Chapter 19
Kalina
The night before her wedding was the worst night of sleep Kalina had ever had. For the first time in her life, every time she started to drift, a noise would jerk her awake. She felt like she heard everything.
The whisper of a lady’s skirts out in the hall, passing by her door.
The murmur of someone’s voice coming from another room.
The hooting of the owl outside.
It did not matter that the damage had already been done, and there was no reason for anyone to appear in her room now; she could not fully relax enough to sleep. When Margaret knocked on her door and entered in the morning, she jerked awake at the sound.
“Good morning, miss,” Margaret said, her voice forcefully cheerful.
“Good morning.” Kalina said the words, though she did not truly believe them. Forcing herself to sit up, she blinked as Margaret opened the heavy curtains, revealing a gray and cloudy day. Perfect to go with her mood.
Margaret cleared her throat.
“I’ve been told to get your things ready to move this afternoon,” the maid said, looking nervously at Kalina to gauge her reaction. “Apparently, the duke has decided that you two will immediately remove to his estate following the ceremony.”
“I see.” Kalina rubbed her forehead. It made sense.
Beginning their marriage under the scrutiny of Lady Astrid’s guests hardly sounded appealing.
Especially since her father numbered among them, and she presumed that feelings between her soon-to-be husband and her father would be strained, to say the least.
But she also wished she had her mother and Tiffany nearby for support.
Tiffany had promised she would speak to Lady Astrid and Delilah about Kalina’s innocence in the entrapment of Hereford. She had also offered to stand for Kalina today, which Kalina would be forever grateful for. One friend standing by her side was more than she had hoped for yesterday morning.
“You will be coming with me?” Kalina asked Margaret, who nodded firmly, to her relief. She would have insisted if Hereford had tried to dismiss her lady’s maid, but she was glad not to have to add to their already rocky start.
“Just try to keep me away,” she said darkly, which made Kalina smile.
Margaret’s protectiveness over her was very appreciated at the moment.
Giving herself a little shake, the maid pushed a smile onto her lips.
“Now, then. You need to look your absolute best today. I’ll send for a tray from the kitchen, then work on your hair. ”
“Thank you, Margaret.” Filled with gratitude, Kalina got to her feet and pulled on her dressing gown while Margaret bustled around.
She managed to eat a little while Margaret brushed and began to curl and pin her hair.
Though her stomach was decidedly uneasy, it did settle somewhat once there was something in it.
By the time there was another knock at her door, her hair was perfectly coiffed, and she had on her erstwhile wedding dress.
Margaret had just done up the last button.
Hurrying over to the door, Margaret stepped back.
“Lady Astrid, miss.”
Sweeping into the room, Lady Astrid gave Kalina a searching look. Immediately, Kalina bobbed into a curtsy, the way she would have before they’d become friends. The lady scowled.
“Oh, stop that. I am seriously displeased, angry even, but that does not mean you should go back to treating me as though we are not friends.” The lady’s tone was waspish, but Kalina was strangely glad to hear it because there was also some warmth to it.
Unlike yesterday when she’d been so distantly cold.
Especially because of what Lady Astrid was saying.
With how angry she had been yesterday, Kalina had assumed their friendship was over. Now, she was not so certain.
As always, Lady Astrid was intimidatingly resplendent, even more so than usual, as she was dressed for the wedding.
Her gown was the deep orange of a sunset, patterned with thin stripes which were a paler shade of the same color, and trimmed with creamy lace.
Rows of copper bands ringed the bottom of her skirt, adding another touch of decoration to the stunning assembly.
Like Kalina, her auburn hair was pulled back, curled, and coiffed to perfection.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she glanced at Margaret, as if trying to decide whether to dismiss Kalina’s ladies’ maid.
Rather than forcing the issue, Margaret seemed to decide that Kalina was safe with Lady Astrid and quickly sank into a curtsy before exiting the room and closing the door behind her. Leaving them alone.
Arms still crossed, Lady Astrid looked at Kalina, tilting her head as if trying to think of what she was going to say. Though Kalina could not see her feet, she got the distinct impression that Lady Astrid was tapping one of them.
“I spoke with Tiffany this morning. And Mei. Both of whom felt I misunderstood you during our last conversation.” Lady Astrid scowled.
“You apologized for trapping Hereford into marriage. Yet Tiffany made some very astute points about the illogic of your actions if you were, indeed, involved in his presence in your room. Did your father act without your knowledge?” It was more than a question; it was a demand for information, for the truth.
Kalina hesitated because she hated feeling as though she was betraying her father, but she nodded. He had done the deed. In some ways, it could be said that he had betrayed her first.
Lady Astrid sighed, dropping her arms.
“Then I must apologize for losing my temper yesterday and the way I spoke to you.” She smiled ruefully. “Tiffany thinks before she acts… or reacts. I have a tendency to do the exact opposite. And once I’d had more time to think, I had to agree with all the points she made.”
“There is no need to apologize,” Kalina said hastily. “You were upset, rightfully so. I also reacted poorly in the moment, and I did not know what to do to make things right. I also… I know my father’s actions were dishonorable, but…” She spread her hands helplessly. “He’s still my father.”
She wanted to protect him.
He was her father. Despite what he’d done, she loved him.
