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Lizbeth broke their embrace and wiped the tears from Edwina’s eyes. She smiled fondly at her. “It is normal to be nervous on your wedding night. Pour some wine, talk with your husband, ask him to be gentle and generous. Any good man will help you be comfortable.”
Edwina nodded, taking a shaky breath, just as a knock came on the outer door. “Good luck,” Lizbeth whispered, going to the door. She opened it for the Duke, curtseying quickly before she passed him, leaving the room.
Standing in the middle of the room in her shift, Edwina tried to steady her nerves. Impulsively, she felt like covering herself, feeling bare before the Duke. He closed the door as soon as Lizbeth ducked out, but as he turned to face Edwina, he appeared to struggle to meet her gaze. She waited for him to speak, to say something, but the silence lingered in the air.
“Would you like some wine?” she asked breathlessly.
“Yes, thank you,” the Duke agreed quickly, sounding relieved. Edwina stepped to the decanter and poured two glasses. Turning, she handed one to the Duke and waved to the couch by the fireplace.
“Care to join me?” she asked. He nodded, and they came to sit on the couch, facing each other but struggling to meet each other’s gaze. Edwina tried to think of anything to say, but her heart beat quickly in her chest. She felt exposed next to the Duke, wearing only her shift while he still wore his clothes from supper.
He cleared his throat. “Are your rooms to your liking?”
She glanced around. The suite had a sitting room and a bed-chamber. There was a lounge, a writing desk, and plenty of seating, all exquisite and ornate in the latest fashions.
“Everything is beautiful,” she told him. “I hope with time it will feel like my own. Feel like home, you know.”
“I do hope that you will feel at home here. And please, feel free to make this your home. You are the Duchess now.” She could see the earnestness in his expression, the genuine feeling in his eyes. She felt herself relax a little, a little bit of the tension and stiffness leaving her body.
“I do mean to. I have only been here a day.”
“That is true,” he agreed, nodding. He cleared his throat again, looking away. He seemed conscious of his face and the mask he wore, turning always such that the mask faced away from her. With his head turned, she could only barely notice the mask and the subtle scarring that peaked from underneath the edges.
The unscarred side of his face was handsome. He had a strong jaw and high cheeks. A fainter scar broke his eyebrow, just above his stormy blue eyes. Even though he had thin lips, she could not look at them without remembering the kiss they shared in his study and wondering if he might break his promise and kiss her again.
She kept waiting for him to take the initiative. The uncertainty, wondering what he was waiting for, did little to help her nerves. The first kiss they shared had been so deep and passionate that she thought he would have been experienced with romance, yet the man sitting before her looked very uncomfortable.
“Your Grace?” she asked, searching his face.
“Yes?” he asked quickly, meeting her gaze.
“You will have to lead the way, tonight,” she told him, feeling perplexed by the whole situation. She did not understand if this awkward conversation was usual for his lovemaking or if he was waiting for some cue for her. Regardless, her nerves could not let her just keep waiting. “Obviously, I am drastically inexperienced with such things.”
“Oh,” he said, blushing. “Actually…” She raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.
“I do not think we can begin, tonight,” he said quickly, standing.
She gasped, staring at him with an open mouth, surprised by his statement and by his sudden attempt to leave. Simultaneously offended and relieved, she did not know which emotion to show. Her nervousness made her want to simply thank him while her own pride wished to know what he found the matter with her.
“Your Grace?” she asked tentatively. “Is something amiss?”
“Let me explain myself,” he told her gently. “I understand that this marriage happened very quickly, and we barely know each other. I think we should take some time to get more comfortable with each other before proceeding with our agreement.”
“I thought you did not want to get to know each other,” she protested, confused. “You said it was a business arrangement.”
“Even business partners must know they can trust each other,” he said, raking a hand through his hair. He touched the mask on his face, using just his first two fingers, pressing it closer to his skin. The gesture seemed habitual, like perhaps he did not even notice that he had done it. “I do not mean to get to know each other intimately first, only that I am in no hurry.”
She folded her hands in her lap, composing herself, telling herself that being allowed more time worked in her favor. However, she still could not help but feel a little wounded and rejected by him.
“Very well, Your Grace,” she told him stiffly. “What would you want to know about me? What will you allow me to know about you?”
She tried to hide her smirk as he scoffed at her intentional phrasing. He shook his head, rubbing his hand over his lips, then slowly sat back down beside her, asking, “What do you do to occupy your time?”
“Well, I read extensively as I mentioned earlier today. I have completely exhausted the library at Haverton House. I keep other suitable pursuits, such as needlework and playing the pianoforte.”
“This is not an interview.”
“It does feel like it!” Edwina laughed. She stood and reached for her wrapper. As she pulled it on, she noticed that the Duke grew quiet while he struggled to decide if he should watch her or not. With the wrapper pulled around her, she felt more comfortable, less vulnerable, and came to sit by the Duke again. “I would have thought you might have asked more about my accomplishments before you pressed me into marriage with you.”
