Chapter 8
Seeing that Dominic had returned brought Verity comfort she hadn’t expected to feel. She couldn’t look at him very long, hoping she wasn’t blushing. There was warmth on her cheeks she hadn’t felt earlier.
It’s just the room. That’s all. I have no reason to blush over my new husband. It’s a crowded room.
“I think it’s positively romantic,” Eve Starling boasted as Elowen came over to join their little corner. “Don’t you? Your sister insists the union to be suspicious.”
“The union has been made so I’m not certain it matters,” the younger girl offered peaceably. No opinion meant no arguments.
To some, at least, Verity thought sardonically as Octavia cleared her throat.
“She told me yesterday it was strange. But never mind that. Elowen is right that the marriage has been made. An annulment would surely be too scandalous for our proper sister.” She pouted.
“Perhaps the real strangeness will come in the way of your new home. Do you know if there’s a dungeon in the duke’s home? ”
“I don’t think so. It’s a London manor, not a castle,” she said.
“What of his country house? Houses? How much does he own?” Octavia’s eyes widened. “He is rich, is he not? What if he’s hiding dead wives out in the countryside?”
Scoffing, Verity waved over a servant with a tray of lemonade-filled glasses. “You’re reading too many gothic novels. I thought Cassian was attempting to put a stop to that.”
“As if Cassian has time or effort for the likes of us. I’m surprised he even noticed you were getting married,” she added.
If only you knew, silly sister.
“I suppose it is strange,” Elowen conceded softly during some part of the conversation. “Perhaps it’s not the simplest of unions.”
Is anything as simple as it appears?
Beaming, Octavia nudged Eve. “See?”
“You’re bullying her into agreeing with you again; I don’t see a thing,” her friend responded.
“All I see is the bride growing bored of the topic. I do hope we haven’t offended you, Your Grace.
That wasn’t my intention. I really do think well of your match.
He’s a handsome duke. He looks to have all his teeth and all his hair; you must be very glad of that. ”
“I am,” Verity said and smiled.
“Very handsome,” Elowen added softly.
Octavia rolled her eyes with a casual nod. She drained her lemonade and set it on the bookshelf behind her while asking, “Good looks are on matter as they reside solely on the surface. What I want to know is if he is a good man. A gentleman can be many things. Do you trust him, Ver?”
Trust. That was an interesting topic to bring up at a time like this.
Her sister clarified. “Do you fear him? Your marriage?”
A shine of vulnerability showed in the young woman’s gaze.
Nearly twenty years of age, Octavia was ready to be married as well.
She adored a good dance and a light flirt with any pretty face.
It wasn’t unusual for her to be surrounded by a party of young fellows wearing frills and smirks. She was always smiling.
Except for the fractured smile when Verity caught that shine.
Guilt tugged at her shoulders as she feared she had not done her duty properly to her younger sisters.
Having lost their mother years ago, she’d done her best to help manage her siblings.
But a tender and soft mother could not be replaced.
Verity feared she lacked such gentleness. Was she leaving her sisters lacking?
And now to leave them behind in the house for my marriage.
I wish our brothers could be trusted to give them the attention and care that they need.
If only we had more family to support them.
What was I thinking? I’m not leaving London but what if living apart is too much for them?
I want my family happy. Hopeful. Not lonely.
“Do you?” Elowen whispered.
“I think the answer is more complex than a simple binary,” Verity murmured at last. “While my engagement might have been sudden, I have walked into this with my eyes and my heart open. I made a choice.”
Octavia squinted. “Is it the right one?”
“Can anyone ever know?” She asked before sighing. “The important matter is that I met the duke and I chose to commit myself to this union. To Wycliffe. It is important that I keep my promise, to do my best as his wife and duchess.”
“How proper you are.”
Elowen nodded in agreement. “It is important to have a choice, isn’t it?”
Verity smiled as warmly as she could muster. Marriages were made to pass women from their families to another. They were meant to benefit the men who ruled the world. Paltry beliefs handed down through society. Whilst trapped, however, she refused to be afraid for herself.
Marriages were always about control. And having made a choice, she would keep some of that control. She needed to.
This is my life. Because I was born a woman doesn’t mean I will concede to whatever is left on my plate. I will prepare my own dishes and I will eat as I choose. I will use this marriage however I can. I must.
“We all have our choices,” Verity reassured her sisters and Eve.
“We all have what?”
She turned to see Lucien and Dominic before her. Lingering behind them was a vaguely familiar place. Judging on Eve’s brighter smile, it was the elder brother, Peter Starling, whom she had mentioned was crashing the party but a welcome addition all the same.
“Blessings,” Verity replied. “Hello, Lucien. Wycliffe. I’m glad to see you were not running away.”
“I have nothing to run away to or from.”
He always spoke clearly and simply. Sometimes his words felt like riddles. It was hard for Verity to decide if he was telling the truth or simply trying to hide his true thoughts.
Either way, she wouldn’t know him for certain just yet. That would take time and patience and effort.
Smiling, she asked, “What are you gentlemen up to?”
Her gaze fell on Dominic. She couldn’t help it; the movement was natural. Though tempted to use his Christian name, she didn’t think it would be appropriate in front of everyone else. As he gazed at her, his head tilting just so, she wondered if he was pondering the same notion.
