Page 21 of On the Ropes of Scandal (With Love in Their Corner #3)
Stapleton House
Marylebone, Mayfair
London, England
“I don’t think I can do this,” Phoebe admitted to Aunt Bess as they stood outside the drawing room at the Earl of Lethbridge’s townhouse. “And this gown, though lovely, is far too fancy and luxurious for someone like me.”
Her aunt tsked her tongue. “Hush, dear. If the dowager countess wished to spend her coin on this gown, and everything else she’s already given you, why contest it?
You are marrying into a family of the beau monde .
You will need to square with that and whatever comes with it.
” She lowered her voice. “But it is quite a beautiful gown.”
“I’m not worthy of this,” Phoebe argued in a barely audible whisper as she slid her hands down the front of the expensive gown.
“Lady Lethbridge said the modiste had copied the design from a drawing she’d seen in Ackermann’s Repository .
She told me it’s a gown for a young lady of high distinction and made of striped French gauze over cream satin with a deep flounce of Brussels lace.
” She shook her head and couldn’t stop touching the frothy confection that reminded her of something Aunt Bess would make in the bakery.
“The dowager said I could reuse the gown as a ball gown, for surely once Duncan was wed, invitations would come his way.”
“Well, she’s not wrong, on either count. Reusing a gown saves coin. I especially like the line of roses and leaves that rest right above the flounce.”
Phoebe glanced down. “They are made of pink and green satin ribbon. It must have taken the seamstresses hours.” Then she sighed. “However, the dowager managed not to pay full price.”
“Oh, why?”
“The young lady’s mother, who ordered this gown, changed her mind, so the modiste didn’t receive payment. Buying it with only a few alterations because we were nearly the same size meant savings for the dowager and coin for the modiste.”
“Stop worrying, and stop downplaying this day.” Aunt Bess dropped her hands on Phoebe’s shoulders.
She held her gaze. “You are a beautiful bride. Though you lied to gain exactly this, I hope this time ’round you’ll learn from your previous mistakes.
What you found with Duncan before, you’ll find again. I can almost guarantee it.”
“I don’t know.” She blinked away the tears that stung her eyes.
Those words he’d whispered to her the night they’d coupled rang in her ears.
Would he ever mean them again? “He is quite miffed with me, and I rather doubt I’m interesting enough to hold his attention.
Apparently, Lord Frampton is very happy being a gentleman about Town.
” She touched a gloved finger to the lace lining the short, puffed sleeves of the gown. “I don’t fit into his world.”
“Don’t talk rubbish. You are resourceful, and people will adore you.” Aunt Bess winked. “Never discount the power of love, dear.”
Worry pulled the knots in her belly. “It’s not only that.
The earl told us this morning that he put down a payment on a modest townhouse in Bedford Square as a wedding gift.
Instead of Duncan paying the rents on his rooms, he can take that coin and make payments on the townhouse until he’s able to buy it outright.
” She shook her head as her chest tightened.
“Why is the Stapleton family being so generous to me? I’m no one. ”
“Stop, my girl.” Authority rang in Aunt Bess’ voice.
“Out of anyone in this world, you deserve fine things and happiness. Let them help you and pamper you in the ways your parents or even I could never do.” She patted Phoebe’s cheek.
“You are going to sail through this transition just like you always have.” She glanced into the drawing room.
“It seems that the vicar and your husband-to-be are anxious to begin the ceremony. Are you?”
Phoebe shrugged. “No, but that won’t stop it.”
Aunt Bess tugged her into the doorway. “Buck up, dear. This is your path now. It would behoove you to carve out some happiness there, for you would never have had this opportunity before he came along.” Her voice broke. “Your parents would be proud of you.”
“I wish they were here today.”
“In spirit, dear. In spirit.”
Straightening her spine, Phoebe moved into the drawing room with Aunt Bess at her side.
There were far too many guests assembled in the space.
She knew the members of Duncan’s family, and the rest must be friends of the dowager and associates of the earl.
