Damian might be of a different mind… but I do not care one whitwhat he thinks about this.
For how awful her situation was, for what she was now expected to do, the knowledge that Thalia’s friend and her brother were happy together made it all worth it. Rosaline and Laurent were who this was for, their happiness was what mattered, and nothing would change that.
Was this what she wanted? Of course not. Did she expect the same happy ending for herself that her friend and brother now had? Highly unlikely. But that was unimportant.
In two days, Thalia was set to marry the Duke. What happened after, she could not say. Likely, it would be a cold and lonely marriage, and she would come to hate the man to whom she was wed.
But then she remembered that moment in the modiste’s store, her skin prickled and her breathing came faster. Could a man with a touch so warm have a heart that was completely cold?
Chapter Six
“Careful now,” Ironvale whispered out the side of his mouth. “If I did not know any better, I would almost say that you look excited.”
Caspian ignored his best friend, even if he probably should not have done so. He should have listened to what was said, taken heed of his words, and worked to fix himself before it was too late.
“The Duke of Amberhall?” Ironvale continued, taking extreme pleasure in the moment. “Showing anything even closely resembling an emotion like happiness? Surely not.”
Still, Caspian ignored him.
His attention was saved for the end of the aisle, at which his bride-to-be had just appeared. She did so as if she were the sun appearing from behind a storm cloud. As if the room itself brightened at her presence. As if the world stopped turning andall those near were pulled toward her by the sheer weight of her presence.
In a word, she was breathtaking.
The purple gown was the right choice, Caspian decided immediately. And not just the color, but the way it fit her. Tight around the body, showing off her ample curves in a way that was almost scandalous. While loose and flowing past her legs, adding to the impression of her floating as she made her way down the aisle.
As had been happening often the last few days, Caspian was transported back to the moment they had shared when she was trying on gowns. How she had gasped at the touch of his skin. How her body had started to shake. And the feel of her pressed against him.
He swallowed and shook his head, determined not to let her see the confusion wreaking havoc with his subconscious.
Now is not the time to get carried away with such things. Not now. Not ever.
“She is beautiful,” Ironvale continued to whisper as she came closer. “And she doesn’t look nearly as distraught as she might do.”
That, Caspian decided, was one thing to feel relieved for.
He had worried that Lady Thalia might cause a scene. And if not a scene, that her depression would be painfully obvious to anyone watching. That was the last thing he needed…
Thankfully, she managed to control her tempestuous urges, and she walked the aisle with a straight back, a pronounced chin, and calm confidence befitting any bride on her wedding day. Even her green eyes sparkled in the light, and did he not know any better, he might have guessed that she was excited.
Absurd. Likely, she is just now plotting my demise, which is sure to bring a smile to her face.
When she found Caspian watching her, she raised an eyebrow as if in challenge. He almost smirked at it but worked to hide any emotion. He’d have to work hardder to push back those urges growing inside of him when he remembered the last time they had been together…
“Last chance,” Ironvale continued. “Lock the doors. Make sure she can’t escape.”
“Quiet,” he snapped.
“Only teasing, Amberhall. Only teasing you.”
Caspian was feeling more nervous than he ought to be. And not about the wedding, or the reception of it by his peers. What had him trembling ever so slightly was the very real fact that tonight, he and Lady Thalia were going to consummate this marriage. Ithad to be done. He hadn’t dreaded it, but he would not allow himself to… anticipate.
In his mind, Caspian tried to separate the amorous from the practical. This was a business transaction, a necessary task that had to be dealt with. While it didn’t have to be odious, there was no reason to make it significant.
Urgh, even I cringe at how formal and sterile I am trying to make it sound. As if that will somehow help.
The truth was that a part of him looked forward to it. He watched her approach him—the sway of her hips, the bounce of her bosom, the fullness of her lips, and the softness of her skin. He remembered how she felt against him just last week, he remembered his own reaction to it, and excitement flooded him despite his best efforts.
This marriage needed to be civil. It needed to be cool and emotionless. It needed… it needed… it needed to be exactly the opposite of the scenes playing out in Caspian’s head.