The girls were right. He really is a handsome man. I’m surprised he escaped the marriage-minded mamas to find me. Unless there was someone. Oh goodness. What if there was? What if he gave her up? What if he didn’t give her up?
Forcing those thoughts back, Verity swallowed. She didn’t know what to do with jealousy. It was best she didn’t think of such matters.
“I’ve been informed I’m not allowed to leave again until we play a game,” Lucien drawled. “Thus I have recruited a number of us to begin. What shall it be today? Cards? Charades?”
“Will Cassian return?” Elowen murmured too softly for anyone to answer, though Verity noted she should check on their brother later.
Octavia was clapping her hands together loudly. “Why stay inside on such a warm day? We shall play a game of bowls! Everyone outside. If enough of us depart, then I’m sure everyone will follow.”
She took off with Eve before Verity could provide any direction. Though Peter grunted at the elbow he received, none of the men protested. They all looked to her for guidance.
“Very well.” She supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. “I suppose we are to play a game. And then the party shall end. Do you know if there are any surprises?”
Her remaining siblings shook their heads.
A few guests were playing cards at one of the tables that had already been offered. They were the remaining foursome to remain behind while everyone else cheerfully strolled outside. Already Octavia and Eve were setting up half the game, so Verity gathered Lucien to set up the rest.
“Can I assist you at all?” Dominic offered before she led her brother off.
“Thank you, but no. Please enjoy yourself before the games begin,” she told him.
Down through the grass they went. The stone wall of the gardens would stop the balls from rolling too far. She worked with Lucien to set up the lines, bending and straightening and so on.
“You don’t seem eager to spend time with your husband,” Lucien muttered when he passed her.
Pausing, Verity frowned. “I beg your pardon? Do you still dislike him?”
“I never said that.” Lucien dropped a ball and Verity moved over to fix it. She gave him a look, causing him to shrug. “What? I don’t know what I think. He’s fine. I haven’t heard anything amiss about the duke. Only it doesn’t make any sense.”
“Marriage?”
“Your marriage to him,” he corrected.
That made her roll her eyes. “Who else should I marry, then? One of your foppish friends?”
“No. Maybe. I don’t know. I’m sure anyone would have had you. I could have asked for you. I could have blackmailed them, too,” he added with that wicked grin of his. Lucien loved a good jest.
But this was growing old. Frustrating. Verity didn’t like having to defend her marriage.
It was too new and strange for herself. She wanted to be wary and to have other people reassuring her, not the other way around.
Besides, she hadn’t asked for this union.
This stemmed from Cassian. The one person who had disappeared an hour with no clear intention of returning.
She sighed. “It’s just a marriage. Proper as far as I can see. Just because you don’t like him…”
“I didn’t say I don’t. I haven’t made up my mind,” Lucien corrected her.
There wasn’t time to continue their discussion, or argument, as Octavia called them over. It turned out she was moving ahead with the game. She’d paired everyone up without them. This left Verity paired with Lucien, who let out a groan.
“Shouldn’t the bride be paired with her husband?” He pointed out.
“I don’t know,” Octavia remarked with a sheepish grin. “I hardly know what I’m doing now. But I think we’re all having fun. Or we will once the game begins!”
Although Verity attempted to catch Dominic’s eye, feeling as though she should apologize, he wasn’t facing her while he spoke with Peter.
The two of them appeared to be friends. Her guilt was mollified lightly by seeing he wasn’t alone. Together the gentlemen were jovial, Peter chuckling over something Dominic said. Perhaps her husband had some jokes up his sleeve.
Verity turned her attention back to the game as her turn with Lucien came up. She just wanted for this party to be over. There was a life to begin and secrets to discover. But until Eve and Octavia won, of course, and that was when Lucien nudged her whilst nodding to Dominic.
The duke was standing in the shade while speaking to Peter. She watched him a moment, thoughtful and then confused.
“What?” She asked her brother.
“He likes you. I suppose that is what matters.”
Verity glanced back at the duke and inhaled deeply when she found him looking her way. “Lucien, what makes you say that?”
But he’d already taken his leave. Ruffling their sister’s hair, Lucien gave a shout of farewell before slipping in the door. He probably hadn’t even heard her question, already on his way.
Although she considered chasing after him, Verity knew this was her chance. She corralled everyone back in doors with a quick speech of gratitude before sending everyone on their way back home.
“Neatly done, Your Grace,” Peter Starling said as one of the last parties out the door. He took her hand gently and bowed over it. While she made a note to invite him to supper with her husband soon, he collected his sister and left.
“Thank you, Mr. Starling. Do take care.” She waved to the two of them before turning back to the house.
There sat Elowen nodding off on the stairs while Octavia was dancing in circles. Meanwhile Dominic standing off to the side, holding her bonnet in both hands. The sprigs of white flowers––good luck for her wedding day––remained lively.
“Are you ready to depart for home?”
This wasn’t her house any longer, she realized. How strange. She’d lived here all her life. She knew the scratches and holes and artwork and squeaky boards. What would her new house carry?
She swallowed, forcing a smile while reaching out for her bonnet. “Thank you. I believe I am.”
Already Verity had agreed with her siblings not to have any tearful goodbyes. She wasn’t leaving them forever, not really. She was a short carriage ride away, or a lovely long stroll. They could see one another whenever they liked.
But as Dominic helped her over the threshold, Verity wondered if the rest of her life would truly be that simple.