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Far from looking relieved, her normally prim and proper mother appeared disgruntled.
“Oh, well… did she tell you it is supposed to feel good? Though I supposed with Hartford for a husband, he should know how to make it feel good—”
“Mother!” Josie was utterly scandalized. Mary had told her that her aunt had attempted to have the ‘wedding night talk’ and had barely been able to get the words out. Hearing her own mother talking aboutthatand how it was supposed to feel, and knowing she was talking about Josie’s father…
“Well, he should, if rumor is correct about his exploits. I cannot imagine he would have his reputation if he did not.” Mother thoughtfully tapped her lips with her fan. “Elijah does not have the same reputation, but I cannot imagine he is entirely ignorant. If it does not feel good, you should tell him to—”
“Mother!” Her voice came out as a high-pitched shriek.
Mother frowned. “Do not be so overdramatic, Josie. I was only saying, your father does this—”
“Mother, stop!” Josie put her hands over her ears, feeling faint. If it came to a choice between marrying Elijah right this minute or listening to her mother say one more word about doing the marital act with her father, Josie was ready to run to the altar.
And her mother. Callingheroverdramatic. Well, if she was, where did her mother think she got it from?
Josie had never been so relieved to see her friends when they came into the room. Her mother pouted and sighed as Mary and Lily rushed in, hurrying to hug Josie. Sometimes, it was easy to forget she must get some of her wilder starts from her mother. As flighty and overdramatic as she was now, shehadeloped with a squire for love, defying all conventions and her own father. One day, Josie was sure she would even find this conversation humorous, though, at the moment, it was mortifying.
Watching them all with a tender expression, Mother finally gave up. Thankfully.
“Well, I will leave you girls for now. There are some things I must see to before we leave for the ceremony.” Sweeping up, Mother gave Josie a kiss on the cheek before departing.
With a groan, Josie collapsed onto the sofa, and her friends crowded around her. She did not know what was worse—being reminded her time before she became Elijah’s wife was growing shorter or her mother’s attempts to explain the marital act. At least her friends would enjoy the story.
Chapter 6
Josie
It was just like one of her dreams.
Lily preceded her up the aisle. She stood, her hand wrapped around her father’s arm, stomach full of butterflies, looking down the aisle at… Elijah. That was where her dream ended, and her nightmare began.
Not that Elijah was a nightmare. Calling him such was a disservice. He was breathtakingly handsome, a true gentleman, and a future Marquess. Likely there were debutantes among the guests who wept with envy over Josie’s good fortune.
At least she did not have to look at Joseph as she walked down the church aisle. Elijah had chosen to ask Adam to stand with him. Like Mary, Joseph would be seated among the guests. It was a small mercy.
Somber and stern as ever, Elijah watched her walk down the aisle. If she could have slowed her steps, she would have, but she matched her father’s all the way down, her heart sinking as she went. Adam was grinning widely, encouragingly at her, but she barely saw him.
Her heart thudded in her chest so loudly, it was a wonder she could hear the music.
They reached the end of the aisle. Stopped. Father Gregory spoke a few words Josie could not hear over the buzzing in her ears, then her father took her hand from his arm and gave it to Elijah. His fingers wrapped around hers, gently but firmly, helping her to step up, so they were facing each other in front of Father Gregory.
Josie stared at him. He stared back at her. Such a familiar face, yet it was as though she was seeing it for the first time. Black hair waving back from his face, eyes so dark they were nearly as black as his hair, a chiseled jawline, broad shoulders, and an altogether handsome visage. So very much like Joseph, yet not. The thought sent a niggle of guilt through her. She should be focusing on Elijah, not Joseph. She needed to forget about Joseph.
The gentle pressure of fingers squeezing hers made her jump. She had not been paying attention to the ceremony.
“Um…”
“Repeat after me,” Father Gregory said kindly. “I, Josephina Pennyworth.”
“I, Josephina Pennyworth,” she repeated dutifully.
Any moment now, she would wake up to find this past week had been a bad dream. That she had not been accosted in a garden. That she did not have to marry Elijah.
Except she finished her vows. Elijah finished his. The cool, heavy weight of her wedding band slid onto her finger. And she did not wake. She stared at the circle of gold that was supposed to represent their ever-lasting unity as her slim fingers rested against Elijah’s palm.
Then his fingers closed. Tugged. Pulled her toward him.
Josie’s head swung up so she could stare at Elijah, and Father Gregory’s words belatedly registered.
