Duncan’s gaze held hers.
“It matters, so speak. What do you have to say?”
“It’s done now,” she sighed. “We need to think about the future now.”
She felt herself growing more nervous.
“You mean about the wedding?”
“Yes… about…” she stuttered. “Our arrangement. I’ve brought my sisters here, and well, I am just as uncertain about their future as they are.”
“That’s a lot of topics to spring on me at once,” Duncan sighed. “So it would be better for us to start one by one.”
“Then we start with the wedding…” she said, nervously twisting her fingers together. “You said we would do it properly.”
“There is no other way to do it,” he said. “We are to marry not in secret, of course.”
“Yes, but…” she flushed. “Who will witness it, who will register it, who will write the papers, and…. how soon you intend it?”
“My solicitor, two witnesses besides. Your sisters, if you wish. The papers will be drawn before the ceremony and signed after. It will be soon.”
“How soon?” Charity asked.
“Days,” Duncan replied.
“And can I write to my friends?”
Duncan’s gaze narrowed.
“Who?” he asked.
“Those back home,” Charity said. "I need to have some contact with the world so as not to go entirely insane."
Duncan studied her a moment, then nodded. “You may write, but my solicitor will write as well.”
“And…”
“What else?”
“My sisters,” she said. “I worry about their fate, and their comfort and security are the most important things for me.”
“They will find that there are a number of activities for them to do around the estate,” Duncan nodded. “I do not think they’ll be bored with their time here, and in any case, it will be better than being trapped with the Viscount.”
“No, I…” Charity nodded, “I know that they’re better off here, but they need to see that as well.”
“Do you wish for me to instruct the staff to keep them busy?”
“Yes,” she said immediately. “I think so. I think that an idle mind is a troubled one, and they might feel more at ease when they have activities.”
“Very well. I shall arrange for that.”
“And then,” she bit down on her lip, “what will become of them after we get married?”
“Of course, they will reside here at the estate,” Duncan said. A wave of relief passed over her. “You look surprised. Did you think that I was going to send them off to the streets?”
“No, no. It’s not that,” Charity shook her head, feeling silly. “But more like, well, I did not know if you’d want them to stay for a prolonged period of time.”
“This will be their home,” Duncan said. “They will stay as long as they wish, or until they are married.”
