“Do come with us,” she added.
Norman still seemed reluctant, but he managed to force a polite smile and nod. “Well, in that case, I suppose I shall consider myself invited. I will ride with Abigail in the second carriage.”
“I shall also prepare to depart,” Cecilia said, curtsied and hurried away to prepare herself for the ride to the Ashbourne estate.
The farewells came in quick succession as the carriage was prepared and the footmen busied themselves with trunks. Cecilia reached the foot of the carriage and turned to Emma, holding her breath. She hoped that if she didn’t breathe too much, she could keep the tears at bay.
Emma stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. “I’ll write,” she whispered. “Cecilia, if you need anything at all, you know how to find me.”
Dorothy came next and threw her arms around Cecilia’s waist. “You’ll be a marvelous duchess,” she said and sighed loudly. “Also, if you change your mind, we can sneak you back home and pretend you were never married.”
Cecilia let out a shaky laugh. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”
Phillip shook his head as he approached her with a crooked grin on his face. “Well. I’m glad you found a husband, Cecilia. I was beginning to worry we’d be stuck with you forever.”
She managed a smile. “How fortunate for all of you, then.”
“Come on now. She cannot keep the duke waiting,” Howard chimed in. He gave Cecilia a faint smile and said nothing else.
Cecilia turned and climbed into the carriage. Across from her, Valentine was already seated, looking out the window. She watched as the carriage door shut with a solid thud, and then the wheels began to turn.
“Bye, Cecilia,” Dorothy called out to her as the carriage rolled down the road. Her voice was shaky, and Cecilia could tell even without looking at her that she was on the verge of tears. “I’ll miss you.”
“She’s not dying,” Phillip said to Dorothy. “Wipe your tears, you’re embarrassing us.”
“Do be quiet!” Dorothy snapped at him.
Cecilia giggled as tears stung her eyes, but she didn’t turn to look at them, else she would cry. She was going to miss their endless bickering, even though it always got on her nerves.
She kept her gaze fixed on the passing trees outside the carriage window, forcing herself to breathe slowly and steadily. There was nothing else to do now but adapt to her new life and look forward to the home she was going to create. Her future was here, and it was time to face it.
Breathe, Cecilia. Just breathe.
“I sleep here tonight?”
Her chamber was beautiful, there was no doubt about it. It was richly appointed in soft golds and creams, with velvet drapes drawn back to reveal tall windows overlooking the moonlit south gardens. It was probably double the size of her own room back inthe Lockhart residence. There were roses on the dressing table, a fresh arrangement of soft pinks and whites.
She had been dressed for the night by a maid Valentine introduced to her when they had arrived at the gigantic Ashbourne manor.
“Where’s His Grace?” she turned and asked the maid who had earlier introduced herself as Gladis.
Cecilia blinked, unsure she’d heard correctly. “I beg your pardon?”
“His Grace sleeps in the East Wing. This wing has been prepared for your use, Your Grace.”
“I see,” Cecilia answered slowly, though she didn’t. Not really.
“Do you need anything else for the night, Your Grace?” the maid asked. “Or shall I leave you to rest? You must be exhausted from the long journey.”
Cecilia crossed to the bed but didn’t sit. It wasn’t as though she had longed for this night, but still, it was supposed to mean something. She had understood what it signified. From everything she'd ever heard, the wedding night was important. A formal beginning. The sealing of the pact, as it were.
Even in a marriage of convenience, they were expected to share a room. To do something, at least, that acknowledged theywere no longer strangers. It had to be some sort of obligation. Expected of them as Duke and Duchess.
Or am I wrong?
“Your Grace?” the maid called out to her.
“Can you take me to His Grace?” Cecilia asked, straightening her back. “No matter how much I think about this, I don’t think it’s right. I need to see the duke at once.”
