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D aphne sat surrounded by her sisters and closest friends, all of whom were giggling and chattering away. They had arranged a girls night, as Daphne's wedding was right around the corner.

Joyce swirled her drink in her glass, reclining against the sofa, "Daphne, do not keep the ladies waiting any longer."

Isadora and Violet nodded eagerly, "Your sister is right. You must make haste," Isadora said.

"Patience is always rewarded, ladies," Daphne said, holding up a cloth bag carefully in her arms. She had gone with Joyce and Felicity this morning to the seamstress to pick up her wedding dress.

"Reward us, already," Violet giggled, already giddy from the wine. "Must you be so mysterious about everything?"

Felicity and Annie sat in the corner of the room, observing the girls talk amongst them.

Daphne opened the clothing bag, her heart thudding in her chest as she reached for the delicate wedding dress. She pulled it out slowly, holding it up for them to see.

The room was silent for a few seconds, and then the inevitable barrage of excited comments followed.

"Oh, Daphnie," Annie breathed, awestruck. "It is perfect."

"Look at that lace!" Isadora gasped, jittering with excitement, "Excellent selection of the gown. It is quite befitting for a Duchess."

"Isn't it just perfect?" Violet added, leaning forward for a better look. "Duchess Daphne in her perfect dress."

"You'd better let me try it on after the wedding," Isadora teased, reaching out to touch the silky fabric admiringly.

"Oh, I am not sure if she'll be able to part with it so easily," Joyce laughed. "She took days to finalize the fabric, lace and all the details."

Felicity chuckled at that, "She would be in there for hours, trying everything on. Joyce and I had to take shifts to stay with her, otherwise we would grow too tired."

"Well, you only get married once," Daphne defended herself with a smile. "I wanted to make sure that everything was perfect, and just to my liking."

"You must be pleased with yourself with how it turned out," Violet giggled. "I can just imagine that the Duke will be positively enthralled when he sees you in it."

Daphne blushed at the mention of her husband to be. It had been a few weeks since their engagement now, but every time someone brought him up, she had the same reaction.

"I agree!" Isadora added.

She laid the dress carefully across the sofa, smoothing the fabric. "Annie, Joyce, Felicity, there was something I had been meaning to ask you..." she started, biting down on her lip.

"What is it?" Annie encouraged.

"Well, I have heard that when your husband sees you for the first time in a wedding dress, it is almost like he is seeing you for the first time," Daphne admitted shyly, "It is a big moment."

Her sisters exchanged knowing looks amongst each other. "And where did you hear that?" Felicity asked with an amused smile on her face.

"Oh you know," Daphne blushed, embarrassed, "I read about it in my novels."

That got a chuckle out of her sisters, "My dear, things are not the same in real life as they are in the books. But it is a special moment."

"One that the both of you will remember for the rest of your lives," Annie nodded in agreement.

Daphne felt her curiosity growing. "You must tell us more about your love stories," she encouraged. "The three of you have been married for some time now. There must be some secret to a happy marriage that us single women are not privy to."

"Well, you're not to remain single for long," Isadora added, with a giggle, "But I am curious to know as well."

"Marriage does not need to be complicated," Isadora said. She had been married the longest, and therefore had the most authority on the matter. "It can be a breeze, if both husband and wife agree to keep their vows."

"Felicity is right," Annie smiled, "It need not be complicated at all. Challenges are bound to come up, but as long as you both honor the promise you made to each other, it shall be fine."

Daphne thought back to the proposal, and the promise that Ambrose had made to her to love her for the rest of her days. Her cheeks warmed at the memory.

"Ambrose is one to keep his word," she admitted.

"Are you thinking about your proposal?" Joyce asked, ever perceptive. "Because I have to say, it was quite romantic how he showed up."

"I am," Daphne admitted, her blush deepening. "What was it like for you, Joyce? How did the Viscount propose to you?"

Joyce burst out laughing at the question, but when the girls shot her a peculiar look, decided to explain it to her.

"Oh, I realize that I never told you girls the story of my proposal, have I?

The Viscount had been so nervous about proposing to me that he nearly forgot what he had to say halfway, and started commenting on the weather.

It took him a while to get back to the topic. It was quite endearing, really."

"Oh, that is endearing," Annie joined in, "But my experience was quite the opposite. Kevin had written a script for himself, bless him. He narrated it, verbatim. Later, he told me that he had been practicing for it all week."

"Mine was quite memorable as well," Felicity spoke. "He had decided to surprise me by telling me that he must meet me urgently, for there is some great news he must deliver to me."

"Did you expect that it was going to be a proposal instead?" Daphne asked.

"Well, I suppose I had an inkling. But the moment itself is always a surprise, even if you've been expecting it," she admitted. "When he finally gave me the ring, I remember asking him what the news was. He got quite a good laugh out of that."

The girls chuckled at the story, but Daphne found herself thinking that her proposal was most unique.

She had not been in a courtship with the Duke, so it had not even been something that she had ever expected to happen.

Ambrose had not stumbled upon his words, nor had he come prepared with a script.

It had come naturally to him, which made it all the more special to her.

It had been real. Just like their connection.

Violet sighed dreamily. "I must say that I really love hearing stories like this. It makes me wonder what my own proposal will be like."

Their little gathering was interrupted when one of the house servants came to the room, "His Grace has arrived."

"Oh," Daphne nearly jumped, while the other girls passed her teasing smiles. Ambrose had been invited over by her sisters husbands to go out together for some drinks. Daphne had been so lost in the conversations she was having that she had forgotten how quickly the time had passed.

"Escort him in," Felicity said, "And inform the men upstairs, so that they can get going as well."

