Page 8 of Duchess By Accident (The Matchmaker’s Scheme #5)
Chapter Eight
“ T he roses for the goats have been prepared and delivered as instructed your Grace. Lady Babbington has been sat next to Marquess Brightwell as requested. We have escorted several attempted trespassers from the premises and the musicians are just tuning their instruments.” Mr. Kember explained as he made the final adjustments to Adrian’s tailcoat.
It was the day of the wedding and Adrian was in his bedroom, staring out at the huge tent that had been erected in the garden. The finest florists in England had arranged the garlands that hung from the awning, the rows of seats were arranged perfectly, each with a guest already assigned.
“Excellent work, Kember.” Adrian looked at his reflection and ran a hand through his brown hair, giving it a lightly tousled effect. “And I trust you have arranged the pineapples along the aisle as requested?”
“Yes.” Mr. Kember nodded.
The pineapples had been a request from Lady Natalie, one of her many eccentric decisions. She was undoubtedly aware of just how expensive and difficult to find the fruits were to find, and he had enjoyed presenting them as though she had requested nothing more difficult than an apple. With each one, Adrian had delighted in not just agreeing to the request, but adding to it, sensing that each time he did it only served to irritate her more.
“Excellent. Have the Lady Natalie and her retinue arrived?” Adrian glanced at the grandfather clock on the wall. “The ceremony is due to start in ten minutes.”
“They are here, Your Grace. The carriage you sent for them returned several minutes ago. And I escorted her ladyship to the drawing room with her wedding party.” Mr. Kember bowed to Adrian. “And the adjustments to the height of the tent have been made. It stands at only eight feet. If that will be all, Your Grace, I shall see to the rest of the preparations.”
“Yes, thank you Kember.” Adrian left his room, and walked down the corridor to Melody’s room, knocking once before entering.
His daughter was sitting by the window, staring wide-eyed at the tent in the garden.
“How do I look?” Adrian twirled for her, spreading his arms wide.
Melody gave him an appraising look and then nodded her head. “What about me? Nanny Green says we must all look our best today.”
“You, little one, look resplendent as always.” Adrian gestured to her new sky blue dress. “The modiste has outdone herself.”
And for a fraction of the cost of my dear fiancée’s dress—the price was more than a king’s ransom. He knew Lady Natalie was doing it to make some kind of point, hoping to goad him into anger with each of her increasingly ridiculous requests. He found that he enjoyed their little game of extravagance, finding ways to meet her demands and make them even more magnanimous had been far too amusing.
He shook himself and returned to the present, noticing a tension in Melody’s face.
“You do not have to come if you do not wish to.” Adrian gestured towards the outside. “You can wait in the house.” Safe, away from all the prying eyes.
Melody shook her head. “I want to. Besides, Nanny Green will be with me.”
“If you are sure.” Adrian took out his pocket watch. “We should make our way there. The ceremony is about to start.”
Melody nodded and for a moment, Adrian thought she was going to hold his hand, but instead, she fell into step beside him and they made their way to the garden.
Nanny Green was waiting to escort Melody to her seat. “Let us go around the side, it will be less crowded.”
Adrian watched Melody look towards the crowd and the tent, stiffen and then nod. It is better that she is not seen. She does not need that scrutiny.
Silence fell as he entered the tent, and Adrian stood taller. With the adjustments to the height of tent, he struck an imposing figure, but did not need to stoop to accommodate his height and hat. He could feel the gaze of the congregation upon him as he made his way towards the dais.
“I wonder what is so special about this Lady Natalie that someone like her caught his eye.” The statement drifted over to him, and Adrian followed it to a woman sitting in the back row with her friend. One of the ton gossips. Miss Carmichael, I believe.
Their eyes met briefly, and she snapped her mouth shut, colouring slightly and looking away. He smiled and continued to saunter down the aisle, pausing to greet most people, and then taking his place on the raised dais they had erected.
“Good to see you, Bishop.” Adrian greeted the wizened man before him, ensuring his voice rang out and feeling the eyes of the congregation snap toward him..
The bishop nodded. “And you. Your Grace.”
At that moment music began to swell. The doves that Lady Natalie had requested be released upon her entrance, took flight. He had, of course, doubled their number, and the sight of two dozen doves obscured her from the crowd.
“And now to see this masterpiece.” Adrian muttered to himself, as he waited for the birds to get out of the way.
The crowd gasped, and only many years of schooling his face and emotions prevented Adrian from gaping. Even so, for a few moments, all he could do was blink.
Lady Natalie stood tall and regal, holding a delicate bouquet of flowers in her hands. The lines of her gown turned her height into a majestic figure, like a Greek goddess somehow made flesh. She wore white flowers tucked into a fine lace headband. And her smile made her even more radiant.
“I understand why the dress cost so much.” Adrian muttered taking it in as she walked towards him, her brother, Duke Emberly beside her.
