He made a dismissive gesture. “It is not charity, My Lady. You are to be a duchess, and you will look the part.” He ran his hand through his hair, furrowing his brow as if in thought. “You should have several dresses commissioned.”
“So you might take your pick of them? Haven’t you heard—it’s bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the day.” Her smile was coy, and Archer’s heart thumped in his chest.
Oh, that fire will get us both in trouble.Archer let his own mouth stretch into a smirk. “Only fools and paupers rely on luck to get by. Your dresses are not just for the wedding but to ensure you have a wardrobe that is befitting of your new station.”
There was a moment of silence, and then Lydia said, “Thank you.”
“You need not thank me. I said that I wanted us both to get something out of this arrangement.” He inclined his head towards her. “I would say our business is concluded. I will go through the motions of gaining your brother’s consent and arrange for us to be married at the parish church near my estate by special license. I doubt you wish to prolong our engagement.”
He noticed a flicker of pain cross Lydia’s face, even as she tried to hide it. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, and he canted his head towards her. “Is something the matter?”
“It… it is nothing.” Lydia looked away from him.
“Clearly it is not.” Archer pulled his hand to his side before he could reach towards the woman. “Tell me what bothers you.”
Lydia chewed on her lip. “I wish to be married in the Church here, the one in my parish. It meant a lot to my father, and it is where he is buried. Getting married there would feel like he was with me.” Lydia looked at the floor, her shoulders sagging. “But it will not happen. I asked Landon, and he told me it would be impossible. Apparently, it is wedding season, and the church will not be available for months.”
He took her hand in his without thinking, wanting to turn her attention back to him. Her eyes widened at his touch, and she looked at him quizzically. He grinned at her. “I think you will find, Lady Lydia, that when it comes to me—nothing is impossible.”
And without another word, he swept from the room.
Chapter Four
“You look beautiful.” Landon gestured to Lydia as their carriage trundled down the lane towards the church.
Lydia touched her hair self-consciously, glancing down at her dress. It was an elegant, bright blue satin, A-line dress with embroidered flowers in silver thread and real pearls stitched into it. The embroidery matched the design on her new shoes and gloves. It was not the most extravagant thing, but it was nicer than any dress she had owned before.
The pearl necklace she wore was one of the few items of jewelry she had not sold—a gift from her father before he had died. Her hair was arranged into an elegant bun, strands framing the sharpness of her face. When she had seen herself in the mirror, she had scarcely been able to recognize herself.
“Thank you, Land.” Lydia tried to smile, but it felt brittle.
Landon was sitting across from her in the finest suit he owned, not new but respectable enough for the wedding. He twirled his top hat between his fingers, glancing out of the window.
“You must be glad that the Duke managed to convince Father Peter to have the ceremony here.” Landon looked at his feet, shifting guiltily. “I forgot about special licenses.”
Lydia bit the inside of her cheek, not wanting to point out that even if her brother had remembered, it would not have been an option, not with the state of their finances. “I suppose it is one of the perks of marrying a duke.”
“I wish you did not have to do this.” Landon’s hazel eyes were wide. “Though it seems like he will look after you.”
Lydia could hear the hint of desperation in her brother’s voice, and she gave his hand a squeeze as the Duke’s words played in her head.You would be free to live the life you choose.“Only time will tell, but thus far it seems promising.”
The thought of his eyes flashing when he had swept from the room, the confidence with which he had said nothing was impossible… the memory sent a shiver down Lydia’s spine.And now, I am getting married in the church I wanted.
The carriage drew to a halt, and Landon looked out of the window. “We are here—are you ready?”
Lydia nodded, her heart speeding up as they got down from the carriage, blinking in the sunlight. To the right of the path were the graves, and Lydia could see the monument to her father.
She saw that there were fresh flowers laid upon it, and her heart ached. “I wish he was here.”
“So do I.” Landon’s voice caught. “I like to hope his spirit is with us though I fear he would be rather cross with me.”
“Father was not that sort of man.” Lydia’s heart ached as she remembered her father’s warm smile, his gentle laughter.
“I would not know. He sent me to boarding school when I was seven.” Landon swallowed. “I always wondered if it is because I looked too like her. If I was just a reminder of his pain.”
Landon had inherited their mother’s soft features and curly hair—it was why he had such boyish looks—but they both had their father’s eyes.
“Father thought it was the best thing for you, Land.” Lydia squeezed his arm, even as her heart ached. “But I wish you had known him too.”
