Jane was grateful this day was finally over. She had been anticipating this moment since the preparations began for one reason, to get it over and done with. She saw the event as too demanding and she wanted to have it done once and for all.
It's finally over,
She assured herself and then her husband spoke to her.
“I can't wait for you to meet my nieces,” his voice drew her out of her thoughts.
Right. The ones referred to as the menace.Great.
“I'm sure they're lovely and I'm eager to meet them,” she replied. This wasn't a sarcastic statement. Jane truly wanted to see for herself why these kids were considered what they were.
“Lovely?” He raised his brows in disbelief. “That's one way to describe them.” There was a hint of irony in his statement.
His fingers fixed back the button of his left sleeve that had loosened a bit. “Surely, my grandmother didn't use that term when she told you about them.” Colin jerked his head to look at her.
“You’re right,” Jane replied. “She did not.”
Colin was quiet but his eyes never left her for a moment.
Jane felt awkward at the way he was staring at her but a part of her loved it all the same.
“Do I have something on my face?” she asked, politely.
“Can’t a man appreciate the beauty of his new wife?” His lips quirked into a smirk.
Jane put down her head to hide her blush.
She was his wife now and her name had ceased to be Jane Audrey Dowding. She was now Jane Audrey Grove, wife of duke Colin Grove. She was a duchess now and everything had happened so fast. However, Jane was glad that she met Colin when she did, he was much better than that greedy Graham Lewis. She was willing to face anything with Colin starting with his nieces.
The carriage came to a halt and she heard the horses neigh for a moment.
“We're here,” Colin declared softly as he stepped out of the vehicle and stretched out a hand.
Jane took it and he helped her descend to the fine interlocked ground. She looked up to behold the grandeur of the duke’s estate: an imposing yet elegant manor house with ivy-clad stone walls, tall arched windows, and intricately carved details.
The carriage had halted by a fountain and an expansive manicured garden stretched across the vast land, framing the estate with natural beauty.
With her hand in his elbow, they walked to the entrance and the uniformed sentries stationed there parted the doors with a slight bow.
Her heels clicked against the fine and well-polished floor, so polished that she could see her reflection beneath her. The surface was quite slippery, hence the need to tread with caution.
The foyer was very welcoming. Lights from the chandelier hanging from the high ceilings reflected against the polished marble floors gleaming beneath her feet.
From an elegant staircase with a wrought iron balustrade that swept vertically to the floors upwards, two little girls rushed down.
They ran around the space not minding how slippery the floor was. The two girls glided over the floor, playing and laughing hard. One of them lost control and ran into a silver armor by a wall. The other one laughed at her.
Jane didn't have to be a witch to know who they were.
The menace.
For little girls their age, these two were a little too rough and now she was starting to understand why Prudence had warned her beforehand.
She was still in her thoughts when one of them yelled;
“Look, Louisa! It's the bride!”
Oh no!
