“And I,” Leah replied.
“My sisters, my daughter, and I will all be there, screaming our delight!” Phoebe declared, eyes bright. “You will be my daughter’s inspiration, Anna. I hope she is like you when she is older. I hope she is like us all, in some way, made up of the best parts of our group—of the Spinsters’ Club, as it shall forever be known, even when you are married too.”
Will the Duke want children?The prospect chilled Matilda, and she stifled a shudder.
Anna turned back shyly, her lower lip trembling. “Shall we discuss gowns for the wedding, then?”
“If we must,” Matilda replied with a brave wink, holding her fears at bay, if only for now. For the sake of her friends, she could muster enough strength for that, even if it felt like life as she knew it was over.
CHAPTERFIVE
“Istill cannot believe you did not tell me you had returned to England, my good man! I would have welcomed you at the port, had I known!” Daniel Barnet, the Earl of Westyork, shook his head in amused disapproval. It was the hundredth time he had mentioned his dismay.
Albion stroked his horse’s nose, smiling as the stallion nosed his palm in reply. “I told you, it was a rushed matter. I barely had time to remember my own name.” He paused. “Sometimes, I forget I’m actually here, and when I wake up in a bed, it takes me a while to figure out where I am.”
“You have been away for a long time,” Daniel conceded. “But you must be happy to be home, no?”
Albion took an apple out of his riding bag and held it out for the horse. “I’m still figuring that out.”
“Are you at least happy about the wedding?”
Albion cast his friend a wry smile.
Daniel chuckled. “Still figuring that out, too?”
Albion nodded.
“If it is any encouragement to you, I have never been happier, and you remembermyfeelings about marriage. Phoebe is the greatest joy of my life, and I praise the heavens each morning that we found one another,” Daniel said, his eyes alight with love for his wife.
Albion waited for the envy to come, but it did not. He knew all too well that Daniel’s marriage was an exception rather than the standard. And he knew his own marriage would look nothing like his friend’s.
He had decided to visit his childhood friend on a sort of whim though there was some purpose to it, too, for Daniel was a known expert when it came to matters of business.
They had gone out riding, much to Albion’s delight, and on the way, they had spoken of everything they had missed in one another’s lives—that had not been put in their frequent letters—over the past several years. Naturally, conversation had turned to Albion’s upcoming nuptials and just as naturally, Albion had been rather tight-lipped about it. He had not even told Daniel her name, for speaking it out loud made it seem too real.
“Where is your wife today?” Albion asked.
“Visiting with her friends. Goodness, there are times when I am certain she loves them more than she loves me, but I suppose I cannot complain. They are a rare bunch, and as long as she is happy, so am I,” Daniel replied. “Besides, it is important to see one’s friends often and to let them know when they are nearby after they have been absent for years.”
Albion laughed softly. “Must I apologize again?”
“No, I think I have forgiven you,” Daniel replied, grinning.
It was the first time since Albion’s return that he had been around someone who did not flinch or balk at the sight of him. Indeed, Daniel did not even seem to notice the scars.
“It isn’t just a friendly visit, though,” Albion said, hesitantly. “Now that I’m a Duke—mercy, I’ll never get used to that—I need to get the estate into some kind of order. My brother did a lot to fix any trouble my father caused and began some business endeavors after my father’s passing, but I don’t know the first thing about business. That being said, I don’t want Isaac’s endeavors to be wasted, simply because I’m ignorant.”
I would not be marrying that unusual woman, otherwise…Even now, having met the girl, Albion had chosen to trust in the wisdom of his older brother, who should have been in his place.
Daniel clapped him on the shoulder, and Albion stifled a grimace, the blow hitting a more recent injury. “You came to the right person,” Daniel said. “Heavens, do you remember how your father and I used to rail at one another? He was so obstinate about what a peer should or should not do. His opinions were positively medieval, and I swear he once blanched when I mentioned that plenty of earls and dukes and marquesses were involving themselves in business to bolster their income.”
“He had you banned from the house for a month; he didn’t just blanch,” Albion said though there was no mirth in his voice. “Obstinate is one word for him.”
“‘The Devil’” would be my choice…
“I’m surprised the finances are as healthy as they are,” Albion continued, “but I want to keep them that way. He loaned a lot of money to people, and the interest has kept things in good stead, but?—”
“It is time for change,” Daniel interjected with a knowing nod. “As I said, you have come to the right person. Iamsorry I did not hear of Isaac’s passing and pay my respects. I must have missed the notice in the papers.”
