Page 14 of His Runaway Duchess (Regency Wedding Crashers #3)

CHAPTER 14

W hat have you done, you fool?

Sucking in a breath, Edward released Daphne at once. That was a mistake, as she was not yet in her depth and immediately dropped underneath the surface of the water, flailing as she went.

Cursing himself for being a clumsy, thoughtless, endless fool , Edward grabbed her again, lifting her and walking forward until the water was only chest-deep.

He should not have done that. He should not have kissed her, should not have touched her, should not have…

Edward clenched his jaw tight, his own words coming back to haunt him.

“You’re lovely. You have no idea how much.”

What had possessed him to say such a thing?

We had a bargain . A cool, distant marriage. That’s the best thing to keep her safe and keep me out of harm’s way. And yet here I am, ruining it all.

Why couldn’t I resist her?

He cleared his throat, not wanting to look down at her awestruck, luminous face. If he did, he might well do something even more foolish, like kissing her again or begging her to touch him too.

Fortunately, the water was cold enough to suppress the worst of his desire. Just as well, really.

“That was unexpected,” she said.

At some point, the stars above them had begun to pop out, one by one, glittering down.

“I’m sorry,” Edward muttered. “I should never have?—”

“No, I’m not upset,” she said instantly. Below the surface of the water, she took one of his hands in her own. “That was… well, it was excellent. Full marks. And anyway, I’m already ruined. I don’t think that swimming with my betrothed after sundown, alone, could do much to make things worse.”

He had to smile at that, shaking his head. “It’s true, neither of us could be any more disgraced. Even so, best to keep this to ourselves, don’t you think?”

She winced. “What, do you think I’m going to run home and tell my parents all about what happened?”

“With you, Daphne Belmont, I never know what you’re going to say or do next,” he retorted.

She laughed aloud at that, throwing back her head, and warmth spread out across his chest.

“Still, we’d better get out of the water before we turn into icicles,” she said, turning away from him and wading towards the shore.

Edward followed, feeling as if he were drawn on a string, tied to her and obliged to follow close behind.

She climbed out of the pond first, water streaming off her in rivulets. Moonlight cast a blue-and-silver sheen over her, her long dark hair hanging around her shoulders like a mermaid’s.

No, not a mermaid. Mermaids were fairly innocuous creatures and generally preferred to be left alone. Or so Edward’s classics studies had informed him.

Sirens, however, were different creatures entirely. One could not describe Daphne as malevolent in any way, of course, but there was no denying that if he pursued her now, disaster would follow.

Plug your ears and stay on the boat, man, he warned himself grimly.

Daphne shivered. She pulled her wet hair over her shoulder and picked up her discarded coat. Her thin white gown stuck to her like a second skin, tinged pink. Edward could see her nipples straining against the flimsy fabric and forced himself to look away.

“We should hurry back,” he said. “It’s getting dangerously cold. You’ll need a hot bath to warm up. I’ll order one as soon as we get home. By the way, I don’t know if anyone told you, but we’re getting married tomorrow.”

Daphne stilled. “ Tomorrow ?”

He sighed. “You didn’t know, then.”

She blinked, water glistening on her eyelashes. “Well, I know now, don’t I?”

Daphne woke up on the morning of her wedding feeling refreshed and wakeful. The evening swim had done her a world of good, as had the deliciously warm bath afterward.

And then there’d been Edward.

Goosebumps crawled over her skin as she remembered the searing kiss, the way his hands had drifted over her body. Even the memory of the rush of pleasure when he touched her made her shiver, curl up under the blankets, and hide a secret smile in her pillow.

They hadn’t talked much on the way back, as the cold had settled on them in earnest and their teeth were chattering too hard for conversation. Once they entered the house—through the back door, very furtively—they had parted ways. Edward hadn’t forgotten about the hot bath, though, and the maids were filling up the tub in her washroom almost as soon as she reached the room. If they noticed that she was soaked to the skin and blue with cold, they did not mention it. Probably for the best.

Daphne rolled onto her back, staring up at nothing in particular. Part of her had wondered whether Edward would join her later that night. That was how the books went, wasn’t it? The lady would sleep chastely in her bed, ready to be convinced otherwise once the gentleman crawled in with her. The books tended to end with a demurely closed door and a sweet kiss, leaving it up to one’s imagination what happened next.

Well, I don’t need to use my imagination anymore . I know. Well, I know some of it.

There was more than just touching, she knew that. But if all of it was as agreeable as what she and Edward had done together— really, Daphne had not done much and could not take any credit—then she was willing to try new things.

