I met Marlow’s stare. Then lifted my chin. “You will give me time to adjust.”
“To mourn your loss,” he scoffed.
“And you will not seek out Mr. Winston, nor harm him in any way.”
His lips flattened, and he swallowed. “As long as you never see him again. You will be loyal to me. To my family.”
The pain in my chest overwhelmed me. I lifted my eyes to his, willing myself to say the words that would seal my fate once and for all. “Yes, Your Grace.”
“Very well.” His words were clipped. “A happy start. How fortunate we are both so well versed in pretending.”
He flicked his hand, and his servants came closer. We walked in silence down the drive until the house came into view.
“Take Miss Newbury inside,” Marlow said to his servants. “I shall need a brisk walk alone before returning for dinner.”
ChapterTwenty-Six
I couldn’t breathe. I could hardly stop crying long enough to wash my face in the basin Molly had brought to my bedroom. She hadn’t questioned me, but simply dried my face with a towel and fixed my hair and rubbed my back until I composed myself enough to walk down to the drawing room.
Mama held out her arm to me as I entered. Her lips were smiling, but the rest of her was stiff and still as though she feared moving out of place.
The duchess was thinner and more youthful than I’d imagined, and she regarded me like I was a dress needing alterations. I stopped to curtsey, and she nodded her seeming approval.
The duke walked in shortly after, and stiffly led me to my seat in the dining room.
“Are you comfortable?” he asked without inflection as he tucked in my chair.
“Yes, thank you,” I managed, knowing everyone was watching us closely. This would be the rest of my life. Making polite conversation with this man. Avoiding the fact that before we wed, I declared my heart, not for him, but for someone else entirely.
I picked at every dish, including the rosemary lambchops, which I had chosen for the menu myself, knowing they were Marlow’s favorite.
After dinner, I played the pianoforte for the duchess and Mama while the men took port and cigars. When the clock at last struck eleven, the men came out to bid us good night.
“Do not expect us back until dinner tomorrow,” Father said. “We have business in the morning.”
“We?” I asked.
Father’s eyes met mine, but I could not hold his gaze. Could he see my misery? My lies and deceit?
“Your father is introducing me to some of his business associates,” Marlow answered. “Then we shall finalize the paperwork for my land.”
“I can only imagine your excitement,” I rallied back.
“It shall be the highlight of my trip.”
“But surely the highlight is seeing your bride,” his mother whispered, touching his arm.
“Of course.” He looked down at me. “She is, thankfully, a handsome sight to behold.”
Ben cleared his throat and stepped forward with a furrowed brow. His lips parted to speak, but Mama took hold of his shoulder.
“If there is anything you need ...” Mama said to the duke and duchess. “Please do not hesitate to ask.”
Then Marlow took my hand, his countenance unreadable, and bowed over it. “I shall see you when I return.”
I swallowed hard, and curtseyed. His words were not a question, because he knew I could never leave him. Not with such a serious threat to my family.
Benjamin came around and pulled me aside. “Good night, Ros,” he said with a strange look in his eye. When he took my hand, he slipped a folded piece of paper into my palm.
