Chapter 8
“TULIP, YOU LOOK beautiful,” her cousin Violet said, stepping back after helping her into her gown on the morning of her wedding.
“Davenport’s tongue will roll to the floor,” Marigold added, smiling in approval as she looked on. “Are you ready to marry that gorgeous man?”
Tulip merely shook her head because words failed her.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror, hoping her cousins were right and she might steal Alex’s heart when he set eyes on her. They were to be married within the hour at St. Mary’s Church, followed by the wedding breakfast to be held here, at John and Sophie’s house on Chipping Way.
The household was astir with activity.
Everyone had been up before dawn, including Violet and Marigold who showed up shortly after sunrise determined to serve as her handmaidens.
The butterflies in Tulip’s stomach were in a mad flutter and not only because this was her wedding day.
This would also be her wedding night and she was completely unprepared for it despite having received advice from all her married cousins.
Well, it hadn’t been instructions so much as general statements to trust her husband and follow his lead, then an inordinate amount of giggles.
Just where was he supposed to lead her?
Someplace nice, she supposed.
The second kiss Alex had given her two days ago still lingered on her lips and in her heart. He’d kissed her with devastating effect, for it felt as though he’d held nothing back. His kiss had scorched her, leaving her marked as his, even though he had demanded nothing from her.
In fact, he had been the one to give all of his heart.
It was his willingness to openly put his own heart at risk that had won her over.
How could she do anything other than surrender?
That kiss had made her feel as though he loved her.
Or was he merely adept at kissing any lady as though he did love her?
Probably the latter because it was too soon for either of them to be certain of their feelings for each other.
But she hoped his kiss was real.
She was already on the way to falling in love with him.
Loving a Davenport was always going to be dangerous, but Alex was different.
He had to be different.
And now he was going to be her husband within the hour.
Their dowager aunt, Hortensia, marched into her bedchamber as her cousins were putting the last touches to her hair. No one knew just how old Hortensia was exactly, but she seemed to be as immortal as dragons and resembled one.
“You haven’t touched your breakfast,” she noted, instantly dominating the room by her mere presence.
Tulip put a hand to her stomach. “I dared not eat. I don’t think I can hold anything down this morning.”
Hortensia harrumphed. “I could have married a prince, you know. But the man was a complete idiot. Davenport appears to have some brain matter between his ears.”
“He’s handsome, too,” Marigold said. “Almost as handsome as my Leo.”
“And Romulus,” Violet added, not wanting her handsome husband neglected.
“Silly girls,” Hortensia remarked. “I don’t know why I am so proud of you when you are little more than giggling geese.”
They all hugged her because this was Hortensia’s grumpy way of telling them all that she loved them.
“Enough of this nonsense,” she said after giving them each a kiss on the cheek. “Stop dawdling and get into the waiting carriages.”
Before Tulip knew it, they were on their way to the church.
She rode with John and Sophie who had taken on the role of parents and done a fine job of it, if anyone asked for her opinion.
She told them that she loved them and mentioned how much she appreciated all they had done for her.
John had tears in his eyes, for he was obviously quite sentimental about his family.
It struck Tulip that Sophie was the perfect match for him because the real work of holding the family together fell to her.
She did it remarkably well and usually without complaint, although Tulip knew there had been some fretful and even argumentative moments when their daughters had taken their turns on the marriage mart and unleashed havoc.
Getting caught kissing a man in a garden was nothing compared to the trouble John and Sophie’s daughters had gotten themselves into.
Alex was already at St. Mary’s, impatiently pacing by the massive front doors of the church.
He smiled as their carriage arrived.
She smiled and waved at him.
“Tulip,” he said in a whisper as he helped her down, “how are you holding up?”
She laughed softly and let out a breath. “I am shaking all over.”
“You look beautiful.”
“So do you…I mean, you look incredibly handsome.”
He grinned and helped her smooth out her gown as she fussed with it when a sudden gust of wind threatened to blow everything out of order.
The gown was a beautiful cream silk and lace creation that she had meant to wear to one of the grand balls at the start of the Season but it had not been ready in time.
