Chapter 11
Eleven
Dearest sister,
It is my wedding day. I wish you were here. I miss you—
Dominic shook his head, crumpled up the unfinished letter, and threw it into the fireplace before he began again.
Deena,
Thank you for your letter. I am happy to hear that your studies are going well and that our aunt is treating you well. I hope you are finding time to go outside. I have heard Paris is beautiful this time of year.
I am writing to tell you that I am getting married today, to Lady Selina Davidson. I will let our grandmother tell you the details on how this arrangement came to pass. I hope Lady Selina will be a better mother for Percy.
Please write again when you get the chance. Percy likes it when I read aloud your letters.
Sincerely,
Dominic
The duke folded the letter and put it in the envelope, so it would be ready to mail as soon as the servants were awake. He checked his pocket watch. It was only two in the morning.
He should be trying to get some more sleep, but he was wide awake, unable to stop thinking about Selina and Percy.
Even after watching Selina talk Percy off the ledge, he still wasn’t sure if he was doing the right thing.
The night before, he sat Percy down in his study and told him about the wedding.
“I am getting married to Lady Selina,” he had told him. “Do you know what that means?”
His son stared at him blankly.
“It means she will be a part of our family,” Dominic said. “She will live here with us, and she will take care of you. But not like a nanny, no. Instead of leaving after a month or two, she will stay with us for many years until you’re grown. Would you like that?”
Percy didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to look out the study window at the night sky.
Dominic wasn’t sure if his son truly understood.
Now, in the early morning, Dominic watched the clock tick slowly by, counting down to his wedding. He picked up his pen once more and grabbed a fresh piece of paper.
Dear Percy,
I love you and I am proud of you. I always will be. I could not have asked for a better son.
He put the pen down and folded up the note several times, until it was a small square. He would give it to his son in the morning.
Percy couldn’t read yet. But writing notes to him was the only way Dominic could tell him how he felt. He feared he would lose his ability to write heartfelt notes to his son when Percy learned his letters.
After an eternity, the clock struck six. Dominic got up to start his day. When a servant brought in tea, Dominic gave him the note and the letter.
It wasn’t long before his valet arrived to help him dress in his wedding attire. He stayed quiet the entire time.
When it was time to go, his grandmother knocked on his door. She stood on the other side, holding Percy’s hand. His son was in formal attire, and he stared off into space, as if his mind was among the stars.
The dowager smiled at the sight of him. “You look so handsome.”
“Let us get on with it,” he said. “The sooner this whole affair is over, the better.” He walked out of the room with his family trailing behind him.
“There’s no need to be so sullen,” his grandmother said. “I know you like Selina.”
“She is adequate,” he acknowledged. “And I am not sullen. I aim for my second marriage to be civil for Percy’s sake.”
She huffed. “It is all right to fall in love, you know. Especially with your own wife.”
His jaw clenched. “How can you, of all people, say that, after everything you witnessed between me and Eugenia?” He strode quickly down the stairs to the waiting carriages. “Let us drop the subject.”
“Oh, all right.” She sounded disappointed, but luckily, the carriage ride to the church was short.
The church was quiet inside. Lady Christine and Lady Gillray were already seated on the bride’s side. While Christine looked excited, Lady Gillray looked sour. The more Dominic saw Selina’s godmother, the less he liked her.
His grandmother and Percy took their seats on the groom’s side. He also noticed Austin sitting next to them. His friend grinned, still looking thoroughly amused with the situation.
Dominic grimaced and stood beside the priest at the altar. He didn’t have to wait long before the door opened and Selina walked in.
She wore a pale blue silk dress that trailed behind her.
A white lace veil covered her hair, and she held a bouquet of roses in her hands.
He realized this was the first time he had seen her in a dress that wasn’t an ill-fitting hand-me-down, and the sight of her only confirmed what he already knew. She was beautiful.
Her curves were tantalizing, and he wished he were going to spend the night undressing her and exploring her body. Heat rushed through him at the thought of it. For a moment, he wished this marriage were something more than just in name. He wished he could have Selina for himself.