Perhaps their marriage would be a little more like Anna and Theo’s, rather than a cold and glacial Arrangement with a capital A. Perhaps it might be a little more real .

She smiled to herself, gathering the sheets up to her chest. For the first time in a while, the idea of marriage did not seem so very upsetting.

There was a knock at the door, and she swung herself out of bed.

Perhaps it’s Edward, come to…

Her hopes were swiftly dashed as she opened the door.

“Oh, Mama, it’s you. Good morning, Emily, Anna.”

Her mother and sisters swept in, shooting her curious glances.

“You don’t seem happy to see us,” Emily said, her voice half-muffled behind an explosion of fabric and lace. Daphne’s wedding dress, it seemed, was ready. “I’d make the most of us if I were you. We’re going home the evening of the wedding. I wanted to stay, but Mama said that a woman shouldn’t have to have her wedding night with her entire family in the house.”

“My darling girl,” Octavia began, swanning grandly around and embarking on what sounded suspiciously like a rehearsed speech. “I cannot bear the thought of your unhappiness. If you have any doubts at all?—”

“Oh, stop it, Mama,” Anna huffed, throwing herself down on the edge of the bed. She was carrying an armful of flowers, Daphne noticed. For her bouquet, no doubt. “We all know that if Daphne ever wants to show her face in Society again—or if we do—she’ll have to marry the Duke. There’s simply no getting around it.”

Octavia’s face crumpled. “I hate the idea of my girls making miserable marriages.”

“I am not miserable, Mama,” Daphne assured her, standing up on her tiptoes to kiss her on the cheek. “Besides, he was married to Beatrice’s sister before, and Beatrice says that he’s a decent man, if a little odd. He isn’t cruel, and it is my fault anyway. I’m the one who turned up at his estate. If anyone is about to be miserable, it’s him.”

Did she believe that? No, she did not. Daphne couldn’t help but feel that she and Edward had a greater chance of happiness than before.

“Did he send a message for me? Or something?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

Anna frowned. “No, nothing. Why? Were you expecting something?”

Yes.

“No, of course not,” Daphne muttered. “I just thought… seeing as we are getting married in a few hours, he might have… Oh, it doesn’t matter.”

Anna and Octavia exchanged meaningful glances that Daphne did not like. Piqued, she turned away from them.

“Well, shall we get going?” she said, knowing full well that she sounded childish and hating it. “Am I getting ready or not?”

The dressing process was exceptionally arduous. Daphne’s patience, never a sturdy thing, was stretched to the limit. She was sure that her dress had no less than a hundred layers, and she found herself wondering with a naughty, little prickle how Edward would fare when it came to taking them off later that night.

She was sure, now, that they would have a proper wedding night. Despite all his talk of separate beds and separate lives, it seemed fair to assume that he felt attracted to her. He wanted her, and once they were married… well, they might as well enjoy themselves, shouldn’t they?

The thought sent a tingle of desire through her, and she had to firmly remind herself that she was in a room with her mother and her two sisters, and had better keep her mind on more maidenly matters for the time being.

A knock on the door made them all jump. Anna hurried to answer it.

“Is it Edward?” Daphne called before she could help herself.

Anna threw a baffled look over her shoulder. “Why would it be the Duke? Are you expecting him, Daphne?”

Daphne scowled, looking away. “No.”

“Oh, Lady Clarissa,” Anna said, sounding surprised. “Did you want to come in?”

“Yes, if you don’t mind,” came the smooth reply. “I wanted to talk to Miss Daphne.”

Clarissa stepped inside, already dressed for the wedding and looking thoroughly elegant. She held a little, velvet-covered box in her hand.

“You look lovely, my dear,” Clarissa said, smiling nervously. “I… I think I am here to apologize.”

“You think?” Anna responded staunchly. “Are you, or aren’t you? You did more or less call our sister a woman of ill repute in front of the whole dinner table.”

Clarissa’s ears reddened. “Do not put words in my mouth, please. But I was too harsh, and I spoke without thinking. I am sorry, Daphne. I see Edward a good deal, you see, and live close by, so it’s in our best interests to get along. I wish I could take back my words, but I cannot. So, here is a small gift. I hope you’ll wear it today. A token of our friendship to come.”

She held out the box, and Daphne took it, smiling.

“That’s kind of you. Thank you. And please, think no more of it. We all said things we should not. Besides, you are Edward’s mother, so it’s entirely natural that you were concerned.”

Clarissa’s expression tightened. “Not his mother. His stepmother. Not that I mind the distinction, but Edward is always very clear. I… I tried to be his mother,” she added, glancing self-consciously about the room, “but I could never quite manage it. We’re friends, Edward and I, and I suppose that will have to be enough.”

