“Indeed, I shall,” Nellie promised.
“The duke issohandsome. I peeked at him through the drawing room door.”
“You will meet him when you take part in the archery contest. You can make a game of it. You are quite skilled with your own bows and arrows.”
“Oh, good.” Alice gave a gusty sigh. “Are you both madly in love?”
At Alice’s age, Nellie had dreamed of falling in love at first sight. It was part of growing up, after all, and she disliked quashing Alice’s girlish dreams. “Shewsbury and I have only just met,” she said with an amused shake of her head. “So how could we be in love?”
“People do fall in love at once. Why, I just read a novel where…”
“And what novel might that be, Lady Alice?” Her governess, Miss Dale, looked up from her desk at the end of the room. “I trust your father will not disapprove of your reading material?”
Alice tightened her lips and looked mulish. “I found the book in the library.”
Nellie doubted that was where she’d discovered it. “It can’t be anything too shocking,” she said to Miss Dale. She suspected Alice found one of Marian’s gothic romances left behind after she married. What harm could it do? One should enjoy an unrealistic view of life, if only for the brief time allowed to a young girl before real life intruded.
Was it possible to fall in love at first sight? Charles could make her heart beat faster with a look. That was not love but physical desire. It was more important that they become good friends. Or might they not even remain on good terms?
“I’m sure His Grace fell desperately in love when he first set eyes on you, Nellie,” Alice said, breaking into Nellie’s thoughts.
Nellie smiled. “Thank you, poppet.”
Charles did not seem the sort of man to utter overblown emotional speeches. Unlike Kealan Walsh, who had declared his adoration of her supposed charms, hand over his heart, as he read aloud his verses. But then the thought struck her that Charles might well have been that way with his former fiancée. If the poets were to be believed, a man only ever loved with such intensity but once.
“The duke has chosen me to be his duchess. It is quite an honor. I’m sure love will follow in time,” she said. While Nellie didn’t believe it, she wanted Alice to hold onto her dreams.
“An honor!” Alice gasped. “How very dull. As if you’re something he might place behind glass in his trophy room. Will he lock you up in the attic in Shewsbury castle after you’ve given him an heir?”
Nellie’s laugh sounded brittle to her ears, for something similar, although a little less dramatic, had occurred to her. “The ruins of the old castle remain on the grounds,” she said to guide the conversation into safer waters. “The mansion was built in the last century. I believe it has a very fine park.” Nellie smiled. “You only find such things in novels, Alice. The duke would not be so cruel, but if he does, you will have to rescue me.”
It was quite possible that Charles would take another mistress after she gave birth to his heir. She must guard her heart. Divorce would be out of the question, for she would be ruined socially. But no eyebrows would be raised at a discreet separation, or even if she took a lover. Nellie despised the idea. She would rather create her literary salon and immerse herself in books and poetry.
Their marriage might be for financial reasons, but she would hate it if Charles strayed. She wished she could be sure of the man she was about to spend her life with. TheHaute tonlived by their own rules, and few benefited women. At least the archaic practice of dueling had fallen into disfavor. Their brother, Nathaniel, had been wounded defending a woman’s honor when barely more than a youth. Thankfully, he had survived with merely an arm wound when the lady’s husband took pity on him. Now married to Eliza, who was not the lady in question, Nat was the proud father of a three-year-old daughter, Julia.
“Shall I come and see you when you’re dressed for the ball?” Alice asked.
“I depend on it,” Nellie said. “You must give me your opinion.”
“Your gown issobeautiful,” Alice said with a wistful smile. “It’s like gossamer. White satin and gauze with those pretty lilac silk flowers. I shall have a gown just like it one day.”
“An even prettier one.” The ballgown had not been Nellie’s choice. Although she wasn’t inclined to spend hours poring over lady’s fashion magazines the way her sisters did, she knew what best suited her figure and looked forward to choosing her wardrobe. Marriage did offer some agreeable benefits.
She eased one of Alice’s thick braids over her shoulder. Her pretty sister’s hair was a paler blonde than her own, and her features were more delicate. “Your first Season will be here before you know it. And you will be such a success.”
“I do hope so. I can’t wait for the parties and the balls.” With a dreamy expression in her eyes, Alice danced across the schoolroom rug.
“Lady Alice, we have a French lesson from four to five o’clock.” Miss Dale made a point of looking at the watch on her bodice. “If you will excuse us, Lady Cornelia?”
Nellie left the schoolroom and made her way down to her bedchamber. Miss Dale, who was now in her sixtieth year, had been the family governess for Marian and herself. She’d accepted no nonsense from them, either. When she was a duchess, Nellie was sure Miss Dale would address her in the same manner.
Peter ran to her when she opened the door. Nellie picked him up and hugged him. A duchess! It brought with it such responsibilities. There would be little time for herself. Everything she did or said would be written and talked about, she supposed.
Some years ago, the Duchess of Devonshire held a fashionable literary salon, but Nellie did not wish for that amount of notoriety. She hoped for something more discreet, a gathering of a few devotees of prose and poetry. To be at the heart of intellectual discussion. Poets and writers would be invited to read their latest works. But would it even be possible now? Although Charles seemed not quite as arrogant as she had feared, something about him warned her that he would resist too many changes to his life.
The relief on her father’s face when he’d learned the news gave her great pleasure. Her father appeared to like Charles. But was he a good judge of the man? He could be the worst rake in society for all they knew. And a bully to boot. But to be honest, although she couldn’t discount their differences, there was that heady pull of attraction. Whether it was enough for a satisfactory life together, time would tell.
Dinner was held in the claret-papered, gilded dining room for the family and house guests. On the vicar’s arm, Nellie trailed after her parents into the room. Charles sent her an intimate smile. As if they had a secret. That he was a passionate man sent a shiver down her spine. It distracted her from the man seated next to her, who described in detail his last trip to London and the play he’d seen.
