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“Why are you still reading such drivel?” Lady Brandon demanded, frowning at the discarded paper. “And on your wedding day, at that!”

Because drivel is oh so entertaining, Mama.

That and the fact that Phoebe was just the slightest bit curious just how Ethan would manage to make their scandalous ‘courtship’ less so.

“I was just a little curious, Mama…”

Lady Brandon shot her an odd look. “Well, curiosity sometimes leads you down dark paths,” she muttered. She walked over and hugged her daughter briefly. “Besides, you are going to be a duchess—you cannot lower yourself to such common trifles.”

Phoebe smiled weakly. “Are you not the least bit curious what others have to say, Mama?” she asked. “Like the Baron Latimer and his family…”

And the Viscount Dexford.

“Do not fret about all that,” Lady Brandon reassured her, smoothing the delicate golden embroidery over the ivory lace of her wedding dress. “Your father has settled things with the Viscount, and His Grace assured us that there would be no trouble from Miss Delaney.”

“I see.”

Lady Brandon nodded emphatically. “Now, get those worries out of your pretty head before you walk down the aisle, dearest. A bride should be the most beautiful on her wedding day! Ella, the pearls, please!”

“Oh no, Mama! No more pearls!” Phoebe groaned in dismay. “Any more and I shall topple over. I am barely able to hold my head up as it is…”

“Nonsense! You are going to be a duchess. You must look the part, my dear!”

“Well, she does look the part, Mama!” a laughing voice came from the doorway. Alice smiled widely at her sister. “You look absolutely radiant, dear sister. Quite possibly the most radiant bride of them all.”

“Indeed,” Evie seconded from behind her. She looked at Phoebe with approval. “Ethan will be unable to take his eyes off you.”

Scarlett bounded in after them, her brilliant red hair gleaming in the sunlight. She grinned mischievously at Phoebe and winked.

“His Grace will never know what hit him,” she affirmed. “If he does not react as you wish, you can always turn around and walk right back out!”

“Now, now, now.” Lady Brandon laughed. “Don’t you be giving Phoebe any ideas.”

The other young ladies—two of them already duchesses—burst into laughter. With the sunlight streaming gloriously through the windows, the entire scene presented a beautiful picture of camaraderie.

Alice went over to her sister and took her hands. “How are you feeling, my dear?”

Phoebe shuddered and managed a weak smile. “Terrified, actually.”

“Come now.” Her older sister laughed. “You cannot still think that Wolves eat people!”

Phoebe blushed at her words, recalling the look Ethan had given her in the parlor a week ago.

“It was a long time ago, Alice, and I know better now,” she told her sister. “But…”

“But what?”

She gave a little shudder. “It cannot be denied that a Wolf like Ethan probably has young ladies like me for breakfast.”

She saw her sister and Evie exchange knowing smiles.

“You never know, Phoebe.” Evie smiled mischievously at her. “You might even like it.”

“That’s what he said as well!” Phoebe huffed out in frustration.

“Well, if you look like that, then he is going to want you for breakfast, lunch,anddinner!” Scarlett declared. “Maybe even afternoon tea as well, if he has the strength for it!”

Recalling the hard plane of muscle she felt under his linen shirt, Phoebe had no doubt that Ethan very much had the strength for it.