those needed to remain her only dreams. She could find new ones, and she would.At least I’m not a spinster, she reminded herself.I am a wealthy, powerful duchess. And I will forge my own path and teach my nieces and nephews that it is possible to be happy alone.
Soon, the clock struck ten, and Emery and Georgina looked at one another: it was time. The carriage to take them to the ceremony would be arriving in just a few short minutes.
“Let’s go and get you married, then,” Emery said, standing and taking Georgina’s hands and helping her to her feet. “No more of my melancholy.”
They walked together down the stairs of Georgina’s father’s townhouse to where her parents were waiting in the entrance hall, still looking confounded that out of nowhere, their daughter was marrying a man they’d always assumed would marry her friend. Two carriages were waiting outside, and Emery helped Georgina into the second one. She then joined her inside, and, after a moment, the carriage rattled off, toward the church.
“Are you nervous?” Emery asked, taking Georgina’s hand.
“No,” Georgina said, and she didn’t look it, either. She was radiating with happiness. Emery felt a small flicker of envy; she had been very nervous on her wedding day. But she said nothing, of course.
“Are you nervous?” Georgina asked suddenly. “To see the Duke at the wedding?”
“Oh! I hadn’t thought about it,” Emery lied. “But no, I’m sure that everything will be fine.”
Her stomach, however, churned at the thought of having to face her husband. She hadn’t seen him in days--ever since she had moved out of his room. But she steeled herself.It won’t be such a terrible thing. Perhaps we can begin to work toward having a cordial relationship, if not a loving one.
But her hands were sweating for the rest of the carriage ride, and she felt as if she might be sick.
When the carriage finally stopped in front of the church, the footman helped Emery down, then Georgina. In the bright morning light, Georgina looked absolutely radiant, and Emery’s heart swelled with love for her friend.
“You look beautiful,” she whispered, taking her hand.
“It’s the brandy,” Georgina whispered back, and they both laughed. Emery then walked her friend up to the church and through the main foyer, where Georgina’s father was waiting for her to take her down the aisle.
Also waiting at the entrance to the main part of the church, looking achingly handsome in black, was the Duke of Dredford.
She looked so beautiful that Lucien thought his heart might stop right then and there. She was wearing a light blue gossamer dress that brought out the blue of her eyes, and her black hair was stacked in a neat and simple coiffure on top of her head that he felt perfectly allowed her friend--whose hair, befitting a bride, was much more elaborate--to take center stage.
Emery is always thoughtful like that. She will also make sure it is Leah shining when Leah finally marries.
The thought only caused him more pain; memories of what a thoughtful person his wife was were not helpful for getting him through this already very difficult experience.
“Lucien,” Emery murmured, as she walked slowly up to him, her hand falling to her side as she released Miss Holloway’s hand to approach him. “What are you doing here?”
“What do you mean?” he asked, tilting his head to one side. “This is my brother’s wedding.”
“I know,” she said, her tone just slightly tinged with annoyance. “I meant, what are you doing out here with the bride’s father? Shouldn’t you be inside with your brother at the altar?”
“I was waiting for you,” Lucien said simply. “It wouldn’t do for us to enter separately, seeing as how we are the highest-ranking people at this wedding; apart from the Archbishop, of course. We will also be required to stand at the front of the church with my brother. Considering the rapidity of this wedding and the whispers of scandal that always accompany a special license, we must show our full and unified support of the match by taking center stage.”
“Ahh. That makes sense.” She looked around at Miss Holloway, who nodded at her in an encouraging kind of way, and then she looked back at Lucien. “Alright then.”
