He turned to leave the room, remembering her words about wanting her mother.I know you need one, desperately. I am working on it.
Soon, he would be married, and Lilly would have a new mother. Hopefully, Marina would be just what she needed. He still did not know what to make of her, but at least Marina was compassionate—she was willing to throw propriety to the wind to save Prince William. Perhaps his soon-to-be bride cared about children as much as she did about dogs.
There is something about Miss Marina Shirley. I cannot put my finger on it, but she is intriguing.
The next morning, Evan dressed and left his bed chamber to find his butler, Carlson, waiting for him. “Good morning, Your Grace,” he said. “I take it you are off to Shirley House today.”
“Indeed,” Evan said as they walked together downstairs to the front hall. “I do not know how long it will take to sort out the details for the wedding, but I hope to be back home before afternoon tea.”
“And how are you feeling, sir? About your upcoming wedding?” The man looked curiously at Evan.
“Quite pleased,” Evan said. “When I decided to find a new wife, I was dreading the courting process. It is so convenient that I was able to find one so quickly. I do not even have to worry about courting her after the events at Lord Heeway’s party. I am quite lucky in that regard.”
“Yes, lucky,” Carlson said dryly as they approached the foyer. “Does she feel the same way, Your Grace? Women expect to be swooned, even when they are facing scandal and ruin.”
Evan remembered how insulted Marina was at his proposal the day before and knew Carlson had a point. “She might be a little disappointed,” he admitted. “But it would be best if she were disappointed now instead of after the wedding vows. Romance is off the table between us, and I will make that clear up front. Would it not be worse if I were to mislead her?” He did not see how it would help matters to give Marina a false impression.
“I suppose,” Carlson said. “But are you certain there is truly no chance at romance? I remember how you described her after you saw her down by the riverbank.”
Something about her was intriguing. That was for sure. But romance?Romance is irrational and fleeting. It is best to think rationally about this instead of giving way to emotion.“I am quite certain. This arrangement is for Lilly. That is all.”
As he mentioned, his daughter, a ball bounced into the foyer, followed closely by Prince William. The little dog barked excitedly as he grabbed the ball.
“Prince William!” Lilly rushed into the foyer and stopped short when she saw her father and Carlson. She smiled at them before kneeling down to pet the dog. “Good doggy!” she said. “Mr. E will be proud of you! He will give you extra treats at tea.” She stood up and threw the ball for Prince William, who sprinted out of the foyer, with Lilly hot on his heels.
Alarm filled Evan. He looked at Carlson. “Mr. E? Who is Mr. E?”
The butler shrugged. “I have never heard of such a man.”
Evan ran his fingers through his hair. “I do not like this,” he said.
“Perhaps that is what she named her teddy bear?” The butler suggested. “After all, she and her nanny take tea together in her nursery. There would be no chance of a stranger visiting her in there.”
“I know,” he said. “She is perfectly safe.” But he still felt unsettled. What if she had met this ‘Mr. E’ somewhere else? Hewas not with her at all hours of the day, after all. “I am not leaving today,” he said. “I will stay home.”
Carlson frowned. “But Your Grace, you said you would go to Shirley Manor.”
“Send word and tell them to come here,” he said. “I am not leaving the manor today.”
Chapter Seven
“Marina, you had best keep quiet today,” her mother said as their carriage approached Pemberton Manor. “You have no idea how lucky we are that His Grace decided to marry you. For once in your life, you are able to help this family instead of hurting it.”
“Yes, Mother,” Marina said, looking out the window. She had heard variations of this speech many times over the years, usually every time they were on the way to a ball. The speech had not changed much since Marina’s debut many years ago.
“Do not bring that bad attitude into Pemberton Manor, young lady. I might be willing to suffer through it, but that does not mean His Grace will. Isn’t that right, Charles?”
“Hmm?” her father said, not paying attention at all. At the sight of his wife’s glare, he went back to looking out the window. “Quite right you are, dear.”
The carriage pulled up in front of Pemberton Manor, and Lady Shirley let out a squeal of excitement. “Oh, how grand! What a pity he does not host gatherings. This manor is practically idyllic.” Her grin grew wider with glee. “Of course, that means we will be part of the privileged few who get to see inside the manor!”
The carriage pulled to a stop, and the driver hurried down to open the door for them. As the trio approached the front doors of Pemberton Manor, they burst open. Servants appeared in front of them, as if by magic. “Lord and Lady Shirley, Miss Shirley, welcome,” one of them said. “Let us escort you to the drawing room.”
“Give us a tour first,” Lady Shirley said. “I am sure His Grace will not mind. We are to be family, after all, and I have always been curious about this manor. Oh, look at that painting! Marvelous!”
When the manor doors shut again, no one seemed to realize that the future Duchess of Pemberton was still outside.
Marina considered meekly entering the manor and following behind her parents, but truthfully, the last thing she wanted was to be shown her entire future.