The dress looked as though it were starlight made into fabric. It was elegantly cut white silk, with silver embroidery that caught the sunlight. The neckline was low as was the fashion, drawing attention to her smooth skin.
“Well she has certainly done well for herself!” one whisperer muttered.
“That Duke is a lucky man. I wish she were my wife.” A man said.
Adrian could not tear his eyes from Lady Natalie, but felt a surprising swell of satisfaction at the stranger’s words. They will want what I have. They did not need to know that it was not a real marriage.
Each step Lady Natalie took seemed to make her more ethereal, more beautiful. Adrian’s mouth was suddenly dry, and he swallowed, trying to bring himself back under control.
His eyes met Lady Natalie’s and he realised his lips were parted slightly. Not enough to be a gape, but more than he had intended. He clenched his jaw, tight, but he saw the gleam of triumph in her eyes. The corners of his mouth quirked upwards, and he inclined his head towards her just the slightest amount.
“A point to you.” He murmured as she drew level with him.
“I have no idea what you are talking about. You asked me to find a new dress, and a new dress I have.” Lady Natalie answered sweetly.
Lemon and bergamot wafted over him, the smell of her perfume seeming to permeate every part of his body.
“And you are not afraid I will be unable to resist temptation?” Adrian whispered, smiling wolfishly.
Spots of colour appeared on her cheeks, but her own smile did not fade. “If there is one thing I am sure of, dear Duke, it is your capacity for control.”
Before Lady Natalie could say anything else, the Bishop began to speak. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony.”
Adrian barely listened to the words the bishop was saying. His eyes seemed determined to drift to the woman next him. Each time he looked at her, there was some new subtle detail he noticed. Is that an embroidered fox?
Their eyes met, and Lady Natalie flashed him a wolfish grin. He forced himself to stare at the bishop. What is wrong with me?
“Adrian Stone, Duke of Blackwood,” the sound of the bishop saying his name caught his attention, and he felt relief was over him. “Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
And you are not worried you might fall in love with me? Lady Natalie’s words floated to the forefront of his mind. For a moment, he wished he could write his own vows, but he was hardly the first person to shirk from the promises made to God.
The smell of roses filled his mind, but he pushed it violently away. Love was the least important part of a marriage vow anyway.
“I will.” Adrian answered, his voice clear and defiant.
“Lady Natalie Rokesby,” the bishop continued, “wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”
There was a moment’s pause, and Adrian found himself looking at his wife-to-be once more. A slight tightness to her muscles belied the smile on her face.
“I will.” Lady Natalie said, and Adrian had the suspicion that she was deliberately not looking at him.
He felt something stir in his chest, almost disappointment. He frowned. For her to refuse to obey him would invalidate the vows and the marriage. So why did her compliance seem so anticlimactic?
“Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?” the bishop called.
“I do.” Duke Emberly stood once more and placed his sister’s hand in the bishops.
Adrian followed the movement, wondering absently how soft the woman’s hand was. His eyes tracing the lines of her fingers, to her wrist, her arm and then to her neck. And then he realised what he was doing and clenched his fist. That dress is dangerous.
Then her hand was in his, and he felt the warmth of it spread through him. Her fingers were long and delicate, her skin soft against his. He swallowed, but as he did so, noticed a flush to Lady Natalie’s cheeks.
The bishop was speaking and Adrian finished the rest of his vows, his voice catching on the word love .
His eyes met hers, and he saw a hint of amusement in them. It is a marriage in name alone. The promise hung between them, comforting in its truth, even as she echoed the priest’s words to him. Even as she was pronounced his, till the end of their days. As the ceremony drew to a close, the gathered crowd erupted into cheers. Adrian held out an arm, and felt Lady Natalie slip her arm through his.
“I am surprised.” Adrian murmured to his new wife as they made their way down the aisle.
“That I could look this good?” Lady Natalie muttered back, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
“I knew you were fetching, Lady Natalie. That has never been in question.” He gave her a wolfish grin. “No, my surprise comes from our vows.”
Lady Natalie arched an eyebrow at him, her lips pursed. “Do not tell me your memory is so poor you forgot from your last wedding.”
Adrian felt something stir within him, and his smile dropped a moment, before he caught himself and forced a languid shrug. “I expected you to balk at obeying me.”
For a moment, her expression darkened and then she shook her head. “You know as well as I that I could not refuse. Even though I almost did. I agreed to this marriage, and it must be binding.”
“And so it is.” Adrian’s voice was low, his eyes full of steel as he muttered. “And you will obey me.”
Lady Natalie met his gaze and smiled with the dangerous sweetness of a viper about to strike. “You vowed to love me, and I to obey you. Your promise is as true as mine.”
She slipped from his grasp. “I shall see you at the ball.”
He watched as she disappeared into the house, the dress gently swaying in the breeze. “It seems my wife delights in playing dangerous games; I wonder how interesting things will be when she loses?”