Chapter Nineteen
Marina
A wave of coldness that swept over her startled Marina awake, causing her to shiver.
She had the best night of sleep in her life, sleeping in Evan’s arms. She reached her arm out and realized he was no longer in the bed.
When she glanced out the window, she noted it was about an hour before the sun would rise.
Looking around the room, she saw him dressing himself and fixed her gaze on her betrothed.
She stretched and watched him for a few moments, enjoying the way his muscles flexed with each of his movements.
Evan was buttoning his shirt and caught her watching him. “Go back to sleep, love.” A smile played on his lips.
She arched her brow. “You weren’t going to climb out that window, were you?”
He placed his hand to his chest and feigned shock. “And defy your orders? I wouldn’t dream of it.”
She tossed back the covers and climbed out of the bed. “Then I shall show you the best way to leave unseen.”
He looked like he might protest but continued with his buttons. She collected her night rail from the floor and slipped it over her head.
“It is a tragedy to cover your body, but I couldn’t handle anyone but me seeing you this way.” Evan crossed the distance between them and pulled her into a deep kiss, one that marked her soul. She loved him so much. More than words could convey.
They broke the kiss and continued dressing.
He would need to leave the house before the servants were busy with their work, making it harder to ensure he left unnoticed.
Not that it mattered all that much since they would soon be married, but better not to invite more scandal into their lives.
They would be the subject of gossip sheets soon enough.
She tied her dressing robe around herself while Evan was busy donning his boots. She could picture this playing out for them every day. Dressing and bantering with each other before they set off to face the day together.
By the time she put on her slippers, Evan was ready to depart.
“When will I see you again?” she asked.
“I’m going later this morning to purchase the special license with Jude, and then I shall call on you so we can plan our wedding for tomorrow.”
“Jude? Since when are you friends with Jude?”
He laughed. “It just kind of happened. I think he sensed my affection for you from the beginning. He is to be my best man.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she pushed back from him. “Perhaps I’m the one who should be jealous if you have been spending time with Jude. I thought you didn’t want me anywhere near him.”
Evan pulled her to him. “My love, I haven’t even looked at another woman since I met you. I can assure you of such.”
“You better not have.” She smiled, looking up at him through her lashes. Then she tilted her chin up so he could press his lips to hers.
“You have ruined me for anyone else, and I couldn’t be more delighted by it.” He kissed her again. “I really must go.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Evan chuckled. “No, it certainly does not.”
Marina took his hand and led him to the servant stairs. They moved as quietly as possible, and she directed him to a door that led outside. He opened the door, then turned back to her and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
“Go back to bed. I’ll see you soon,” he said.
Then he was gone.
She should have spoken her feelings of love for the man before he left.
Her words lingered on her tongue. She couldn’t help but feel regret wash over her, realizing that her fear of vulnerability had held her back.
Even though she already knew her heart was lost to him, she struggled to speak the words.
Once she was back in her room and seated at the edge of her bed, she was unsure if she should lie down or face the day ahead. Outside, the sky transformed into a vibrant orange, signaling the imminent arrival of the sun.
Making her decision, she rang for Millie. Once she arrived, Marina asked for a breakfast tray and a bath to be readied for her.
Millie returned with the tray and laid it out before the settee.
It was the same settee where she’d made love to her future husband, and her cheeks heated as she took her seat.
She was ravenous this morning and ate every bit of the food from the tray.
By the time she finished eating, the footmen had brought up the water for her bath.
She stepped behind the screen while Millie was busy readying Marina’s dress for the day.
She disrobed and stepped into the warm bath water.
Sighing, she leaned back into the water.
Evan was right, she already felt better and soothed from the warm water.
She bathed herself and soaked in the water, thinking only of her future with Evan until the bath cooled.
Once she dried herself, Millie dressed her for the day in a light green morning dress.
Marina knew Millie noticed that her hair was down and the bloody rags that weren’t from her menses, but she said nothing.
