“I think you are going to enjoy marriage then.” Diana turned around to face her. “Has mother had her little talk with you? Or Bethany? Because I’m more than happy to answer any questions you might have about… relations.” Diana didn’t even have the shame to blush. “Trust me, you haven’t anything to be concerned about.”
Collette held back a grin and stared down at the toes of her silk slippers, which were peeking out from beneath the eggshell blue silk of her skirt.
“I’m quite informed.” She bit her lip. Diana had been the first of the two of them to be kissed by a gentleman and was naturally less inhibited than Collette had ever been. Before Diana had married and gone away with her handsome marquess, the two girls had shared all of their secrets with one another.
Even the salacious ones—all of which had been Diana’s. Collette smoothed her skirt.
“So, you aren’t nervous about tomorrow?” Flickering lights from the candles in the chandeliers danced in Diana’s narrowed gaze.
“Well, of course, I’m nervous to walk down the aisle with all the guests watching. And I’m nervous I’ll do something foolish, like say the wrong thing during the ceremony. But I’m not nervous about marrying Bedwell.” Collette lowered her voice. “And I’m not nervous about the wedding night.”
Diana’s brows shot up. “Have you and the duke--?”
“Hush.” Collette felt herself blushing. “You mustn’t say it out loud,”
But there was no chance that her sister would leave it at that. “When?”
“The night I was injured. Before Mr. Stewart’s house collapsed.”
Diana was shaking her head. “Such a nasty business. I do hope they catch the culprits who did that.”
“As do I.” Even two months later, Collette marveled that Addison had been the one to keep her calm throughout their ordeal. She hated to imagine what he’d gone through after she’d lost consciousness.
“And since then?” Diana pressed.
“Not with my injury,” Collette stared down at her foot, which, aside from some lingering weakness, was good as new. “And Chase and Bethany have been relentless.”
Diana leaned forward. “Isn’t it marvelous?”
“Isn’t what marvelous?” Lord Greystone’s voice had Collette jumping. He and Addison had both managed to appear with neither Collette nor Diana noticing.
Which was saying something, considering that they were quite possibly the most handsome gentlemen in the attendance that night—Greystone wearing his usual flamboyant colors and Addison looking quite top-lofty and ratherdukish, his light brown hair and silvery eyes contrasting with the jet black of his coat and breeches.
For a moment, the memory of the day he stepped into her classroom came to mind. He’d seemed terriblydukishthen—a particularly endearing quality that she’d come to love almost as much as she loved his less dignified self.
Because the unshakeable confidence he showed most of the time made her all the more appreciative of the moments they were alone—those moments when he played with his dogs, or asked her opinion of one of his books, or sent her a wicked smile.
Those moments when he was simply Addison.
“All the perks that come with marriage,” Diana smirked as she answered her husband. And then taking his hand,her ladyshiprose to allow him to escort her onto the dance floor.
Left alone for the first time all evening, Addison bowed over Collette’s hand. Glancing up to meet her gaze, he cocked one brow.
“My dance, I believe.”
It was to be her last dance of the evening. Afterward, Collette would retire upstairs for the night, and the next time she saw him she’d be walking up the aisle of the village church to say her vows.
“Finally,” Collette rose. They’d danced a country reel together earlier, but this was to be their first waltz. She’d looked forward to it all night.
Although Diana was the dancer amongst them, Collette had begun practicing for this moment as soon as her ankle had allowed her to do so.
Because while she was certain she’d stumble at times as his duchess, she refused to do so publicly at her pre-wedding ball.
Addison led her to the center of the floor where they took up their positions.
“How is it that I’m the luckiest man in all of England?” he whispered near her ear just as the music began. “Aside from the torture I’ve been put through these past few months.”
“One more day,” Collette tilted her head so she could gaze up at him. “I wish you could kiss me now.”
