Page 27

To chase away the thought, Anna bounced to her feet, pacing around the room.

He doesn’t seem like the kissing sort.And while he made it clear we’ll be enjoying each other’s… each other’s companya good deal, it’s all in the pursuit of producing an heir. Just business.

Best not to think about that. The wedding hadn’t even happened yet, and until Anna had a ring on her finger and heard her own ‘I do’ echoing in the church, she wouldn’t believe that it was going to happen.

Outside, the first few drops of rain pattered against the window. Anna did not believe in luck or superstition, but really, it was not a good sign.

Almost as soon as the rain started in earnest, she heard the rumbling of carriage wheels on the pavement. Pulling back the curtain, she saw a familiar black, lacquered carriage outside, the Duke’s coat of arms emblazoned on the side.

Her chest tightened, and she found herself rapidly backing away from the window.

“Annie?”

She flinched, glancing over to the doorway. Her mother stood there, her face unreadable.

“Mama,” Anna said, forcing a little laugh. “I didn’t hear you coming. You’ve been quite velvet-footed these days.”

“I… I came to tell you that the Duke’s carriage is here. It’s time to go.”

She nodded. “I saw it.”

There was a taut silence.

“Your sisters are ready,” Octavia volunteered, although it seemed as if she wanted to say something else.

“We should go, then.”

Still, Octavia stayed there. At last, she squeezed her eyes shut. “I… I wanted to tell you that you don’t have to do this, but…”

Anna bit her lip. “I know, Mama. I know what I have to do. This is for the best, I know it. I’m prepared to marry the Duke.”

Octavia let out a sigh of relief. “I’m… I’m so glad. I could never have made you go through with it, but really, your marrying him is the best thing that could have happened to our family.”

Taking a tentative step forward, Anna pushed further. “You… you won’t have to see the Earl anymore, will you?”

“Not once you and the Duke are wed. Not if he keeps his word and pays off our debts.”

“He will,” Anna said, her voice sounding stronger now. Shefeltstronger. “He always keeps his word.”

The church was full to bursting, which was not much of a surprise. Anna’s previous, disastrous attempt at marriage was all the tonhad talked about for the past week, and now she was walking down the aisleagain, to an even bigger catch than before! Of course, people were interested. Fascinated, in fact.

Before they pushed the doors open, Anna reached out and grabbed her mother’s arm. “If he’s not there, I can’t go in,” she said heavily. “I can’t do it again.”

There was no need to specify exactly what she meant. Lips pressed together, Octavia peered into the church and let out a sigh of relief.

“The Duke is there, waiting for you at the altar. He has the Duke of Blackwood as his best man. An unusual choice, considering, but theyarefriends.”

No more delays, then,Anna thought, her heart hammering.

Breathing in deeply, she nodded for Daphne and Emily to go in ahead of her. They obeyed, and a flurry of chatter and whispers floated out when the doors opened. Anna caught a glimpse of people staring at the doorway, their necks craned, their eyes wide, eager to have a scrap of gossip to share tomorrow.

“Mama,” she asked suddenly, “could you walk me to the altar?”

Octavia swallowed hard. “Of course, I will, my love.”

Arm in arm, they pushed open the heavy doors all the way and stepped into the church.

A flurry of whispers rose around them. Anna kept her head up and walked down the aisle. Quickly.