Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Three nights later, Evan waited as usual for Lilly to start screaming from a nightmare. He grew tense as he watched the hands tick by on his pocketwatch, mentally preparing himself. But the scream never happened.
“It’s never too late,” he muttered. “It’s the same time every night.” Granted, her nightmares were getting weaker. It wouldn’t take her as long to calm down and go back to sleep. But this was the first night where she hadn’t screamed.
He left his bedchamber and went to Lilly’s room to find Marina doing the same thing. She smiled at him as they both approached Lilly’s room. “Has this ever happened?” she whispered.
He shook his head. “No. Not since her mother died.”
Carefully, he opened the door to Lilly’s room and peered inside with Marina. His daughter was fast asleep in her bed, her face relaxed instead of frowning. His heart swelled in his chest from the sight of her peacefully sleeping.
Marina reached out and laced her fingers through his own. He squeezed her hand tightly in response.
Lilly started to stir, disturbed by the dim light in the hallway.
Evan closed the door to keep from waking her up.
He turned to his wife and pulled her into a hug.
Marina sighed happily and buried her face in his chest. “This is incredible,” she said.
“If this keeps up, all of us will be able to rest easier.”
He nodded, unable to say anything past the lump in his throat.
But his wife didn’t seem to mind. After a moment, she got on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. “Get some sleep,” she said as she yawned. “For once, all is well.”
Evan went back to his room, and he tried to get some sleep, but he couldn’t.
Instead, he thought about how he could thank Marina.
A simple thank you would not be enough. Not only had she brought so much joy into his life, but also into Lilly’s.
She had even helped take away Lilly’s nightmares, which was something he had been beginning to lose hope about.
He wanted to give Marina the world. But he had no idea how to go about such a task.
At breakfast time, he summoned Carlson to his chambers. “Eat breakfast with me,” he said. “There’s something I need to discuss with you.”
Carlson nodded. “Certainly.”
When they were settled at the breakfast table in Evan’s room, he began. “I want to do something for Marina. As a way to thank her for everything she has done for me and Lilly.”
The butler smiled. “That’s a wonderful idea. I am sure Her Grace will appreciate it, too.”
Evan grimaced. “The problem is, I have no idea what to do. I want her to feel seen and appreciated. But everything I can think of feels woefully inadequate.” He thought about purchasing a new book for her or a box of her favorite tea.
But they felt like paltry gifts compared to what she had given him.
Carlson thought for a moment. “Perhaps some jewelry,” he said. “Or a new gown. After all, Her Grace is a duchess, but she has been so busy taking care of Lilly that she has not bothered to take advantage of her allowance to indulge herself.”
Evan realized he was right. Despite being a Duchess instead of merely the least favorite daughter of a Viscount, Marina only dressed in practical day dresses that she had brought with her from Shirley Manor.
But he frowned. “Wouldn’t that be insulting?
She might think that I’m telling her that her wardrobe is ugly. ”
Carlson smirked. “In my experience, most ladies do not get insulted by gowns and jewels, Your Grace. However, you could always surprise her by taking her out. Perhaps you could take her to a ball.”
An image of himself dancing with Marina flashed through his mind and filled him with longing. Balls were usually unpleasant affairs that he avoided. But the thought of dancing with his wife was irresistible. However… “A surprise? No one likes surprises.”
Carlson chuckled. “With all due respect, Your Grace, you don’t like surprises. You are not everyone.”
Evan smiled wryly. “Perhaps.”
“Do any of these ideas sound appealing?”
He nodded, already thinking of the logistics. “Yes.”
“Which one, Your Grace?”
“All of them,” Evan said decisively. “She deserves all of them, and that’s what she will get.”
For the next week, everything was great, as far as Marina was concerned.
Lilly’s nightmares were growing weaker every night, until one night she just slept peacefully until morning.
That morning, she announced that she had never felt better.
Marina and Evan had a picnic with her and Prince William by the river to celebrate.
And of course, the picnic ended with some more catch-and-release fishing.
The morning after the picnic trip, Marina was busy writing to her sisters, telling them everything that had transpired. As she did so, there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” she called without looking up.