Daphne frantically began to fix her hair and smooth out the creases in her dress. "Tell me, in earnest, do I look fine?" she asked Isadora, who chuckled in response.

"You look beautiful," she said.

But it was too late to make any changes, for she heard footsteps approaching down the hallway. Ambrose paused at the doorway, and her sisters got up to greet him.

"Your Grace," Felicity said with a warm smile. "Welcome to Alborne Manor."

"It is my pleasure being here," he smiled. Even though Daphne stood behind her sisters, not immediately in in view, his gaze found her immediately. As though he had been looking for her all along. It lingered for a moment there.

"Lady Daphne," he greeted.

"Your Grace," she replied, feeling her heart beat fasten. It was so unlike her connection with Richard – who could recite flowery sonnets to her and she would have no reaction. With Ambrose, all he had to do was say her name and her heart fluttered like a butterfly in spring.

"I trust that you have an evening planned with the men, Your Grace?" Annie spoke.

"Yes," he nodded, "They have been kind enough to invite me out with them. I look forward to getting to know them all."

"I believe we should arrange something after the wedding where you can spend some time with us sisters as well," Felicity suggested. "Even though we have heard much about you from Daphne, we would love to get to you more closely."

"Of course. I would love that as well," Ambrose admitted. "The three of you have been an important presence in Lady Daphne's life."

"Then we shall get together whenever all of our husbands, and you are available to," Joyce nodded, enthusiastically. "I believe we can tell you some stories about our little sister that you might find amusing."

Daphne felt her cheeks redden, but Ambrose turned to look at her with a teasing smirk.

"Is that so?" he said, "Well, then, I'd be more than happy to do that tonight even."

"There is no need," Daphne intervened, embarrassed.

"Do not worry, Daphne," Joyce continued with her teasing, "We will certainly not tell the Duke anything embarrassing. Especially not the time when you climbed the tree in the garden, and remained stuck there until–"

"Enough," Felicity intervened with a chuckle, "Let us not try to tease our little sister anymore. She is the bride to be."

"Perhaps another time then," Ambrose said, "Because I quite enjoy teasing Daphne as well."

"Then you and I shall get along perfectly," Joyce laughed, "Is it not adorable how she turns into a little red tomato whenever teased?"

A look crossed on Ambrose's face, as if he wanted to say that adorable was not the word he would use. But he nodded instead with a smile. "Indeed."

The sound of merry laughter and footsteps came from upstairs, as the men made their way downstairs.

"There he is, the groom-to-be!" Joyce's husband, Lord Riverton called out, enthusiastically.

He was followed by Lord Swinton and Lord Voss, who both had bright smiles lighting up their face.

"Sneaking some time with the bride, are we now, Your Grace?" Lord Swinton spoke up next. "I do not blame you for it, such anticipation is only natural days before a wedding."

"Why, I had the same," Lord Voss laughed, stealing a glance over at his wife. "But tonight is meant to be spent with the men."

Daphne watched the entire exchanged in shock. This was their first time interacting with the Duke, and yet they were behaving so candidly with him as though they had known him all their lives.

Like real brothers.

By the look on Ambrose's face, he seemed to be having similar thoughts. For a moment, Daphne worried if they had gone too far in their frankness, but Ambrose eased her worries by responding with a good natured smile.

"I have much to learn from you gentleman, it seems," he nodded politely.

"Oh, that is the right spirit," Lord Riverton guffawed. "Good to know that you are not trying to get out of the nights festivities."

Ambrose raised a brow at him. "I assure you, I've no intention of avoiding anything."

"Ah, don't get all serious on us now," Lord Swinton said, slinging an arm around Ambrose's shoulders as if they were old friends. "We have plans for the night. It's tradition, you know."

Daphne smiled as she watched them all together.

There was something heartwarming about seeing Ambrose in this light, surrounded by people who cared for him in such a natural and easy manner.

It was a reminder that even he, with all his responsibilities and the weight of his title, could have moments of simplicity and warmth.

"We should get going then," Lord Riverton and Lord Voss took the lead, and made their way to the door. Ambrose lingered around for a moment, his eyes searching for Daphne once again.

"Ladies," he nodded politely to her sisters, "Lady Daphne," he said.

And then without warning and in front of everyone, he winked at her.

Winked!

Daphne felt her cheeks heat up again, and she quickly gazed to the floor. When the door closed, her sisters erupted in laughter.

"Oh, did you see that?" Annie giggled, bringing one of her hands to cover her mouth. "He's a sly one, isn't he?"

Joyce grinned, and nudged Daphne softly with her elbow, "You're going to have quite the wedding night."

Daphne's eyes widened, "Joyce!" she hissed, but could not suppress the girlish giggle that escaped her mouth at the insinuation.

"The Duke seems as though he can hardly wait," Annie added further fuel to the fire.

It was clear that her sisters loved to embarrass their youngest sibling. No matter how old she got, she was always going to be their little one.

But not everyone was in on the joke. Both Isadora and Violet exchanged confused glances. "What are you all talking about?" Violet asked, tilting her head.

Isadora furrowed her brow. "You mean he cannot wait for the wedding ceremony? To see her in the gown?"

That only made Joyce and Felicity laugh harder, leaving Daphne torn between amusement and mortification.

Daphne waved her hand dismissively at her friends. "Nothing, nothing at all. Just... you'll find out one day."

But now that her sisters had brought it up, she could scarcely stop thinking about it. Their wedding night – Felicity had given her the talk earlier in the week, of what she must expect. According to her, it was the purest union of two people in love.

The thought of it made her stomach flutter, and crimson sprout across her cheeks. Perhaps her sisters were right that the Duke could hardly wait. But what they failed to mention was that she could not wait either.