“It will become easier,” Elias continued.
“What will?”
They entered the dining hall and took their usual places. Bridget’s gaze swept instinctively over the vacant chairs, where Catherine and Dorothy had always sat. If her sisters were not already married, would they have agreed with Elias, or would the three of them been enough to persuade him against the match?
A knot of guilt twisted in her chest, as she remembered how little she had appreciated Dorothy’s efforts to secure her a match during the previous Season.
“Well, everything will be easier,” Elias said. “After marriage, you will learn what it means to manage a household of your own and to be a suitable duchess. At first, there may be some difficulties, but I know you will overcome them.”
Bridget forced a smile. “I suppose we will see.”
“We will.”
Bridget took a sip from her cup of mint tea. Once, she had been told that mint was effective at settling anxious nerves, but shedoubted that all the mint tea in Britain would be sufficient for calming hers.
“Do you suppose His Grace is anxious about meeting with me?” Bridget said.
She shivered, thinking about the dark intensity in the Duke’s eyes and the heat that coiled in her body every time she thought of him.
“Perhaps,” Elias said. “I will admit that I do not know much about the man, but I cannot recall him ever showing interest in a young lady. It would be reasonable for him to feel some measure of hesitation.”
He did not act like a man who had never experienced interest in a young lady. On the contrary, he acted as though he had felt interest inmanyyoung ladies. Perhaps even some who were disreputable.
“But I am confident that you will be everything he is searching for in a wife and duchess,” Elias said. “You have everything that the man might want. You have good breeding and all the skills expected of a wife.”
Clearly, Elias saw something in Bridget that the Duke did not. If Bridget was really as exceptional as Elias made her out to be, His Grace would not feel the need to train and assess her. He would accept her as she was and love her.
CHAPTER 11
Lady Bridget was a vision in her lavender gown. Lewis clasped his hands behind his back and feigned nonchalance, as her figure drifted nearer, her brother walking alongside her. It was a pleasant day, the wind blowing gently across the lake and sending ripples of water sweeping across the surface. Perhaps Elias would give them some space to speak in private, so Lewis could grasp the full measure of his soon-to-be bride.
His loins stirred, vexingly reminded him that—despite his general distaste for being wed—Lady Bridget was an attractive, young lady, and he was a man with carnal urges.
“Your Grace,” Elias said.
Lewis smiled thinly, his eyes fixed on Lady Bridget’s face. Her eyes were demurely lowered, but he did not believe that she was so agreeable for a moment. “I would like some measure of privacy with your sister,” Lewis said.
Elias clenched his jaw and moved subtly nearer to his sister. “That can be arranged. I shall keep my distance.”
He cast Lady Bridget a soft look, and although Lewis did not entirely understand it, the lady nodded; it seemed as though the message had been received. Elias clasped his hands behind his back and inclined his head slightly. Lady Bridget stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Lewis’s face. He bowed and swept his hand forward, gesturing for them to walk.
Lady Bridget took her first step, not waiting to see if he walked with her, which he did. Lewis’s eyes flickered down for just a heartbeat, gazing at the pale, full breasts which rose above the bodice of her gown. His fingers ached to take the appealing breasts in his hands. He swallowed hard.
He would need to manage his lust carefully if married to such a woman. Lady Bridget was marrying him for mutually convenient reasons. Her purpose would be to provide him with an heir, be his duchess, and if she proved sufficiently pliant, tend to his grandmother.
“The weather is lovely,” Lady Bridget said.
“What a dull observation,” Lewis said.
A quick glance confirmed that color bloomed across her face. Lady Bridget was not a woman who hid her emotions well. Her every thought was painfully obvious. He supposed that he would not have to worry about her lying to him.
“What happened at the lake?” Lewis asked.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“I assume you did not leap into the water yourself,” he clarified. “Fully clothed, no less.”
Lewis tried not to contemplate what Lady Bridget might look like leaping into a lake in only her chemise or even better, nothing at all.