She only nodded in understanding, a smirk across her lips as she continued with their morning chores.
While seated at her vanity, Millie pulled her hair back into a simple coiffure.
“Millie, will you ensure my new pink gown is ready for tomorrow? I wish to wear it for the wedding.”
“Of course, my lady. I will see to everything.”
After Millie finished dressing her for the day, Marina found herself alone in her chamber, deciding what to do to pass the time before Evan would return.
She daydreamed about their wedding and leaving town with her husband.
She thought about the kids they would have, the romantic picnics they would go on, and the trips they would take.
After all her woolgathering, another thought occurred to her.
She remembered she still needed a maid of honor.
She strode to her writing desk and penned a missive before ringing for Millie. When Millie arrived, she handed her the missive. “Please ensure this is delivered to the Southam townhouse for Lady Tabitha. Please have them wait for a reply.”
Millie rushed off to do as she asked. Marina was fortunate to have a group of friends she adored.
A smile spread across her face at the thought of one of them standing up for her.
Hopefully, they could all be at the wedding, other than perhaps Juliana, who would be in mourning.
Sadness washed over her, remembering that she also was in mourning.
Her relationship with her father had been complicated, but she missed him.
She wiped away the couple of tears that fell.
A booming voice from downstairs caught her attention and immediately dried her tears. Minto. Marina raced for the stairs and hid just out of his sight as she watched Minto being escorted toward her father’s study. Marina mentally corrected herself. She must think about it as Arthur’s study now.
Marina had to hear this conversation. There was a vent where she could hear everything from an upstairs parlor.
Listening at the door would be a gamble, since she didn’t want to risk being in Minto’s presence.
She rushed to the empty parlor and closed the door behind her.
Positioning herself on the floor, she put her face up to the vent so she could hear as clearly as possible.
She recalled the many times she and Arthur found themselves in this position, huddled together, when they sought to eavesdrop on their father’s conversations. She missed her father all over again.
Focusing her attention back on the matter at hand, she leaned toward the vent.
She could see into the room. Minto’s back was to her, and her brother sat behind the desk.
He positioned himself straighter and more poised than she had ever seen him.
She smiled at the man her brother was becoming, albeit much faster than he should have had to.
Arthur glanced up at the vent, and his lips formed a flat line. He knew she was there, and he would be angry at her if she so much as made a sound.
“You wished to speak to me, my lord?” Arthur asked.
“Yes. We must discuss the contracts regarding my marriage to your sister.”
Arthur frowned. “I must have misheard you. Surely you wished to offer me condolences for the loss of my father. I believe he was a close friend of yours, was he not?”
Marina covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.
“Of course. My apologies,” Minto said insincerely. “I am sorry for the loss of your father. He was a good man.”
“Indeed.” Arthur remained stoic, with a hint of boredom.
“I am sure you must agree it would be best if your sister and I married right away,” Minto said.
“Why would I agree?”
Minto shifted in his seat, and Marina wished she could see the expression on his face. “Well, I assume your family will wish to retire to the country for your mourning period. Better for Marina and me to be married right away instead of waiting for the banns to be read.”
“I am not aware that my sister has given you leave to speak of her so informally. I’m also quite certain she will never do so since she will not marry you.” Arthur looked at the back of his hand and then flicked something off his shoulder before casting his gaze back to Minto.
“Your father and I had an agreement. I am to marry Lady Marina.”
“Do you have paperwork for such an agreement?” Arthur challenged. “Our solicitor is quite certain that is not the case, given I have marriage contracts ready for her true betrothed.”
Minto leaped to his feet. “What? You can’t do that. You must honor a gentleman’s agreement.”
“I assure you, my lord, I can and have done that. My sister doesn’t wish to marry you, and my father was no gentleman for attempting to force her to do so. I, however, will let my sister marry whomever she chooses.”
“Boy, you are making a mistake.”
Arthur laughed. “Come now, my lord. Surely you didn’t intend to disrespect me in my own home.”