Page 24 of The Wedding-Crashing Duchess

“Enthusiasm is precisely what disqualifies you,” Charity said.

Augusta looked from one woman to the next. “You are all married and have children. Why are you behaving as though I asked for instructions regarding some forbidden ritual?”

“It is not forbidden,” Prudence assured her, though color had risen into her cheeks. “You don’t understand now, but it is merely private.”

“It will become my private concern within a fortnight, which is why I would prefer to understand it before.”

Temperance covered a laugh with her hand.

Charity sat beside Augusta and took a careful breath. “The wedding night is not something you must approach with fear, particularly if your husband is considerate, although it may feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable at first because marriage creates a kind of closeness that you have not experienced before.”

“What kind of closeness?” Augusta asked.

“It is rather like learning a dance with a partner whose movements you do not yet know, because there must be trust, patience, and a willingness to follow one another rather than allowing one person to control every step,” Prudence attempted to help.

“Will we actually be standing?”

Temperance made a strangled sound.

“No, no, no, the dancing was a comparison,” Prudence said quickly.

Charity pressed her lips together, whether to prevent laughter or frustration Augusta could not tell.

“The important thing,” Charity continued, “is that you may speak if you are uncertain, and Ronan should listen. Nothing ought to proceed simply because he assumes it is his right as your husband.”

Temperance nodded, becoming unexpectedly serious.

“That part is true, Augusta. You are permitted to say what you want, what frightens you, and when you require him to stop.”

“And what, precisely, will he be doing when I might require him to stop?” Augusta looked toward her.

Charity reached for Temperance again, but Temperance leaned out of reach.

Prudence intervened before either could continue.

“Perhaps you should think of it as crossing a bridge,” she said. “You begin on one side as strangers in a certain sense, and through trust you cross toward greater intimacy.”

“What does the bridge represent?”

Prudence looked helplessly toward Charity, while Temperance laughed until tears appeared in her eyes.

At last Charity squeezed her hand and said, “You’ll understand soon enough.”

Augusta was used to some uncertainty, but this was uncharted territory even for her.

CHAPTER 6

“There are more people here than there were at Phillipa’s wedding,” Augusta said, turning toward Charity. “I did not think that was possible.”

They had arrived at the church, and the nerves were bubbling inside of Augusta.

“You think so?”

Charity adjusted the pale green silk at Augusta’s shoulder, though there was nothing wrong with it.

“Phillipa’s wedding was merely the marriage of an earl’s daughter to a reclusive duke. Yours is… well, there is more news surrounding it than normal. Naturally, half of London has decided that witnessing the occasion is a matter of great importance.”

“They are waiting for someone to object,” she considered, frowning to herself.