Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Marina did not remember a lot after signing the wedding registry. She didn’t even have the strength to pay full attention to the wedding ceremony. She paid just enough attention to say what she needed to. She remembered Louiza publicly criticizing the kiss, but she hoped she had just imagined that.
Her memories got fuzzy around the time she was about to leave the chapel, and they stayed that way for the next day as she slipped in and out of a dreamlike state.
Sometimes she slept without dreams, and it was bliss. Other times, she could have sworn she heard Evan talking, or touching her hair. That last part must have been a dream. He would never do something as sentimental as that, especially with the likes of me.
She woke up briefly in the middle of the night. In a daze, she rang for her maid, who came rushing in with a cup of warm broth. Marina was able to drink most of it down before falling asleep again.
The next time she woke up, sunlight was streaming through the window. She opened her eyes and looked around, taking in her surroundings. She was in a large bed, covered in light blue bedding. She did not recognize it, but she assumed this must be the duchess suite.
The wedding is long over, so my family must be back in London.
She wished she had gotten the chance to properly say goodbye to her sisters before she fainted.
London felt like a world away, and she had no idea when she would be able to see them again, especially when she would be busy taking care of Lilly after she recovered.
She felt a pang of sadness at the thought. Letters just weren’t the same. She would not even have social obligations to keep her occupied. I hope I get along well with the staff and Evan, because they will be the only ones I interact with on most days.
As she moved onto her side, she also realized she was not in her wedding dress anymore, but instead in a soft nightgown. One of the maids must have changed me.
She hoped Evan had not seen her in such a state. It was embarrassing enough to think that she must have fainted on him. But if he saw her unconscious and in her nightgown… the thought left her feeling horribly exposed.
He probably never saw me like that. I am sure he never visited me once after making certain that I was all right.
Feeling reassured about that, she started to sit up.
When she was vertical, she felt a wave of dizziness, accompanied by a pounding headache.
She groaned and held her head. “Next time I faint, I will be sure to do it on a mountain of pillows instead of a stone chapel floor,” she muttered to herself.
After a moment, the dizziness subsided enough for her to pour herself a glass of water from the pitcher that was on her bedside table.
As she did so, she thought she caught movement out of the corner of her eye.
She turned to look, only to see her empty room.
Then she saw a tiny foot, barely visible from behind the curtain.
“I know you are there,” she said, her voice gentle. “You can come out now.”
A little girl’s face peeked out from behind the curtain, looking terrified of being caught.
“Lilly?’ Marina said. “Is that you?”
The girl took off running to the door without a word. In her rush to reach the door, she slipped on the carpet and fell to the ground.
“Oh, my goodness!” Alarmed, Marina immediately got out of bed, ignoring the way her body complained from the sudden movement.
She rushed to the little girl’s side to see Lilly sitting up and rubbing her head. “Are you all right?”
The little girl smiled sheepishly and removed her hand from her temple. Lilly was relieved to see no swelling, bump, or bruise. The little girl had light-brown, curly hair and hazel eyes. Marina did not see much of a resemblance to Evan. She must take after her mother.
Marina laughed with relief. “Well, it is clear we already have something in common, little one. We are both two clumsy girls, aren’t we?”
Lilly grinned.
Marina held out her hand for the little girl to shake as if she were a peer instead of a child. “My name is Marina. How do you do?”
The little girl looked at it for a moment before she shook Marina’s hand, giggling to herself. “My name is Lilly,” she said.
Already, Marina could tell that taking care of Lilly would be much different than taking care of the twins. Lilly was shy and a little timid. Meanwhile, the twins could not comprehend the concept of shyness if they tried.
She still remembered one mortifying moment when she had been eighteen, and the twins had been thirteen.
Lord and Lady Shirley were hosting a ball to help Amelia find suitors.
Bethany had also been allowed to attend, even though she was not out in society yet.
But Marina had been in charge of keeping the twins entertained and out of trouble.
Despite her best efforts, the twins were a nearly unstoppable force when they worked together.
Louiza distracted Marina by pretending to jump out of the window while Olivia snuck into the ballroom and proceeded to tell everyone that there was a mouse running around the ballroom.
It was a complete falsehood, but it had caused a panic anyway.
Lady Shirley did not speak civilly to Marina for a week after that incident.
Lilly did not seem like the type of person to cause mischief like that, but a shy, grieving girl would surely come with her own set of problems. Marina would just have to do her best when those obstacles revealed themselves.
“I have heard a lot about you, Lilly,” Marina said, smiling.
“I hope the two of us can become very good friends.”
The little girl ducked her head shyly. “You are the river lady,” she said.
“The river lady?” Marina looked at her, perplexed. “What do you mean?”
“I saw you. You jumped into the river after Prince William.” She giggled. “It was really funny.”
Marina felt her cheeks warm. One more witness to my foolishness, then. At least Lilly is amused by it. “Yes, that is me. Is Prince William your dog? He is a very friendly pup.”
Lilly nodded quickly. “He loves to play ball,” she said. “He’s really friendly! Everyone loves him.”
“Of course. Who can resist such a cute pup?” She smiled. “Perhaps soon we can both toss the ball for Prince William together.”
The little girl grinned. “Could we? Please?”
“Absolutely.”
“Yay! Then I might invite you to tea.”
“An invitation to tea? I’m honored.” She grinned at the little girl.
Lilly giggled. “You should be. It’s an important party. But only if you throw the ball really well for Prince William.”
Marina made sure her face was the picture of solemnity as she said, “I swear to always throw the ball far for Prince William. I will never pretend to throw it, or do so half-heartedly. And I will certainly make sure the ball never lands in the river again.”
The little girl let out a shriek of laughter before she covered her mouth with her hand and widened her eyes. When she removed her hand, she still looked a little sheepish, but she was smiling.
Marina felt herself relax as she talked with Lilly. It looked like the two of them had gotten off on the right foot. With some time, their relationship would evolve beautifully, she was sure of it.
I can find joy in taking care of this child, even if my own husband wishes I would remain a stranger to him. At least I can find purpose by helping to raise Lilly.
Just then, the door opened, and a maid came into the room. She curtsied. “I am pleased to see you awake, Your Grace.”
It took Marina a moment to realize the lady was talking to her.
That will take some getting used to. “Thank you. I am happy to be awake, too.” Her words came out stilted and awkward, not sure how she was supposed to act as the lady of the house.
At Shirley House, her parents’ servants usually ignored her as her parents did.
It would be a strange adjustment finding her place here, in Pemberton Manor.
“Are you ready for dinner? His Grace would like you to join him tonight.”
“I shall be ready, yes. Just give me a moment, please.” She turned to Lilly. “I must get dressed, but I cannot wait to spend more time with you soon.” She held out her arms. “Can I have a hug before you leave?”
Panic flickered across Lilly’s face, and her smile quickly disappeared.
She shook her head violently before running out the door at full speed.
Too much, too fast. Marina gingerly got to her feet, deciding slow movements would be best to keep herself from overexertion.
It is all right. There is still plenty of time to coax her to open up to me.