The door opened, and her maid came in. “Good morning, Your Grace,” she said. “I have a present from His Grace for you.”
Marina looked up, intrigued. “Really? It’s not my birthday.” She could not even imagine what it would be. Perhaps he got me a box of my favorite tea. I did mention it to him in conversation a couple of weeks ago, and he seems to remember such things. She smiled. “That is so sweet of him.”
The maid smiled, carrying a small box to Marina’s vanity table.
As Marina stood up from her writing desk, the maid opened it up to reveal a diamond necklace and matching earrings.
They sparkled in the morning light and took her breath away.
Marina gasped softly at the sight of them.
Gently, she reached out to touch them. “These are beautiful,” she murmured.
“They belonged to his grandmother,” the maid said. “He wanted you to have them. He has more jewelry that he has sent to be cleaned, but he wanted you to have these right away.”
“These are beautiful, and I’m honored he trusts me with such precious heirlooms, but I do not see how they are necessary,” Marina said. “I have nowhere to wear them.” I suppose I could wear them to Shirley House. Amelia and Bethany would at least delight in seeing them.
The maid’s smile grew with excitement. “I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but I think His Grace has something planned. He’s arranged for a carriage this afternoon, and there is a new gown coming as well.”
“A gown? What on earth is he planning?”
The maid giggled. “I do not know, Your Grace. But all of it sounds quite romantic.”
Romantic. She bit her lip, feeling her own excitement rise. Could Evan really be taking her out on a date?
That afternoon, her maid came in with a new gown, straight from the seamstress. It was dark blue, looking like the ocean on a stormy day, and it was the finest gown she had ever worn, even finer than her wedding dress.
“I hope he is not taking me to any place with food,” she remarked as the maid helped her into the dress. “I would hate to spill anything on a gown as fine as this one.”
“I am sure you will have a lovely time, no matter where you go, Your Grace. And you look beautiful.” Now that Marina was fully dressed, the maid angled the mirror to show her. The silk skirt flowed around her legs like water, and the diamond jewelry made her look almost ethereal.
“I cannot look like that,” Marina said. “Not really. Not when everything is so comfortable.”
The maid giggled. “I assure you, this is not a trick mirror, Your Grace.”
Marina had always preferred practical dresses that were not really fit to be worn out of the house.
Whenever she attended balls before, the dresses had always felt too tight.
Sometimes the fabric would be too itchy or feel strangely suffocating, and her mother would tell her to stop complaining—that was just how ball gowns were supposed to feel.
But the corset was not laced too tightly, and the silk felt smooth and cool. The shoes were low heels that did not pinch at her skin, as so many formal shoes did. And yet, she looked every bit like an elegant duchess. I could dance the night away in a gown like this and not be tired.
The maid was beaming at her. “I believe His Grace is waiting for you downstairs. I am sure he will be most pleased to see you.”
Marina made her way downstairs to find the duke standing next to the front entrance, dressed in a formal suit. He was talking with Carlson, but when Marina entered, he stopped and stared at her, as if he was drinking in the sight of her.
Marina blushed under the intensity of his gaze, but it also filled her with a happy, warm glow to know that he looked at her with such admiration.
“You look beautiful, duchess,” he said, his voice sounding low and husky. He held out his arm. “Shall we?”
“You look quite handsome yourself,” she said as she accepted his arm.
Carlson grinned as he opened the door for them to reveal an overcast day, on the verge of rain. “I hope you two have fun,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “Do not get into trouble.”
“Leaving the manor is already getting into trouble,” Evan said, but his light tone undermined any complaint in his words.
“I admit, all of this is a surprise,” Marina said.
“The surprise part was Carlson’s idea,” Evan said. “He said it would be a good surprise. I did not know there was such a thing. I hope you are not dismayed by the surprise.” Concern colored his voice.
Marina smiled and impulsively leaned her cheek on his shoulder as they approached the carriage waiting for him. “I am not dismayed at all,” she said. “This is a wonderful surprise. Where are we going?”
“To London,” he said, smiling. The carriage driver opened the door for them, and Evan helped Marina into the carriage before getting in after her and sitting next to her. “The Sherwoods are hosting a ball. In a fit of insanity, I accepted the invitation.”
