Page 28 of The Duke’s Bride (The Duke’s Alliance #6)

He turned his back to hide his embarrassment and spoke whilst gazing out of the window. She was an experienced woman so would be well aware why he was doing so. ‘I came to tell you that we will not be leaving at nine o’clock as planned.’

He explained the reason and she spoke from behind him.

‘I should be less alarmed at the prospect of crossing Epping Forest if I knew that the Bow Street runners were there to protect us. I shall escort my mother to the private parlour for breakfast in half an hour. Could I ask you to collect the children from outside and bring them in with you?’

‘Elizabeth asked if she could call me papa – I told her it was premature. Mr Sheldon or sir is too formal now. I thought they might call me Uncle Edward. Would you have any objection to that?’

‘I think it a perfect compromise. Before you go, you mentioned a sister, Giselle. Will she be able to come to our wedding?’

‘I am afraid not. She has a small baby and lives the other side of the country. You will meet her eventually.’

He had no wish to prolong this conversation.

He had not told any direct lies, but if she enquired further about his family he would either have to reveal his true name or continue to deceive her.

He knew without a shadow of a doubt that the more falsehoods he told, the harder it would be to convince her he had done it for her sake and not his.

* * *

The fact that he found her so desirable was flattering but also made her decision to remain out of his bed more difficult. Edward was a red-blooded gentleman and although she was certain he would never break his word, she had no wish to make life difficult for him.

Viola was still glowing from his passionate kisses.

There had never been anything like that between her and Rupert even in the beginning.

In fact, now she came to think of it, he had never made any attempt to kiss her before they were married and she had misinterpreted this as him being the perfect gentleman.

What had taken place in the marriage bed had not been making love but something closer to rape.

This was the first time she had voiced this fact even in her own head.

In law a wife was the property of her husband once they were married.

He could legally beat her, as long as he used a cane no thicker than his little finger, and he could demand his marital rights whenever he wished.

He had never asked if she was willing to share her body with him but had climbed into her bed and taken what he wanted without involving her at all.

The whole experience had been humiliating, painful and she was not sure if she could risk putting herself in the position of having to endure such unpleasantness ever again.

As far as she could recall he had never kissed her on the mouth – or anywhere at all. She had been a receptacle for his seed, nothing more. Once the title was secure he had never come to her again and for that she had thanked God every night. The beatings were preferable to the other.

‘Viola, daughter, you are wool-gathering. I have been standing here this age and you have been ignoring me.’

‘I was lost in thought – and none of it pleasant. Do you think I have done the right thing accepting Edward’s offer? I am now having second thoughts.’

‘You will not find a better man anywhere in the kingdom; of that I am quite certain. The good Lord has sent him to you and you must not turn his gift down.’

‘I do love him, and the children adore him too. The marriage will be unconsummated initially.’ Her mother looked scandalised.

‘Not at my suggestion, at his behest. I agreed because it was exactly what I wished to suggest myself. Even after three years I am still terrified of committing myself for the rest of my life to someone who might turn on me…’

‘Stuff and nonsense, my girl. Edward Sheldon has given you his word and he is the most honest gentleman I have ever met. He would not lie to you and you must put aside your fears and follow your heart.’

‘Wise advice, Mama, which I shall take. I wonder, will he want us to live with him at Elveden or will he join us at Fenchurch?’

‘More to the point, have you asked him if he is happy to have me living with you still? I have no wish to be banished to the dower house at either place.’

‘You are part of the family. If I thought he would do that I should not marry him under any circumstances. I shall ask him to clarify his position – but not over breakfast as I have no wish for the children to be involved in any of the details. As far as they are concerned they have got a new papa and that is all they need to know.’

‘Who would have thought that a month ago you had never heard of Edward Sheldon and yet now you are going to marry him. I believe he was smitten the moment he set eyes on you. I was wrong to tell you he was a confirmed bachelor – he was just waiting to meet the woman he would fall in love with.’

Her mother seemed more sprightly today, which was a relief. These intermittent bouts of fainting were of great concern to her, although Mama made light of it. In future she would do more to keep her dearest parent from overexerting herself.

‘I imagine that Richard is already on his way to Ireland. It is going to cost the business a deal of money that it seems we did not need to spend.’

‘I think it wise to discover what sort of man this Mr Fenchurch is, as he will be Thomas’s heir until my son produces children of his own.’

‘I am somewhat reassured by the fact that Fenchurch’s father removed himself from the family. I think we had better go down as I heard the children going into the building.’

She offered her arm and her mother took it. They were met in the foyer by her future husband. There was no sign of either Thomas or Elizabeth.

His smile sent waves of heat around her body in a most alarming way. ‘Do not look so apprehensive. The little ones asked very politely if they could go in and take their seats. They find eating in a public place fascinating.’

He nodded politely to her mama and offered an arm to each of them. He towered above them both and for the first time his size was a comfort rather than an impediment to liking him.

‘Am I to be banished to the dower house, sir, when you are married to my daughter? I was not even allowed to visit when she was married to that other man.’

‘I should be bereft without your presence, ma’am; you are an essential part of this family unit.’

‘Mama, I expressly asked you not to talk about this over breakfast.’

Her mother laughed. ‘As we are yet to enter the dining room, I believe I have not broken my word.’

Viola looked anxiously about the chamber but sure enough the twins were sitting at a table by the window, looking the picture of innocence. She would much prefer to have eaten in the sitting room upstairs but as the children were so eager to be here she had not the heart to deny them.

There were no spare tables and she was conscious of being stared at as they made their way across the room.

There must have been around twenty other people breaking their fast. Unlike her own establishment here there was no buffet set out for one to help oneself.

One must wait until a waiter came to enquire what one wanted.

‘Mama, we have asked what there is this morning and there is not as much choice as there was at the hotel,’ Elizabeth said. ‘I am going to have ham and eggs with toast and strawberry conserve.’

Edward settled her mother first and then pulled out her chair. Where was the waiter who should be taking care of this task? ‘And you, Thomas? What do you want to eat?’

‘I shall have just toast and marmalade, thank you, Mama.’

The waiter hurried up and took their orders. An enormous pewter coffee jug appeared first along with the necessary cups and saucers to drink it in. The children preferred it with cream and sugar, but like Edward she liked it black and unsweetened.

This was another thing they had in common. They also had a love of music, were talented musicians themselves, and she rather thought they both preferred to be in the countryside and not the town. ‘Edward, when we are married do you wish to open the house in Grosvenor Square and visit every season?’

If she had offered to pull his teeth for him he could not have looked more horrified. ‘I have no love of the city. I like to ride in the fresh air and not inhale the polluted atmosphere one finds in Town.’

‘Then we are in agreement on that score. I could see at once that you were at home in the saddle, as am I, so we also share a love of outside activities.’

Thomas glanced at him before venturing to speak and he nodded his permission. ‘We like to play cricket in the summer. Elizabeth is better at it than I, but we all enjoy the game. Even our grandmama comes out to watch.’

‘I am not sure how you achieve a game when there are only three of you.’

‘We get the outside men and grooms to join us. It is terrific fun. I do hope you like to play too.’

‘I enjoy most outside activities, young man, and have been considered to be a demon bowler by those I play against.’

Edward poured them all a drink and then added the cream and sugar for the children. A large platter of freshly made toast, butter and jam arrived as he completed the task. He ate heartily as did her daughter, but the rest of them were content without a giant plate of ham and eggs.

‘I suggest that we repair to your sitting room, Viola, and the children can demonstrate their prowess at the game of cribbage.’

She was almost disappointed when word came up from the yard that Bishop had returned safely and wished to speak to Edward.