That was an uncomfortable speech.

Daphne shifted from foot to foot and saw that the others also looked a little awkward. Before the silence could really settle in, she spoke up.

“Well, I am still grateful that you’re here, Lady Clarissa. And I’m sure we will be friends. Now, let’s see what you’ve brought me!”

She opened the velvet box, revealing a beautiful diamond necklace and a set of matching earrings. They were rather large and gaudier than she would have preferred. Her brocaded gown was a pale blue, and she was going to wear a set of sapphires to match, but Clarissa was watching her anxiously, wringing her thin hands and waiting for her response.

“They’re beautiful,” Daphne responded, honestly enough. “They must have cost a fortune. Do you truly mean for me to have these?”

“Of course,” Clarissa said, laughing in relief. “They’ll suit your dress nicely—diamonds go with everything—and they’ll be a fine beginning to your jewelry collection. The Duchess of Thornbridge must have a jewelry collection, you know! The late Duke bought these for me on our wedding day, and they were always my favorites.”

Daphne froze, her eyes wide. “These were a wedding present from your husband? Oh, Lady Clarissa, I cannot take them! I could wear them for today, as a sort of something borrowed , but to keep?—”

“No, I insist,” Clarissa interrupted, more firmly than before. “I want you to have them. I think my late husband would approve of this gift, and I’m sure that Edward will. You will wear them, won’t you?”

“Yes, of course,” Daphne responded.

There wasn’t really anything else to say.

Clarissa beamed. “Well then, I’m ready, so I’ll go down and meet you at the chapel. Good luck, my dear!”

She left without another word, and silence lingered in the room after she’d gone.

“Well,” Anna said, “what an impressive gift. Especially considering that she accused you of seducing the Duke deliberately only a little while ago.”

“Maybe that’s why she wants so badly to make amends,” Emily suggested, lacing up the last of the ties on the back of Daphne’s dress. “She seems… sad, doesn’t she?”

“She ought not to have told us about not being considered the Duke’s proper mother,” Octavia remarked, frowning to herself. “We aren’t family yet.”

“She’s going to be my mother-in-law, for all intents and purposes,” Daphne pointed out. “So I had better like her, hadn’t I?”

Emily finished the laces and leaned forward to kiss her twin sister on the cheek. “She seems nice enough, and the Duke will make a decent husband. All of this house will be yours , Daff! Isn’t that thrilling?”

“It is, a little,” Daphne admitted, smiling wryly. “I can’t quite believe I’m getting married. Married . Me!”

“We’re all shocked,” Anna remarked dryly, giving her a wink.

The diamond necklace sat cold and heavy on Daphne’s neck, and the earrings caught the light and glittered whenever she turned her head.

“I’m ready, then,” she murmured, inspecting herself in the mirror one last time.

Another knock sounded at the door, but this time Alex stood there, beaming.

He had clearly been scrubbed to within an inch of his life. His round face gleamed with cleanliness, and his hair was flattened down with pomade. He wore an immaculate, little suit which—despite everybody’s best efforts—already had a smudge of dirt on the cuff. Where he’d found dirt in the clean house, Daphne did not know. A boutonnière sat in his buttonhole, matching the bouquet she intended to carry down the aisle.

“I’m to walk you to the chapel!” Alex said, smiling wide enough to show off just about all of his teeth. “Papa said I could. And I’m carrying the rings! They’re in this… Oh, wait, they aren’t there at all.”

There was a moment of taut silence while the little boy patted down all of his pockets and eventually found the pouch containing the rings in his other pocket.

“Not to worry,” he said with great confidence, “I have it all under control.”

“I am thrilled to hear it,” Daphne said, biting back a smile.

She offered him a hand, and he took it, leading her down the hallway and away from the little room that had so quickly become home.

“Are you nervous?” Alex asked, peering up at her.

She sighed. “A little. Are you ?”

“I should say so,” he confirmed. “But I’m excited, too. At least, I think I am. It’s a little hard to tell, at times.”

She squinted down at him. “How many weddings have you been to, then?”

Alex paused, screwing up his face while he calculated. “Including this one?”

“Yes.”

“None.”

“Ah.”

On cue, Peter Tinn poked his head around a door at the end of the hallway. “There you are,” he said, looking a little nervous. “I suggest you hurry, Miss Belmont. The Duke isn’t a patient man. He won’t want to be kept waiting, and certainly not on his wedding day.”

Daphne cleared her throat. “Well, as his bride, he will simply have to wait for me, won’t he?”

Peter eyed her for a long moment. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that if I were you, Miss Belmont.”