Lady Astrid huffed.
“Yes, well. Family can be complicated.” She smiled wanly.
“Sometimes, we do incomprehensible things for their sake.” The way she said it made Kalina think that she was not actually talking about Kalina and her father, but about herself.
Perhaps something to do with the fact that she was betrothed to the son of her mother’s closest friend, even though she claimed not to be able to stand the man.
“Thank you for understanding,” Kalina whispered, unable to speak any louder as her throat clogged up. She could hardly have enough water left in her body for a single tear, yet it felt as though she might cry again from sheer relief.
“I am sorry I did not take the time to listen to you yesterday.” Lady Astrid stepped forward, holding out her hands, which Kalina gratefully took, and they exchanged cheek kisses.
When they pulled apart, Lady Astrid kept hold of her hands, and Kalina blinked back the threatening tears.
“I believe you can expect Delilah to speak with you at some point today as well. She wanted to come with me, but well…” Lady Astrid shrugged.
“If I must apologize for something, I prefer to do so without an audience.”
Kalina could not help but laugh. That sounded very like Lady Astrid.
She had not lost her friends.
Knowing that, she could face anything. Even this travesty of a wedding day.
Nathanial
The points of his collar were digging into his chin.
“Stop fidgeting,” Matthew murmured. “You look like you are about to crawl out of your skin.”
He felt as though he was going to crawl out of his skin.
Tiffany was walking down the aisle wearing a cornflower-blue gown, serenely smiling as though this was an anticipated, planned event.
Despite her beauty, everyone was watching him far more closely than they were watching her procession.
He could only hope when Miss Little appeared at the end of the aisle, he might get some respite from the scrutiny.
Though his friends all gave him supportive looks, the rest of the guests were avidly watching for his reactions.
Likely tallying their thoughts for when they returned to London to spread the gossip.
The best thing he could do was appear calm, collected, and unbothered by the unusual circumstances that had brought him to the altar.
“I think you need a new coin,” Nathanial whispered back, even though he knew that would never happen. He was still annoyed that Matthew had flipped it for him and Miss Little, then shared the outcome in front of everyone.
Matthew snorted softly.
Tiffany took her place opposite them, back far enough that there would be space for Miss Little to stand. She caught Nathanial’s gaze and gave him a smile that was both sympathetic and encouraging. He looked away. Down the aisle to where the doors were currently closed.
The music shifted. Swelled. His jaw locked as the doors swung open, revealing Miss Little and her father. She was not wearing a veil, so her expression was completely visible to everyone.
Calm. Collected. Looking at her face, no one would think that she was harboring an iota of trepidation and certainly no remorse for how she had come to be walking down the aisle. Beside her, her father’s expression was also quite blank, but in his case, it was easy to see behind the mask.
Mr. Little was very happy, though he was taking pains to hide it. Unlike his daughter, he was not as good an actor.
Something else for Nathanial to keep in mind and be wary of. His bride’s acting ability would have won her accolades at the Royal Theater. If he’d had any doubts about her talent after waking in her bed, seeing her performance now would have wiped them away.
The only thing that gave away any emotion other than serene contentment was the way her hand trembled when it was placed in his, and he would not have known if they had not been touching.
The dress she was wearing was the palest pink he’d seen her in thus far, lending a more bridal quality to her attire, even without the veil.
Her bow-lips were slightly parted, heavy lashes concealing her lowered gaze from him as Reverend Kilpatrick began the wedding ceremony.
Nathanial glanced out at the enraptured audience.
Mr. Little was still attempting to appear somber, but there was a little smile curving the edge of his lips.
Beside him, Mrs. Little appeared worried, as did the younger Little.
Rupert sat beside Miss Little’s brother, frowning at Nathanial for some reason.
Behind them were the Blackstones and Delilah, whom he assumed had chosen Miss Little’s side of the guests because Drake and Zachary were seated on his. The two matchmakers were there as well.
Gathered on Nathanial’s side were his friends.
Gregory was watching Tiffany, unsurprisingly, while the rest of them gave Nathanial bracing nods of encouragement.
Even the sight of Monkey Sinclair, wearing his own little cravat and miniature top hat while perched on Zachary’s shoulder, could not coax a smile to Nathanial’s lips at this moment.
The rest of the guests were divided between the two sides.
The number of chairs provided matched the number of guests exactly, ensuring an equal spread between the two.
Nathanial dragged his attention back to the ceremony as Reverend Kilpatrick guided Miss Little through her wedding vows. She was so focused on the words, she forgot not to look at him when she finished.
Their gazes clashed.
Her dark eyes were wide, fathomless, and his breath caught in his throat. She looked utterly innocent, completely guileless. The attraction that had always simmered between them caught and held, practically pulsing in the air around them.
“Your Grace, please repeat after me,” Reverend Kilpatrick said. “I, Nathanial Archibald Montgomery Percy.”
Clearing his throat, Nathanial shook off the spell that his bride’s gaze had woven around him.
“I, Nathanial Archibald Montgomery Percy…”
Less than ten minutes later, the parson’s trap had fully closed around him, and Nathanial was leading his new wife down the aisle, feeling as though his life had turned upside down. What it would look like from here on out, he could hardly begin to fathom.