Wearing it now for her wedding was a much better use for this stunning gown.
“It is hitting me now that we are about to be bound to each other for the rest of our lives.”
“Yes, I know. I’m looking forward to it.” He held out his hand to show there was not a single tremor. “See, no qualms about marrying you. Once you are my duchess, you will never lack for anything. I will always take care of you.”
“And I’ll do the same for you,” she replied in earnest.
He cast her an affectionate smile. “I don’t think it’s supposed to work that way. I’m the one who will be pledging to protect you and keep you safe from harm.”
“Should I not do the same for you?”
“Not if it places you in danger.”
“But aren’t we supposed to support each other through the good and the bad?”
“Yes, lend support. But you are not to die for me. You are not signing on to military duty,” he remarked, his voice holding a trace of irritation that was not really aimed at her, although he obviously did not want her risking her life for him.
He released a lengthy breath. “You Farthingales are an odd breed. Certainly different from the ton elite.”
“Because we wish to honor our vows?”
After a moment, he leaned forward and gave her a light kiss on the cheek. “If you wish to look after me and fuss over me, then who am I to complain? I’m sorry if I came across as tense and inconsiderate just now. I’ve never had the tender ministrations of a woman before.”
“And it unsettles you?” Since he was a very private person, she did not think he would care for too much fussing.
“I’m just not used to it.”
“I won’t be too overbearing.” She was not the sort to spend her waking hours doing nothing but thinking of him or waiting upon him since she had her own dreams and desires to fulfill.
She wanted his support and approval.
But she was hardly going to ignore his needs.
However, he was the sort of man who preferred mostly being left to his own thoughts. “I’m sure your mother took good care of you.”
“In truth, she did not.” He shook his head. “She meant to, but she could not. Her health failed soon after removing me from the Davenport influence. She did not survive very long afterward. I’ve made my own way ever since.”
“I’m so sorry, Alex,” she said, her heart tightening because she understood how difficult it must have been for him, merely a boy at the time, to see her succumbing to ill health. Then to be left alone in the world, the only one who loved him and fought to protect him, gone.
Losing her own parents had been painful for her, but she had immediately gained the Farthingale clan and the Hester clan as her protectors and had never once felt unloved.
Quite the opposite, she was doted upon and cared for by both families.
“Well, you will have me to look after you now,” she assured him.
He nodded. “That sounds nice, but you must promise never to put yourself in harm’s way for me. This is not how I ever want you to care for me.”
She frowned. “Do you really think there will be danger? From your cousins?”
“Harold Havers and his brothers? No. That threat has been addressed for now. They have been drinking themselves into a stupor these past two days, ever since I restored their allowances.” He placed his hand over hers as it rested on his forearm.
“Do not mind me. I seem to find reasons to needlessly fret. The hour is growing late. Care to marry me?”
“Yes,” she said with a gleam of amusement in her eyes. “Now that I have stopped running away from you, I have come to realize you are quite nice.”
He also looked impossibly handsome in his elegantly tailored coattails.
All chatter quieted when the vicar stepped up to the altar and motioned for them to join him.
Tulip had not expected the abundance of feelings that suddenly overwhelmed her as John walked her down the aisle and gave her over to Alex. As she stood beside her handsome betrothed, she felt the permanence of these vows they were about to exchange.
With her family looking on, she promised to love, honor and obey him.
He quirked an eyebrow at the ‘obey’ part and grinned.
He promised to love and protect her.
If not for the warmth of his hand as he clasped hers, she would have thought this was a dream.
The vicar’s voice resounded through the church as he pronounced them husband and wife.
Alex surprised her by giving her a tender kiss on the lips. “How does it feel to be the new Duchess of Davenport?” he whispered as he ended their kiss.
Duchess Tulip was not a very elegant name, she thought.
If he did not mind it, then neither would she.
“It will take a little getting used to,” she admitted in all honesty.
“You’ll be wonderful.” He gave her hand a light squeeze before releasing it to accept the handshakes and congratulatory pats on the back from family and friends.