But he dashed that thought away. Too much could go wrong if he tried to have a romantic relationship with his wife. He needed to think of Percy, who needed a loving mother to take care of him. He was marrying Selina for Percy’s sake. Not for himself.
Selina met him at the front and offered him a small smile. He nodded at her in return.
The priest conducted the ceremony, but Dominic was barely paying attention, already ready to have it over and go home.
He could not wait to go to his study and attend to estate matters until he forgot about this whole affair.
At least Dominic was not glaring at her during the ceremony. Instead, he looked withdrawn. When it came to the ceremonial kiss, he pressed his lips against hers for less than a second.
She couldn’t help but remember that kiss they shared during the Duke Hunt. For a moment, Dominic seemed to lose himself in the kiss. He had held her tight as he kissed her, which sent heat to her very core.
This kiss was passionless and short. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. Even though she knew this marriage was in name only, part of her could not stop thinking about that first kiss and wanting more.
She looked at Percy, who wasn’t paying any attention to the ceremony. Instead, he was staring off into space. That little boy was the reason why she ultimately decided to go through with the marriage instead of running off in the middle of the night.
When she talked him down from the ledge, she remembered what her sister had said about finding purpose in the marriage. Perhaps her purpose could be helping Percy instead of finding employment.
She wondered if he understood what was happening today—if he understood that his father was getting married.
After they signed the wedding registry, it was time to go to Greystone Manor for the wedding breakfast. Dominic spoke to her for the first time that day outside of their vows.
“Perhaps you would like to ride in the carriage with your sister?” he said. “I know you were disappointed you didn’t get to see more of her after the Duke Hunt was over.”
She felt a pang of sadness at how eager he appeared to be to put some distance between the two of them. But, at the same time, she would not pass up the chance to spend a few more minutes with her sister. After today, she didn’t know when she would be able to see her again.
“Yes,” she murmured. “It would be nice to spend some time with her.”
She and Christine got into a carriage together. The dowager duchess persuaded Lady Gillray to join her in her own carriage, for which Selina was grateful. She’d had precious little time alone with her sister, after all.
Selina breathed a sigh of relief after the carriage doors were closed.
“You look beautiful,” Christina offered.
“Thanks. The dowager duchess helped me pick it out. I have a completely new wardrobe coming to the manor.”
“That’s exciting.” Her sister smiled, looking happy except for the tears in her eyes.
Selina smiled in response. She felt mostly indifferent to the new clothes. She just knew duchesses could not go around in ill-fitting dresses that were two or three Seasons out of fashion.
“I’m proud of you,” Christine said. “I’m glad you decided not to run.
” She bit her lip. “I admit I am worried because of the rumors involving the duke. But I am happy you are staying in London. If you had run, then I would have never seen you again, and that would have been unbearable after only having you back for a short time.”
Tears pricked at Selina’s eyes. “I am happy I did not run either,” Selina said. “I do not believe His Grace will harm me. However, my marriage to him will be… interesting.”
“At least the duke was not scowling today. In fact, when you walked in, he almost looked like he was thinking about smiling.”
Selina groaned while Christine giggled. “I don’t think I’ll ever see him smile.”
“He looks like he is not capable of any emotion. Except for anger, of course.”
“No, he’s capable,” Selina said softly. She remembered vividly the fear on his face as he watched his son lose his balance on that ledge. She could still see the way his hands shook, even as he struggled to compose himself.
Despite his nickname, he was not as cold as stone, as everyone around them seemed to believe. He loved his son. But she doubted he would feel much more than indifference toward her.
Christine reached out and grabbed her sister’s hand. “I truly am happy for you,” she said. “No matter what happens, at least you have escaped our godmother’s clutches.”
Selina smiled and squeezed her hand. “I hope you can do the same soon.” Longing filled her. She was going to miss her sister. She had to remind herself that she was not going away for five years, or permanently. It would not be long before she could visit Christine again.
They reached the manor all too soon, and footmen helped the ladies out of the carriage before ushering them into the dining hall, where the wedding breakfast was prepared. Even though the dowager duchess was jovial and welcoming, the mood felt subdued.