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“That’s all right.” Julie smoothed her hair. “Next time you come to visit, after the wedding breakfast, she will probably be here.”
“Oh!” Evie’s expression brightened instantly. “She is going to need a completely new wardrobe. Oh, I know, I will send you all my gowns, so she can wear them before we purchase her new ones! There’s a new modiste in town—” She paused and looked Julie from head to toe. “Who’s dressing you for your wedding?”
Julie smiled. She’d missed her little cousin. If, as a child, she’d showed the potential of being beautiful, she was utterly gorgeous at seventeen. Her emerald green eyes contrasted widely with her bright red hair, white skin, and golden freckles. People said that having freckles was unfashionable. Pure white skin was the golden standard, but those people hadn’t seen Evie. She was also blessed with a taste in fashion. Even though she was not out in society yet, she loved buying beautiful new gowns that she fashioned herself.
She was also absolutely exuberant, happy, and excited all the time. It seemed like she was never sad, and people around her always smiled. She was a gem, especially to Julie. When everybody turned their backs on her, and John was far away, Evie was her only friend and confidante.
“Clydesdale’s grandmother,” Julie said, pulling her thoughts back to the conversation at hand.
Evie grimaced. “Grandmother?” she repeated with such a grimace that Julie couldn’t help but laugh. “Come now, we can do better than that, can’t we?” She raised her brow.
“I know, Evie dear.” Julie smiled and shook her head. “But I don’t want to.” She shrugged. “In fact, I want the most hideous-looking gown to emphasize my feelings about the wedding.”
Evie narrowed her eyes. “We can work with that. Leave it to me.” Evie jumped from the settee.
“What do you mean?” Julie frowned in concern.
“I mean, I will get you the gown.” Evie smiled mischievously.
“What about the dowager?”
“Leave her to me, too.” Evie winked and practically hopped to the door. She turned as she opened it. “You’ll have the most memorable gown. Of that, you can be certain.” With those ominous, if cheerful, words, she left.
* * *
Robert came to London a few days before his wedding. He had business in town that he had to attend to before he retired to Clydesdale Hall for their honeymoon, but that wasn’t the whole reason he came to town several days early. Truth be told, he wanted to see his bride. It was unfathomable and incomprehensible, but since the few days they spent in Hampshire, albeit not under the best circumstances, he somehow had missed her. Missed her? He didn’t know what to think of that new revelation. Perhaps because she was different. Fresh. Yes, fresh in that she didn’t bother to pretend to be in love with him, but rather showed her hostility quite openly.
He couldn’t fathom why she was so obviously repulsed by him. Maybe if she knew him better… No, he had to shake himself. There was no way he would make the same mistake twice and try to make this wedding, this marriage, into something it was not. It was not a love match.
Nevertheless, here he was in London, on the verge of visiting his bride. The afternoon of his return to London, he went to the house of one of his mentors and long-time allies, the Duke of Somerset. He’d had a few dealings with the duke regarding the lands they bordered on. They had similar approaches to farming and mitigating the lands in the north of the country. Somerset had several estates neighboring Rutland’s, but he spent most of his time either in London or in his southern estate. His favorite was by the sea in Sussex, with a lovely name—Peacehaven. Robert had spent some time there, and he understood the duke’s urge to spend most of his time there since it was as beautiful and peaceful as the name implied. It also meant that when Robert was in his northern estates, he dealt mostly with Somerset’s managers while on-site, so he wanted to talk to him directly while he had the chance.
He was welcomed immediately and told to wait in the family room. He entered the indicated chambers and looked around. He’d been in this room several times. It was spacious, decorated in pastel colors, very cozy. Not at all what one would expect from the duke’s grand estates. Robert wanted something similar for his own home. But of course, Somerset’s house was decorated by his late wife and then his granddaughter. Robert paused in his thoughts. Would his new bride feel the urge to decorate his dwelling? He almost laughed aloud at his foolish hopes. Of course not. She wanted to run away from him as soon as an heir was born.
At that moment, he noticed the movement at the windowsill. A bright red string or something familiar was peeking out from behind the curtains. Then the curtain moved, and a beautiful green-eyed girl appeared from behind it.
“My apologies, I did not realize anyone was here,” he muttered and sketched a bow.
The girl executed a perfect curtsy. Now, she would be an ideal duchess in a few years. He looked at her intently and realized he’d met her before, the duke’s beloved granddaughter. Evelyn or Eva—
“Good day, My Lord,” the young girl said in her soothing, melodic voice.
“Pleasure, My Lady.” He inclined his head.
She smiled widely at him. “May I offer you congratulations on your betrothal?” she offered with a genuine expression of delight on her face.
“Thank you,” he said with a straight face. Every damned person in London knew about his betrothal, even the ones not yet out in society, it appeared.
“You’ve got yourself a wonderful bride, don’t you think?” She looked at him with an inquiring look on her face.
“I suppose,” he drawled.
The girl’s eyes narrowed on him. “You don’t seem very excited about the prospect,” she observed. “You don’t really want to marry her, do you?” she asked thoughtfully.
“If you are about to offer yourself as an alternative,” he said with a sweet smile, “I am flattered, but I am afraid you’re entirely too young for me.”
The girl laughed sweetly. “Oh, no, sir. I won’t be marrying anyone like you,” she said with a laughing conviction. “I will marry for love.”
Clydesdale stiffened instantly. “That’s what I thought too when I was younger.”