In total, there were probably twelve people, all there to whisper and gossip about what she’d done that had led them here today.
Well, they can all bugger off. I’m not happy about this either.
Then her gaze met that of Duncan’s, and the intensity therein sent a host of flutters into her lower belly, and like a ninny, she forgot how to breathe when presented with him clad in his dark suit and tailcoat.
She couldn’t read many of the emotions in those brown depths, but there was admiration in his expression.
To her aunt, she whispered, “It’s unfortunate that he is so handsome this morning.” The waistcoat of sapphire blue silk had been embroidered with silver stars and called her attention to his flat abdomen that she well remembered from their time within the sheets.
“Why is that?”
“It makes today all the more difficult.”
Aunt Bess chuckled. “Contretemps and hurt feelings will be smoothed over with understanding and compromise.” She patted Phoebe’s hand.
“Have faith in yourself and him.” Then they arrived at the spot where Duncan and an older man stood in front of the fireplace where a cheerful fire danced behind an ornamental metal frame that looked like a peacock with full tail.
She put Phoebe’s hand on his sleeve. “Best wishes to you both.” Then she left to find a seat within the sea of guests.
Before she could say anything to Duncan, the tall, slender, older man offered a faint grin. He had a full head of snow-white hair and deep lines in his kind face.
“I am Mr. Cochran, and I will be officiating your nuptial ceremony. My clerk, Mr. Simpson is waiting at the back of the room with the register you’ll need to sign afterward.”
Duncan nodded. “If you don’t mind, let us move forward with this.”
“Ah, an eager bridegroom. It’s good to see,” Mr. Cochran said, clearly immune to the tension fairly crackling between them. He retrieved a well-worn leather copy of The Book of Common Prayer from the mantle. “If everyone could settle, the nuptial couple is ready to begin.”
Though she would have liked to speak privately with her fiancé before the ceremony, there was no time. Nerves fluttered in Phoebe’s stomach but calmed somewhat when Duncan took her hand and threaded it through his crooked elbow.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of these witnesses, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church… ”
Dear heavens, this is truly happening.
After losing her previous two fiancés, she had lost hope in ever thinking she would eventually find herself wed.
Now she stood next to the son of an earl, preparing to speak vows to him, but not with love present for the union.
Phoebe clung to his arm and the scent of him teased her nose with a blend of sage, citrus, and sandalwood.
It was quite lovely and something he didn’t have during his stint as her pretend husband.
Oddly, his strength calmed her nerves, for regardless of why they’d arrived here, she knew he was capable of being a kind and compassionate man.
Would he allow that person to shine through after today?
It wasn’t until he discreetly and softly cleared his throat that she ceased her wool-gathering and attended to what Mr. Cochran said as he addressed Duncan.
“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, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
Phoebe trembled; her breath held in anticipation. Did he truly understand the severity of those words? Would he stay faithful to her and give up his wicked ways?
After uttering a cough, Duncan answered, “I will.” Though it sounded as if he said it through gritted tea.
Phoebe’s jitters increased, as the minister addressed her.
“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, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”
Hadn’t she already shown him that she would after caring for him?
Surely that must excuse the lie. She glanced over her shoulder to locate her aunt, who gave her an encouraging nod.
Then, she nodded as her hand trembled upon Duncan’s arm.
“I will.” Her answer came out breathless and in a whisper, for tears crowded in her throat.
Will our union fail before it ever starts?
He was instructed to take her right hand in his right hand, and hers shook so badly that he gently squeezed her fingers. He went so far as to put his lips to her ear and whisper, “Despite our current… difficulties, this is not a prison sentence.”
“Do you think that for yourself as well?” she inquired back in a whisper of her own.
With his eyes clear and honesty in his expression, he gave a curt nod. “Yes.”
“Oh.” Phoebe smiled lest he think she looked upon the ceremony with dread. Which she did, to a point, but only because her sins had landed them here to begin with.
Will he ever love me again? Is it possible that I’ll fall for the man he is now?