She giggled, feeling her cheeks flush from sitting so close to him. Their shoulders were practically touching. “I never would have thought to have seen the day.” Then her smile faded. “What about Lilly? Will she be all right? We’ve never both been gone from the manor at the same time.”
He smiled fondly at her. “Now look who is getting overprotective.”
She blushed and looked down. “I suppose you are right.”
“Actually, Lilly has a social obligation of her own. I arranged for her and your parents to go to Heeway Manor. Lord Heeway’s seven-year-old niece is visiting him for a month.
I thought it would be a good opportunity for Lilly to spend time with a child her own age, while also helping to improve relations with Lord Heeway and your family. ”
Marina smiled. “Two birds with one stone,” she said. She felt an almost overwhelming impulse to kiss this man, but she held back, not wanting to ruin the mood.
He smiled. “Precisely.”
“I’m surprised you let Lilly go with just my parents for supervision.” Mrs. Miller had found new employment and had left Pemberton Manor the previous day. Marina had barely begun the search for a new nanny.
“Lord Heeway is a neighbor, so Carlson can get there in a moment in case of an emergency. And his niece will have her own nanny, who is hopefully able to watch both of them, even if your parents prove to be negligent.” He shrugged.
“This was necessary. Even though it was not my intention, my dog indirectly led to the end of your sister’s engagement to Lord Heeway.
I hope this visit will mend fences so Lord Heeway can give her a second chance. ”
Marina smiled. “Do not fret. Amelia was never in love with the lord. She accepted his proposal because one of us needed to marry well to help secure the future of the others. That’s not necessary now that I’m a duchess.
The Shirleys only needed one sacrificial lamb, and now Amelia can marry for love.
Bethany can too, when she’s ready to settle down. ”
A shadow passed over his face. “Sacrificial lamb?”
“Yes,” she said dryly. “I clearly sacrificed myself by becoming a duchess. Such a horrible fate.”
She meant it as a jest, but he looked away. “Indeed, it would be a sacrifice to marry me,” he said, his voice cold.
Marina’s eyes widened. “I meant it as a jest. I admit it was a bad one.” She put her hand on his arm. “Truly. I did not sacrifice anything. I was ruined, remember? You saved me.”
“You never would have accepted my proposal if you had a choice, though.” His voice was not angry or accusing. He just sounded sorrowful.
“You never would have proposed to me if I were not ruined,” she retorted. “You chose me because you did not have to court me. Remember?”
“Yes, marrying you certainly had benefits for me—”
“Yes, you killed two birds with one stone. I remember.”
“But,” he continued, clearly irritated by her interruption. “You benefited more. If I had not married you, then your parents would have been sent to America.”
“Yes, I just said that.” Irritation grew in her as well. “I thought I made it clear that you saved me from an American finishing school, and I’m grateful for that. I was only jesting when I said I was a sacrifice.”
“But I was certainly not your first choice. Was I?” He said it softly, and her heart ached at the sound of his sorrow.
For a moment, the sound of raindrops outside was all they heard. Then she spoke. “I had not given a lot of thought to my choice of husband. Even after a few Seasons, I had yet to meet a man that sparked my interest, and I certainly never interested any of the gentlemen that I met.”
“Except me.”
She offered a tentative smile. “I am sure I made quite an impression on you, just like everyone else at that party. But I am sure I was hardly your first choice. If you did not need a mother for Lilly, then you never would have married again.”
She half expected him to pull away from her and command the driver to turn the carriage around, but he didn’t.
Instead, he stared off into space for a moment before speaking.
“I suppose you are right,” he said finally.
“But I got lucky when I married you. I could not have found a better duchess if I searched all of London.” He looked at her, his expression wary.
“I know I am not the perfect husband, and I am sure you expected your married life to look much different. But I hope you do not feel like you sacrificed a lot when you married me.”
She relaxed. “I am happy I married you. I also feel like I was lucky.”
He smiled softly, but there were still traces of sadness in it. She hoped she could wipe those traces of sadness away with time, but at the moment, she was content he had not pulled away from her completely, despite the disagreement.